What's the deal?

by CoachT on Jan 15, 2008 4:18 PM CST Comment 19 comments

I haven't posted in a while but there was some news down here in Austin that got me thinking. For a long time most of us on this site have complained about defense, and justifiably so.
I heard on the news that Mack Brown has hired a DC from Auburn(?). What's up with that? He has Duane Akina but still goes out and hires another DC? We can't seem to attract a DC to Tech but Mack can get two?

Please help me understand this one...

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True

Social experiment in perception and interpretation:

Unless the rock I live under lost an internet connection, we're a couple of weeks out from our last game and Pirate Boy still hasn't named Ruffian (I know, that's not his name...but it fits) his full-time DC. He clearly doesn't see a need because, 1. Pirate could give a rat's a** about defense; 2. He can't make up his mind about what a DC really does; 3. He has 25 scholarships to give...let's go ALL offense; 4. Ruffin ain't his guy for the job; 5. He's going after the hot young defensive name...Major Applewhite.

Let's see how many don't get this.

by Tech92 on Jan 15, 2008 6:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe it!

Applewhite went back to UT after the way Mack Brown treated him? I mean, he was doing well until the rich, NFL quarterback daddy shows up and demands his son start. So after a heafty donation to UT athletics, Simms starts and Applewhite is benched.

After that, Applewhite wants to come back and play for the coach that did that to him? I guess the guy likes to be walked on?

by CoachT on Jan 17, 2008 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

applewhite

He coach offense not defense. Secondly I do think Ruffin can do the job. He was offered several DC coaching jobs the last couple of years, but turned them down so his family wouldn't have to move again. I also think we need talent and this years recruiting class is looking like a dud. We seem to be recruiting random positions and not focusing on what we really need ie. defensive players. I do agree with you that Leach does need to spend some time and develop a good defense. I would think he would want to bc a good defense = your getting the ball on offense more.

by ST04 on Jan 20, 2008 8:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i think

the applewhite comment was a joke... a snipe at the perception that Leach only recruits offense.

also, i realized that the OP mentioned Duane Akina... he is horrible, though, so he's no asset when he's leading your defense (only when he's able to concentrate on teaching your secondary)

by kayakyakr on Jan 21, 2008 12:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Texas has won 10 games or more each of the past like 6 years. Tech has won 9 games only twice in Leach's 7 years here (maybe 8 now). Tech is historically known as a horrible defensive team....(see 2003)....we had the #1 offense in the country and the #119 defense in the country. Absolute opposite ends of the spectrum.

Maybe that is a reason

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Jan 15, 2008 8:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

additional

Do you think there are any defensive coaches that would be interested in helping build a defense rather than inherit one? I don't know who is out there with that mentality, but there has to be someone out there who would love the challenge.

Since Leach hasn't named Ruffin, I'm guessing he is interviewing prospects for the DC job, but this is only a guess. It could be that Leach doesn't care and will let Ruffin have the job out of loyalty.

by CoachT on Jan 17, 2008 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I may be

one of the only people who feels this way, but I think that Ruffin should be our DC. He did an amazing job filling in with what he had to work with. He couldn't really change much because he had one week to prepare for the next game. He has already expressed interest in the full-time DC job and he has said that there are some changes that need to be made that he couldn't really change much mid-season.

I do know this if Ruffin is hired as our DC:
-our defense will be much tougher.
-our defense will play with a lot of passion.
-favorites will not be played. Ruff wants to get the best kids on the field, and I trust that he will not play favorites or seniority.

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Jan 18, 2008 2:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Patterns

There's a definite pattern in our defensive improvement: since '03 we've been (approximations because i've forgotten the actual numbers) 105th (Houston), 60th (Holiday), 18th (Cotton), 80th (insight), and 30th (Gator) in scoring.

Since I like dreaming and being optimistic about these things, I estimate that that will put TTU at 12th in scoring defense next year. Each time we've finished above 30th, we've gone to a new year's bowl (though this year's was a bit of a fluke).

I wouldn't start worrying until the season's about to get underway (or if we still have an interim DC in June).

Would be nice to see a LB or two in this recruiting class, though.

by kayakyakr on Jan 15, 2008 10:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It is always good

to bring in solid talent at every position, but I don't feel the immediate need for a LB in this class. Look what we have at LB on the current roster:

Marlon Williams--starter at OLB
Victor Hunter--likely starter at MLB
Brian Duncan--starter at OLB
Blake Collier--backup at OLB
Sam Fehoko--backup at MLB; supposedly going to be a stud!
Bront Bird--backup at OLB
Julius Howard--backup at OLB
Tyrone Sonier--redshirt in '07

That is 8 very eligible and solid linebackers to play 3 spots. There really isn't much room for anybody right now. Of the 8, there will be 3 juniors, 3 soph, and 2 freshmen. This is a fairly young group that we have for next year.

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Jan 16, 2008 1:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What about DT?

I'm really worried about the near total absence of effort to recruit a DT or two. The major 4 star we were recruiting committed to Oklahoma, so it really leaves Broderic Marshall as our only outstanding DT. He's a JUCO by the way, and will only be around for a couple of years.

Leach has gone after more receivers! Great, but do we really need more receivers this year? Which coach is recruiting for DT? Whitlock got pushed around alot this year, and Henly and Jones just looked mediocre. I hope Bobby Agoucha can make an impact, but after him our depth is pretty shallow.

by CoachT on Jan 17, 2008 7:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We have

whiffed on 2 really good DT's this recruiting season. 2 four-star guys that would have probably started from day one, those being Stacy McGee and Swanson Miller.

I wouldn't give up all hope though. There is currently a guy by the name of Daniel Calvin who is a JUCO DT who is a four-star player. This guy has Tech in his top 2 along with Kansas State. This is our chance to bring in an impact player to the D-Line.

For the record, I thought that Whitlock did an exceptional job for being a true freshman starting at DT in the Big 12. Also, if it were not for Rajon Henley, we would not have won the Gator Bowl. His forced fumble (which was recovered by Whitlock) was the play that changed that game.

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Jan 18, 2008 2:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

who's the man?

Do you or anyone else, know which coach is recruiting for DT? The times I have looked at Rivals or Scout, Tech doesn't have a DT as a prospect for the team.
I think JUCOs are a weekness because they are only aroud for a couple of years which isn't a lot of time to make an impact, then they have to be replaced.
It would be a good sign to all of us fans, if Leach were putting effort and a couple of scholarships out there for Defense.
I agree Whitlock was doing the best he could as a freshman in the Big 12, but he was overmatched most of the time. The big plays he had and Henly had were great, but not consistent. These guys need help and Leach is ignoring them and the fans by ignoring his defense.

by CoachT on Jan 18, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah,

but what if these guys look like they're not any good? Having numbers does nothing. If you have a lot of them, and they are all crap, you have a lot of crap : )

I think LB is by far our worst fielded position.

by Tech92 on Jan 17, 2008 3:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Linebacker is a very deep position for us and we have a number of players who are very talented.

I just feel that every recruiting class should have at least one player at every position, regardless of the need. Have 12 o-linemen? Should pick up at least 1 extra. Have 8 LB? Still get another. 20 WR? Room for 1 more. That keeps a little bit of depth coming in every year.

by kayakyakr on Jan 17, 2008 9:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am also

going to have to disagree with that.

I will be honest, Chad Hill and Kellen Tillman flat out sucked for us this year. I want to believe that there was something good that they did this past year, but nothing is coming to mind.....That is why we saw a sophomore and a RS freshman unseat them mid-season.

Marlon Williams was very good all year long for us and seems to always be around the football. Brian Duncan showed that he can be a great player when he got the chance. He led the team in tackles in his first 2 starts.

I think that we are going to see a lot more out of this group over the next 2 seasons. I think one reason why they have been so bad was the DC. Lyle was an aweful coach. He taught to read and react, not to attack....which was a huge mistake. Personally, I saw improvement from this group over the course of the season. I think we can expect more out of this group from now on.

P.S. Keep an eye on Sam Fehoko

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Jan 18, 2008 2:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope

you and kayak are right, because bad LBs are the EXACT reason our defense is tradtionally in the either slightly below average or awful. If there is a diamond in the rough, I'm all for that. But based on the play this year, they sucked. No way you can argue that. Being around the ball 15 yards down field doesn't count as "being around the ball." Know what I mean?

I don't ever recall one of our LBs standing up a guard and letting his outside or inside partner make the play. Obviously, I'm sure that happened but you get my point. They didn't stand out all game long. Ever.

If that's a function of scheme over talent, I'd be shocked. These coaches don't make six figures to do this because they're clueless about the talent around them. Their jobs are on the line.

by Tech92 on Jan 18, 2008 5:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Tech defense

did get better as the year progressed. How much better can we expect if Ruf is given the DC position? No one can say unless it happens. He knows Leach and what he wants to do in a game. Therefore, he should be able to get his defense to do what is needed for Tech to be better than the past year. He knows the returning talent and who is most likely to achive a higher level of play. I say give Ruf the D and ride him. A different DC may not even get along with the rest of the staff or the players, but we know the D & staff loves Ruf. C'mon CoachT, get off Ruf's ass and let him be.....GO TECH!

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on Jan 18, 2008 9:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

easy now

I'm not against Ruffan, but I am against Leach taking so long to pick the new DC. I think we should give Ruff 3 years to show what he's got.

If I were Ruff, waiting this long doesn't look like a vote of confidence from Leach, and that's the problem.

If Leach doesn't want Ruff, then he needs to get out there and start recruiting another DC candidate.

by CoachT on Jan 21, 2008 6:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LB's

I don't agree that LB's is our weakest point. I have to say it is the D-Line. They get pushed around every game. The worst are the ends. They never contain the outside. Everytime they come inside and give up a big play to the outside. All the best defenses have players who know their role, and keep their position. If you can keep all the running inside the tackles you are going to have much better success than letting them get to the outside. The other part is our tackles. If they are good then they will get double teamed, and free up the LB's. I think the D-Line is the Quarterback of the defense. There has never been a good defense in the history of football without a good D-Line. They free everyone else up. Then you just need LB's that are fast and can tackle. We need a couple 340 lbs guys that just don't get moved.
I also think that recruiting some guys from high school is they way to go. Get some players that can play for 4 yrs. J.C. helps now but not in the long run.
My last point is about D.C. I am cool with Ruffin or if they bring in someone. It doesn't matter to me. What matters is that we do it soon so the recruits can decide if they would like to play for that guy. It makes it hard to recruit without the recruits knowing who they would be playing for. Go Raider!

by graider on Jan 19, 2008 10:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs