Five Questions | Spit-Ballin' the Texas Tech Defensive Two-Deep Before SMU
by Seth C on Aug 30, 2010 8:00 AM CDT
in Texas Tech Football
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I think we're all pretty comfortable where things are offensively, or maybe I should say that I'm pretty comfortable where things are at offensively, there's still a lot of similarity with the offense and I think we have a pretty good handle on where things stand. However, with the defense, I've been adding 2 + 2 for a few weeks, trying to piece together a two-deep based on comments by head coach Tommy Tuberville and articles by LAJ's Don Williams.
With the SMU Mustangs less than a week away, it's time to start thinking about how things will look on Sunday.
1. Tuberville mentioned last week that there's going to essentially be five players along the defense line. Here's what I have thus far (again, based on recent article and comments):
DT (Three Technique): Donald Langley, Lawrence Rumph, Chris Perry, David Neill
NG: Colby Whitlock, Myles Wade, Bobby Agoucha
DE (Situational Player): Any of the other NG/DT or Kerry Hyder, Pearlie Graves
This probably looks like a very fluid defensive line and you're probably thinking that this whole "situational player" is a bunch of hooey, but based on what Tuberville has said, I think Tuberville is going to try to adjust to the situation. So, you'll see, perhaps a pairing of Whitlock and Langley in one unit, then Wade and Rumph in the second unit and then if it's a running situation, maybe Graves, but if it's a passing down, maybe it's Hyder.
What do you think I've got right and what do you think I've got wrong?
2. The outside linebackers (again mentioned by Tuberville last week) that the outside linebackers would be considered lineman and the two outside linebackers will be on the line, but you won't know which of the two will be putting pressure on the offense, if any at all. Here's who I have:
OLB: Brian Duncan, Scott Smith
OLB (Buck): Sam Fehoko, Aundrey Barr
OLB (Swing): Tahrick Peak
This goes a bit against what I've thought, which is that Fehoko was supposed to be an inside linebacker, but there have been a couple of mentions, especially by DC James Willis that Fehoko is in that Buck or Joker linebacker. I think that you could consider Duncan to essentially be a defensive end, but he's an outside linebacker. As recent as last week, despite injuries, Tahrick Peak has been mentioned, by name, as a guy that will see time at both outside linebacker positions, which is why I have him as a "swing" player in that he can play both spots.
Should anyone else be added to this group and do you have any other player that you think might fit into any of these positions?
More good good after the jump.
3. Inside linebacker seems a bit easier to predict as these spots have seemingly been set for some tim
ILB: Bront Bird, Tyrone Sonier
ILB: Julius Howard, Daniel Cobb
I know that Cqulin Hubert and Joe Carmical are going to be players here in the future as is Zach Winbush, but I think this is going to be a pretty tight rotation. Anyone else that I'm missing?
4. Cornerback has also beena position that has been set for a while, but we've needed to see what freshmen would qualify and then we would need to see if those freshmen could play. We know a little bit more and here's your cornerbacks:
CB: Jarvis Phillips, Will Ford, D.J. Johnson, Urell Johnson, Eugene Neboh, LaRon Moore
I was a little surprised that Neboh is still in the mix, but Tuberville mentioned him by name. Any guesses as to who the starters are?
5. Last year's starting safeties where the first players that DC Willis mentioned when asked about improvement in the secondary. Here's who I've got:
S: Franklin Mitchem, Cody Davis, Brett Dewhurst, Terrance Bullitt
Swing: Tre' Porter
Just like all of the other positions, I think that most of these guys split the same and that Poter is going to be a pivotal player. I've labeled Porter as "swing" because I think the staff has mentioned that he would play both cornerback and safety.
That's 29 players in the blockquotes. Overall, what do you think I've gotten right and what do you think I've got wrong?
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I think we may have a secret weapon in Scott Smith..
He is never mentioned in two deep conversations, yet when asked about him as recently as yesterday, Willis considers him one of his three pass rushers. Quietly in Lubbock he is being described not as good as advertised, but better! Other players call him a freak. I think we may be poor mouthing here a lil with him, and I expect to see him in the mix early and often.
"Dress good, yu'll play good. Play good, yu'll get paid good." -Deion Sanders
that should read, "three BEST pass rushers"
"Dress good, yu'll play good. Play good, yu'll get paid good." -Deion Sanders
I agree TTUMAR. I think Scott Smith is a difference maker. Early on I was worried about the end position but I feel like with Smith’s ability and Duncan’s experience we’re loaded at the line. I think this defense may be one of our best yet when evaluating these players by position.
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
Maybe he will be this year’s Brandon Sharpe! No one could have predicted 15 sacks from that guy.
"I like to think of myself as a one man wolfpack."
by Remington870 on Aug 30, 2010 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Au contrair Remington I predicted a break out year for B. Sharpe in 08.
Now I never dreamed he- Sharpe – would get 15 sacks and numerous hurries. I also tabbed Senior Britton Barbee as a breakout guy but now he’s hurt. (sad face).
I am convinced Fehoko, Bird, J. Howard and DJ Johnson will lead the tacklers but if the Jeep starts confusing poeople then watch out for B. Duncan, Hyder and Graves.
"do routine things routinely"
by centexraider on Aug 30, 2010 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions
I stand corrected
That’s impressive!
"I like to think of myself as a one man wolfpack."
by Remington870 on Aug 30, 2010 7:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Blew it
Way to go TTUMAR, you blew it. We were THIS close to having him fly under the radar until September 18! Now they’ll game-plan for him for sure! You gotta remember, every credible news outlet reads DTN on a daily basis… you can expect this about Smith to be in the headlines tomorrow morning. With all due respect.
Note: I am not mocking DTN’s influence in the media… I LOVE that it gets mentioned by so many of the big outlets. Truly a testament to Seth’s hard work and the great job he does here. I’m mainly just mocking TTUMAR, just sayin’.
Its all fun and games...
until you wake up to find me standing over you watching you sleep, while wearing my Texas Tech Snuggie……with all due respect.
"Dress good, yu'll play good. Play good, yu'll get paid good." -Deion Sanders
Wow
That would freak the hell outta me. It would be even more scary if you were holding a bald cat that was in a matching TTU snuggie!
Does that mean
Someone could wake up one morning with a animal head in our bed our bed.
ut is "The Evil Empire"
I couldn't help but laugh at this.
Not the sleeping part, but the creepy part about you wearing a snuggie.
Peter Griffin voice, “weellllll, time to hit the old dusty trail” (note awkward)
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
SMU game
This may be an excellent test for the Tech defense with the pass happy Stangs. Our D backs are gonna start out running and run run run. Its gonna be an excellent opportunity for the linemen to get a lot of sacks. I don’t expect the Jones offense to do much running, so don’t expect to see too much run defense from our guys. This will be an excellent test for the D and what we will see when the Big 12 season starts.
It this is a shoot out, then we will see how the new Tech offense performs. This is gonna be an exciting game I’m thinking. I’m glad we have all of our offensive weapons coming back from last year. Go TECH
I hate exciting season openers. I’d rather have a monumental blow out to get out of the gate fast. We’ve had too many season openers lately against bad and overmatched teams be too close for my comfort in the fourth. I’m ready for a pasting.
+101
Especially a potentially high scoring offense like SMEW!!!!!
ut is "The Evil Empire"
Dedfischer on Tortilla Retort says we gained speed, lost some weight and generally should be able to create chaos on the defensive side of the ball.
If we subscribe to the theory that speed wins games then I’d say we have incrementley ramped it up in this category.
- extract below from theTorilla Retort –
“Mixed coverage, significant man with blitzes. D.J. Johnson (190) & J. Howard (220) would move outside under Cover 2 assumptions, so this will be the position I’m going to focus on 7 days from now in live action. We’ve shed 45 pounds in this alignment and gained almost a half second in aggregate 40. If Howard stays in the box and a safety walks up over the slot receiver, watch for us to be playing man coverage and bringing heat on passing plays from several places inside. I bet we blitz Johnson or Howard off the edge every once in a while, but who knows. Cobb (215) is the backup for Howard and this is probably where you’ll see a true freshman play in our nickel sets. It can be confusing trying to keep up with alignments of our front 5 in a live game, so for personal reasons, I’m going to simplify it down to accounting for the weakside LB on each play. I think he’ll tell me more about what we’re trying to do than any other position on the field. Howard will also serve as a good indication of what we’re willing to settle for in run defense. We might overload the run some against Texas or OU. I doubt we do much facing SMU, but I’ll be tracking the guesstimate for percentage of snaps as we go. If we keep the weakside LB in the box on run plays, then my expectations are nothing less than this guy making a shit-ton of tackles and covering a lot of ground. Less than that and we’re not getting the payoff for what we’re sacrificing in coverage. Note where safeties Davis and Mitchem align relative to Howard before the snap.”
"do routine things routinely"
Five Answers
1. I think depth at the D-Line issues have been addressed to the nth degree. If I read this correctly (save some situational nuances) we have three DE’s, Four DT’s, and two NT’s. THAT is SOLID!!!! I always questioned Neil and Perry’s size at NT and am glad to see them finding a place at the 3-technique. Perlie Graves GAINING weight to DE is srprising but I expect to see great things from him.
2. Duncan and Fehoko. after that, Im lost. Im glad to see Scott Smith finding a place SOMEWHERE….you need talent like his ON the field.
3. Even MORE Solid than D-Line….I love Bront’s game ever since he covered Pettigrew like a blanket in the OSU Game 2yrs back. Nuff Said
4. Phillips and Ford will start. Period….I have no worries there. DJ & Urell Johnson will back up. Moore and Neboh will work their way (back) in.
5. Davis and Mitchem will start. Theyve earned it. Bullit’s talent will demand playing time and Tre Porter will prove his worth on situational substitutions.
The Lyle Leong Bandwagon will Continue to Roll!!!
Arriba sus Pistolas, Muchachos!
by Tortilla Pirate on Aug 30, 2010 11:05 AM CDT reply actions
good analysis
Agree with your comment on Smith TTMAR. I am reading the same. Watch Carmical
"It's time to get down to serious business." Tommy Tuberville
Stunt + Blitz = Excitement and potential heart attack
This first game is going to drive a lot of us to the edge.
Our D-Line is a lot more solid than I thought it would be. This is very good.
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
A question.
Where can I get a TTU snuggie ?
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