Random things to worry about vs. the Bye week.

by centexraider on Nov 3, 2009 10:52 AM CST Comment 9 comments

The bye is tough. The bye is merciless.

The bye helps you get healthy and by my count we have at least 5 x starters or key players hurt. Terry McDaniel, Brandon Carter, W. Ford, Steven Sheffield, Sam Fehoko All of whom the Raiders will need at Stillwater.

Watched the ut folks beat up the Cowboys on Saturday night. Darned if the longhorn defense didn’t dominate those guys in the second half. Sort of rattled the receivers and pressured Zac Robinson. He just kept getting less and less accurate. Result 4 x picks. 2 x for TD’s. The thing about going to Stillwater is it’s tight, noisy and Leach doesn’t seem to get a great effort out of the team in that venue. Not exactly setting the world on fire in Stillwater is Mike? Played well enough I suppose just never seems to get the Cowboys heads down and keep them down. It’s even a bad loss from the 05 season as I recall. 07 Stilwater game doesnt count - IMO - because we could have won it in the waning seconds.That's just football.

I am little suspicious about bye weeks – the preparation - that is just based on last year’s crappy result in Norman. Of course the intangibles like the pressure, a # 2 national ranking, and media hype all coupled with trying to do too much seemed to plague that group.This group doen't have most of those intangibles. Stillwater is likely to be excited but not half as fired up as those Sooners were in 08. (Maybe) Watching the Raiders joust with KU all afternoon- 52 plus minutes - I ‘m pretty sure we don’t have to worry that the team will be too hyped or tight going into Boone P’s stadium. In fact I’d expect them to be pretty loose because I’m sure the Raiders won’t be favored.

But some random factoids.

Oklahoma State now ranks 13th nationally in rushing defense. OSU Def Coord. Young has a weekly goal to hold the opposition to fewer than 100 rushing yards. The Cowboys limited Texas to 99 (3.1 per attempt).

Last Saturday’s Longhorn figures exactly match OSU’s season averages of 99.0 rushing yards allowed per game and 3.1 allowed per attempt.

It is becoming more obvious that Young might have been the best coordinator hire in college football this year. That last bit was an OSU newspaper opinion. Earlier in the year I commented that I didn’t think this defensive coordinator could work miracles in a single spring practice period plus one season of concentrated work. 27 offensive points by ut and maybe I’m beginning to be a believer.

Just based on our offensive struggles vs. aTm and KU without Sticks I am pretty concerned we’ll see another low scoring effort. By that I mean Raiders only put up 35 – or so points. Without a crushing Tech defensive effort that’s probably not going to cut it. Despite the success of the 4th Quarter run game vs. KU I am unconvinced the Raiders will run on the Cowboys. The special teams play for the Raiders basically put the Jayhawks away. No returns. No gaffes. A near punt block and Lord have mercy a trick play by the special teams snapping to Ryan Hale for a Raider first down. You can bet Mike Gundy notices that detail. So very late in the game Special teams delivered the short field for Batch’s last score.

The Raiders are suspect on away game performance (efforts) against ranked opponents. That probably qualifies as a blinding flash of the obvious.

In road games this year Tech is on the wrong side of 60 % with losses @ ut, UH, and a huge win in Lincoln.

The Tech injury news is appalling. We are going to start a 7th different O line rotation. Sticks isn’t going to play. Potts is probably still a little dinged up. He has a displayed limited touch. The wide receivers need glue on the fingers. Can OSU afford to think about us right now? Well they play Iowa State this Saturday in Ames and they will be favored by 3 scores at minimum. So I ask you fellow DTNers what is the game plan for the bye week? Yes the Raiders heal up; yes get your academics straight. Yes Coaches go out and recruit. Yes get tough with the conditioning work. The rub is the preparation phase. BTW I don’t like Leach being out of Lubbock during the season and here’s why. It’s the polish and execution of the offense which worries me. Yes it’s great to see the Head Pirate on National TV, TTU gets a push in the advertising game. That’s all wonderful feel good stuff. Smiley faces etc. ESPN gets chuckles I am fine with all that. But I am not fine with a loss of team focus. Final random thoughts I always felt watching the Raiders against Ol’ Miss last year that they looked like they needed 2 or 3 more days of practice. Timing, route running and defensive recognition all looked a step slow. Let’s hope we see none of that in Stillwater in 10 days. Team sports is all about momentum and coaches know this. So no worries? It’s a bye week. Right?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Didn’t realize Sam Fehoko was hurt.

Players we won’t be getting back for OSU:
Terry McDaniel
Sheffield.

Players we don’t know about:
Brandon Carter (Hamstring, I’d guess probable)
Will Ford (no idea)
Sam Fehoko (Didn’t know he was hurt)

by kayakyakr on Nov 3, 2009 12:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t understand why more time off means worse execution. But we start slow in bowl games & we got destroyed after the bye week last year. Is it the break in the routine? Throws the team off their game? I don’t have a problem with Leach in New York speaking to recruits across the land. As long as he gets back by Saturday to manage the regular Sunday-Saturday prep for the Okie State game.

As far as our strengths vs. OSU? Our passing game is bad this year mainly because our pass blocking is non-existent. We aren’t used to dealing with third and long situations, but this year we seem to face a dozen or so a game. I’m sure this is the most Texas Tech has punted in the Leach era. The running game looked good Saturday late, but run defense is the Cowboys’ strength. Special Teams and Defense have been improving (with the Aggie game being a huge exception for the defense). Maybe it will be a low scoring game (relatively, for this team).

I look at who Okie State has beaten this year & nothing jumps out as too impressive. Georgia is a .500 in conference play team this year. They’ve also beaten Baylor, Missouri, Rice, Grambling and Texas A&M (by 4 pts). They lost to Houston and Texas, both convincingly. I’m not convinced by the results that they are as good as Texas Tech this year. I would rather they be playing in Lubbock when we find out. But we need to start winning in Stillwater sometime. This seems as good a year as any.

by mbrown603 on Nov 3, 2009 3:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Starting slow is really annoying the devil out of me.

On a serious note. The start slow thing speaks to motivation. With an offense like Techs where you base everything on reps, its painfully obvious when receivers start dropping balls, or QBs stat throwing high or into the turf. The blocking thing i.e. lack of consistency just causes so much more frustration. This seasons O line turbulence starts folks taking chances, QB’s get happy feet, RB’s fail to hit the hole – because it’s not there. If we don’t lead the Big 12 in sacks allowed we are right there at # 10 or #11 . I am pretty sure we punted 7 times in the first half of the KU game. It’s nice to tackle Jayhawk return men for no gain or negligible gain but that’s not the deal. TTU is not VA Tech they don’t win games by special teams play, now they sure as hell can lose them i.e. the Shipley punt return for a score in Austin this year – but it’s just not the Raider modus operandi. March down get into the red zone and make the opposing def coordinator have a stroke. Just saying it’s not a good trend. I.e. the raiders have a silly weak link in the team prep statistic or put another way a tendency. They lose the edge by breaking the preparation discipline. The opposition plays a big role they are preparing to halt our preferred play selection but it’s deeper than that. In that the Raiders show up sloppy for the first half of a game which has any aberration, any change or any disruption in the practice rhythm. I don’t know maybe it’s too much time off or some such distraction. Seem to throws the practice and preparation rhythm out of joint. Examples include the 06 Cotton bowl, 07 Colorado, 08 Gator bowl, the afore mentioned thrashing in Norman 08.

Leach has a game day weakness he doesn’t beat many ranked teams on the road. The casual observe will just say well he’s facing stiff competition, the better teams. I am not saying they can’t beat folks in any given venue, they believe in themselves but it’s like a durn crap shoot when the Raiders are facing a ranked team. It’s doubly bad when the ranked opponent is not in Lubbock. I agree mbrown its time to start winning at Stillwater. Norman and Austin are beckoning as well.

"do routine things routinely"

by centexraider on Nov 3, 2009 7:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

actually, Tech has not fared too badly on the road this year (if you don’t look strictly at the win/loss record). Sure we’re 1-2, but consider that:
-all three were to ranked teams
-houston loss was by 1 point and definitely should have been a win without one bonehead descision
-ut was (and still is) #2. That was a helluva tough effort and only lost by 10.
-nebraska was defensive domination and a statement victory.
-the defense has only allowed 22 ppg to those three teams
-the defense allowed an average of 28 ppg to the #1 and #2 scoring teams in the nation which both average almost 42 ppg.

Just considering the competition, Tech’s road games have not been all that bad (especially the defensive effort). The two losses were painful, but at least they were not some of the road embarassments Tech has shown in the past to ranked teams.

Of course none of this really matters if the team that got smoked by atm is the one that decides to show up in Stillwater. This team is so erratic and inconsistent, we are all going to go crazy trying to figure out who they really are.

by pcrawttu on Nov 3, 2009 11:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So you're a Glass Half Full kinda fella huh?

I like it!

by RdrPwr on Nov 4, 2009 12:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I agree that we have shown up on the road this year and just been on the wrong side in the Win/Loss column, albeit to good teams. Hopefully our offense clicks and defense continues to frustrate the OSU offense.

by RAIDERdweb on Nov 5, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This year is different

as in the aspect of it is a tale of two seasons.Thus being this bye week( this year) is the antidote we needed.We need to heal.There is not the pressure of being #2 and being in uncharted waters.With the “YOKE” of players coming back next year,many have allot to play for even though we are 6-3.Like I have posted before we could be 0-8.

These games coming up with OK State and OU are really going to be the meat and bread of the conference.These games mean allot as to bowl position and who knows ATM could slip up on Texas.I am glad to see the pundits saying that the ship is in the harbor for Texas.Well maybe just not yet.Sell anyone short and they bite you in the ass.SEE ATM-52-30…does that ring a bell?

We have had our adversity for sure.and with the bye it is like a NEW challenge This team will rise to the occasion.I will bet that after the OU game gun shoots in the Jones in a couple of weeks that the three losses will not even be a negative,We win the next three,we have a damn good bowl game.With a bowl win it opens the flood gates to 2010.But lets focus on 09.The here and now.I think your comments on Leach are a little over the top.Hell man lighten up.The guy knows what he is doing. With the fact I have been mad as hell at times with him.Last years team did not care about the Cotton bowl.Carter even said that players did not achieve their goal because of the aspirations of a NC had gone out the door.We should have beaten OL MISS badly.And I would agree that Leach could have had them more motivated.

I will say that with the two wins over both OK schools will be monumental.And a good game in Arlington wll do wonders for recruiting,So come on centertex, we have allot to prove and accomplish this year.I am excited and I hope you become that way too.The last stretch of ball games leading into the holidays and then topping it off with a bowl game,makes for a pretty good time.I am no way saying that we stay with being satisfied with a 9-3 team if that happens.WE CAN AND WILL reach the status of a TEXAS,OU win in the same season and NC team someday.That seems Sooner than later(no pun intended) :)

WRECK’EM

by slycanyon on Nov 3, 2009 11:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Lightening up..sort of

All I can say is focus. Focus Raiders. Last 4 x games of the season awaits.

"do routine things routinely"

by centexraider on Nov 4, 2009 12:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Motivation

It is always on the coaches, but I cannot help but believe that there is a element of onus on the team ‘leaders’, if you have them. There is a dynamic with teams that can come from within and can result in more that what can be extrated by the coaches in terms of leadership.

I do hold the coaches accountable for the slow starts, but I also look for something within the team to make a significant difference. If it is not there, slow starts are perhaps explainable. That it appears to be symtomatic of this staff implies they do something, perhaps without knowing it to inhibit its natural rise from seniors and natural leaders.

by TallMike on Nov 6, 2009 9:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs