Boy, do I miss Graham Harrell
by techtom4 on Sep 27, 2009 1:27 AM CDT
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PrintI know that the UH loss cannot be totally put on Potts, but I think it is finally clear what is missing from our team this year. LEADERSHIP. We all knew going in to this season that Potts was not going to be a "vocal" leader, but this is worse than I expected. One thing that I loved about Harrell is that he was not afraid to yell at, motivate, and encourage his teammates. He seemed much more passionate and into the game than Potts does. Harrell also knew the game much better, being a coach's son. From a physical ability standpoint, Graham was also much, much, MUCH more accurate than Potts and it is clear that accuracy is much more important than the supposed "Arm-strength" Potts has. As many other bloggers on this site have mentioned, Graham's release was also much smoother and faster which also contributed to his success probably more than most of us would give him credit for.
As far as the UH game, I know Leach usually gives the QB total control to change the play at the line of scrimmage. If this is the case, than the UH loss can be blamed on Leach and Potts collectively. Leach should not allow Potts to change the play when we are running so well, and Potts should not change the play when we are running so well. Whichever person caused more damage is irrelevant, as either person could have chosen to make the right decision.
Potts still has a long LONG way to go. His accuracy is actually terrible and his leadership leaves much to be desired. He better get it together quick.
I guess we should all be biting our tongues for being so fascinated by "Arm-strength" and realize that Graham was truly unique to this school and is by far the greatest quarterback we have ever had.
Boy, do I miss Graham Harrell.
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The loss really sucks. Its only his 4th game though. I still dig his toughness, and the snot rockets.
on toughness
it seems like we all forgot about Graham’s toughness. Remember the Baylor game with a shattered hand?
I think he’ll grow into it and mature. Graham Harrell didn’t show up to Texas Tech as a college football legend, although I think his football fundamentals were better than Potts are right now.
his fundamentals were better because he had less innate talent
it’s like that old baseball adage, two guys run to first base at the same speed, one with perfect form and one with sloppy form- do you take the guy who’s topped out, or the guy who can improve if you continue to develop him?
(though of course I’d have liked to see the development come during his time as a backup, I didn’t realize this offense was so complicated that in multiple years of learning the signal-calling he had no time to improve his mechanics)
by mojavereject on Sep 27, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
It is true
That Potts is a tough guy who can take a hit. But Football is 80 percent mental! So far, I have not seen more than 5% of the mentality required for a Leach offense QB.
What we are seeing is a QB who shows up to practice and does the basics and does not do the other things which Leaders do. Potts is not a leader. He does not even try to motivate others. He does not even try to talk to coaches after horrible series to see what he could do to improve his play over the course of the game.
These are things that all the previous QBs under Leach had. Potts has none of those attributes. Leach is following the idea that if you spend enough time in the system you should know it backwards and forwards. Potts has proven that idea false for the first time.
I honestly do not think Peters or Doege could do any worse. But I really think that they could do exceedingly better based on what I have seen over the last 4 games.
I think you're making a lot of presumptions
about Potts that I would love to see you substantiate.
Potts has never talked to other coaches or players after a series? Doubtful.
Potts doesn’t motivate anyone? Not true, Carter said this week that Potts play on the field was very motivational.
I would love to know what Potts isn’t doing mentally to make you think that he can’t play, and I don’t tell me that I just need to watch, what specifically.
I get that he got lucky on two interceptions, but every player has interceptions and bad decisions and he could have played better, but had Leach made some different decisions on the field, I think we’re talking about Potts very differently.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Seth
You are making an assumption as well!
What I said is that you never see Potts after horrible series where he is making really bad decisions or the defense is rising up against the play calling is the issue here. He is not on the phone nor next to Leach. Instead he is back somewhere else.
I have yet to see him running up and down the sidelines being animated to motivate the team or more especially the offense.
That is what I am getting at. Was Potts numbers ok? yea. But on the very edge of ok. But given the matchups Tech had……. He should have had an outstanding day.
As I pointed out several times, He is not mature and needs lots of time to develop. More so than expected. Leach circled the wagons around Potts with his comments and to make the firm statement that Potts is the QB for this team for this season.
Which brings us back to where we are. As I pointed out before if you want to go back an take the time to look it up, I stated that Potts will need the entire season to develop. That because of his current play and lack of reading ability it will be Next Year where we will see the next level.
As for comparisons, Harrell was a sophmore when he started. Potts is a 4th year Junior.
So yea, I expected more of Potts than what he is giving.
Leach compared Potts to Harrell effort at the North Dakota game! So where does he compare Potts to now with Houston?
Am I being over critical of Potts? Maybe. But I have to point out that his overall record is average and his errors are the most.
Lastly, there was an Article in the San Angelo Standard Times that backs up what I am saying from Leach. Leach said Potts was a quiet leader that does not say much.
To me that is not good in a team sport. But not necessarily hopeless. Pick any top team who is really really good. You have more than one Highly motivational player to get everyone up. Especially, after a bad series to take the field on the next series with extra revenge style fire.
Leach states several times that Potts is lacking experience coming in by his statements after each game and his constant he is improving comments.
No I'm not.
I’m quoting you. I’m waiting for links and for you to substantiate the following claims:
1. That Potts never talks to coaches after a series, or a bad series.
2. That Potts doesn’t motivate anyone.
3. And this is the best, that Potts is only 5% of the mentality required to be a Texas Tech QB.
I appreciate you trying to change the subject and put some blame on me, but you’re making the claims, not me.
I’m waiting.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Seth
Why not simply watch the games? That is where I am seeing it first hand. I am reporting what I am seeing first hand from what I am seeing going on the sidelines.
I am trying to find the exact link to the San Angelo paper. I Found another which refers to Potts as quiet leader but its not the one I read.
So what you are wanting to do is exclude my first hand witness of what he does and go find other documents.
Ok. I am working on that. But the never the less, Its true and you know it. When your at the practices look for me. You just may find me there. And Yes practices are closed for the most part unless you have permission to be there.
I've watched
the sidelines and never noticed that behavior and if this were true, then why would Leach say that Potts played well on Saturday. I’m not doubting what you see, and you’re entitled to your opinion, but stating things as fact, without backing them up, is not acceptable.
And just because Potts is a quiet leader doesn’t make him a bad leader. If he leads by example, then that’s just his personality.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
I’m just saying its one game. Harrell was great, thats undisputed. Potts is inconsistent sometimes, but i’m not giving up on the guy. Its a different team now, when we put it together its awesome, but right now we have people in new roles. Its not going to be as cohesive as that great 2008 team. That being said, I firmly believe that Potts will redeem himself.
I'll write my thoughts fully in a post later
but, i think it’s somewhat funny that you say this… if i remember correctly… Graham Harrell was booed on our home field after a certain mizzou game… everyone called for his head… just saying… more later after i wake up…
Wreck 'Em Tech!
J.T.H.
by redraidersax on Sep 27, 2009 5:43 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Good point
I have just expected more from Potts than what I have seen so far considering how much praise he got from Leach in the preseason coupled with the fact that this is the first time Leach had ever done that.
I know every QB needs time to develop, but it is a bit curious that every time a new QB is plugged in they struggle at first. I was truly hopeful that Potts would be the one to break this trend. He has been here a while and has the talent and potential to be great (he just needs to work on some fundamentals and what should be small simple things), so I don’t think it’s completely ridiculous to expect more from him than past Tech QB’s despite his lack of playing time.
And let's not forget
that questions about Harrell’s ability to lead this team were prevalent after the Nevada game. Everyone just slow down a bit.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
I agree, if you are going to throw Potts under the bus
Move your butt over to BON and support them or somebody else. At least they can give excuses to a poor performance and STILL SUPPORT THEIR QB. If you can’t do that for Potts you ain’t worth pissing on.
This is total BS for people to shoot him down. I said it and I stand behind what I said.
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
Ok...
I’m happy to know you would no longer consider pissing on me….?
Why is it total BS for me to demand more from the supposed “most prepared QB in the Leach era”?? I still think he can be great down the road, but hasn’t his play thus far been a bit of a disappointment from what we all expected?
I never said I want him benched, because I don’t. I have seen him in practice a couple times, and he has made impressive plays. For whatever reason, it has not translated to the field consistently.
Sorry, I meant that in a sense like said person might be on fire........
I just thought it was a little strange that everyone threw him under the bus. Apparently all of that nonsense has stopped and everyone has calmed down……. Myself included…
I wasn’t directing that towards you……
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
Well...
I’m not sure where I fall on this one. I think Potts needs greater development as he does tend to throw the ball into double coverage and needs to adjust when a play goes bust. This game was not his fault as much as it was Leach’s bad call on a 4th and goal to not kick a field goal secure and 8 point lead. That was really stupid and did indeed cost us the game. These 4th downs such as in the Texas game last week on a returned punt for a TD might have worked with a seasoned offense but aren’t working now. Keenum is a great QB and UH fielded a better game plan with lots of intensity. Tech looked beat and tired and out-coached to put it simply. The only good thing that I came away with that our running game could be great if we developed it further. Batch and Jeffers were awesome. Our defense got worn out from some sloppy offensive play. To conclude the captain needs to work on his 4th down strategy as his decision making is killing us. 4-5 losses easily this season.
I'm still wearing my Taylor Potts underoos
Pablo M’s drinking the hater-ade, but this is the same guy who wanted to turn our uniforms into Nike technicolor dream tights to gain a psychological advantage
Hell yeah mojave!!
I got up @ 4:00AM to go to the office this morning and I’m wearing my game day shirt. Some OU guys pointed out the loss and started poking fun. I was quick to bring up BYU and the loss they suffered. I’ll defend my team no matter what the circumstance. I may look like an idiot in the process but at least they know where I stand. Over here in the desert south of Lubbock we bleed scarlet and black even if that means it came from blows exchanged!! I will continue to exhchange blows with people until they get back on board with the rest of the die hards……
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
Not hate water
Just disappointment and I am seeing lack of leadership at a key position that demands it.
What about Harrell's first season?
Did you miss him after the TCU game?
It sounds like we’ve all come to expect perfection from a team that has never been perfect. That’s not unusual; there is no team in CFB that is perfect.
Since when is a one point road loss against a ranked team, on national television typical Tech? We were favored, maybe, depending who you asked and at what moment this week, but the smart money didn’t have us blowing Houston out, either. Was a good team, we took them into the fourth quarter and kept it close despite losing the turnover battle.
I HATE THE RESULT. I don’t hate this team, though. I think they’ve played pretty good, about as good as any 2-2 Tech team I’ve seen.
by Skin Patrol on Sep 27, 2009 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I never said I hated the team
I just think that we as fans need to accept what comes with success, and that is having increased expectations from everyone involved. I think we need to stop making excuses for our team and celebrating “effort.” Wins are all that matter in CFB, and after last year I thought our program really matured and would be able to move past sustaining these types of losses. For now, it appears true that last year was just a one-time thing for us. Success usually breeds success, so I thought this year’s team would use what they learned from last year and be able to handle pressure situations in big games, instead of playing down to the competition. Maybe it’s because I’m a currently a student and Tech has been much stronger historically during my time being a fan, but I have just come to expect more consistency, better performance, and more mental and physical toughness from my team. I am not willing to “take things for what they are” anymore and make excuses of why Potts is not doing great or why the team is not “there” yet. They should be, and that is the attitude we should all have. That doesn’t mean I HATE the team, but I do HATE the poor calls, bad throws, penalties, lack of discipline, road struggles, playing down to the competition, and inconsistencies in general.
To: Potts:Use your head and quit the damn blowing your snot on the field during a TV game.It is embarrassing to see.Maybe the stash needs to come off.You ain’t all that yet and far behind what I thought you would be.My God man you have been around for a while now.You might can take a hit,but can you use your head?I support you 100%,lets get it together.
To Leach: Keep running the ball while Potts grows up.
To all RED RAIDERS: Keep supporting this team,I still believe.
WRECH’EM
I for one thought the snot rockets where awesome!!
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
by KWashburn on Sep 27, 2009 2:49 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
and at least he wasn't eating them like Chase Daniels......
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
Harrell was no better the third and fourth game of his career and he sure wasn’t playing the 2nd and 17th ranked teams in the nation on the road. I am not knocking Harrell. Everyone needs to get off of Potts’s back. Our offense always takes a couple games to get rolling and they are usually against teams we can easily beat while makiing all oif these mistakes. This is why playing ut last week was a bad idea. If we have the week off to get healthy and prepare for Houston we win, win next week, and go into conference play 4-0. I hope that $100, 000 was worth it.
TechTom, why single out Potts???
I’m a little back and forth on this. I agree with Pablo that we can be a fan and critical too. I don’t tend to agree with the 5% claim since who really knows unless you’re playing the position.
That said, there is plenty of improvement to be made across the board, including with the coaching.
Potts’ inconsistent play reminds me a lot of Harrell in his first year. You can’t expect the same level of play that Harrell showed last year or even the year before that from a guy who hasn’t been a started since high school. He needs some time to get his feet wet and to become more comfortable at game speed.
I for one am a Potts fan and he won me over when he stood in @ Austin and drove for another score after the questionable hit by Kindle. So I’m on board.
But here is my opinion:
1. why did we go away from the run the last 20 minutes of the game (part of 3rd and most all of the 4th qtrs)?
2. why isn’t anyone pointing out the receiving corps as a collective group? how many dropped balls can we have?
3. we need to be patient. no one should have expected the same results we saw last year and any knowledgable fan could point to the UofH game as a challenge back in the summer.
Things will get better and we’ll win some this year that some folks don’t expect us to win. Mark my words!
I didn't single him out
I said in the post that obviosuly the entire game cannot be blamed on him. I’m just pointing out things that you would think he should be better at doing, considering how long he has been here and the fact that he got to learn from and watch the best QB in Tech history. I know he hasn’t started this many games since high school or whatever, but how long are we supposed to give him? I think everyone is blaming his problems too much on him not starting for a long time, when in reality being a leader and being accurate are just not some of his stronger traits. These WERE stronger traits for Graham. To answer your questions:
1.) That is the exact same thing I am wondering. I also mentioned this in the post. Whether it was Potts refusing to CHANGE the play to a running play when they are 3 down D-lineman or leach refusing to CALL the play and not lets Potts change it is irrelevant. Neither of them did what would have been the smart thing to do and ultimately, I believe, allow us to win.
2.) I noticed this as well, there were several ridiculous drops. This is also solved if you RUN the BALL though. Some of the drops, however, were due to high throws by Potts. The man is just not accurate.
3.) I never thought this game would not be a challenge. I knew that it would all along. But why do I have to be soooo patient? I am ready for this team to become an elite regular in the Big12 with OU and UT. We can’t just sit back and say “O well, we can’t expect them to win this type of game this year” if we want to become elite. I’m tired of just winning games we ’aren’t expected to win"—-that coincides with the phrase “typical tech” which I am also tired of hearing. I want us to be winning every game and be EXPECTED to win every game.
Agreed. Well said Tom
“I want us to be winning every game and be EXPECTED to win every game.” Completely agree with your thoughts. I’m not big on the “typical tech” sentiment either. And you are right about Graham being more accurate. ’
I think our opinions are closer than maybe they seem on the surface. Especially around running the ball when we are killing the other team on the ground. It’s been said a thousand times, but that is one huge reason we were so successful last year. That trend needs to continue in to this year.
From the comments from coach Leach, it appears this well be a focus more and more. Get the ball to Jeffers and let him create some big plays! Get it to all of them for that matter.
by imisswesttexas on Sep 29, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Totally agree
This change in playcalling will also help Potts’s development. If we can rely more on the running game, that takes pressure off of him to carry the entire team when he is perhaps (obviosuly) not ready to do that just yet. I think you’re right though, our opinions are not that different from one another. Strangely enough, the strength of our skill position players are the RB’s. Why not use them more? Because we haven’t in the past and we always throw the ball? Bad reasoning, I think.
etc
Seth and imisswesttexas have covered my thoughts. Harrell was no better if as good his first season. Early last season, a lot of us were wondering what was wrong with Harrell, then he and the team (including an awesome o-line) got on a roll for a while! How about the pass Detron let go thru his hands with a defender on either side of him in the endzone this past Sat. nite! It’s a group effort and I am on board!
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