Texas Tech Blog
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September 25, 2009
Texas Tech Recap
BY: Jason Nafziger
Big wins over North Dakota and Rice led into a 10-point loss to
Texas.
Stats so far: Tech is 117th with 1.69 yards per rush attempt and 43rd with
7.7 yards per passing attempt. Overall, they have scored 39 points and
gained 473 yards on offense per game. Defensively, they are 18th with 2.55
yards allowed per rush attempt and 18th with 5.2 yards allowed per pass
attempt. Overall, they have allowed 19 points and 268 yards per game.
Coming up: The Red Raiders to bounce back quickly to avoid losing to
wannabe BCS Buster Houston. New Mexico and Kansas State follow in two games
that should be wins.
Jason Nafziger writes about Pro and College Football at
http://onfootball.wordpress.com
August 28, 2009
Welcome to the Red Raider Review!
By: Joe Spang
Here are some notes and predictions as we are about one week away from the Red Raiders’ first game!
- RB Baron Batch has returned to practice and all indications are that he should be fine after the arm injury. He is wearing a protective sleeve. Early reports were that Batch could miss some games, but that does not look like it will happen.
-Former QB Sonny Cumbie spent a good deal of time working with the QB’s during camp.
-WR Austin Zouzalik has had and impressive start to the season and some reports are that he could challenge for a starting spot inside at one of the slot positions. Phil actually had him pretty low on the depth chart, but Zouzalik has had a great start to the season.
-Taylor Potts continues to look like he will step in and continue the success of Red Raider quarterbacks. I’m sure he will struggle at times, but I feel confident that the offense will put points on the board. I’ve said it before, but the success of this team will depend on defensive stops.
-Rajon Henley, who Phil projected as a starting DT has moved to the outside to help with the pass rush. Reports are that he dropped 20lbs. Pass rush is a definite concern.
-So here it is, the Red Raider Review’s season forecast: 8 wins in the rugged Big 12 South. They will keep their winning season streak alive and return to a bowl game. I see the road games at Houston and at Nebraska as a possible losses that I have as wins right now.
August 12, 2009
Welcome to the Red Raider Review!
By: Joe Spang
--105 players officially reported to Red Raider camp on Friday (8/7).
--A lot of the sentiment coming from the team centers around trying to prove that last year was no fluke. While Tech has been successful over the years (see previous blog), they are not considered one of the big boys in the Big 12. I think it will be difficult to say the least with the Big 12 South so loaded this year but I expect another bowl game. A lot of the focus has been on the losses on the offensive side of the ball, but I think the defensive losses are just as important. I feel pretty confident that this offense will continue to put up points, but at some point you have to be able to get stops on the defensive side of the ball. Big concern there.
--In camp so far there seems to be a renewed focus on special teams, and the staff has said they will continue to focus on this phase of the game. Obviously the kicking game needs to be sorted out. In Phil's rankings last year the team fell to #25 after achieving their highest ever ranking of #18 in '07.
--Senior WR Landon Hoefer has left the team, ending his career, and has accepted a graduate assistant position at Memphis.
--Redshirt Freshman Safety Cody Davis has been impressive thus far in camp and as Phil projected has a handle on the starting SS position.
-- Here is a link to a story on ESPN.com about Taylor Potts as the next in line at the helm of Mike Leach's spread offense. Great input from previous starters like Kingsbury, Hodges, etc. and their relationship with Leach.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4327472Thanks,
Joe
July 28, 2009
Welcome to the Red Raider Review
By: Joe Spang
Offseason news and notes:
Coming off of last year’s 11 win season one of the big questions was the replacement of Graham Harrell. Taylor Potts will be the starter and actually has more experience than the new Tech starters have had in recent years. Don’t just assume Potts will put up big numbers because of the system he is in. He is the real deal. Mike Leach has continued to praise his progress throughout the spring and summer.
A lot was made of the Mike Leach contract situation. The coach was almost gone after not inking a 5 year extension. It was a unique experience that garnered a lot of national attention.
Questions on defense will be on the defensive line and at safety. The new safeties will need some help from the pass rush
The kicking game continues to be an area of concern. The coaching staff hoped Donnie Carona would straighten things out but he continued to struggle in the spring.
Phil noted in the preview that DE McKinner Dixon was questionable for the fall. It looks even more unlikely that he will be available. This will not help the pass rush needs.
The Big 12 South is loaded! 3 Teams show up in most publications’ Top 10.Statistics of interest:
Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree leave the Tech program as the career passing and receiving leaders respectively.
2008 and 2005 are the only 2 seasons in the last 7 that the Red Raiders had a + turnover ratio. Texas Tech went to the Cotton Bowl in each of those seasons.
The Tech defense gave up a 64.3% pass completion against last season. Way above normal.
Texas Tech is the only Big 12 team to post a winning record in every year of the conference’s existence.
As we get closer to the season I will have some predictions, take a look at what Vegas thinks, and much more.
Throughout the season I will be recapping each game and then later in the week offer a preview of the upcoming game. I love to focus on the statistics side of things. Yes, stats can be misleading, but the majority of the time the stats do not lie. The story of the game is told in the boxscore.
Thanks- Joe