Upgrade/Downgrade // Defensive End
by Seth C on Jul 1, 2009 6:04 AM CDT
in Football
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There's been a lot of questions about the number of starters returning and thought that it would be a great idea to ask you if you think the new 2009 starter will be an upgrade or a downgrade from the 2008 starter. Click on the player names for a comparison of statistics, but the big question is if you think that Daniel Howard is an upgrade over McKinner Dixon (As an aside, I realize that Jake Ratliff was the starter last year, but I think it's fair to say that Dixon was the better player and because of that, he's being included rather than Ratliff. I'm also assuming - perhaps wrongly - that Dixon will not be able to pull himself back into the coaching staff's good graces. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I will be).
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I don't know if I'm the only
one that thinks this, but this is upgrade/downgrade is a perfect example of raw talent in Dixon and an incredibly hard worker in Howard.
Dixon had all of the talent in the world, but probably coasted a bit in practice. Dixon’s talent gets him a scholarship at TT, can’t make the grades and goes to JUCO, comes back to TT, and now looks like he won’t make the grades . . . again. Not to mention, he was injured a bit all of last year and so he wasn’t as effective as he could be.
Howard on the other hand has probably had to work for everything he’s earned. No handouts, evidenced by going to JUCO first, most likely because he wasn’t offered by a big school.
There’s something to be said for a guy that is constantly working versus a guy that coasts and just doesn’t get it.
I’m not saying that Howard is going to be an upgrade over Dixon, but I am saying that Howard will be better than what the general public thinks.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
by Seth C on Jul 1, 2009 6:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
While Dixon did have a lot of talent, he just did not put the effort in outside a game he needed to, in practice or in the classroom. As for Ratliff, while he did put in the effort, his talent level was well below Dixon’s. As a result, some teams (OU, Baylor & Ol’ Miss for sure) took advantage of when Ratliff was on the field. Howard does work hard, just like Ratliff, but I think he has more talent to play at a higher level than Ratliff, maybe even be able to match Dixon’s output. Initially, though, it has to be an upgrade…from Ratliff, but a downgrade from Dixon. From there and into the season, we will hopefully see great play from Howard as the season progresses. We really need him to get there fast though with UT on the horizon quickly in the 3rd game. Let us all hope he does well.
TTpilk
by TTpilk645 on Jul 1, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Howard will be serviceable, but in terms of raw talent can’t match dixon.
by kayakyakr on Jul 1, 2009 8:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Howard is different and good for us in his own way
I’m thinking Howard pulls down 10 sacks and 4 forced fumbles this year. He’ the high motor guy for Coach Sadler. I think R. McNeill gave him credit for forcing/causing 6-7 sacks by flushing the passer into B. Williams and M. Dixons path. In other word s those guys got the double teams so the Off. tackle had to take on Howard alone and they got whipped. It’s probable we’ll see Howard getting the double teams this year. Which may allow someone else B Sharpe, R. Jones to do some damage to the opponents scheme. Somebody mentioned we might see more blitz’s by the Line backers this year to compensate for the perceived slowed Raider pass rush. Guess I am not sold on that scheme but we will surely see a platooning of defense linemen Perry, Wade, Whitlock, Sesay & Riley among others running onto the field for wholesale substitutions. That worked.
Back to Howard he’s set to be one of the d lines featured guys . Let’s hope we see him all over the QBs this season.
Dixon is our hard luck story. I like him a lot. Demonstrated talent, fun to watch and always seemed to be around the ball. I think everyone would love to hear he’s locked up with his tutor. But I am not expecting any such news. (sigh)
by centexraider on Jul 1, 2009 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I voted downgrade
and because I voted downgrade I hate McKinner Dixon even more for getting his own dumb ass academically suspended. What a freakin loser!!!
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Jul 1, 2009 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree in re Dixon
It’s hard for a slow 6’2" white boy who would’ve given his left * to get a full ride to Texas freaking Tech to understand how he could just piss it all away, much less a good shot at playing in the League. But I don’t know what kind crappy enviornment he may have came from. Either way, he’s dead to me now and I’m going to move on to the next round in the clip so to speak.
by Plano Jeff on Jul 1, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
by next round I mean we are reloading. That sounded kind of wierd.
by Plano Jeff on Jul 1, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That got kind of wierd kind of fast
when you started the sentence with ’he’s dead to me now’ haha.
by jdeeTTU on Jul 1, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep. My job basically revolves around using peoples’ own words against them. When I re-read that last sentence, I knew it was a total SNAFU. I meant that we are to the point where we don’t rebuild, we reload and out smarted myself, which doesn’t seem too hard to do lately.
by Plano Jeff on Jul 1, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dixon
Dixon may be one of the most talented Defensive lineman we have signed in the last 30+ years, but as has already been stated for the life of me I can’t understand he just wasted it all away. For a small white guy who has followed TT since 1965 I just don’t get it. I would love to play @ the Jones. I would love my sons which I have 2 just to be on the sidelines holding a clipboard or etc. I just hope that Sesay can make it out of the dog house. We need him! Wreck’em Tech!!
by techgolf44 on Jul 2, 2009 8:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
oh, freakin great!!!
What is Sesay’s problem?
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Jul 2, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hustle
I think that Daniel will be an upgrade, last year he was ask to assume a role as a designated pass rusher, either from the stand-up(joker) position or from the rush -end position. That is bonus material because now we are not forced to play base 4-3, with him on the field, we can play 3-4 and bring house if we want. Also, he can play either side at DE with either hand down. He throws right, writes left, kicks left, bats left, well, you get the picture. But most of all, absolutely no one will out hustle him on the field, last year he was credited w/ 3 sacks but was responsible for a dozen or so, just ask B Will or Coach Sadler. Now the best part, he is a team kinda guy, he will play with-in the scheme and do what he is asked, he is totally coachable. He may be from Kansas, but he has worked his butt off to play Texas Tech Red Raider Football, and he loves it and all you RED RAIDERS. If this post sounds like a proud father, well I am, and I am Damned proud to be a RED RAIDER fan. Buck, the retired equipment mgr called him the sackmaster, well Buck, I hope he lives up to your billing
by dbled53 on Jul 3, 2009 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Glad to have you here
and posting on DTN. I think you’re saying what I think a lot better.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
by Seth C on Jul 4, 2009 5:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Glad to be here
Thanks for the kind words!
by dbled53 on Jul 4, 2009 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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