Double-T Nation Daily Diatribe // 07.06.09

by Seth C on Jul 6, 2009 6:31 AM CDT in Texas Tech News, Notes and Links

Odds and Ends

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I hope everyone had a safe and happy July 4th weekend. The end of the July 4th weekend usually means that we're on the downward slide of the offseason. In July, we'll have the Big 12 Media Days, fall practice starts in August and before you know it, September is staring you in the face. It will probably be real hit or miss in terms of links and news, but I'm still doing my best to keep new content up and running.

Texas Tech Football

We Love Some Lists

CT's Dave Matter lists the Big 12's best backs (this includes QB's and RB's), which does not include a Red Raider. Now, before you start claiming that Matter is biased and doesn't know what he's talking about there are only a few writers who study the conference as much as matter. Matter does list Baron Batch and Taylor Potts as "others worth considering" and "fresh faces to watch". I think an argument could be made for Batch to get on the list at the 9 through 12 positions based solely on the fact that he should see a majority of the carries and receptions this year out of the backfield. And BTW, Batch's yard per carry average was 6.78. Just sayin'.

The Broadcast Booth Checks in with the CFL

Thanks to Brian Jensen of the Broadcast Booth who's checking in with the various Red Raiders playing in the CFL. WR Eric Morris made his debut, while Glenn January and Aaron Hunt are grizzled veterans.

Central Texas' Top 10 Athletes

A very nice honor for incoming recruit Kerry Hyder who was named by the AAS as the 10th best athlete from Central Texas having this to say about Hyder:

The four-year starter at Manor and LBJ earned All-Central Texas honors as a linebacker, then signed to play for Texas Tech. He may best be remembered for his last-second steal and free throw that helped LBJ's basketball team upset Lake Travis in the Region IV-4A final and earn a berth in the state tournament.

I've tried to find some basketball stats on Hyder, but have come up empty this morning, but who doesn't love to have a LB/DE prospect who is also pretty good at basketball? Congrats to Hyder.

Most Important Red Raiders, #11 and #12

Fox34 is ranking the most important Red Raiders and WR Edward Britton and DT Colby Whitlock check in at #11 and #12 respectively.

Texas Tech Baseball

Bettis Continues Success for Team USA

Texas Tech's Chad Bettis has pitched two additional innings, bringing his work for Team USA up to 4.0 IP; 1 H; 4 SO; and 1 BB, while yielding zero runs thus far.

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Comments

re: Matter's list

Not gonna claim bias, but Dave Matter apparently DOESN’T know what he’s talking about. Aside from the average you noted, Batch was only lower on totals because he was SECOND option behind Shannon Woods (I still say he should’ve been the feature back) but even at 2nd in the depth chart he STILL got around 1200 (rush+receiving) yards last season. He got 750 JUST on rushing with a long of 49 yards, 10 better than #6 in the list (second RB) Chris Brown out of OU. (I’ve got no argument, much as it galls me on some of em, with the top 5 including impressive RB Kendall Hunter)

But if NOTHING else, our own Baron Batch should be in the top 12, over players like Jake Sharp (of KU) and Jerrod Johnson (of aTm). Johnson is a quarterback, so there is a measure of subjectiveness there, but Mr. Sharp is also a RB, let’s compare their lines:
Jake Sharp 2008
Attempts: 186 Rush Yards: 860
Avg: 4.6 Long: 47 TDs: 12
Rec.: 25 Rcving Yards: 283
Avg: 11.3 Long: 67 TDs:1
Total Yards: 1143
Baron Batch 2008
Attempts: 113 Rush Yards: 758
Avg: 6.7 Long: 49 TDs: 7
Rec.: 45 Rcving Yards: 449
Avg: 10.0 Long: 42 TDs:1
Total Yards: 1207

Batch has more total yards and rushes for a better average. The only reason Jake Sharp has a higher TD number is because he was the featured RB for his team (next closest rusher had 4 TDs) whereas Batch was behind Shannon Woods (who had 12 rushing TDs, Woods usually got the ball in goal-line play). Jake Sharp only had 110 more rushing yards than Batch (less than 10 yds/game) on over 70 more carries (more than 5 extra carries/game). Batch would’ve only needed to avg 2 yds/play on the extra carries (had he received them) to beat Sharp’s output. (Batch often got 2 yards on BUSTED plays where he was nearly tackled 3 yards deep)

I’m curious what logical criteria Mr. Matter used to place Jake Sharp above Baron Batch considering that Batch will clearly get more touches this year with Shannon Woods gone. (arguably he’ll get even more attention than Woods with Crabtree and Harrell gone) Helu (#10) is not “above” Batch in my opinion, but Helu & Batch have incredibly comparable stats (nearly identical on just rushing) and I’d be willing to accept a SLIGHT bump to Helu (putting him 10, Batch 11) on the basis of Nebraska’s style of play vs. Tech’s. And Derrick Washington (#9) can at LEAST hang his hat on having rushed for over 1000 yards.

by HeeroTX on Jul 6, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions

Yes,

it was mainly Sharp that I was talking about, but didn’t get around to looking at the others. The only thing about Sharp is that he’s a starter, but Batch runs with reckless determination.

Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation

by Seth C on Jul 7, 2009 5:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Blab, blab, blab

We have seen these things before and have all commented. We shall see this season who really stands out, and I am sure at least two, maybe four Red Raiders will be in there somewhere. My thoughts say it will be Potts, Lewia, Batch and maybe Britton.

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on Jul 6, 2009 8:11 PM CDT reply actions