First Practice Report

[Cerebus]

Mean Green Report Subsriptions

First off, we are no longer accepting Mean Green Report subscriptions. Harry and I have decided to reorganize. Anyone who has a current subscription will have access to content Harry and I create for the duration of thier subscription, even if some of that content is on a new site. More details to come. Any former subscribers whose subscription ran out in the last month or two, send me a PM.

Practice Photos

Due to a technical problem, I was unable to load photos from the first practice yesterday, that is being worked on and I hope for them to be online soon. I am very sorry for the delay.

Practice Report

You really can't tell much about a player until the hitting really starts, but these are my first impressions.

Woodrow Wilson: Hey seemed to have a very nice touch on his passes. Was accurate, and seemed to read coverage well. Did not see too many deep passes. Really want to see what he can do with a rush coming at him. Never ran the ball except on a busted option play.

Coach Bleil: Very impressed. Big on accountability. Would point out any mistakes made, then encourage the player, though anyone making the same mistake twice would get an earful. Was just as quick to praise good technique, a good read, or a good effort. At one point, the free safety called out coverage, and a DB misunderstood, which let the offense make a big play. Bleil talked to the FS and told him "We are holding the free saftey accountable for coverage mistakes, it's your job to make sure everyone of the DB's knows what to do". A few plays later the same player made a good coverage adjustment and drew equal praise.

3-4 Defense: Just to clear up a misconception. A poster said that we needed to run the 3-4 because we don't have the beef up front to run the 4-3. Defensive linemen in a 3-4 need to be larger. They have to be able to take on double teams to keep the OL off the linebackers, and the ends need to be large for run support.

The 3-4 was seen alot on the first day. I liked the move of Gilmore to OLB, that seems a better fit for him. I like the fact we can get more LB'ers onto the field at the same time. We'll see how it really works when the pads come on.

Misc.

Most other subjects of intrest, such as the OL/DL, run/pass mix, etc won't even start to be answered until pads come on, and we probably won't have a semi accurate picture of that until the scrimmages.

The players seemed to be upbeat, the coaches had alot of energy and it carried to the players.

[SilverEagle]

Coach Bleil: Very impressed. Big on accountability. Would point out any mistakes made, then encourage the player, though anyone making the same mistake twice would get an earful. Was just as quick to praise good technique, a good read, or a good effort. At one point, the free safety called out coverage, and a DB misunderstood, which let the offense make a big play. Bleil talked to the FS and told him "We are holding the free saftey accountable for coverage mistakes, it's your job to make sure everyone of the DB's knows what to do". A few plays later the same player made a good coverage adjustment and drew equal praise.

A public service message from SilverEagle,

Folks,

It takes much more time and much more energy to do what coach Bleil is doing, than it does to only scream and yell at a player. But it yields much more benefits in the long run.

For those who are new parents, and for those who are planning to be parents, please pay close attention to this lesson.

[H-towngreen]

Gilmore to OLB? really that's in intresting move. Was he unable to put on any weight over the off-season? And is he fast enought to play out there?

Just read the DRC update. I guess they are expecting to use him as a Shawn Merriman/ Demarcus Ware OLB. Works for me.

Edited February 14, 2006 by H-towngreen

[j0nat8an]

this potential move to the 3-4 excites me. it at least shows that our coaching staff is not content to run the same team on the field as last year. i almost feel that any changes from last year are good changes.

[H-towngreen]

I like it although it worries me as well. In a 3-4 your DT has to be big. Booger big. They have to be able to take on double teams so that the LB's stay free to make the play. All we have is Ike Thomas who fits that role.

[killough75]

If we get TJ Raymond back from grades he would be a good fit, anyone know if there is any chance of that?

[Cowtown]

wouldnt count on it. I am sure the coaches arn't.

it's possible he could play, but he has to get right with academics first.

If we get TJ Raymond back from grades he would be a good fit, anyone know if there is any chance of that?

←

[SilverEagle]

It's my belief that if T.J. was back and eligible to practice, Vito would have mentioned it in his article.

[MootPoint]

TJ is taking an insane number of hours this semester and has to pass them all.

[GreenBat]

TJ is taking an insane number of hours this semester and has to pass them all.

←

On whose dime? Is he still on scholarship?

[SilverEagle]

TJ is taking an insane number of hours this semester and has to pass them all.

←

Taking them where?

[H-towngreen]

18 hrs at a community college on his own $$$.

[Stan R]

18 hrs at a community college on his own $$$.

←

It's kind of like a hail mary. I hope he's using the free tutoring that usually is provided at community colleges. I once took 17 hours as a freshman and I almost went insane. Good look to him.

[calvin]

I would guess the move for Gilmore to OLB is b/c he is probably not big enough to play a 4 technique or a 5 technique. Basically an OLB in 3-4 is like a d-end when the team is using a tight end. I would guess that Gilmore would line up on the tight end, so that is just like an end would do.

[Zeke]

I really like the move of Gilmore to OLB. If he can shed a block out there, I think he could be a real force.

Gilmore = my adopted player.

Also, I am going to assume that his trial run as a deep snapper last season is over.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

It's been reported that Chapman, Pruitt, Ransom, Lineberry and Rexrode would miss spring ball due to healing from injuries/operations. Jamario, Quinn, Joel Nwigwe and Cox ran track last year and I've heard that J. Thomas and Quinn will run this year. I doubt that Cox will since he's at a new position. DK about Joel. Are there any others missing from last year's squad? Were there any new guys (ohter than the three recruited Jucos) that drew attention?

[pollock]

I like it although it worries me as well. In a 3-4 your DT has to be big. Booger big. They have to be able to take on double teams so that the LB's stay free to make the play. All we have is Ike Thomas who fits that role.

←

Have you seen that picture of Tim Patton? I know he won't be here till Summer practice, but damn, he's big enough.

[GMoney]

Let me add this about DL in the 3-4. One advantage North Texas can have is you don't need those linemen to be 6'3" to 6'5". These guys are hard to find and are swallowed up by the majors. You can take a 6'0" 280 lber, that others shy away from, and put on 10 - 15 pounds and you've got plugger/anchor! There are probably more of these guys out there than the first I mentioned.

Next you'll get more athletic overall by gaining the extra LB. Once again, there should be more quality LB types (or big safty types) out there to recruit. If they stick with and don't get discourage when things don't click right away this could be very positive in the years to come. It allows you to bring in "tweeners" who can play, but don't fit the mold of defense everyone else is running.

[meangreendork]

I don't the 3-4 is product of size issues. To compensate and to allow the LB corps to do its job, the DL have to be big, strong, and they have to possess alot of stamina. However, I do think that the 3-4 is a product of DL depth. But I could be wrong.

[NT80]

Woodrow Wilson: Hey seemed to have a very nice touch on his passes.  Was accurate, and seemed to read coverage well.  Did not see too many deep passes.  Really want to see what he can do with a rush coming at him.  Never ran the ball except on a busted option play. 

←

I'll take that as a positive report to start with.

[class84]

.  Jamario, Quinn, Joel Nwigwe and Cox ran track last year and I've heard that J. Thomas and Quinn will run this year. 

←

Given his hamstring problems, does he really need to be running track?

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

Given his hamstring problems, does he really need to be running track? 

←

My guess is yes. I think that most hamstrings are caused by trying to exert too much pressure on the hamstring before it is conditioned. Tracksters are used to this and have a procedure that they go through to keep injuries to a minimum. I think that he'd be better served building his hamstring before trying to run all out, cut, etc. and I believe that track conditioning would be better for a hamstring.

[meangreen18]

I understand that the 3-4 defense requires a lot from the D-line; however this allows us to get more of our most talented athletes on the field at once. The key will be who steps up at nose guard, given they will be the one who takes on the most double teams. A great fit would have been Booger but that is neither here nor there. Also, Gilmore won't play so much of a linebacker mode. Instead, it will be more on a stand up end that will rush the outside and play the flats.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

I understand that the 3-4 defense requires a lot from the D-line; however this allows us to get more of our most talented athletes on the field at once.  The key will be who steps up at nose guard, given they will be the one who takes on the most double teams.  A great fit would have been Booger but that is neither here nor there.  Also, Gilmore won't play so much of a linebacker mode.  Instead, it will be more on a stand up end that will rush the outside and play the flats.

←

I agree that the 3-4 will allow us to get our most talented athletes on the field at the same time but I'm not sure how we use our current defensive ends. Do we also move Chapman and Ransom to LB? Because it doesn't seem as if either is large enough to play in a 3-man line, we could become even more vulnerable. Unless Miller and/or Peachey really bulked up, we'll only have three 290+ pounders on the DL and two have had health problems and the other is a true freshman.

I feel that Bliel will work it out and only use a 3-4 if the personnel fit better in that formation....but, I can't get warm and fuzzy until I see how it works.

[Cerebus]

Practice Photos

Due to a technical problem, I was unable to load photos from the first practice yesterday, that is being worked on and I hope for them to be online soon.  I am very sorry for the delay.

←

Problems fixed. Photos are now up, here are two samples:

<a href=http://www.gomeangreen.com/mgr/images/20060213_0058_woodrow_wilson.jpg><img src=http://www.gomeangreen.com/mgr/images/tn_20060213_0058_woodrow_wilson.jpg><br>Woodrow_Wilson</a>

<a href=http://www.gomeangreen.com/mgr/images/20060213_0072_coach_bleil.jpg><img src=http://www.gomeangreen.com/mgr/images/tn_20060213_0072_coach_bleil.jpg><br>Coach_Bleil</a></td>