Report

Good points. I feel pretty good about the offense, but the defense has some concerns. Inconsistency is the biggest concern for me.  

So I know that we scored two touchdowns but I am starting to wonder if Ward has questionable hands. Both TD passes were bobbled and he was lucky to pull them in. Credit for maintaining his concentration and completing them but a tighter coverage and those are incomplete. I seem to recall some other similar moments with him. Does that track with others’ observations?

We replaced an Air Raid coach who went 24-18 in his first 42 games at HC with an Air Raid coach who went 24-18 in his first 42 games at HC in the FCS. And I'm not saying that everyone who has the same philosophy or comes from the same coaching tree is the same. I think mostly UNT has been TOO reactionary with their hires, trying to always spin a 180, until this most recent hire. I'm just seeing a lot of the same things I've been seeing. I think he's set us up for better recruiting, so there's that. And I don't feel like we're getting as many penalties, which would be a combination of the players' makeups and position coaches' teaching of technique. I LIKE Coach Morris. He seems candid and realistic. But I'm not impressed with our level of Xs and Os or with the roster we've started the season with. And that's the job.  As far as him being able to elevate our program, I don't see it. I don't know what he's bringing to the table that's different than what we've had before. 

Morris seems like a down to earth guy, and I like him personally. But, as a coach, I think he's in over his head a little. Until he steps up and actually figures out how to address the defensive failings, UNT will continue to struggle for wins. And he will be no better than an average coach, at best.  Most of these Leach coaches struggle to field real defenses. That's why most get fired and end up back as OC's. I was really hoping Morris would be different. It's not too late yet. But it is his choice to make. 

My observation last night was that neither of our lines were doing a very good job. Our DL got handled and just generally pushed around (lots of running yards up the middle). And our OL did not push their DL around too much. When it came to going purely up the middle. We didn't do very well.