"Harrell’s been prone to having a bad game and so far it hasn’t happened, but Harrell’s inconsistencies are troubling. " I would have to say the Nevada came should be counted as a bad game. He played like crap.

As far as I’m concerned, Harrell and the receivers connection has been less than par up to this point. The fact that they have had an average (below average) passing attached and shown signs of a running game is exactly what we need. They will need a running game regardless of how good Harrell is against OU and UT. The OU game last year was pure evidence of that. Home field advantage was our win….OU would have been toast if they had a running game to kill the clock like they showed against Nevada this year. Of course that was Nevada.

The defense is giving up being yards but that’s not a surprise considering the conservative line up call by McNeil. If he brings pressure coupled with the D backs continuation of geling as a unit I think we’ll be pleasently surprised this year. Especially the D line against the run which has killed us every year. I’ve never seen a Tech defense under Leach like McNeil showed in the 3rd quarter of the Nevada game. When he brought pressure the offense had no chance and it was a sight to see. Go Tech!

Unfortunately, I think the kicking game will be our downfall to becoming a BCS bowl team this year.

The best part of college football is you never know!

Folks the Raiders need a dominating series of defensive performances in this 4 game stretch of the 08 campaign. Here’s what I am talking about.
Kansas state: 4 sacks on Josh "I’m the best QB.. " Freeman – 7 hurries and 3 picks or forced fumbles. Punt returns average 15 plus yards per. And no defensive penalties. 3 x Kansas penetrations of the red zone equaling 1 TD and 2 field goals.

Nebraska 5 x first downs (or fewer)in the first half 6 first downs allowed in the second half. 2 penetrations into the red zone 2 field goals or 1 TD and a blocked FG. Less than 150 yards rushing allowed less than 200 yard passing allowed. Hurry Ganz 15 times. Sack him 3 times. Punt returns 1 blocked and we average 15 plus a return. 2 sacks or 2 forced fumbles on special teams getting us the short field. 6 pas break ups all in their end of the field. 1 x penalty by the defense.

Texas A & M 4 x picks off of J. Johnson, 3 sacks and 8 tackles for a loss. Return 2 x KO’s for 50 plus yards. Only allow 6 first half and 4 second half first downs. Hold A& M to less than 175 yards on the ground and 200 (or less) in the air. No defensive penalties for first downs. Recover a fumble in their end of the field.

At Kansas hurry T. Reesing 12 times, sack him 4 times with 10 pass break ups and or 2 Interceptions and 1 blocked FG. Return the punts an average of 15 plus yards. 10 tackles for a loss Allow less than 100 yards on ground with 7 (or less) first half and 6 second half first downs. 3 TDs allowed – 1 at the end of game. 3 penalties or less by the defense but they all stop a scoring attempt. Force 1.5 to 2.0 fumbles recover at least 1.

Note you can redo my math by trading sacks /tipped balls or interceptions- as long as we get the total numbers of great defensive plays. Bottom line if the Raider defense can make our opponents face multiple 3rd and long situations – I feel we can dominate this 4 game stretch. My going in position is the defensive line is the best thing we have. Allowing Coach McNeill to play from 2 scores up ( or down hill) vastly increases our chances of negating a home field advantage or an up and comer playing above themselves. Disrupt, disrupt and force the turnover. Note punt returns(a transition game) are a strength of this team. I will take them (punts) anyway we can get them.

I think this is a part of the team that will get better over time. We have a true Freshman who is playing at a level and is shell shocked right now. Wether or not Williams steps up and becomes the starting kicker remains to be seen. All in all, it will improve.

I see the kicking game as a whole improve and will will see a whole new side of this part of the game starting with Kansas State.

Just remember one thing! Texas Tech is the only team to beat the 12th man recover squad! Lets do it again!!! Because the 12th man is meaningless against our Raiders who have beaten it.

Based on what I have seen from A&M, they are ripe for another to bust off a kick return. Let make them loose their volunteer group like we did in the past.

As for the rest of the team all things hinge on the defense. Stopping the Run has to be main priority! I can live with 270 yards of passing. I can not live with more than 130 rushing!

Tech season will live or die with how well our boys defend the rush. Stop the rush and you will see a team fall. Its why Leach has failed in the past!

We have to have an agressive front 4 who will stuff the run and force teams to be pass only. Only then will we have a BCS team. Offensively, Harrell has to stop trying to throw a TD every time he makes a pass. Sometimes you only get a 7 yard play and that’s it.

That is the difference this year verses last year. Harrell is trying to throw the TD every down rather than just passing to the play which the D gives him. Once Harrell stops trying to pass the TD every down will his numbers increase and we will see the return of last years type of numbers.