Texas Tech Football Offseason Theorems | Dynamic Offensive Playmakers Make a Difference, Part II
by Seth C on Feb 16, 2012 10:00 AM CST
in Texas Tech Football 2012
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PrintThe offseason is filled with questions, especially this year. Rather than ask those questions and not offer any solutions, I thought it would be interesting to offer theorems, i.e. all right angles are congruent, and you tell me if you think they're true or not. Here are your previous Texas Tech Football Offseason Theorems:
Returning Bright Spots
I do want to make it clear that I'm not absolutely certain that WR Darrin Moore, WR Alex Torres, WR Marcus Kennard, IR Austin Zouzalik or anyone else that's returning isn't going to make a significant leap. I tend to lean on the idea those players may just be incredibly solid role players and not much else and there's nothing wrong with that. And I don't mean to say that Torres and his 51 catches or Moore and his 49 catches are just role players, that's significant production, but not elite. For the purpose of this exercise, I wanted to focus on players that would have at least two years to make a significant impact, so my list of returning receivers consists of Eric Ward, Bradley Marquez, Aaron Fisher and Jace Amaro.
I do want to add a couple of things about Moore and Kennard. Moore was terrific in the non-conference part of the year, but caught his legs up in a reception in the Nevada game and we never really saw that type of production for the rest of the season. I think Moore is good, but for me, I don't think he has enough speed to really be playing the outside spot. I don't know where you put him, but Moore doesn't stretch the field with his speed, but he will stretch the field with his strength. As to Kennard, the staff wanted to redshirt him this year and the reason why is that he might be the most one-dimensional player on the team and most inconsistent. I'm going to do a full write-up on the catch rate, but Kennard caught only 57% of his passes last year, and although he averaged 15 yards per catch, that's not good enough. I'm guessing that Kennard told the staff that he didn't need to be redshirted and the staff relented, but against their better judgment. Kennard has tools that not many on this team have, but he could use a year of refinement. I doubt he does that, but it would make him a better player. Now, back to the other players.
There is a reason why you should hold out hope for players to improve significantly.
Eric Ward went from 6 catches as a redshirt freshman to 84 his sophomore year and to think that he started the year against Texas St. with just 2 catches for 6 yards. Ward was, by far, this team's most consistent receiver, despite the slow start, and he also proved to be the most dynamic. For the year, he finished with 84 catches, 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. I think that the best option to be an elite receiver for this team is Ward. He knows what it is like to compete in the Big 12 and he knows what it takes to be productive in this conference. That's an advantage that really no other player has. And it should also point to the idea that despite a player not making hardly any contributions, remember, just 6 catches, he absolutely exploded. That playing time as little as it was in 2010, perhaps, meant the difference between him knowing what he needed to do to be a better player and being just average in 2011.
More after the jump.
So if you hold out hope as to the success of either Jace Amaro or Bradley Marquez and having significant leaps in their improvement, then their mentor should be Ward. I think the prevailing thought was that Marquez and Amaro essentially wasted their freshman year. Marquez was actually decent, grabbing 25 passes for 240 yards and 1 touchdown while Amaro had just 7 catches for 57 yards and 2 touchdowns. That's not bad for true freshmen that didn't start at their respective positions. And despite what most of you think about the former tight end, as good as Amaro will be, I don't think he was ready to start last year. I'm not saying the former tight end should have started, but that's water under the bridge at this point. Again, look to Ward who was a blip on the radar as a redshirt freshman and just exploded onto the scene. You may not believe this, but I do believe that the time that Amaro and Marquez spent on the field was beneficial. The first time that they both got hit in the mouth, pushed around, and easily defended, I think a light goes off for every player and they realize, very quickly, that this isn't high school anymore. As good and as talented as they were, they both had to know that they needed to be better and I also believe that both Amaro and Marquez are hard-workers and what 2010 meant to them was that they needed to be significantly better. I think they will be.
Aaron Fisher is someone that I've really liked, but just hasn't made it on the field, and when he did get an opportunity last year, I thought he made some nice plays before, you guessed it, getting injured, late in the year. Fisher was originally slated to be an outside receiver (my opinion), then I think was moved inside by the prior staff and then made the transition back to the outside, which is where I think he belongs. Fisher's best game was this program's best game, Oklahoma, where he caught 3 passes for 43 yards, but was then virtually silent for the next 3 games. I don't recall seeing him in those games and I'm not sold that he's going to get a big opportunity considering the players that may be in front of Fisher on the outside. I don't know that he's deserving, but I go again to the idea that sometimes, the light clicks on and then receivers play at a different speed. Fisher will be a junior, and he was a big part of the kickoff coverage teams if I remember correctly and I remember him making a handful of plays in that regard. So even though he's not playing, he's contributing and I appreciate players that are willing to do that.
Maybe Some Redshirts
I think this is a bit far-fetched, but there is a possibility that the two freshmen receivers could make an impact: Jakeem Grant (5-6/151) and Derek Edwards (6-1/171). I really don't know any more about either of these players other than what we knew about them coming into last year, which is that they were both pretty spectacular in high school. I suspected that they would both need a year to redshirt and I'm also hopping that they gained some insight into the technical aspects of playing receiver as there is a reason why receiver is one of the toughest spots to immediately make an impact, whether that be college or the NFL.
Still, both Grant and Edwards can look to what Crabtree did and also hopefully burst on the scene, but don't hold your breath, in expecting an immediate impact. They could both look to Eric Ward, who was redshirted and then didn't contribute hardly at all as a redshirt feshman and finally came into his own last year as a sophomore. It would have been easy to give up on him, but playing receiver isn't easy and sometimes it takes time for that gift to work itself out. Grant is similar in size to the McRoy brothers, 5-6/151, so he's small, but he and the McRoy's are the fastest players on the team. Again, it's about getting them into space.
Edwards was the other receiver from last year's class and since Cornelius Douglas and Shawn Corker have moved to the defensive side of the ball, I think this opens up a window for Edwards to be ready to make an impact, maybe not this year, but next year, when Alex Torres, Tyson Williams, Marcus Kennard and Darrin Moore will all be graduating. The next year, 2013, will be Edwards and Grant's biggest opportunity.
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Marquez
I like the guys intangibles but I truly do wonder how much he can improve and progress as a receiver at tech if he is missing all the spring practices and summer workouts while he plays baseball in the Mets organization! I really hope he can take a few steps/leaps forward!
I think Moore is a head case he was healthy enough to play but played like a little girl worried about it and used it as an excuse! Kennard is going to have a good year I think! WRECK EM
Or maybe his knee was still bothering him throughout the season...
Shawn Johnson... she's a nice lady
I had friends tell on the team tell me he was cleared to play and was over 90% but was a head case about it! Kind of like Braylon Edwards with the niners he got hurt and was babying it so they cut him….
I am not a fan of calling our players headcases
Moore proved to be a very good receiver for us last year….coming back from a knee injury IS part mental…he missed three games, was trying to readapt for two weeks, and was right back in the thick of things afterwards.
Sounds like a pretty tough guy to me. I think he’ll have another great year.
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Feb 16, 2012 3:13 PM CST up reply actions
He is here for spring.
He only goes to the Mets in the summer.
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips."
overcoming injuries
As a guy who has played different sports (HS basketball, HS football, rec bball, rec softball, Collegiate Rugby) coming off of three shoulder surgeries and a few severe ankle sprains I can attest to how hard it is to really trust your body after stuff like that you constantly have that injury in the back of your mind and it keeps you from playing at 100% so i don’t blame Moore at all for his slow in production
by MississippiTxTechFan on Feb 16, 2012 10:13 PM CST up reply actions
I agree with your argument for Ward Seth.
I went to the spring game two years ago, and I was really impressed with Ward. He was a disappointment in year one, but he got better, and played really strong in Big 12 play, where it counts in year two. I think if Ward can just pick up where he left off, and if Bell can make an impact, I think then that Torres, if he can stay healthy, can have a 1,000 yard season.
And, if The Rabbits can make an impact, then Brady should really blossom. But all of this will really be on the OL. If they can protect, then the offense could be better. And who knows, throw in a running game, and oh momma.
This is my Tech speak talking, not my Tommy talking.
"Oh, yeah. We don't even talk about Bowls much. We're so far away from being a team right now that can have a chance to compete in a Bowl." HC Tommy Tuberville.
How elite do we have to be? Just catch it turn upfield and make them pull you down..
“For the purpose of this exercise, I wanted to focus on players that would have at least two years to make a significant impact, so my list of returning receivers consists of Eric Ward, Bradley Marquez, Aaron Fisher and Jace Amaro”
As far as contributors @ an elite level on offense I’d hope that Ward continues his upward trend and that Amaro and or Fisher get something done. But I am caught on the available touches physics of the game. Just like a human without tools cannot jump much over 48 inches.. the Tech receivers have only about 60 opportunities per outing times 12 outings. That’s 720 game time opportunities and its likely to go down as Coach Tubs/ Off Coord. N. Brown concentrate more touches in the running backs hands. Yeah yeah – NASCAR 80-100 plays not so much.
We had significant number of drops in 2011. Plus a bunch of poorly blocked wide receiver screens for little to no gain. So though its conceivable that 3 or four receivers could break out @ 80 plus catshes each in the 2012 soirée.I am not too hopeful. With a three deep rotation..the norm is probably more like 50 receptions or less. That being said I’d look for a more productive YAC /RAC or first downs gained by pass. To me this seems to be the better measure of elite contributions on this 2012 Red Raiders team.
I might add that my elite definition would be getting 55 – 75 catches per starting receiver and or gaining 8-12 yards per catch and run equaling a productivity quotient of 750 – 950 yards per starter per receiver per position the beer math means with the 2nd string Wideout contributions a plus 4500 yards receiving (passing yards) contribution coupled to around 1500 yards rushing from the Running backs 3 x deep and the QB draws, scrambles, sneaks etc.
So how elite does Tech have to be if the QB/ Receivers/ running backs can get up over a 70 percent completion rate – routinely?
Don’t get me wrong Seth the elite guy/contributor causes the opposing defense to pause and do weird things and try to outthink themselves while trying shut down a "threat". Other than Mr. Ward and the red shirt Senior Tyson Williams the transfer from West Texas A&M (right..right.. he is not a two year contirbutor)…I don’t see a burst on the scene contributor. In 2012.
"do routine things routinely"
Elite receivers
None of the receivers were consistant last year but each one of them had at least 2 great games with 9 or more catches. As long as one of the top receivers steps up when we need them, we are in good hands. Torres does well against OU, ATM, K-state. Moore was not healthy all season long but if he plays like he did in the first game last year, he can be scary. Ward had a monster game against baylor, he just needs to keep that up.
We just need another role player or two to emerge. It may be a JUCO or ?.
But my guess is all the receivers numbers are gonna go down because we will probably run the ball more with our army of running backs.
Spring practices closed to the public
"If only the good die young, I might live forever" Max Stalling
Beal:
Before everyone hits panic mode, there will be a few open practices (most likely scrimmages) that will be open to the fans.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
This is a non starter;
Tommy wants the team to get used to playing in front of an empty Jones Sadium.
"Oh, yeah. We don't even talk about Bowls much. We're so far away from being a team right now that can have a chance to compete in a Bowl." HC Tommy Tuberville.
by Btech on Feb 16, 2012 8:18 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Football ! Thanks Seth
Love the real football talk, the names and faces we know so well is what I think makes loosing so hard. All these guys we know can perform we have either seen it in years past or those brief glimpses.
We are Texas Tech we should never burn a snap when we can be teaching some young kid how to catch in a game situation and maybe some younger kid is at home watching on FSN or ABC, thinking man that looks like fun!
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We didn't realize how special those days were, but then again we did celebrate a hell of a lot!
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"The ball just didnt bounce our way" CTTs decades of experience ...............................................................................................................................
Blaze a trail, spend some time in West Texas, feel the sand sting your skin and burn your eyes, let the winter dry your hands, learn that its there only because our ancestors didn’t want to be around other people … that’s West Texas
??????????
If Mike Leach was still here ughhh? Wait I was dreaming. With running on first down, two wide reciever screens and punt, this offense will never have a breakout reciever, not built to. Tommy is trying to run a balanced attack, and will try and maybe throw for 300 yards. Other than OU game, that is a stretch. I think the crew of wide recievers is stacked, and with our old system( up until dec 2009) there is no telling how good the playmaking talent would be. Eric Ward is a stud, and could approach some coat tails of Crabtree numbers, but we will not see with this coaching staff, as bad as I would like to. I just see role players, and decent years for most of all recievers. Non conference will look better, but this vanilla ( spread look) running and screen attack will not go far in 2012. Unfortunately, there is a whole lot more talent than will be production.
Maybe you haven't been paying attention to recruiting.
But the guys coming in are build for the spread.
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips."
by westtxscrub on Feb 16, 2012 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe you haven't been paying attention to coaching
But TT won’t stand for a spread – only a balanced attack that runs first.
by ScottTTU on Feb 16, 2012 10:01 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
It still swings in favor of a Spread offense.
Tubs just wants more than 50 yards on the ground. So, again maybe you haven’t been paying attention to recruits.
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips."
Ward will have a great season.
We need Moore, Kennard, Torres, to come on strong and start attracting double coverage. This would allow Ward, Amaro, and Marquez to do some serious damage over the middle and on swing routes. If the O-line will give Doege decent protection, 70% completions is not out of the question.
Running game should also be much better.
It's all good.
by Red and Black 71 on Feb 16, 2012 8:33 PM CST reply actions
Ward is a pitbull....
The catch he made at KU was cray cray…he was on his back and we were a few yards away. He is a hoss. Receivers haven’t been and won’t be the issue…I refuse to believe that.
Amaro has the potential to be unstopable. The talent is there.
This is a 3 ring circus up in here......
by oldschoolraider on Feb 16, 2012 8:57 PM CST reply actions
The receivers Tech has is as full of talent as has ever been at Tech, as a whole
What will be necessary to have 1 to 3 receivers with around 90 catches each for 900+ yards each, is better play calling and stronger game plans. That is on the coaches. The players are there, and I think they are, as a group, much better than Seth is portraying them as being. Moore and Torres should be back at 100% to help out Ward. Kennard will know what to do and should break out. Zoo will be a big contributor on third downs. The McRoys will both be the deep threats, as will be Edwards. Amaro may not catch more than 50 passes, but his blocking and powerful receiving threat will open up a lot of things for the other receiveers, including the running backs coming out of the backfield. All, of course, predicated by the more intelligent leadership standing on the sidelines.
TTpilk
"Never, never, never give up." Winston Churchill
.“.. he finished with 84 catches, 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. I think that the best option to be an elite receiver for this team is Ward. He knows what it is like to compete in the Big 12 and he knows what it takes to be productive in this conference. That’s an advantage that really no other player has.”
Now that I ponder it a bit this makes a ton of sense to me. The experience factor of having someone knock your (blank) in the dirt in front of 70,000 people is the wake up call. So perhaps there is some hope.. for incremental improvement.
"do routine things routinely"
by centexraider on Feb 17, 2012 7:52 AM CST up reply actions
WE have three receivers currently that have experience.
Torres, Moore, and Ward.
Ward is head and shoulders above this group. Torres is a player, but is oft injured beyond effectiveness, he remains competitive minded and tough spirited and we like that in him, his productivity suffers non-the-less. Moore looked really good early and went the way of Torres with injuries, I don’t know if he is as competivitive as say Torres, I do give him credit for doing what he could do playing less than all out.
I am going to back track my own thinking of the past several years, that we are good with an 8 deep. Currently I think we need a strong 4 deep, 4 guys who get enough reps to be solid and reliable…and tough minded about playing good competitive football, regardless of their levels of talent (I happen to think that we have plenty of reciever talent currently.)
Coming out of spring, I want to hear wonderful things about Amaro, and who ever may be playing 2nd behind him. I expect to hear great things about Ward, Torres, and Moore.
It would be great to hear a lot of good good about Kennard. He should not have played last season, wasn’t ready to be an Air Raid like receiver.
I do not expect to hear great about Marquez, he is going to be split, some receiver and some rb. This is going to help the team but hold him back from what he can be a little bit.
I expect nothing about Ben McRoy, he is a very exciting return man, a guy who does not know how to run within his own speed…but boy is he fun to watch.
Javares McRoy has a nice reputation from prior play, maybe he will become a hot slot….right now I am expect Ward to be on the left and no one with go go at slot, Zouzalik ran that spot for a while with nice but not great results…now I think he has been playing hind tit over at Y. Crazy.
Somebody who is smart run an analysis of effectiveness by receiver position and see if it doen’t show some interesting data, do we have even a modicom of balance ?
There is a growing corps of good looking young receivers expected for Fall, there is a lot of opportunity in the group. I think, as a group, they are young/immature football players. The coming season is still a tread water kind of year for receivers.
Living large in Texas...Texas forever.
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