Double-T Nation Daily Diatribe :: 10.12.09
by Seth C on Oct 12, 2009 5:40 AM CDT
in Texas Tech News, Notes and Links
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Busy This Week, Need Assistance with BlogPoll: This is going to be an incredibly busy week for me personally. Everything should be back to normal next week, but my job is to be as honest with you as possible, and as I look at the week ahead I'm going to be very busy. I'm not going to be able to get to a crunching the numbers segment today and I'll probably try to combine that weekly post with a matchup post this week.
But in addition to that, I need help with the BlogPoll. To make my life easier, I thought I'd ask you guys who are the top 12 teams in the nation? You use whatever criteria you feel is appropriate, but give me the top 12 teams in the comments and I'll cobble together DTN ballot for the BlogPoll that's representative of you guys and gals.
Tide Turning: LAJ's Don Williams reports this morning that QB Steven Sheffield is taking more steps to take over at quarterback (I should also mention that RRS.com's Chris Level tweeted (?) that Sheffield is now a captain). Both Captain Mike Leach and Sheffield appreciated the play of the offensive line:
"There’s no question they played better,’’ Leach said. "They played significantly better. I thought the whole offensive line unit played well. I thought (left guard) Lonnie Edwards stepped up and had the best game that he’s had. I thought all five of them played good.’’
Sheffield said the linemen "played their hearts out’’ and "it couldn’t have been easier for me.’’ He said when he leaves the pocket, sometimes it’s to get a better view of receivers. Even if that’s not the case, he said he and his blockers can still make a play work.
"Like I tell them, ‘If one (rusher) is coming up field, don’t quit him on just because he beats you,’ ’’ Sheffield said. " ‘Turn around, and I’m going to step to the side. Block him again, and I’m going to get out of there.’ ’
Football Notebook: LAJ's Don Williams looks at the kicking game this morning, including the thought that I mentioned yesterday, which is that K Donnie Carona needs to be more consistent, but appreciated Carona's ability to make takles:
"There’s no doubt, yeah,’’ Russell said. "Not by design, but we needed it last night. He did a great job in that area, and he’s not afraid. That’s certainly an extra weapon, because teams don’t usually account for 11 (in kickoff coverage) on there. They account for 10. It’s good to have that guy in case something does break down.’’
. . . there is no punter-controversy as current starter Ryan Erxleben will not be unseated by previously suspended P Jonathan LaCour . . . Leach is very happy with the combined effort of the running backs, Baron Batch, Harrison Jeffers and Eric Stephens:
"I thought they did a pretty good variety of things,’’ Tech coach Mike Leach said Sunday. "First of all, we got three (running backs) involved. I thought they all caught the ball well, I thought they all rushed the ball well, and I thought they all blocked well. They complemented each others play pretty good.’’
. . . QB Taylor Potts, C Shawn Byrnes, DE Daniel Howard, S Cody Davis and CB LaRon Moore all returned to practice last night . . .
Other KSU Post-Game Thoughts: TR's dedfischer writes that Texas Tech is getting it right . . . RA's ayleein hands out grades . . . as does LAJ's Don Williams . . .
Big 12 Links: CJOnline's Austin Meek answers 3 questions about KSU vs. TT . . . KC Star's Blair Kerkoff rounds up the college football world . . . Omaha.com's Rich Kaipust writes that Nebraska RB Roy Helu is just fine . . .
2011 Commit, Estacado's Wagner: How about that, per LAJ's Courtney Linehan, Pat Knight has secured the commitment from 2011 point guard, Kevin Wagner (5-8/145), a junior from Estacado:
Wagner has started since his freshman year at Estacado, where his father Tony Wagner is the head boys basketball coach. Kevin helped carry the Matadors all the way to last season’s state championship game, where they lost 68-66 in overtime to Madison.
He said Tech coach Pat Knight has a style he feels fairly familiar with.
"I like the way Pat coaches; it reminds me of my dad," Wagner said. "I play for my dad now, so it will be easy to adapt."
I couldn't find a profile for Wagner on Scout, but was able to find one for Rivals and ESPN. There's no information on Wagner, but maybe some of you local folks could help us out on what type of player Wagner is and what he can do on the court.
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If we can beat Neb. ......
If we can win on the road then my oh my could be a great season. Even if not I think we have begun to find somethings on both side of the ball and remember this is a very young team. If our redshirt guys can stepup next year especially on D ‘10 could be special. Lots left this year and I’m still on board for 9-3. I just wish we had the uh game back. I guess I’m ok with th ut game cause we played as well given all data @ the time. Go Sticks!!!! Wreck’Em Tech
I find it very interesting the things that are evlolving around the qb situation. I don’t know but Mike Leach may have found himself caught between a rock and a hard spot with his oft quoted remarks about avoiding a qb controversy and Sheffield’s demonstrated ability to lead the Air Raid. Yep, things don’t always go according to plan.
It looks as if he is allowing the decision to develop on its own, not in a passive way, but to the team’s best interest. At least for the coming game, it may be smart to allow Potts to continue to ‘heal’ from the concussion. I like that thought because I prefer to never hear about him having a problem from that ever again. Add to that Chris Level’s report about Sheffield as a team captain and it leads to some telling thoughts. It allows us to see that the HC permited such a vote to occur. The vote reflects the team’s perspective about Sheffield as their qb. All Coach Leach has to do is to continue to support that, quietly, and Sheffield will start and Potts can see what happened and be in position to take it in stride and focus on simply working to improve his game.
Kicking game: I am enjoying watching the kicking game develop this season. Primarily due to the acclaim that came with hiring Coach Russell. Expectations developed that we would have killer special teams because we had sought a primier special teams coach, and that it would happen now! I bet we all have been waiting and wondering. I am beginning to think that he has made so many changes, all positive, to get the guys into his ‘system’ that they have taken a step back on the way to the step forward.
Don Williams’ report shows us some insights to the complexity of the kicking game. Accuracy on part of the kicker is a premium…plus Donnie Carona has had some problems. Carona has a heck of a leg, but has shown some difficulties adapting to the game at TTU. He demonstrated that he has a heart for the game as well, I love the thought that he wants to get the guy who is trying to return his kicks !!! IMHO, any guy who plays with that kind of passion gets honored as a gamer.
Running game: I have a thought that I have been massaging since we have been recruiting and signing so many rb’s, perhaps starting with Barron Batch. I think the Air Raid is evolving to a stronger running game by design. We currently have a running back that was a starter as a freshman and who is now playing special teams. That speaks to the talent at rb. There may be more to that than I know but I find myself amazed at that circumstance. And so what does any good OC do? He finds a way to get them on the field after having put in the effort to get them on the team. (But be sure to keep in mind that it is not an issue of ‘balance’ ;-) )
Potts had basically the same concussion that Tebow had. Tebow played, but he didn’t look good, didn’t look sharp out on the field. Had sheffield not shown us something something on saturday, I think that we would be looking to hurry Potts back as Timmeh was hurried back. With Shef showing he’s a gamer, I think that gives us the ability to bring Potts back more slowly and then address this qb controversy again when he’s not just coming off of a concussion (and it is a controversy, no matter what mike says).
But, the starter for nebraska will be a game-time decision wink wink nudge nudge
I kinda like the fact that Nebraska needs to get ready for Pottsfield...
(to borrow part of a brilliant comment by djollie on another post…and expedite the timing a little bit…)
They need to spend analysis, scheme and practice time for both.
Now, on the other edge of the sword, how do we best distribute our prep time/reps?
There was a quote I heard attributed to Potts about last year that has always bothered me. Something to the effect that he could take it easy because he knew GH was out there ahead of him…
I certainly hope that both of these guys keep the attitude and approach that the game and team can be placed in their hands at any time. If that’s the case, then let the quarterback controversy begin! And let’s use whoever we need to in order to make it happen on the field on Saturdays!
by Houston Raider on Oct 12, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Pott's would be in contention to get his job back,
if he would stop THROWING OFF HIS BACK FOOT!!!!!!!. Sorry for the caps, but that kind of stuff drives me nutz.
"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell
top 12, off the top of my head:
1) Alabama
2) Florida
3) Texas
4) Boise State
5) Cincinatti
6) Virginia Tech
7) USC
8) Iowa
9) Ohio State
10) TCU
11) LSU
12) Penn State
Strange that I put 3 big ten schools and 1 big 12.
I can’t say I’m really that excited about USC creeping back towards the top 5 on EVERYONE’S poll. How do you justify USC above Iowa? They haven’t done anything other than beat an overrated Cal team.
by redraiderinhtown on Oct 12, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
My top 12
1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Virginia Tech
4. Iowa
5. Miami
6. LSU
7. USC
8. Oregon
9. Boise State
10. Texas
11. Cincinatti
12. TCU
A lot of these teams are still unproven. If you haven’t played anyone, I don’t think you should be ranked above someone who has played a good team and lost in a close game. That’s why Texas is low on my list.. I think they’re a better unbeaten, untested team than Cincinatti and TCU. Until you beat someone good, how can you be reckoned as better than someone who has proven they can beat or at least play with a quality team?
Ohio State is #13, they can’t be above USC, Oregon has already beaten two good teams in Cal and Utah and lose an emotional, close game against Boise to start the season, and the rest of the teams on my list are unproven unbeatens.
Broke your own rule?
Your apparent Ohio State/USC rule is broken by putting Oregon above Boise. I thought Boise dominated Oregon and pretty much knocked their Heisman “candidate” out of the running.
I think Texas does have one quality win – against Tech, but then, I’m a homer.
Top 12
1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Cincinnati
4. Virginia Tech
5. Texas
6. USC
7. Oregon
8. Ohio State.
9. Iowa
10. South Florida
11. TCU
12. Boise State.
Really, I think beyond the Top 4, everyone else is just a big sack of high level mediocrity.
Find out what it is in life that you don't do well, and then don't do that thing.
Kevin Wagner...
By the way, here’s a video on youtube of him doing some dunks. It’s not him actually playing, but it’s sure exciting to see.
THE CONTRARIAN'S 16
1) ALABAMA
2) FLORIDA
3) TEXAS
4) USC
5) OHIO STATE
6) OKLAHOMA
7) VIRGINIA TECH
8) CINCINNATTI
9) BOISE STATE
10) NEBRASKA
11) MIAMI
12) LSU
13) KANSAS
14) IOWA
15) OREGON
16) TCU
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