Random things to worry about against Nebraska

Just in time for league road play we begin a new controversy.  New tech starting QB (he’s fun to watch), Secondary playing well. LB’s leading the team in tackles. The sack total is clawing upward to replace the 22 each by M. Dixon and B. Williams. Every Tech  receiver seems to have suddenly regained their sure handedness (is that a word?).

Things to worry about: Not so sticky hands for the defense.  By my count we dropped 3 x catchable interceptions against K state. We’ll need those three turnovers against Z. Lee and the Husker offense.  Just based on Helu and Burkheads running in the Mizzou game looks to be very tough match up for the Raider Dline. Graves, Wade and Perry need to step up and help out Hunter, Whitlock and Jones. The NE O line is pretty fearsome lot. Without an effective rotation we’ll see the starters gasping for air very quickly.  Heres to hoping D. Howard is back at and @100%. Ugh. We really need three tipped Zac Lee passes in this one.

On offense the roll out or more politely run away from whichever side Mr. Suh is on seems to be in order.  I know CPT Leach never changes plays or schemes but somehow we’ve got to get 100 yards rushing on Nebraska. It’s just imperative. If we don’t make the NE LB’s respect the run our short throwing game is going to be just that. Short. No gain. Ineffective.  These guys tackle very well in space. I’d say NE defense is just about equal to UT’s just bit slower in the secondary. But much better D line performers than UT’s.  Here to hoping that Stephens, Jeffers and most especially Batch can have a big day. I am liking what I see from the O line and Sticks is a slippery character but this opponent is making money rushing only 4. It’s working for them and they aren’t giving anybody more than 3.5 seconds to get the ball out. Last time I checked none of our receivers runs a sub 3.5 forty. Without a Raider run game it’s problematic if we can prevail with YAC yardage against these sure handed tacklers.

Special teams: Raider Kick coverage is improving but remember this is the NE team which parlayed 2 x  monster series off  of special teams play and  scored 7 points on us in Lubbock in 08.  A 50 plus yard kickoff return - result a missed FG as time expired in the first half. Their kicker barely missed it too - only because of 2 x holding penalties by NE pushed them back. Late in the game the fake FG for a first and goal resulted in a NE TD and ultimately an overtime scare fest because of a missed extra point by Tech. So what am I predicting for this unit? Well we almost got 2 x  blocked punts against K state. Pelini also saw this so don’t expect any foul ups by NE special teams here. However a strip of the return man by the Raiders would be very timely. We need a big day from this unit just to ensure Sticks gets the opportunity to get us 2 x scores up on the Big Red machine.

Last the Road game odds.

I am sick of a Leach team going to a stadium not named the Jones and having a poor showing.  Let’s do  a 2 year recount  of not so good away games: Stillwater 07  ok it was exciting, Austin 07  a  letdown, Gator bowl ugly up the last minute, Reno 08  what the heck  over?, Norman 09 Oh crap!  Dallas in 09 nope still jinxed, Austin 09 again disappointed and then Houston by 1 x point !?! Let’s just stop having weak performances on 55 % of the road trips please.