NCAA Football Preview - North Texas Mean Green

Aug 19, 2014 - 3:02 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -

2013 SEASON IN REVIEW: North Texas had a memorable 2013 season after finishing 9-4 overall with an impressive 6-2 mark in Conference-USA that left the Mean Green in a tie for second in the West Division standings.

North Texas concluded its 2013 campaign with a resounding 36-14 victory over UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Jan. 1. Despite the long break from Nov. 30 until the team's bowl game, the Mean Green were still able to handle the Runnin' Rebels with no problem. The blowout was reminiscent of the team's final regular-season contest - a 42-10 destruction of Tulsa.

Defense was the strong point for the Mean Green in 2013. Led by Zach Orr, who registered 123 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, North Texas held opponents to just 231 total first downs on the season, and limited teams to a mere 120.5 rushing yards per outing. Marcus Trice registered nine pass breakups and intercepted a team-high five passes to bolster the defensive backfield.

Head Coach Dan McCarney returns for his fourth season at the helm, and will try to improve on his 18-19 overall record with the Mean Green. North Texas started 2013 strong with a 40-6 win over Idaho, and won five straight games in the middle of the season to help the team achieve the winning record.

2014 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: The good news for North Texas when it comes to offensive starters returning in 2014 is that the offensive line won't need much remodeling. Four of the five 2013 starters are coming back to reclaim their spots up front, including big left tackle Antonio Johnson (6-foot-5, 294 pounds).

The bad news is almost every other positional spot needs filling, starting with quarterback. Last year's signal caller, Derek Thompson, is no longer with the team. Although he only threw 16 touchdown passes compared to 13 interceptions, he still was able to complete 64.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,896 yards. Neither Dajon Williams nor Andrew McNulty, who saw brief time under center last season, threw a touchdown pass in six attempts each. They'll be in a competition with sophomore Josh Greer for the starting role.

"Any day you come out here you know you've got to push yourself and bring your A-game every day because you're fighting for that job," McNulty said. "And there's no comfort zone, taking a day off or anything. You've got to bring it every day and the best man will win the job."

Perhaps a more focal point for the North Texas offense a year ago was running back Brandin Byrd, who dashed for 1,120 yards and 11 touchdowns. He carried the ball 202 times and averaged 5.3 yards per carry, taking into account the minimal 45 yards he lost all season. Antoinne Jimmerson will likely be the starter this year after rushing for 489 yards and seven scores in 2013. Reggie Pegram will also get plenty of touches after scoring six times last season.

The lone returning wide receiver who started in 2013 is Carlos Harris, but his 553 yards and two touchdowns aren't too reassuring. Brelan Chancellor and Darnell Smith, who each caught four touchdown passes last year, are gone, so that leaves room for players like Darvin Kidsy and Darius Terrell to step up.

There will be plenty of changeover from last season to this one, and it may not be so smooth for the Mean Green.

DEFENSE: A lot like the offense, North Texas will have some replacing to do on the defensive side of the ball as well before the 2014 season gets underway.

The Mean Green return four starters from 2013 to the defense, and that doesn't include Orr or Trice, the leading tacklers from a year ago. In fact, of the Mean Green's starting front seven, the only returnee is linebacker Derek Akunne, who registered 90 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss last season.

Up front on the defensive line, not a single starter returns. But that won't deter North Texas, as seniors Daryl Mason and Alexander Lincoln prepare for their shot at plugging the running holes. Junior Austin Orr and sophomore Malik Dilonga could win the other two vacant starting spots.

Thankfully for the Mean Green, the defensive backfield won't be much of a worry. Both Kenny Buyers (78 tackles, three interceptions) and James Jones (67 tackles, seven pass breakups) will likely retake their spots as starting corners, while Lairamie Lee (74 tackles, three interceptions) should have the starting strong safety position locked up yet again.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Special teams is one of the few areas North Texas doesn't have to sweat much about heading into the new season. Both place kicker Zach Paul and punter Blake Macek are returning for 2014. Paul connected on 10-of-15 field goal tries last year, and drilled a long of 48 yards. Macek sent 66 punts flying in 2013 for an average of 41.1 yards, including a long of 61.

OUTLOOK: With so much veteran talent, it was no wonder North Texas had a strong showing during the 2013 season that led to a bowl game win. But with veteran talent comes the prospect of heavy roster fluctuation, which has happened for the Mean Green.

Just nine combined starters return on offense and defense, and following a 9-4 record in 2013, there's a good chance the Mean Green take a bit of a slide backward in 2014. That's not to say it will happen, but with roster turnover, especially at important positions like quarterback, the odds aren't in the team's favor.

"I feel like North Texas is coming up, like everybody's sleeping on us. Everybody don't understand the work ethic we put in inside these white lines every day," Jimmerson said.

Plus the team has a bit of a difficult schedule with which it must contend. North Texas opens up the season against Texas, then has a home bout against SMU in Week 2. The team hosts Louisiana Tech on Sept. 11 to open Conference- USA play, and finishes up non-conference scheduling with Nicholls State (FCS) and Indiana by Oct. 4. The positive for the Mean Green in terms of its schedule is that the team doesn't have to play Marshall in 2014.

But North Texas benefits from playing in a C-USA West Division that, as a whole, took some steps backward after last season. That includes the 2013 West Division champion Rice Owls, who took hits to their roster as well. Which means the representative from the west for the title game is wide open, and North Texas will do everything it can to replicate its success from last season.