University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Time To Embrace The Dinking And Dunking
8/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, August 17, 2009, 7:34 p.m.
Gather around Mean Green fans as I would like to present my case to the jury in favor of the "dink" and "dunk" offense that so many have railed against. Got your thinking caps on? Ready to be open minded before casting your vote? Okay here we go.
This North Texas offense is patterned after Texas Tech and Missouri. With that in mind, let's begin.
The "dinking" and "dunking" that so many have wished North Texas stop doing I would argue is like telling a boxer he can't use his jab anymore, but thrown only the haymaker.
A great boxer doesn't just go for the knockout punch every swing or he would be done after the first round. There is a middle ground.
I would argue the same applies for this North Texas offense. You can't just drop back and throw it 40-yards down field every time under center (yes I said under center). Can you throw it down the field? Heck yes. Has North Texas done that the last two years? Not nearly enough.
Part of that can be explained away that the weapons and number of options that Todd Dodge had just wouldn't cut. See Stephen Howard's column explaining the ball distribution theory.
This offense is always dependent upon what the defense is showing you. That might mean a quick slant, or a screen pass, or an 8-yard curl route. It might also mean a fly-pattern, or a 20-yard out route. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not part of the arsenal.
The "dinking" and "dunking" is what is going to make this offense great. Getting the ball into your playmakers hands in open space is what it's all about. Going deep works about 1 out of every 4 times. Do you have to go deep every once in a while, you bet, but it can't done just for the sake of doing it.
Here's my other point. The culture, especially in sports, is all about the big highlight that lands you on Sportscenter. How many of you watch Sportscenter and see the long-ball in baseball, the dunk the basketball, or the 50-yard bomb in football that lands you a spot in the Top 10 highlights.
What they don't show you is the 12-plays leading up to that big one that put them in a position to make the highlight reel play. Or the 15-foot jump shot that leads to the inside opening up for a big dunk. Is anyone interested in watching a jump shot or LeBron James dunk? Who wants to see a seven-yard dump off to Jason Whitten as opposed to a 75-yard catch by T.O. in their top 10 highlights?
I'm not and you aren't either.
The big play so many times is setup by a play, or a formation, or a situation that isn't going to wow you or make you want to buy season tickets.
Last season Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech offense) and Jeremy Maclin (Missouri offense) were arguably the two most exciting receivers in college football. Wanna guess where they ranked in yards per catch? Can't find it can you? Well Maclin averaged 12.35 yards per catch last season and Crabtree 12.01. The NCAA only keeps track of the top 20 and the 20th ranked player in the nation was at 14.9 yards a pop last season so I'm going to say neither one was even in the top 50 last season.
Crabtree and Maclin weren't catching bombs last season, they were play-makers making plays. Often times they turned a five-yard pass into a 50-yarder. That's what Todd Dodge is hoping for with this offense. It takes skill players to work, and the Mean Green appears to have filled those ranks.
So give me a "dink" and "dunk" offense that's effective and you will get your Sportscenter highlight every time.
I rest my case.
