Double-T Nation Daily Diatribe :: 09.16.09

Texas Tech Football

  Linebacker Improvement:  LAJ's Don Williams writes that the linebackers have show much improvement over the course of the year, WLB Marlon Williams, MLB Brian Duncan and SLB Bront Bird.  Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill says that the linebackers are finishing plays:

"The big key is making sure you finish plays when your number’s dialed,’’ defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. "You see a lot of people rush the passer or get a chance to make a play in the backfield, and they just about get there. They’ve done a good job of finishing plays.’’

And McNeill talks about calling a different game plan:

"There’s no need to blitz or move a guy here or there if he’s not able to execute the fundamentals,’’ McNeill said. "The better they’ve gotten with fundamental execution, now that enables us to do some more things with them. It just takes time. The longer we’re here, the more guys are in the system, the more things we can do with them.’’

  Texas Tech Football Notebook:  LAJ's Don Williams notes that there are three injured starters, DE Rajon Henley is still limping around, IR Detron Lewis wasn't in pads and S Franklin Mitchem had his arm in a sling (this is not good) . . . the tickets are selling quite well for the Baylor game in Cowboys Stadium . . . offensive line coach Matt Moore is leaning to using the same starting lineup this week as he did last week (LT - Chris Olson; LG - Lonnie Edwards; C - Shawn Byrnes; RG - Brandon Carter; RT - Marlon Winn) . . .

  Potts Controls Offense:  AP's Betsy Blaney writes that QB Taylor Potts continues the tradition of the spread offense and talks with all sorts of people about Potts including his high school coach, his mom, Will Muschamp and Mack Brown.  Here's Muschamp on Potts:

"He’s got arm talent," Muschamp said. "He can make all the throws. Arm talent is what jumps out at you on the film."

  Secondary to Prove Themselves:  DT's Adam Coleman writes that the young secondary is out to prove that they can play.  Texas Tech cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell knows that the Longhorn receivers are talented:

"They’re a complete group," Mitchell said. "They’ve got some height, they’ve got some size, they’ve got some speed. They’ve got guys that know their role. They’ve got guys they need to run fast. They’ve got guys they need to be more physical that can play a little more H-back, tight end type and still have the speed and quickness to play wide receiver. They complement each other."

And Texas head coach Mack Brown praises the defensive coaching staff at Texas Tech:

"The defensive coaches at Tech to me are as good as anybody in the country and they don’t get credit because the offense has always been so good and they usually lead the nation in passing and the quarterbacks are spectacular," Brown said. "But I know all of those defensive coaches personally and I’m a tell you, that defensive staff is great. If you look at the resumes of all those coaches, there’s a lot of great coaching experience on the Tech defense and a lot of wins."

  This is a Confusing Article:  The Chron's David Barron titles his article Tech's leach tries to play the underdog against UT and claims that Leach is portraying Texas as the prohibitive favorite.  Well . . . they are the favorites and 16 point favorites to boot. 

  #20 Commit:  LAJ's Don Williams reports that the Red Raiders have received their 20th commitment from Navarro College DT/DE Lawrence Rumph.  In reading Williams article it doesn't sound as if Rumph is as committed as you'd like for him to be, stating this:

"There’s a chance I could go somewhere else,’’ he said. "I’m still not completely sure about it, but I discussed it with my coach and some other people and they said I should go ahead.’’

Soooo . . . . I guess welcome and stuff.  Here's Navarro's defensive stats for the year where he has 8 tackles and 1 TFL.  I'll have to do a write-up on Rumph later, maybe next week, but for now, welcome to Texas Tech and git your guns up?!

  Texas Longhorn Links:  BON's GhostofBigRoy discusses the areas of concern for the Longhorns . . . Statesman's Alan Trubow writes that the Longhorns are not focused on revenge . . . FWST's Jimmy Burch writes that RB Tre' Newton is splitting the starting tailback job . . . DMN's Chuck Carlton also asks about DE Sergio Kindle . . . The Statesman previews the Red Raiders . . . ESPN's Pat Forde thinks Texas beats Texas Tech by 4 touchdowns . . .

  Neglected Audio and Video:  Fox34 with coverage from DS Austin Burns and CB Taylor Charonnet's big day in front of the microphone and Leach thinks that the Longhorns are looking past the Red Raiders: