North Texas coach Eric Morris pledged to closely evaluate the Mean Green’s defensive performance following their season-opening victory over South Alabama last week.
Despite their 52-38 win reflecting progress from a challenging 2023 season, Morris and his players felt it fell short of expectations. The coaching staff gained valuable insights into the team’s current standing and areas for improvement as they prepare for their home opener against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.
Morris highlighted the team’s strong play in the third quarter, where they limited the Jaguars to just seven points, but noted there are still key areas for enhancement.
“Communication was the biggest issue,” he remarked. “We had some breakdowns when fatigue set in and players didn’t execute, which is critical, especially on defense. We need to improve our communication this week.”
The Mean Green allowed a few large plays due to miscommunication. To tackle these issues, Morris is considering adjustments to their defensive lineup and rotation.
“After the first week, we assess which players can handle certain responsibilities and adjust their play counts accordingly,” he explained. “If someone had 40 snaps, we might reduce that to 25 or 30, which is more manageable.”
Transfer safety Jayden Hill, who recorded nine tackles in the game, echoed the need for improved communication among players.
“We have many guys rotating in the back end,” Hill said. “We need to communicate and establish a standard. I don’t see that consistency yet, but we’re committed to growing from this. In the upcoming practices, we have to work hard to figure things out and determine our best lineup.”
While UNT’s defensive performance is a work in progress, they did show signs of improvement against South Alabama. They limited the Jaguars to 150 rushing yards, a significant drop from the 255.2 yards per game they allowed last season.
“Stopping the run is our primary focus,” Hill asserted. “We’ll need to build on that and start making quicker plays in the coming weeks.”
Chandler Morris Nominated for Weekly Award
UNT quarterback Chandler Morris has been nominated for the prestigious Manning Award, which recognizes the top quarterback in the nation. In the game against South Alabama, Morris threw for 415 yards, rushed for 17 yards, and accounted for five touchdowns. Fans can cast their votes online until 9 a.m. Thursday. He was also named the American Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Mercer Shines as UNT Awaits Key Players
During the victory over South Alabama, UNT had to rely on freshman center Tyler Mercer after starter Jett Duncan suffered an ankle injury. Mercer performed exceptionally well and may play a crucial role again this week as the Mean Green await the return of several important players.
“Tyler demonstrated great maturity when he took the field, and we didn’t miss a beat,” said coach Eric Morris.
Duncan participated in practice on Tuesday; his availability is still a day-to-day situation. UNT is also monitoring guard Gabe Blair and wide receiver Landon Sides as they recover from injuries that sidelined them in the season opener. Morris indicated that Sides’ status will be decided on game day.
Additionally, UNT has suspended defensive backs David Spruiells, BJ Allen Jr., and X’Avion Brice indefinitely before the season began. Morris confirmed that all three remain suspended.
UNT Aiming for Strong Turnout at Home Opener
Eric Morris and the Mean Green are optimistic about drawing a large crowd for their home opener. “I hope it will be well-attended,” he said. “These players are putting in hard work and deserve full support from our fans, the student section, and the Maniacs [UNT’s student fan group] to create a vibrant college atmosphere.
“That has been a challenge in Denton, but it’s getting better.”
Morris: Young Overcame Cramping on Trick Play
UNT has been exploring creative ways to utilize wide receiver Wyatt Young’s diverse talents. The freshman, who was an all-state all-purpose player, completed a 31-yard pass to Damon Ward Jr. that set up a touchdown in the third quarter against South Alabama.
The trick play involving Chandler Morris and Young almost didn’t go as intended.
“It was a terrible pass, wasn’t it?” Coach Morris remarked. “If you watch, he started cramping while going in motion and was hobbling the whole time. He threw great in practice as a former high school quarterback.
“Ward was wide open, and I was just glad we got it completed.”
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