University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Going Under The Hood: Part I
8/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, August 1, 2009, 12:04 p.m.
With the fall camp just a few days away it’s a chance to take our last critical look at North Texas this offseason before the pads are strapped on. Todd Dodge has a whole lot of holes to fill. Here’s our take on whether or not the Mean Green will be successful in doing so this year. The offense is up first today.
Quarterback
I’m not worried about this spot. Really I’m not. I know that North Texas returns exactly 1 percent of its passing yards from last year but Riley Dodge is the exact type of quarterback you want in this system. He is very precise with his passes, quick with the ball, and the type of QB who doesn’t try to force anything resulting in mistakes.
Here’s the problem. All of that was achieved at the high school level, not Division I. Dodge is a redshirt freshman who has had some injuries the last two seasons that have caused people to wonder if he can handle the rigors of the position at his size. There is nothing like a freshman QB to make defensive coordinators sleep well at night. Teams are likely to bring pressure on Dodge relentlessly until proven otherwise that he can handle it.
His back-up going into the fall, Nathan Tune, has really matured into a quarterback who, if called upon, would have the confidence of the team. After Tune it’s going to be Chase Baine and or incoming freshman Derek Thompson. Barring catastrophic injuries to the previous two, neither one of these players is likely to see any action.
Running Back
There have been better running backs before at North Texas but there might not be a deeper unit in quite a while. You could make the argument that the top three RB’s on the depth chart should be starting. Cam Montgomery is poised for a 1,000 yard season while Lance Dunbar, Micah Mosley, James Hamilton, and Jeremy Mathis will all play the support role.
The biggest downside to this position is there is only one football to go around, so besides Montgomery, the others aren’t likely to get more than 5-10 touches a game, if that, so they have to make them count. Cam is a workhorse who can shoulder 20-25 carries a game if needed, but Dunbar and Mathis are the change of pace backs you want to create some problems.
Mosley is coming off an injury last season but is back at 100 percent and should be back to his freshman production. Hamilton is the wildcard. Very athletic, but very small. His first full camp in the backfield will provide a little better idea of where he ends up this year.
Offensive Line
As inexperienced as the QB spot is for North Texas, the guys protecting them are the most experienced on the team. 102 starts return for this unit and the depth is unlike any other in sometime. Across the line, if need be, the Mean Green could go three-deep with quality players. Victor Gill to me is the biggest surprise of last season. A converted tight-end, he played the tackle spot as an undersized lineman but often was the best for North Texas.
It’s so nice to hear the familiar names of Santiago, Feeley, Johnson, Hollivay, and Gill. Why stop there. Kelvin Drake is back, along with Matt Menard, Tyler Bailey, Matt Tomlinson, Jacob Kaiser, Nate Jenkins, and newcomers Jeremy Bean and John Noble.
Did I forget anyone? Probably, but that’s how deep this unit it. The best battle this fall is going to be at the guard spot. Drake and Hollivay are going to fight it out for the starting spot and right now it’s pretty even between the two.
Wide Receiver
With or without Tyler Stradford this spot has a lot of question marks. The Mean Green must replace one of the best receivers in school history in Casey Fitzgerald and it won’t be easy. There are a lot of names that you can get excited about, but it’s just talk at this point. As Alfred Hitchcock said “Don’t tell me, show me.”
That’s the job of this unit. Transfers Michael Outlaw and Jamaal Jackson had good springs and will work heavily into the mix. Sophomore Sam Roberson has all of the physical tools you want in a receiver but struggled mightily last year to deliver the breakout year so many think he’s capable of.
The return of Forrest Rucker is interesting. He was on the fast-track to starting last year before his injury and the subsequent off the field problems. If he can pick up where he left off, he’s going to be an impact player. However having been off the football field for nearly 12 months, that’s going to be tough.
If Stradford is eligible, he’s got Big 12 speed that this league’s teams only see in September. Without him, a big hole opens up on the edge that must be filled. Alex Lott is a speedy, quick receiver who is the leading receiver back from last season. Redshirt freshman Kenny Barrett, Desmond Brigham, and Willie Taylor will also figure into the mix.
There will be a big shake-out in the fall and besides the defensive line spot, competition at the WR position is going to be quite fierce, and it needs to be.
Bottom Line
Riley Dodge will have to be a good manager of the offense. If he limits his mistakes and can be complete around 60-70 percent of his passes, the offense will score. Cam Montgomery is going to be a focus of defense's so that's where others must step up around him. Dodge's running ability will be an added weapon and if Stradford is eligible, his ability to get deep will be another.
North Texas also needs to convert red-zone opportunities into TD's, not FG's. The offense should be better if it can limit its mistakes which is easier said than done.
