Double-T Nation Daily Diatribe // 08.21.09

by Seth C on Aug 21, 2009 6:17 AM CDT in Daily Diatribe Comment 22 comments

Texas Tech Football

Defense Controls Scrimmage: LAJ's Don Williams reports on scrimmage from yesterday where the defense absolutely dominated by not giving up a touchdown in 35 plays. And before anyone gets too excited, earlier in the week, the Texas Tech offense scored six touchdowns in a scrimmage, but last night was the defense's night:

After the defense got a series of stops followed by an interception, nose tackle Victor Hunter yelled, "We got ’em shook! We got ’em shook.’’ As the unit made one good play after another in the red zone, strength and conditioning coach Bennie Wylie yelled, "You get nothing, offense!’’

Go read the whole article for good detail of how the defense performed.

Texas Tech Football Notebook: LAJ's Don Williams reports that freshman CB D.J. Johnson continues to impress in practice as cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell has lots of praise for the freshman:

"Just pure athleticism,’’ Mitchell said after Thursday’s practice. "He’s making plays when he’s out there. He learns very well. The kid is not only a student on the field; he’s a student in the classroom. He’s doing everything above and beyond my expectations for a freshman.’’

. . . DE Sandy Riley has lost 20 pounds and is down to 228 pounds but hopes to play around 230 to 235 . . .

Gray is in Focus: RedRaiderSports.com's Paul Lowery talks with freshman LT Joel Gray and I like this about our staff:

DURING THE RECRUITING PROCESS, WHAT PARTS OF THE PROGRAM WERE YOU THE MOST IMPRESSED WITH?

"Well, it was my first offer so it was obviously really memorable but I remember right after I blew out my knee I had to call—my parents wanted me to call all of the colleges and let them know, and most colleges told me not to waste my time anymore, and Tech was like, ‘Well, just get better. We still want you. Just get better and we’ll still be around.’ That really gave me the home feeling and I felt that I was really accepted and that they really do want me to be here."

Checking in with Kickoff Club Luncheon: Check out The Broadcast Booth's recap of yesterday's event:

But the best part, as always, was when The Pirate himself stepped to the podium. Because he talked about the team and introduced the offensive and defensive lines as the "most important players on the team?" Nope. Because he shared his story about growing up in Wyoming where he says he saw an occasional tourist and had enough people come their thinking it was an oddity to prepare him for the barrage of attention, exposure, interviews and "brushes with greatness" during this offseason? Nope. Oh... because he went on to describe how this team is getting after it, kicking around the blood, sweat, and dirt while making the odd body sounds that go with it? Nope.

The best part, was snagging a copy of the new Texas Monthly on the newsstand at Love Field on my way out this morning, and asking Leach, the cover Pirate, to sign it! My guess, from his reaction, was that it was the first one he's inked so far (since it just hit the stand!).

Neglected Audio and Video: Fox34 confirms that QB Taylor Potts will be sporting the mustache all year, although we know it's more than a mustache:

FoxSports Preview: FoxSports has three videos and I've posted them as FanShots, but am linking them here. I think this is all from the FoxSports preview show:

Big 12 and College Football Links: In The Bleachers has an interesting roundtable on which defensive unit will have the most dominating performance in 2009 . . . I still find this hard to believe, but Florida St. turned in an Oklahoma Sooner player who had committed a similar violation to a Florida St. player . . . The Rivalry, Esq. with a look at the Big 12 Conference . . .

Scouting the Enemy: Corn Nation's 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers preview . . . Rock Chalk Talk's 2009 Kansas Jayhawks preview . . . I Am The 12th Man's 2009 Texas A&M Aggies preview . . . Crimson and Cream Machine's 2009 Oklahoma Sooners preview . . . Burnt Orange Nation's 2009 Texas Longhorns preview . . . NYTimes The Quad with a preview of the Oklahoma St. Cowboys . . .

Alumni: The Mile High Report with a lengthy piece on now Denver Bronco S Darcel McBath . . .

0 recs | Comment 22 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Nice about Tech sticking with Joel Grey after knee injury. My niece goes to his high school, he’s not the first kid Tech’s got from Hebron(1/2 mile West of Plano!) Really hope he pans out because he looked great in HS against pretty good competition.

by Plano Jeff on Aug 21, 2009 6:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That third video has the guy saying we will finish 5th in the south behind baylor. I want to start playing some football!

by logan5555 on Aug 21, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The guy sounds like a tool...

probably went to Baylor.

by Raider1992 on Aug 21, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's Joel Klatt played for Colorado

Sorry folks but FSN gets me riled up. Mr. Klatt has stated in at least 2 x forums that we slip behind Baylor. Because we (1) don’t have a good enough defense and (2) the QB will struggle along with along the receivers "you don’t just replace a M. Crabtree.." . Except for Emily Jones you just don’t find many FSN folks announcers commentator or analyst who seem to care whether anybody but UT or OU ever get air time. Because it appears to be slanted – I made a study of total air time on the post game show on FSN for 07. Suffice it to say it’s around 60 % UT/ OU centric. ) Fairness standard they were better in 08. Barely. There are 12 x schools sweating their behinds off in Big 12play. Not saying it has to be 1/12th per but at least even out the editing. Maybe over a week to week period. (can’t believe I’m wasting my time trying to help out a Media outlet with format). It’s just I can’t take listening to Mac followed by Colt followed by Stoops followed by Bradford for 12 of the 38 minutes of actual non advertising broadcast. Then we get a goofy PowerPoint chart with background voice over dribble to explain the rest o f the league schedule play etc. . (sorry for the Rant) .To defend Klatt he also bucked the system and said that OU wins the Big 12 over UT – ie1 x loss for UT in RRR.

by centexraider on Aug 21, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point to the Baylor aguements is that you can point out what we have lost but you also have to have an arguement for why what baylor has is better. We lost crab but I will be every dime i have that our receiving core this year is far better than Baylors. And is he saying that Baylor’s defense is better than ours now? I mean these peoples goal is to tear down Tech but they never mention why Baylor would be better. Media types are almost all hacks though. No research. In fact Klatt’s only knowledge of this years team is probably that it doesn’t have Crabtree. Just wait till we get killed by UT (if it happens). All the negativity towards Tech will be multiplied.

by logan5555 on Aug 21, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree...but

I see Tech and UT being a very close game. Last year Tech came in so well prepared and dominated. Our special teams will make the difference and Leach probably has this game on his mind daily. It may not be a Tech win but it will be close. Lastly, I have to give props to ESPN because they seem to talk about us frequently. The local media here in Texas is where we get little discussion. That will change.

by Raider1992 on Aug 21, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i like your optomism.

by logan5555 on Aug 21, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reports of Baylor’s pending awesomeness abound here in Austin. I have only one question for everyone picking them to become so great (to Tech’s detriment). If we assume that Coach Leach will be able to coach up Potts (who has some time in the system already) as history has shown he will, which do you think will be more difficult to replace. A first round wide receiver (Crabtree – Texas Tech) or a #2 overall pick Left Tackle (Jason Smith – Baylor)?

Michael Crabtree was amazing, and he WILL be missed (all props to him). And Robert Griffin IS a talent and should get some respect, but I would point all Raider detractors to this quote from NFL.com’s analysis of Jason Smith:
With their left tackle hobbled in 2007, Baylor ranked 113th nationally with 77.83 yards per game rushing
You don’t lose a guy like that at Baylor and not feel it.

by HeeroTX on Aug 21, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven’t followed Baylor much. Let’s analyze this way. What players on Baylor’s roster would start on Tech’s roster? Which position is there player better than ours? I guess QB is a toss up since they are completely different styles. Name another position where they are better.

by logan5555 on Aug 21, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't think of any.

by Raider1992 on Aug 21, 2009 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Other than Robert Griffin,

Baylor remains a marginal talent DI school. Art Briles is an excellent recruiter, especially in Texas, but right now he’s doing the old Mike Leach thing of trying to poach underrated talent that will fit as position players in his spread option system. Baylor is getting a lot of hype behind their surprisingly mediocre ‘08 campaign, but beating the tar out of a down A&M and losing close to Tech does not equal a successful campaign in ’09. Griffin didn’t throw a lot of INT’s in ‘08, which people will point to as proof of his value as a passer, but the truth of the matter is that Briles purposefully limited his role as a passing QB, and when Baylor was put into clutch situations where a passer was needed, Griffin coughed up the ball (ex: Mizzou @ Baylor). Griffin is a stunning athlete, but he can’t go it alone.

by mojavereject on Aug 21, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

to be fair...

…to Baylor, if you believe polls, they’re got at least these two:
LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor
DB Jordan Lake, Baylor

And considering our secondary, I might agree on Lake, and all reports say Pawelek IS a baller, so I’ll believe that too. But I’d put our LB corps collectively up against theirs, sure. And probably the same for our DBs. Besides, they had Lake last year (he was on the Thorpe award watch list) and we still won, so I don’t think either play puts them over the top. I think people under-estimate the impact Harrell’s injury had on that game, and again, I think people are under-estimating how much the loss of Jason Smith will hurt.

by HeeroTX on Aug 21, 2009 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah so my point here is that if you can find 2 or 3 players on the other team that are better thats not enough.

by logan5555 on Aug 21, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baylor will be improved this year

BUT WAIT! ALL other Big-12 schools will improve, too, even Tech. So we lost some amazing talent. The fact is we have several good talents stepping into those vacancies. No one can replace Crabtree and Harrell’s experience and abilities are going to be difficult to replace as well. However, the new sheriff in town may actually be a better, more physically gifted athlete than Harrell. If anyone has payed attention over the last 9 years, they would surely have seen how well Tech’s replacement QB’s have done. Potts is a better QB prospect than any of his predecessors. That, to me, points to another outstanding year from our QB position, maybe even some Symons like numbers. Add in the expected improvement at the halfback position and there appears to be absolutely no chance for a dropoff in Tech offensive abilities, plus an anticipated improvement on defense. Having seen over 50 years of Tech football, I am convinced this year’s Red Raiders will not skip a beat and will surprise some unbelievers.

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on Aug 21, 2009 11:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think this Joel Klatt guy has watched an ounce of Tech football. Tech has plenty of receivers and will do just fine without Mr. Crabtree. Will he be missed? Hell yeah, but the rest of the team actually did show up and kept scoring touchdowns and producing yards when Crabtree was hurt or not producing as much. Just a typical "journalist" that doesn’t do his homework, looks at a few stats, and starts making assumptions. Typical preseason bandwagons.

And really…how reasonable is it for one team who has just gone 11-2 that has been contiually rising (and not had a losing season since before the big 12 was created) to drop below a team that just went 4-8 the year before and has a very long history of losing? Although that would be a great story for Baylor, you gotta look at the facts and give some credit where its due. Until Tech proves (or at least shows one slight glimmer of horridity) that it belongs in a class between Baylor and AtM, I’m pretty sure Tech has earned at least an ounce of respect.

by pcrawttu on Aug 22, 2009 12:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tech deserves no respect in the eyes of the State of Texas media. These guys hate us. I have no idea how Tech got this mantra. It really makes no sense. I kinda like it though. Makes me want to do my part to beat everyone else.

by logan5555 on Aug 22, 2009 1:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Texas media is a bit incredulous of a TTU success story

I grew up in Texas. Entire Mothers family is from Texas. Its just a Preston Smith West Texas – you’ve got to be kidding me.. right… no way to describe the shock of TTU resurgence. You can’t be for real… The entire Texas media planet rotates around an Austin city limits / College station axis. Look the outlying markets are not going to get much play here. Go to Wal-Mart it’s an atm ut t-shirt bonanza. Sense of fairness be damned. You just have to accept the underdog role. It’s kind a cool. I enjoy walking into a store or a meeting with my TTU belt buckle on. Its like that rocket scientist Jacques. C. something or other on the DMN sports staff stated last year and I quote " No way TTU is going to win the south(Big 12) " . Folks he doesn’t get invited to cocktail parties by TTU T-shirt fans. He gets free beers from ut sponsors who never went there. They also have little silver longhorns on the back of their Hondas or Toyotas’ too. So it’s okay. I like being under the radar. Just as much as I like the team knocking off the flagship university and its hoity toity tier one bunch of know it alls. Kick off is coming folks and I can’t wait. A couple more high profile wins and the media folks will begrudgingly acknowledge the Raiders have something going on and its very sweeet!

"do routine things routinely"

by centexraider on Aug 22, 2009 8:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Go to Wal-Mart it’s an atm ut t-shirt bonanza.

Hahahaha!!!

I’m with you.

by Campeador on Aug 23, 2009 12:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correction on the DMN media target

The DMN journalist who panned Tech last season was jean jaques taylor. And yeah I dont feel like giving him a beer.

"do routine things routinely"

by centexraider on Aug 23, 2009 6:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTW, I like your new avatar.

David slays Goliath.

Appropriate, even if the photoshop is kinda sloppy.

by Campeador on Aug 23, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

JJT pans everyone not named The Ohio State. It’s not unusual for writers to have biases, that’s okay, just as long as we know what they are up front. For example, I’m a TT homer. It’s fairly obvious. People can claim that they’re unbiased, but the truth is that it’s hard not to be biased.

Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation

by Seth C on Aug 23, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seth just a thought on a poll..

How about a Texas football Media run down. Staking out the home towns vs fair (read unbiased ) journalist . No holds barred just get everyone from around DTN to weigh in. Who do they like , who do they dislike , who gets kudo’s, etc. Format could be best and worst writer. By region or by school doesn’t matter. I think and I m being very bold here that some of them might like to see their names in lights vs. their media competitors. What say you?

"do routine things routinely"

by centexraider on Aug 24, 2009 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs