UNT special teams play solid across many areas

[Harry]

North Texas football coach Dan McCarney couldn’t remember a night quite like the one the Mean Green put together Saturday in a win over Idaho — at least not when it comes to special teams performance.

UNT came up with its best outing in more than a year returning punts and was solid in every other special teams facet except for kicking extra points. The Mean Green missed two, but even that major concern couldn’t completely spoil a performance that marked a step forward for UNT heading into a game Saturday at Ohio.

“Our kicking game was better on Saturday than it has been the first 22 games I was here,” McCarney said. “A lot of things were much better.”

The performance of wide receiver Brelan Chancellor in the return game topped the list.

The senior finished with 111 yards on three punt returns and exceeded UNT’s punt return yardage total from all of last season on his first attempt, when he picked up 48 yards.

UNT finished 117th out of 120 teams nationally last season with an average of 2.13 yards per return. The Mean Green posted just 17 punt return yards on the year.

Chancellor recorded 283 all-purpose yards on the night and took back the only kickoff he returned 28 yards.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130903-notebook-unt-special-teams-play-solid-across-many-areas.ece

[Harry]

This shook me a bit:

Ohio is one of the favorites in the Mid-American Conference and beat Louisiana-Monroe 45-14 in last season’s Independence Bowl.

Hmm - let's hope we are a lot better than what we showed against ULM last season!

[UNT90]

We didn't try a field goal because we didn't trust that unit.

Hardly a solid special teams effort. Far from it. Special teams cost us 5 if not 8 points.

Yes, it didn't matter against Idaho, but it will against Ohio.

[Green P1]

I don't know how you come away with solid special teams from that game... maybe up and down?

[MeanGreenTexan]

I don't know how you come away with solid special teams from that game... maybe up and down?

I think everyone fell in love with Brelan's kick/punt returns and that masked the missed XP's. I mean, c'mon man! MISSED XP's (Plural)

[UNTFan23]

I think everyone fell in love with Brelan's kick/punt returns and that masked the missed XP's. I mean, c'mon man! MISSED XP's (Plural)

That and the Idaho on-side kick where we had players that didn't respond correctly resulting in Idaho recovering the ball.

At best the good offset the bad with the special teams in the first game of the season.

[Green P1]

Remember Idaho almost housed a kick return on us as well.

[UNT90]

Remember Idaho almost housed a kick return on us as well.

Yep, kicker made the tackle at the 50.

I wouldn't even say the good outweighed the bad, or was even with the bad, for that matter.

LOTS of improvement NECESSARY to win at Ohio.

Edited September 5, 2013 by UNT90

[LongJim]

I thought special teams deserved a D- overall. Chancellor was a bright spot, but otherwise they were a failure, IMO.

[untjim1995]

Our kicking game continues to be terrible. When Extra Points aren't guaranteed, your special teams cannot get even an average grade.

[Got5onIt]

I agree, special teams were sub par. Lets hope they corrected it somehow for the Ohio game. Crucial for special teams to contribute positively in a big game on the road.

[eulessismore]

Well, the missed xp's were certainly a big problem, but we DID get that corrected midgame; a good thing in my opinion. And really, Olen should get credit for the lack of other kick returns by kicking the first few out of the back of the end zone. Special teams is still a team problem, but one I think can get corrected in a timely manner. Let's not forget to be happy about Chancellor; he's baaaaaack.