Counter Punched

[Harry]

If this contest was a boxing match, North Texas was the quintessential counter puncher. Rather than take unnecessary risks to dominate early, they patiently waited for FAU to make a mistake. Once the Owls showed their chins, the Mean Green would decisively respond with an uppercut that would, like Little Mac in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out, send them to the mat. All of UNT’s touchdowns came off turnovers.

The weather was a real factor in this one, tactically and strategically. Both teams played a 10 yard game in the first half filled with dumpoff passes and handoffs. Once FAU got behind, they were forced to throw into a swirling wind, and the inaccuracy that followed keyed North Texas on three key interceptions.

Offensively, North Texas struggled early by not taking any shots deep in the first half when they had the wind. FAU’s defense never had to respect the deep pass, and so all the coverage was able to play down close to the line of scrimmage. One would expect this would have something to do not wanting to throw into the teeth of a gusty 20 mile per hour wind, but there were no passes longer than 20 yards even with the wind. My best guess is that they were trying to play it safe and keep the QB upright.

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[PlummMeanGreen]

Speaking of weather on Game Day Saturday, I got 6 inches of rain with all those ominous clouds that came boiling into the Metroplex from the west and am not sure how Denton escaped it as lighty as they did.

Back To The Present:

I know at ULaLa, our team needs to be mentally prepared (not that they won't be) that this Rajun Cajun team are coming out to prepare some blackened Eagle.

The best way to counter that is to just do some good old fashioned smash mouth slobber-knockin' especially in that first quarter preventing the Cajuns from geting out of the

shute too fast (with early and/or too easy scoring) and that will calm some of that non-sense down.

GMG!

Edited October 11, 2011 by PlummMeanGreen

[island eagle]

Good article. Much better than some of the nonsense posted right after the game.

[Travis]

we got 3 of 4 touchdowns off of turnovers.

[mad dog]

Travis -

FAU'S Travis Jones muffed a punt, which NT recovered on the FAU 4. Derek Thompson snuck in a TD four plays later.

Brad Graham picked off a pass in the third quarter. Five plays later, Lance Dunbar scored on a 2 yard run.

Royce Hill pick six.

D'Leon McCord pick six.

4/4

[emmitt01]

Travis -

FAU'S Travis Jones muffed a punt, which NT recovered on the FAU 4. Derek Thompson snuck in a TD four plays later.

Brad Graham picked off a pass in the third quarter. Five plays later, Lance Dunbar scored on a 2 yard run.

Royce Hill pick six.

Steven Ford pick six.

4/4

Fixed

[mad dog]

Thanks Emmitt. Was looking at the wrong line of the play by play.