Well, this is going to be my first post on here. Decided to take the time to actually sign up for this because of this certain topic. Yes, Tech has 247 yards rushing and 605 passing total yards against them. After reading this, you may not think its such a bad thing. Lets first start off by asking yourself this question…. if this was just another Tech team of past seasons, would they have actually won this game in Nevada??

Im going to say no…. take a look at a similiar game, when the Red Raider were ranked as one of the countries top 30 Defenses before going into Austin. The particular game I am bringing up is the UT/TT game in 2005. Compare the stats of that game to the stats of this past game. Young had a total of 239 yards in the air and 45 yards on the ground; Kaepernick had a total of 264 yards in the air and 92 yards on the ground. Kaepernick produced 25 more passing yards and produced 47 more rushing yards. Even the Nevada total rushing game produced 19 more yards than that of the ’05 UT team. The D in this years game rose to the challenge and the O produced when it was needed most (The Nevada D was all over the offense, kudos to the Wolf Pack). Everyone knows the Offense will produce, but now Tech has a Defense that they can fall on if the offense is out of sync. The UT team of ’05 was within the Tech 30 ATLEAST 6 times and produced TDs everytime. Nevada was within the 30 ten times and produced ONLY 4 FGs. The Tech squad of then would have more than likely of lost 52 (or more)-17. But this time…. that did not happen, Tech won 35-19 (could have made it 42 in the final drive).

Now look at this…. There have only been two teams in the BIG 12 that have had more rushing attempts in these first two games than Tech. A&m with 83 allowing 5.7 a carry and Baylor at 81 allowing 2.6 a carry. Tech has 69 total attempts against this line and has been holding the opposition at 3.6 a carry. This is a drastic improvement to last season, if i would say so. This front line is not giving in, held E. Wash 3 of 15 and Nevada 3 of 16 on third down attempts.

As for the secondary, who would not agree that both these QBs were not very good QB???? One is an exceptional option pass/runner QB and the other is perfectly precise; both are deadly accurate. Secondly, Tech has had the most passing attempts in this first two game stretch. The secondary has had the ball thrown on them a total of 97 times, compared to; Mizzou at 95 times, CU at 89, OSU at 87, UT at 85, KSU at 64, KU at 62 and OU at 59. Out of completions, the yards allowed after the catch are as follows….. TT at 9.9 yards per catch, Mizzou at 13.5 ypc, CU at 8.3 ypc, OSU at 9.9 ypc, UT at 12.9 ypc, KSU at 6.3 ypc, KU at 8.7 ypc and OU at 10.3 ypc. The only teams that I have noticed that have a solid Overall Defense would be Baylor, Colorado, and K St. K St has not even been challenged yet, as for Baylor and Colorado. Baylor had a rough one for their first game under Art Briles against Wake Forrest and Colorado won against EWU in the final 1:44 when they were trailing 21-7 at the half.

This Tech team has been challenged right from the get go, having the 3rd most rushing attempts and the most passing attempts thrown at the Defense. They have held their ground allowing an average of 3.6 yards on the ground and 9.9 in the air. This team has even Intercepted 3 passes in the EWU game and 1 pass in the Nevada game as well as a fumble recovery within the 5 yard line. This depth, talent and the rotation of players has definantly helped this team improve…. a total of 166 attempts combined (most in BIG 12), followed by Mizzou at 158, Baylor at 150, then OSU at 145.

I just dont understand why people look at the total yards allowed and not at the averages. Its almost like Tech has played an extra quarter with these types of numbers. This Defense has grown and has become better than that of previous seasons. In 05 UT destroyed a top 30 defensive team 52-17; Tech had faced a similiar offense this past weekend and held that team to only one TD, winning 35-19. We as fans should support that and understand they have proven themselves. No matter win or lose, this is who i route for, this is my team. I will be watching them the following saturday.