2013 North Texas Spring Football Analysis

2013 North Texas Mean Green ... Head Coach: Dan McCarney

North Texas Mean Green

2013 Schedule
8/31 Idaho
9/7 at Ohio
9/14 Ball State
9/21 at Georgia
9/28 OPEN DATE
10/5 at Tulane
10/12 Middle Tennessee
10/19 at Louisiana Tech
10/26 at Southern Miss
11/2 Rice
11/9 UTEP
11/16 OPEN DATE
11/23 UTSA
11/30 at Tulsa

Why To Get Excited … third-year head coach Dan McCarney has the Mean Green moving in the right direction ever so gradually. No, it’s not always evident in the standings, but North Texas is a better and deeper team than it was before McCarney got to Denton. It’s a long process, but the needle is pointing in the direction.

Why To Be Grouchy … the program’s postseason drought has now reached eight years. The Mean Green hasn’t bowled since 2004, leaving the fan base a little tired of moral victories. The program would benefit from the addition of a few more playmakers, especially after scoring more than 24 points just once in 11 games with FBS opponents.

The Number One Thing To Work On Is … improving the overall efficiency of the offense. North Texas would move the ball at times last season, but too often stalled at the least opportune moments in a game. The Mean Green was a dismal 103rd nationally in red zone touchdowns, and 116th when attempting to convert on third downs.

Non-Conference Games: Idaho, at Ohio, Ball State, at Georgia
Games Against the East: Middle Tennessee, at Southern Miss
Realistic Best Case Record: 6-6
Worst Case Record: 1-11
Likely Finish: 2-10

Pre-Preseason Projected Wins: Idaho, UTSA

Pre-Preseason Projected Losses: at Ohio, Ball State, at Georgia, at Tulane, Middle Tennessee, at Louisiana Tech, at Southern Miss, Rice, UTEP, at Tulsa

Schedule Analysis: The Mean Green should be better, but the record probably won’t show it unless they can handle a few 50/50 games at home. Middle Tennessee, Ball State and UTEP could all go either way, and UNT needs to win them all with a run of four road games in five and finishing up the regular season with a trip to Tulsa. The late part of the season is helped by not having any November road games until the finale, but there can’t be any mistakes. Throw in away games at Ohio, Georgia and Louisiana Tech, and Idaho and UTSA become must wins.

Team Concerns For 2013: Points. The offense moved the ball without much of a problem averaging close to 400 yards per game, but it couldn't close out drives with enough points failing to score more than 24 in every game but two. The receiving corps needs to replace a few key parts and quarterback Derek Thompson needs to be more efficient and more effective, especially in the red zone. The special teams, especially the return games, have to be far better after finishing last in the Sun Belt in punt returns and 104th in the nation in kickoff returns.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Offensive linemen. Dan McCarney likes his offensive linemen, and after a year when the Mean Green front five was so strong in pass protection, he knows how to coach them. JUCO transfers Justin Manu at tackle and Shawn McKinney at center are at least ready to step in and help out with the depth, while guards Harrison Sorge, Dominic Walker and Hunter Siddons will be starters in three years. JUCO transfer Brock Berglund is an interesting option to at least fight for the No. 2 job.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 104. That Class Was Heavy On ... The defensive front. Dan McCarney is a defensive coach by nature, and while his group made strides last year, now he wants to improve for the next few years especially at tackle. This will be a class based on variety with a sprinkling of bodies for all spots except for linebacker, which will be the focus in 2013. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 110. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive backs. Dan McCarney likes linemen and wants to load up on the offensive front, but with little time to work, he didn’t do much of anything for the lines. There’s no star power whatsoever in this group, and for the second straight season the program has gone strongest in the secondary with corner Freddie Warner the best of the bunch and Kerry Swarn a long, tall safety with good upside. There isn’t much immediate help from the JUCO ranks.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 117. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive backs. North Texas hasn't played defense in several years, and while the team is still growing and still needs big seasons out of previous classes, head coach Todd Dodge is looking for a big impact from the JUCO ranks with safeties Jamison Hughes and Ryan Dowling and corners Steven Ford, D'Leon McCord and DeAndre Wood to all see time immediately.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 118. That Class Was Heavy On ... Receivers. If you’re going to run the offense head coach Todd Dodge wants to run, you need targets. The Mean Green passing game got an influx of receivers with two JUCO transfers for right now in Jamaal Jackson and Mike Outlaw, while freshman Daniel Mayberry might be the most talented of the lot.