University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Scrimmage No. 2 Recap
4/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, April 7, 2010, 11:09 a.m.
Two spring scrimmages down for North Texas and just one remains for the Mean Green on Sunday. So how did everyone look yesterday? We've got a thought or two about both sides of the ball and a fans guide for what to watch for on Sunday.
I've decided to go backwards today in recapping yesterday, we will start with the ugly.
The defense. On most nights I would say it's okay for Lance Dunbar to average around 55 yards a carry, but not right now. The running game really carved up the defense in the first half of the scrimmage. Dunbar and James Hamilton both ripped off big runs, breaking tackles, and really getting little resistance.
The pressure on the QB's was minimal at best, with the exception of A.K. busting through a few times, but that area has to improve. The front seven had a tough time for most of the day, but there were a few plays made. Jeremy Phillips, Craig Robertson, and newcomer Forlando Johnson all had nice moments against the pass and in open field tackling, but too late to really salvage much for the defense and D-Lo's blood pressure on this day.
The secondary, sans a Robby Gordon interception late, was sketchy at best. Not having Royce Hill in there makes a big difference, but right now the depth of this unit is something that must improve going into the fall. CB D'Leon McCord has the early edge to replace Adryan Adams at one corner spot while redshirt freshman Hilbert Jackson continues to learn the position.
Chris Neal is filling in for Hill right now at the other CB spot, but behind him Dez Brigham is still a little learning how to tee it up. He's a work in progress.
The D-line featured a heavy rotation of bodies, which will be the plan, but I'm starting to warm-up to the ends of K.C. Obi and A.K. Call it a hunch, (my last hunch though was Crystal Pepsi working out) but I think that pair might be good together, even if they are undersized a bit.
Bottom line, Gary DeLoach and company could use an Obama bailout before Sunday. However, as is usually the case with spring practice, the offense and defense advantage is a case of ebbs and flows from practice to practice and week to week. Keep in mind this same defense held the offense to just one touchdown in the first scrimmage just over a week ago.
On to the offense. The big questions were of course at QB. How was Nathan Tune? Is Derek Thompson the next John Elway? Will North Texas go to the option and Chase Baine? Answers: Good, not yet, and no.
Tune and Thompson both ran with the first-teamers, but it was a mix-and-match most of the scrimmage. Whoever starts at QB in the fall will be made better by having Dunbar in the backfield. He looks scary good right now. Who will be his backup is the only battle shaping up at the running back spot this spring and right now Hamilton is running away with it. Coach Canales has really moved him around a lot but yesterday he was silky smooth at just the running back spot. Great speed. Jeremi Mathis is the change of pace running back and I think a short-yardage guy.
The receivers were a little depleted with all of the injuries but Riley did make a few grabs at his new spot. He's a slot guy and could possibly turn into a poor man's version of Wes Welker or Jordan Shipley.
The O-line, also without a lot of key guys, gave some newcomers a chance to shine. Troy Franklin and Matt Tomlinson both got some good work in along with Jeremy Bean. The line was opening up holes most of the afternoon for the RB's to find.
So what about the QB's? Tune was steady and had a couple of nice passes over the middle. He did have a few overthrows on deep balls, but that was going with the wind at his back. Thompson's first pass went for a 70-yard touchdown to Breece Johnson. I don't think it was designed to come out that way, but it worked. Thompson showed his arm most the day, a few bullets over the middle, but he did show his wild side occasionally that he will have to improve on.
Thompson also had some designed runs that went for first-downs. At 6-4, he is going to be tough to bring down.
He will be given every chance to win the starting job, and I think he can, but you can bet Nathan Tune will battle him all the way to Sept. 4.
As for Sunday, keep an eye on the defense and see what adjustments are made to try and slow down the running game. What Coach Dodge calls the "explosive plays" must be kept to a minimum Sunday. Watch the newcomers too, Brad Graham, Forlando Johnson, Ryan Downing, and D'Leon McCord, all on defense.
On offense, it's going to be full steam ahead. Work the running game and keep trying to find which QB Dodge and Canales have confidence in and how they work Riley into the passing game at WR.
Sunday everything starts at 3 p.m. from Fouts but if you can't make it the game will be broadcast on 88.1 FM KNTU as well for your listening pleasure and available here for the webcast. The webcast is free.
