Five Questions :: Discussing Position Changes

if you can find the personnel in your front seven to consistently get pressure on opposing QBs

remember, the front seven can make the secondary look good and vice versa when it comes to defense

if you have the right personnel in place in one area, it will make the personnel in the other area look better than they really are

You whipper snappers can run the hill. I’ll be driving up with the beer coolers.

sometimes its better to walk down the hill……………just saying.

that the program is heading in the right direction.

The board approved renovation and improvement of the Football Training Facility and Practice fields. According to a presentation by Gerald Myers, the two existing natural-grass football practice fields will be replaced with two artificial turf fields and a running hill for strength and conditioning purposes.

According to Geral Myers… So this may or may not be true. The board may not even know of this until a reporters asks them.

2. More aggressive at stopping the run? As if we needed another reminder that all of these coaches are Big XII noobs. Either they don’t understand that everyone throws the football in the Big XII these days, or they don’t think we’ll be playing with a lead much this year… after all, there’s no point in running it unless you’re up by two scores.

4. I think the answer to this question depends on who starts. If Potts, then Leong. If Sheffield, then maybe Swindall or Lewis. I wouldn’t rule out Ward, though… I’m telling you he’s the deal.

1. Speed Speed and oh yeah more Speed + the depth to keep fresh legs in for 4 quarters
2. I love the idea of having an aggressive defense. With our offense the defenses gambles only have to pay off a few times a game to be affective
3. No clue
4. Eric Ward – Tommy Tubberville quote “none of the corners want anything to do with Eric Ward right now”
5. Tommy might not win any championships here but when he does leave here Texas Tech will have some of the best facilities in the country and he’ll do it in a shorter time than leach (because he fundraises). Thats not a knock on Leach but more of a bonus that Tubbs brings to the table. I like the idea of field turf practice surfaces. OU and Texas both practice on such surfaces and it hasn’t hurt their play.

It should be lewis because he has sick moves and is a load to bring down. Torres is more of a ‘possession type’ receiver and leong is a jumping freak of nature. I remember in the umass game that detron made a move that was sick and one that only he can make. My son has his jersey, so we both hope it’s him despite being proud of my former El Paso homeboy.

1. I believe he’s looking for bigger run stoppers and shut down coverage guys. But aren’t they all?

2. I have been frustrated for years with the soft coverage played in the middle of the field. I.e. from the 20 to the 20 yard lines. Every accurate QB has diced us over the last 5 years on short out routes and the like. Jamming guys at the LOS at least 50% of the time would seem to be the right mix. What you are seeing is the implementation of a new aggressive – attacking defense versus the bend but don’t break defense. It’s not vacuum by position because both schemes depend upon a very successful pass rush. Old style swarm was in the Jones right? (sarc.)

3.As far as position change, physical abilities and finding a guy who on this roster – acts the most like Lawrence Taylor – it’s definitely Brian Duncan. He is 240 pounds. He’s reasonably fast. He’s a better run shedder than anybody else’s run blocking backs we will face. So on the edge B Dunc is money. It’s downright exciting the potential disruption which might be inflicted on aTm, ut and OUs offenses.

4.That’s tough Seth- the guys who should shine are of course Swindal, Leong, Lewis and Torres. The scoring leader though is a funny combo of ability and mental toughness. My vote is one of the newcomers May or Ward followed closely by D. Lewis. The x factor is how the red zone offense is really designed to exploit. Because Leach liked a running back dive from a spread formation to create tacking blocking mismatches. There is a reason a guy like S Wood or Taureen Henderson scored a lot. The receivers have the best chance to score from about 20 yards out mainly because of the YAC mismatch of shifty receivers versus tired out Cornerbacks. So I’m just guessing that a fast guys like Zouzalac, Ward or Mays gets the most passes around 20 yards out. Then has the most opportunities to beat guys to the end zone.

5. There is a part of me that hates turf. But if it make for consistent practices then I’m all for it. That crap about running up the work hill. Somehow I think the little guys- kids – will dominate that action.

1.) I would like to stop the run. See A&M 2009.

2.) Tired of getting nickeled and dime by the other teams. F*ck bending, lets break some sh*t!

3.) We knew this when we made to switch. Gotta find the right guys to play the right positions.

4.) Lewis, Torres, and….Ward…if he sees the field.

5.) Recruits like having nice things. Facilites go a long way. Just ask Okie State.

I am going to answer 1 & 2 together, because they are (some of the other opinions posted are similar). I see words about lots of different looks and packages and combinations of players on the field. I think the defense is going to do to the opposing offense what offenses have been doing with multiple looks…lots of looks with lots of different DB’s…complexity…perhaps in the form of simplicity to any one player…player A can do this, he does it well, put him in for that set of circumstances and then switch him out…do that in many forms and it gets complex even though one specific player may have a small set of tasks to do when he is in. Lots of bodies help keep the individuals fresher…that translates to quicker and faster. As a player works the system over time, he gains experience, he gets more assignments. It lets many players get on the field, takes advantage of every RS-FR to Senior, and allows the coaches to show recruits that playing time comes early. And yes, it will allow press coverage and the rest of the defense to play nine man ball. All the speed/hurry emphasized during practices contributes to developing the ability to switch quickly.

3. I thought about this one when I read it a couple of days ago and this is what I came up with. The reason given for moving Duncan outside is his first 3 or 4 steps are fast and he is a natural with maintaining pad level and looking like a DE + Bird is a senior, he can handle the change inside + the result is a faster team. Duncan is faster than Bird first 3 or 4 steps (else he would still be outside). All the previous words = in the middle Bird has a shorter distance to the qb, on the outside Duncan has more distance but can cover it quicker and is more natural with his pads.

4. Just curious, who do you think leads the team in touchdown receptions next year? Leong, his leaping ability gives him great advantage…he gets open, when he catches a football, it is his…and he catches anything close…or far.

5. No brainer, the board approved an improvement idea originated by the HC who also arranged the finances…duh ! What are they going to say ?

Field turf is showing up on every HS football field…I think a recruit who sees grass turf would rather see something at least as good as his HS field. Obviously the coaching staff likes it also.

I can only hope that the public will have access to the running hill and then we can all go charging up that hill after having copious amounts of alcohol?

LOL, I think perhaps typing got in the way of logic…copious amounts of alcohol always cancels any sense of need for access. moot point.

1. Stop the run. I refuse to see A&M 2009 over again. Man coverage would be nice to see. I don’t care if they get burned deep once a game as long as we are tight off the line. That can screw up a lot of things for the offense when the routes are delayed, therefore allowing time for the front 7 to get in the backfield.

2. We have the athletes to play press coverage. They have done it before. Again, the “bend don’t break” policy hampered the ability to shoot the gap and wreck shop.

3. As far as I’m concerned, you can put Bird and Duncan wherever and they’re going to wreak havoc on the opposition. Gifted athletes. Solid. A little bit of a nasty streak would be nice.

4. I want to say Lewis but I’m not sure. I think Ward, Torres, Leong, Swindall, and Franks might be on top this year. There is also the possibility that we’ll run an unreal amount of swing passes to Jeffers. This discussion could go on for ever.

5. I’ll lead the charge.

Basketball