No Dodging for NT Defense

[NewsCopy]

Improved defense powering North Texas

The rest of the story

[CrappDaddy]

Boy, I bet their defense is probably as good as LSU or maybe Nebraska. I mean they only gave up 10 points to Ball State and 37 to MT. Then Ohio dropped 31 on them. Come on, to write an article about this defense is fricken rediculous.

By the way, I'm not trying to take a shot at you Josh. I'm a fan of your UL coverage. Just don't think that this defense will be all that good.

[shof]

I agree with the write-up. They are improved. Were horrible last year and only bad this year!
Go Cajuns!!!!!!!

[zephyr]

_ Boy, I bet their defense is probably as good as LSU or maybe Nebraska. I mean they only gave up 10 points to Ball State and 37 to MT. Then Ohio dropped 31 on them. Come on, to write an article about this defense is fricken rediculous. _

If you saw the defense they put on the field last year and the one they put on this year, you'd see there is a huge difference. You are obviously comparing numbers and looking at points allowed and that is understandable. However, the Ohio game was in OT or double OT and this defense shut down a Ball State team that almost went to a BCS bowl last year on the road. In that game, they looked really athletic, fast and aggressive. They obviously have some holes or lost some focus in the MTSU game because Middle does not have the best offense in the SBC but I agree, this team scares me and they are much improved on both sides of the ball. They have some playmakers on defense albeit, I know it is hard to believe.

[HoustonCajun]

_ If you saw the defense they put on the field last year and the one they put on this year, you'd see there is a huge difference. You are obviously comparing numbers and looking at points allowed and that is understandable. However, the Ohio game was in OT or double OT and this defense shut down a Ball State team that almost went to a BCS bowl last year on the road. In that game, they looked really athletic, fast and aggressive. They obviously have some holes or lost some focus in the MTSU game because Middle does not have the best offense in the SBC but I agree, this team scares me and they are much improved on both sides of the ball. They have some playmakers on defense albeit, I know it is hard to believe. _

If we continue our scoring drought in the first half against an improved but not that good a UNT defense, how long before he replaces Masson with McGuire? I hope we don't have that problem, but so far our offense has been anemic.

[zephyr]

_ If we continue our scoring drought in the first half against an improved but not that good a UNT defense, how long before he replaces Masson with McGuire? I hope we don't have that problem, but so far our offense has been anemic. _

The problem is not with Masson at all. He's played well and he's also struggled but everyone should understand that being young and inexperienced is going to give you some inconsistency. That is something we are going to have to live with whether we like it or not. I think you would get the same inconsistency with McGuire that you will with Masson.

The "scoring drought" you speak of has a lot to do with offensive philosophy and the opponents we've played the past 3 games. These teams were all bigger, faster and stronger on the defensive side of the ball and we don't have the individual matchups against them that we may get in conference play. We don't have the homerun hitters like in the past so we have to execute long drives and good defenses find a way to adapt to stop you. The coaches have been ultra conservative in both the passing game and running game as we've run the zone read far too much and the receivers have dropped and fumbled entirely too many balls. I don't think we are as disabled hitting conference as many believe but we are going to have to eliminate the bonehead mistakes and turnovers to even have a shot in conference.

[wcd35]

_ If we continue our scoring drought in the first half against an improved but not that good a UNT defense, how long before he replaces Masson with McGuire? I hope we don't have that problem, but so far our offense has been anemic. _

Against 3 very good to great defenses. The lack of scoring is certainly not ideal, but those games are aberrations. The offenses have not been anemic at all, they just havent punched it in. There have been mistakes at times, but I believe that the bye week and focus on fundamentals will remedy the situation. We have seen them move the ball on these good defenses, I dont see that being a problem against lesser defenses.

I have paid no attention to this so called "drought." I think its a matter of the schedule rather than our lack of offense.

Masson doesnt come out until we are blowing someone out. There should be no debate, in my mind, at this point.

[HOUCajun]

_ The problem is not with Masson at all. He's played well and he's also struggled but everyone should understand that being young and inexperienced is going to give you some inconsistency. That is something we are going to have to live with whether we like it or not. I think you would get the same inconsistency with McGuire that you will with Masson.

The "scoring drought" you speak of has a lot to do with offensive philosophy and the opponents we've played the past 3 games. These teams were all bigger, faster and stronger on the defensive side of the ball and we don't have the individual matchups against them that we may get in conference play. We don't have the homerun hitters like in the past so we have to execute long drives and good defenses find a way to adapt to stop you. The coaches have been ultra conservative in both the passing game and running game as we've run the zone read far too much and the receivers have dropped and fumbled entirely too many balls. I don't think we are as disabled hitting conference as many believe but we are going to have to eliminate the bonehead mistakes and turnovers to even have a shot in conference. _

I was at the Nebraska game. I don't think UL ran the zone read once in the 1st half. They did run it a couple of times in the 2nd half. Mostly they ran handoff up the middle. A zone read play or 2 may have kept the defense more honest

[CrappDaddy]

_ If you saw the defense they put on the field last year and the one they put on this year, you'd see there is a huge difference. You are obviously comparing numbers and looking at points allowed and that is understandable. However, the Ohio game was in OT or double OT and this defense shut down a Ball State team that almost went to a BCS bowl last year on the road. In that game, they looked really athletic, fast and aggressive. They obviously have some holes or lost some focus in the MTSU game because Middle does not have the best offense in the SBC but I agree, this team scares me and they are much improved on both sides of the ball. They have some playmakers on defense albeit, I know it is hard to believe. _

With all do respect Zephyr, every team seems to scare you, even Southern. We should win this game in impressive fashion. The offense will be fine, and I think the defense may have their best game yet. The Nebraska game was a scrimmage, and Bustle was tying to be competitive for about the first quarter. As for Ball State, a BCS game for them would have been a crime, and their studs are gone this year.

[AstroCajun]

_ With all do respect Zephyr, every team seems to scare you, even Southern. We should win this game in impressive fashion. The offense will be fine, and I think the defense may have their best game yet. The Nebraska game was a scrimmage, and Bustle was tying to be competitive for about the first quarter. As for Ball State, a BCS game for them would have been a crime, and their studs are gone this year. _

Has Ball State won a game this year? Nuff said.

[MetryCajun]

UNT is not a good football team.
We are at home.
We should win.

[Parrott]

You're right. I should have just written that UNT sucks and has no chance because all games are played on paper. Or I could have written about Todd and Riley Dodge - again.

The Mean Green defense is much improved. Its pass defense is one of the league's best. Linebacker Tobe Nwigwe and cornerback Royce Hill are two of the conference's top defenders. Perhaps others will recognize such storylines. It goes beyond the obvious and informs the reader of some new info.

That said, the Cajuns should win easily unless they make a lot of mistakes on both sides of the ball.

Boy, I bet their defense is probably as good as LSU or maybe Nebraska. I mean they only gave up 10 points to Ball State and 37 to MT. Then Ohio dropped 31 on them. Come on, to write an article about this defense is fricken rediculous.

By the way, I'm not trying to take a shot at you Josh. I'm a fan of your UL coverage. Just don't think that this defense will be all that good.

igeaux.mobi