Monday's Five Questions
by Seth C on Nov 23, 2009 8:02 AM CST
30 comments
Over 50 comments in the first week of Monday's Five Questions makes me think I should have been doing this all along. Thus, five questions about the football and basketball team. Please answer in the comments.
1. When you think about the offense from 2008 to 2009, how much do you account for the decline in the 2009 offense due to Crabtree going onto the NFL? Is it fair to judge Potts or Sheffield on Harrell's 2007 and 2008 numbers, especially when Harrell had the luxury of one of the best receivers to play the collegiate game?
2. If the defense continues to produce sacks and pressure on the offense with just the front four linemen, do you care if Ruffin McNeill is not as aggressive in scheme and play-calling with linebackers and defensive backs blitzing?
3. Same question as last week, on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the least worried and 10 being the most worried, what are your general thoughts about the Baylor Bears, who lost to the Aggies, 38-3?
4. The men's basketball team is off to a 5-0 start, which was the same record last year. This year, Texas Tech is holding opponents to 59 points a game while last year it was 77 points a game. Do you think the defensive turnaround is because of an emphasis on defense or better athletes?
5. What's been the biggest surprise this year? Is it G David Tairu's 10.8 points a game on 51.3% shooting or Darko Cohadarevic's 9.4 points and 7.0 boards a game? Anyone else?
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I like this game!!! :)
1. i don’t think the decline can be attributed to the loss of crabs… at least not the majority of it… I suppose there could be some amount of loss due to that… but i think the biggest problem we have had has been our losses on the Offensive line… they just plain weren’t the same and didn’t allow a lot of the same time that Harrell had… I think that as a whole we were struggling with the O-line and QB positions and not in any relation to WR… in other words… if we still had crabtree this year… i don’t think Nick or Sticks would be any better
2. No and yes… if we can keep it up… and they stay healthy… then yes, i’m ok with that… but i think that we need to haev some ready… and to really have them ready… i think we need to have a few more done in games… what happens if we have further losses on the front 4 and suddenly can’t get the same pressure… we need it… for now i’m content… but i think we’re capable of better…
3. In general I think that my worry is unwarranted… but after last year being close… and this being on a neutral field, i still have to say 4-5… i feel it really should be like 1-2, maybe 3… but i can’t help the weird knot in my stomach… i hope that our boys feel the same way and perform like they did this last saturday.
(wait… we started playing basketball already?!?!? WOO UNDEFEATED!!!!!! ;) jk)
4. I think it’s kind of both. I haven’t begun to really dive into the basketball stuff yet but from what i recall reading was the PK started focusing on both… and the recruits we have are the no-named ju-co people that he got specifically for their athletic ability so that he could focus on a more physical defense… so… 50/50????
5. I gotta go with Tairu for me personally… i didn’t even know that…
Wreck 'Em Tech!
J.T.H.
by redraidersax on Nov 23, 2009 8:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
1. I don’t account for Crabtree when making this call. This is strictly o-line play, which is getting better as we speak. We have plenty of good receivers that make big plays and fantastic catches.
2. As long as we leave some sort of “spy” in I don’t care what he does. He’s doing a damn fine job!!
3. I’ll give Baylor a 5. The new QB is making strides and making plays. Hopefully we can contain him and come away with a big win.
And again, I’m focused to much on Football to even think about Basketball…….
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
by KWashburn on Nov 23, 2009 8:36 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
1) I don’t think we can discount the loss of Crabtree (what would we be saying about Potts if he had stayed?) but I agree with redraidersax regarding the biggest factor being the loss of 3 starters on the line. This, coupled with injuries on the line & QB have made it really difficult to get anything resembling consistent rolling.
2) If the Dl doesn’t need help to generate pressure, keep containment, and fill gaps then committing unnecessary personnel is a waste. But as we saw against aggie, when they are not doing this, we need to be able to switch schemes to something that is effective.
3) 5. I worry more about our own hangover, coming in unfocused, and playing a team that is feeling a lot of disappointment and looking for something positive from this season to carry over.
4) Defensive focus, definitely. Last year, we were trying to push the temp and do a lot of running. We basically ignored defense and because we were trying to push the ball up the floor, had guys out of position. This year, we are not pushing tempo and playing more solid half court D. If we had significant;y better athletes, we would be able to push tempo AND play better D, not just one.
5) I say the absence of big Lew is the biggest surprise. I expected him to come out like a house on fire, based on his season last year. He is not seeing many minutes and is not producing much. Except fouls.
by NM99 on Nov 23, 2009 8:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
On #1, I agree somewhat about the O-line, but it’s not like Harrell didn’t do quite a bit of scrambling around last year. But for some reason we just haven’t had the open receivers we had last year. I guess you have to attribute some of it to the defense not concentrating on Crabs, but overall the receiving corps just hasn’t seemed the same this year. The lack of a running game hasn’t helped in this department either, but I’m not sure how much of that is the O-line and how much has been play calling/QB reads. dedfisher had an observation recently that we may have focused our recruiting on the O-line to the neglect of receivers.
#2, I agree with NM99 about Ruffin’s inability or unwillingness to adjust when something just isn’t working. I’m not ready to toss him until he gets a full crew of his recruits on the field, but it’s really frustrating to see teams just pick on the same weakness all game long.
by TechFirst on Nov 23, 2009 8:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I wrote a big response and my stupid microsoft IE crashed. so here is a summary
1. No excuses for Potts. Detron is NFL. G Harrell would not have lost 4 games. Did anyone really feel that we could score at any point this year? Thats a tech trademark and it didn’t happen this year. O line deserves some blame but QB was the problem. And I’m extrememly proud of Potts and what he did against OU. Still just calling it like I see it. We never hit that Tech offensive rhythm.
2. Ruffs initial package is fine but he makes ZERO adjustments. Against a&m just start blitzing or something. I’m pretty sure they scored anyways. Would it hurt to possible get a few big plays. He needs to adjust. That being said Ruff is the man, except when he doesnt adjust.
3. Baylor worries me at about a 5. A&M was horrible and killed us. ANything can happen.
4 and 5. Basketball started???
by logan5555 on Nov 23, 2009 9:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
disagree on #1
Not to be too “lenient” on QB play this year, but I remember the Graham Harrell that threw a bunch of interceptinos against Missouri and lost to them on the road AND at home. I remember the Harrell that lost to a terrible Colorado team. And maybe most importantly I remember a Harrell who could not do anything before garbage time in last year’s OU game. (not: this does not diminish or erase my memories of Harrell from the UT game or the Gator Bowl or any other great performances he had) But I think Harrell had the same problem as Potts, but less pronounced in his senior year. I worried that Graham Harrell would not get drafted specifically because from what I saw he tended to have his performance drop precipitously when he had a man in his face. I’m not saying he wasn’t tough or couldn’t take a hit. But Harrell would throw BAD passes if you got close to him. He would often make good decisions, and he’d “throw it away” or scramble a few times, but he would also throw into double and triple coverage if he had a DT grabbing for him.
Taylor Potts is the same way, with two crucial issues making it worse. #1, as noted by me and others, this year’s O-Line was pretty green and let a LOT more pressure get to Potts than last year’s Line allowed toward Harrell. I think it’s no accident that we were fired up for the UT game (last year) more than any other and UT’s defense almost never got near Harrell, and on the other hand, OU got more sacks than any other team on us last year. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I think we’re at LEAST 10-2 at season’s end this year if you only replace our O-Line with last year’s (but dropping Harrell and Crabtree for this year’s players). I think it’s POSSIBLE we’d be in it for the Big-12 title, maybe even undefeated if the only major change from last year was Harrell→Potts. (Crabtree could’ve possibly put us over the top for the UT game, but I don’t think is the main reason for this year’s performance). But #2, I think that last year, Harrell as a senior had better timing and “speed”, I think he new how much time he had when the protection broke and got the bale out when needed MOST of the time. Potts isn’t there yet. He makes bad decisions when he sees the pressure coming and he either waits too long or not long enough when he’s under pressure. That’s what happens with a new QB and I think between the shuffling and getting his bell rung in the UT game it’s been a project. If we can hold off the “bad game” next year, I think “Nick” can take us quite a ways if we let him do it, but it’ll be crucial for us to get a cohesive O-Line as well, without that, we’ll lose a couple on spotty QB play if he doesn’t improve, but realistically, without good Line play we’ll probably lose sticks for a few games ANYWAY if he takes a bunch of licks.
by HeeroTX on Nov 23, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If you just trade potts for harrell from last years team i say we are still at 8-4 at the end of the season. maybe 9-3. QB is the most important position and its been a tough year for our qbs. And as you say harrell had better timing and speed. Sticks also has better timing and speed but he got hurt. Timing and speed are very important.
I’ll agree with many of your points though about harrell being very bad at times his first year as well as this years o line hasn’t always been the best. but I’m sticking with we needed potts to have a better year as our biggest factor by a mile.
That being said he appears to be more comfortable and I look forward to a big year from him next year and a big 12 championship. If he comes back contrary to rumors I keep hearing of him quitting the team.
by logan5555 on Nov 23, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I dunno...
With last years team (but Potts→Harrell), I think we win the Houston game pretty handily. (I’d say Crabtree would be good for at LEAST +7 in that game) Tough call to be sure, but I also think we could’ve taken OSU with Potts but everyone else from last year back. I think it’s entirely realistic to say either of those games were winnable THIS year, and I think better blindside blocking or an incredibly talented and reliable Crabtree puts us over the top. aTm was a terrible game, only thing last year’s group gives us is more experience and probably not losing that based on pride. But with the horrid score I’ll notch that as a loss regardless. UT was a close game and with last year’s line I don’t think we give up that sack that we fumbled, but on the road in Austin and starting a new QB, I’ll say we lose that one also (as I expected at the outset, even if Potts was a great as expected). So by my count we’d be 9-2 now most likely 10-2 at season’s end. I can understand thinking we lose the road game at OSU regardless if all else is equal sans Harrell and Crabtree (not SURE I agree, but I can understand that), but with what we gave up (and the POWER of Vazquez and especially Reed) I bet we make that 1st down in Houston, and I bet Potts plays better overall with more time. I think 9-3 would’ve been a MINIMUM this year if all else was equal, except for QB (and maybe Crabtree).
by HeeroTX on Nov 23, 2009 12:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Just a note
That H2H that caused the fumble was Winn’s fault and he would have been there last year, too,
by TechFirst on Nov 23, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
fine we can agree to disagree. I won’t say I think you are crazy but harrell was the best qb in the nation last year and potts is not even close. When you pass the ball like we do a new qb is a big deal.
Yes we need the O line to be better and they will be next year. But if Potts plays the same next year then we will be 8-4 again. QB play in a leach offense is the driving factor.
I figure we at least agree that Potts has improved a lot and that if Potts played like he did Saturday we would probably be 10-2 this year if not 11-1. I really believe that it has made that big of a difference. I mean Potts would have lost to UNM if we would have left him in. (hypothetically without any injury occuring) Then Sticks torches them. QB play is king in this offense and Potts is coming along but certainly was not there this year. Heck even OU goes from national championship to 4th in their division after losing a qb. its a big deal.
I just look forward to Potts gaining confidence and destroying baylor. Winning a bowl and gaining momentum into next season.
by logan5555 on Nov 23, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think Potts is a Harrell starter kit, but I also think the fact that our Oline has been nothing short of terrible for long stretches has made the transition for Potts that much more difficult.
by Tech92 on Nov 23, 2009 2:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
- I think it has been a combo of Crab/OL. I knew the 3 seniors were good last year on our OL but I did underestimate them. They really were great. That also helped Carter/Winn be so much better and as good as they are they are not awesome on their own. Also, would have Crabtree made a difference, YES!!!!!!!!! He would brought so much to the receivers. But I think we got spoiled and overall our receivers have been very good. Did we drop some? yes, and I think we are so deep that in the spring you better catch it or you go to the doghouse. I just want Swindall/Lewis not to disappear like they do @ times, but again the O’s problem this year has been consistancy in every area and yet we lost on the road to 3 top 20 teams by 18 points. Anyway, next year should be awesome!!!!!!
- AS Capt Leach fits TTech so do Ruff! I love his spark and I think our D is so much better. Recruiting is getting so much better on the D side and I think it will continue. We are getting real speed and if the 40 times are even close for our new guys coming in then TTech will be very fast on the D. I think he will continue to change as our athelets change and I have every confidence in Ruff. Just look at the progress since osu(copycats) ‘07. The D is just like the O it needs to become totally consistant and I think it will. Wreck’Em Tech
by techgolf44 on Nov 23, 2009 9:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
1. As I’ve said since mid-season, I place more “blame” (for lack of a better word) on the losses of Vazquez and Reed than I do on the loss of Crabtree (especially if you look at all the hits Potts took on his blindside early on). Make no mistake, I love what Michael Crabtree brought to our program and there are specific games (like possibly that great Texas game of last year) that we lose without him. That said, you need look no further than Symons and Cumbie, etc. to see that our QBs could put up numbers with various receivers, and you need look no further than Wes Welker to see that we often bring little heralded but no less skilled receivers to the field. I think Crabtree and Harrell were great and deserve all acclaim they get, but I think it’s a cop-out to think we couldn’t have won 10 games (especially considering the aTm loss) without them.
2. Yes and no. A great team should be able to get pressure with just the front four in order to handle a great passer when needed. That said, we got KILLED on the ground this year (especially by running QBs), and because of that I think we need some plays and/or schemes that can force the pass or otherwise keep a QB from killing us with his FEET.
3. I’d say 3. I would have said 1 at the beginning of the season and in a vacuum would say zero now, but after the aTm game (even tho the Ags beat the Bears) I’d say we can’t (and shouldn’t) take any game for granted.
4. Probably a little of both. It probably helps that PK has had some time to get his players used to his style and his coaching now also.
5. In basketball? umm… dunno, haven’t been paying close enough attention I admit.
by HeeroTX on Nov 23, 2009 10:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
1. I think Crabtree has very little to do with overall drop off. Combination of not comitting to the run often enough, bad O-line, bad QB play, drops left and right by the WRs. Just one of those years when we are an eyelash late or a smidge too early on timing.
2. I like that we are getting solid pressure with four. But I personally like to see blitz packages at unusual times when the offense isn’t expecting it. Like 2nd and 4. I love defenses that pressure the offense into mistakes and that create chaos. Predictability will eventually lead to the scheme to stop four. But it’s working so far.
3. Worry scale for Baylor…4.5. We often follow up a huge win with a big fat clunker, so this game does worry me a little, but not a lot.
4. Have not paid attention to basketball. But could there be a skewing of the numbers due to the competition level? Just askin…However, the 18 pt point swing is fairly dramatic. Good job to the guys, whatever the reason.
5. No input there : )
by Tech92 on Nov 23, 2009 10:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
5 Questions
1. We miss Crabtree on the slants and the deep passes, both based on his physicality (if that is a word) and his ability to separate. Swindall has had some drops due to a fear of getting hit when he goes over the middle. Opposing teams with speed in the back seven (See Texas, Houston, Okie State) are sitting on the short and intermediate routes. I think this has been tougher on Potts, who needs to see someone open to throw to them, much like Troy Aikman, as opposed to Sticks, who throws to a spot (deep outs in the Nebraska game) and lets the receiver do their thing. Harrell had better field vision than Potts appears to have, but it is probably not fair to Potts to compare stats because of the presence of Crabtree.
2. Yes, I do care. The question assumes that they get consistent production from the front four, which has not been the case. They have faced opponents who have controlled the clock and the line of scrimmage (A & M, OSU—Nebraska in 2008) which prevented the offense from having enough time on the field to establish rhythm. They need to include more blitzes and schemes in their game strategy to be ready to counter opponents who want to suck the life out of the clock. I went to the OSU game in Stillwater in 2005 (yes, I know it was pre-Ruffin but it also happened this year) and watched OSU end the game with a 7 or 8 minute drive which was flat out agonizing. It was awful, like watching a wounded animal die. Tech was helpless and didn’t have an answer for 3 yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust. I like the existing strategy, but there needs to be a little more variety to prevent these occurrences.
3. 8. Tech won’t be “at home”, will be over-confident, and Baylor has a lot of skill on the defensive side of the ball, especially that linebacker with the long name. This will be Baylor’s bowl game. Tech still hasn’t eliminated its problem with penalties. Until they do so, they are going to be inconsistent.
4. Emphasis on defense, which is a good thing.
5. Their consistency. Even when they aren’t hitting their shots, they are consistent in their results because of their effort on the defensive end of the court.
by Oklahoma Red Raider on Nov 23, 2009 11:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
3. It’s a 10! I’ll tell you why. The only games I’ve been to the past two season were this year’s aTm disaster, the cotton bowl disaster against Ole Miss, and I went to the gameday in Norman before last year’s OU disaster. I am going to jerryworld to watch our boys play Baylor. If this turns out to be another DISASTER (of epic proportions) and we lose to BAYLOR, mark my words, I will never go to another Tech football game again, for the sake of the Tech football program.
So if we lose, I take full responsibility and would like to apologize to everyone connected with the Texas Tech football program in advance. Everyone needs to work whatever voodoo magic you know of and make sure all of your supersticions are in order to counteract my foolish and selfish act of attending this football game. Please DTN community, you’re our only hope.
by pcrawttu on Nov 23, 2009 11:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'll be happy to take your tickets......
I’ve taken my 8yo son to two games. They were the Rice where Taylor threw for seven and Saturday’s OU beatdown. I’m starting a collection for expences to go on the road the remainder of this and next year if anyone want to donate.
by abiraidr on Nov 23, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you owe it to everyone to stay home.
by Raider75 on Nov 23, 2009 12:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
1. We surely miss Crabtree, but even when he was with Tech we still threw to 10+ receivers per game. Having an all-star receiver is a luxury you can take advantage of after you have an all-star QB and an all-star offensive line. If I could have either Harrell and the Line or Crabtree back this year I’d pick Harrell and the Line, I guess is the bottom line.
2. I love the pressure we get with our front four. It must be so frustrating for other teams. Our defensive scheme has several major weaknesses which have been exposed in key games: Running QBs and < 5 yard passes. We need to have answers for those problems next year.
3. 6. There are no givens with this team and we almost lost to Baylor at home last year.
by merrik on Nov 23, 2009 12:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
yeah but...
Last year Baylor had a healthy Robert Griffin (who is great, but STILL overrated IMO) and a top five NFL pick Left Tackle. Losing TWO top flight players like that (one to the draft, other to injury) pushes Baylor back a VERY large step. We’ve stepped back too (which is why my worry is more than zero) but I think we’ve got a leg-up on them. I agree there’s no “gimme” and we shouldn’t take it for granted, but I wouldn’t worry more than a “5”.
by HeeroTX on Nov 23, 2009 12:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Worry scale about a 2
I just don’t see Baylor being able to stop Batch and the offense in general. Too many quick releases that will burn out a weak defense. This is going to be an epic loss for Baylor. I think Tech has started to get in rythum and the defense is just going to hurt people all day long. If Leach continues to let Batch carry the ball…look out.
Lastly, I’ll start paying more attention to basketball in January but I like what I’m hearing.
GO RAIDERS!!!
by Raider1992 on Nov 23, 2009 12:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I've said it once (really like a million times), and I'll say it again
1. Moving the UT game up wrecked this season. I could see it coming when it was first announced. If we had the week off before Houston to prepeare, heal, and get well we win that game. We still should have won it, but with all the injuries, illnesses, and mental breakdowns I think it would not have even been close. It ALWAYS takes a few games for the offense to get on track. Playing a ut team that brought everyone back when we are replacing quarterbacks, receivers and lineman that early was a bad decision. Once again I hope we got a lot of money out of it. More than what they have revealed because I just don’t see $100,000 being worth it. So we would have gone into the a and m game 6-0. I think we all agree that game was a fluke. Although I do believe in Karma and felt this coming since the offseason shananigans. So without all the previously mentioned distractions I am going to go ahead and give us that win. That puts us all the way down to when the ut game should have been and I think at that point we would have been playing better ball than them. Then osu. Should have won that anyway.
3. I give it a three. The a and m game makes me worry that we can lose all focus when we feel it is an easy win.
4. I think it is better athletes, more focus on defense, and Caoch Knight has a full season under his belt. I don;t think you figure out what you are really doing until you are able to run the show through a full season impliment your ideas and see what works and what does not work.
So in conclusion yes losing Harrell and Crabtree hurt. Not as much as losing the lineman (ask both Potts and Sheffield), but what hurt us the most was the schedule change… and apparently we are going to do it again.
2. Ruffin is a great coach and I am not at all worried about our defense. He has created the best defense we have had under Leach.
by Raider75 on Nov 23, 2009 12:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
1. It is already said, the drop off is more than Crabtree. The O-line lost a very good group of players, from center to left tackle. A three year quarterback was lost…all first year qb’s struggle to be at the level that a 3 year guy would achieve. The wr’s as a group are not the caliber…losing the very savvy reliable Elf was as big a loss for the wr corps as was Crabtree the playmaker. I think that shows in Lewis’s play.
2. I believe that sports is much, much more about execution than it is about schemes. Coach McNeill is a very good DC. While I suspect the defense is going to sag in production compared to the past two years, I do believe it will pick up with continued good recruiting. I am concerned with depth and loses on the D-line.
3. I am not worried about the Bears. They are not good enough on paper to out play TTU. I am worried about TTU. I am not convienced that they will come in and play with poise…mainly the passing game.
4. Well the basketball team has profited from the play of some of the new guys. They are playing defense better, gosh that was the focus of the entire off season. It is encouraging at least to see a signficant impact from coaching. I am not convienced that the improvement with extrapolate to a step change relative to Big12 competition.
5. David T has been significant, Darko’s game being more undercontrol is helpful. The major improvement is from Singletary and Roberts, we have been waiting to see them play to their potential. All these factors have helped the point guard…he is not trying to win on his own. The play as a team is better. The coaching is taking effect.
I saw one little bitty clip of Darko making a move against Lamar to drive to the basket, he looked good, he did not do that last year with authority and finish. He is on my suspect list for Big12 play. I am wondering what is going on with Lewandowski, his opportunities may have suffered as a result of over all better team play…I am stretching for understanding.
by TallMike on Nov 23, 2009 12:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Just Posting Basketball
4. Definitely both. Pat Knight knew we needed better athletes and got them. The team is now ten deep. They have been wearing down opponets. From the first practice the emphisis has been defense. When they guard well, they win.
5. Darko has been a pleasant surprise this season. I thought Tairu could be good from the beginning and so did some sports analysts. The teams balance is to me the biggest aspect of this season thus far.
by 47pshide on Nov 23, 2009 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Forgot To Mention Roberts
5. I forgot to mention the tremendous turn around of Dwayln Roberts. He has been a huge reason for the team’s winning, especially the last two games.
by 47pshide on Nov 23, 2009 1:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
My 2 cents
1. I don’t think having Crab in there would have made a huge qualitative difference. I thought our problems on the offense were due to inconsistencies in the QB play. After the last game I do get the feeling that TP (Nick) is settling down.
2. I think the defense needs to be aggressive. You have to agree that OU was a little bit worn out due to injuries this year. We cannot let another gashing (A&M and OSU) with the opponent’s run game happen again.
3. I would say 6-7, mainly because they were beaten bad by the Aggies and they have nothing to lose, they will be gunning for us trying to end the season on a good note, I think we will still pull out a win but we cannot look past them. We have to treat this like a big important game just as we did for OU and Nebraska
4. Defense does seem to be better. But two notes of caution here: we haven’t played on the road yet and we haven’t played any of the ranked teams yet, if I remember correctly, within the first five games last year, we had two ranked opponents.
5. I think both look good so far. But we have to still see how they perform when playing the big boys.
by jef on Nov 23, 2009 2:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Running game is the key
1. Anyone would be crazy to think we don’t miss Crab. But that isn’t what I point to regarding offensive decline. More important to me is the poor start of our running game which is on both RB’s and OL (and to some degree the QB to check to the run appropriately). We took advantage of a lot of teams last year b/c we were in a position to take the best option either run or pass. And, I think our production has gotten better this year now that we have been more productive on the ground.
2. I think it’s the right mix and it appears Ruff has been less aggressive with the blitz than in the past. Probably due to the steller play of the front 4. I look at our success on first down in games where our defense has played well and that tells the story. When we get teams in 2nd and long, we’ve had success. Overall, I love how our defense is playing.
3. Not concerned with Baylor. Maybe a 2.5 on the scale. But I hope our coaches and players view them as an 11 (Spinal Tap anyone?).
by imisswesttexas on Nov 23, 2009 2:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Perfect storm
I think the combo of vasquez and reed going and having Potts style of play had us playing with fire every week. Crabs is greatness, but our skill position players this year are not a substantial dropoff from last year. Run Batch more and we win another game or two. Analyze this summer that a mobile Sticks is better for this o line and we may have a few more wins this year.
Ruff is an enigma….I pull my hair out with his lack of in game adjustments, but he knows a lot more about d than me. It’s hard to argue with the improvement.
by oldschoolraider on Nov 23, 2009 10:16 PM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
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