PonyFans.com preview: LOUISIANA TECH
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:03 pmThe 2002 season has been one of frustration for SMU, but it also been a year of questions for this week's opponent: Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs, in just their first year in the Western Athletic Conference, surprised everyone with a 7-5 overall record that included a sparkling 7-1 mark against WAC foes, earning the Bulldogs the WAC championship and a trip to the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl (which they lost, 49-24, to Clemson).
The 'Dogs entered this season as co-favorites in the WAC (along with Boise State) according to many publications, but have lost four of their first six games. But make no mistake, LaTech is a talented team. Three of those four losses have come against prominent national programs (Clemson, Penn State and Texas A&M), before the team fell short Oct. 5 in Houston against Rice, 37-20. And the Bulldogs' victories have been impressive: LaTech opened the season with a 39-36 win over the Oklahoma State team that routed SMU earlier this season, and followed that two weeks later with a 53-9 obliteration of Tulsa.
LaTech has been outscored by an average of 32.5 points per game to 24.2. But the Bulldogs are very capable offensively, as shown by the season's first downs, in which LaTech trails by just one, 113-112. And bear in mind that LaTech's coaching staff has had two weeks to prepare for SMU, since the 'Dogs had a bye week last week.
Teams can run on the Bulldogs, who have given up 174.7 yards per game while mustering 103.8 rushing yards per game of their own. But where the 'Dogs stand out is when they take to the air: LaTech has thrown for 276.5 yards per game, while allowing 195.3 yards per game. (That statistic might be partially skewed by two facts: four of their early opponents -- Clemson, Penn State, Texas A&M and Rice -- are run-oriented teams, and when teams have had a big lead, they are prone to run the ball to burn the clock, rather than to throw the ball and risk incomplete passes, which stop the clock.)
Louisiana Tech is next to last in the WAC in turnover margin (-8), which is a stat many coaches point to as vital to a team's success (San Jose State is tied for the conference lead at +5, which has helped lead the Spartans to their surprising 4-2 start). But Tulsa also is tied for the WAC lead in turnovers, and many consider the Golden Hurricane to be the worst team in Div. I-A. And the Bulldogs' quick-strike ability allows LaTech to score quickly, thereby partially reducing the importance of the turnover statistic.
The LaTech aerial game is orchestrated by junior QB Luke McCown (6-4, 200), the younger brother of former SMU (and current Arizona Cardinals reserve) QB Josh McCown and former Texas A&M QB Randy McCown. Like Josh, Luke has a very strong, accurate arm and better mobility than many think (like Josh, Luke isn't overly elusive but can cover a lot of ground when in a flat-out sprint). Through six games, McCown has put the ball up an average of 44 times per game, completing 155-of-264 for 1,560 yards, 11 interceptions and 8 touchdowns. His average of 265 passing yards per game is the third-highest average in the WAC, trailing Nevada's Zack Threadgill (310.2) and Hawaii's Timmy Chang (287.2).
McCown's favorite targets are senior RB Joe Smith (6-1, 180), who has a team-high 29 receptions out of the backfield, but he's averaged just 5.5 yards per catch, for a total of 153 yards. The 'Dogs' second-leading receiver is junior WR D.J. Curry (5-10, 167), who has 28 receptions for 277 yards (9.9) and a touchdown. Junior WR Chris Norwood (6-1, 180) has 24 catches for 276 yards (11.5) and a touchdown, while junior WR Erick Franklin (5-11, 191) has 19 receptions for 251 yards, for an average of 13.2 yards per catch. He has a team-leading two touchdown catches this year, and is a deep threat, having caught McCown's longst pass of the season: 61 yards.
Smith leads an underrated LaTech ground game that would have been utilized more had the 'Dogs not found themselves throwing the ball in early games will playing catch-up. Through six games, Smith has 98 carries for 486 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and 5 rushing toucdowns. McCown also has rushed for a pair of scores.
The offensive line is ancored by its bookends, senior LT Tywoin Breaux (6-5, 300) and senior RT Damian Lavergne (6-6, 328). The starting line averages 6-5, 301. And considering how many times McCown throws, the 13 sacks surrendered this year are impressive.
Junior free safety Michael Johnson (5-8, 183) leads the team with 58 tackles through six games, including 34 solo stops, followed by junior cornerback Corey Brazil, who has 45 tackles.
SMU could continue its trend of running success against LaTech, considering the Bulldogs' starting defensive line averages just over 6-3 and 265.5 pounds per man. Senior DT Quincy Myles is the lone 300-pounder (307) on the starting LaTech defensive line.
LaTech starts three seniors at linebacker, led by OLB Chris Marshall (6-0, 233), whose 25 tackles are the eighth-highest total on the team. Senior OLB Curtis Randall has a team-high 5.5 QB sacks.
[This message has been edited by PonyPride (edited 10-15-2002).]
The 'Dogs entered this season as co-favorites in the WAC (along with Boise State) according to many publications, but have lost four of their first six games. But make no mistake, LaTech is a talented team. Three of those four losses have come against prominent national programs (Clemson, Penn State and Texas A&M), before the team fell short Oct. 5 in Houston against Rice, 37-20. And the Bulldogs' victories have been impressive: LaTech opened the season with a 39-36 win over the Oklahoma State team that routed SMU earlier this season, and followed that two weeks later with a 53-9 obliteration of Tulsa.
LaTech has been outscored by an average of 32.5 points per game to 24.2. But the Bulldogs are very capable offensively, as shown by the season's first downs, in which LaTech trails by just one, 113-112. And bear in mind that LaTech's coaching staff has had two weeks to prepare for SMU, since the 'Dogs had a bye week last week.
Teams can run on the Bulldogs, who have given up 174.7 yards per game while mustering 103.8 rushing yards per game of their own. But where the 'Dogs stand out is when they take to the air: LaTech has thrown for 276.5 yards per game, while allowing 195.3 yards per game. (That statistic might be partially skewed by two facts: four of their early opponents -- Clemson, Penn State, Texas A&M and Rice -- are run-oriented teams, and when teams have had a big lead, they are prone to run the ball to burn the clock, rather than to throw the ball and risk incomplete passes, which stop the clock.)
Louisiana Tech is next to last in the WAC in turnover margin (-8), which is a stat many coaches point to as vital to a team's success (San Jose State is tied for the conference lead at +5, which has helped lead the Spartans to their surprising 4-2 start). But Tulsa also is tied for the WAC lead in turnovers, and many consider the Golden Hurricane to be the worst team in Div. I-A. And the Bulldogs' quick-strike ability allows LaTech to score quickly, thereby partially reducing the importance of the turnover statistic.
The LaTech aerial game is orchestrated by junior QB Luke McCown (6-4, 200), the younger brother of former SMU (and current Arizona Cardinals reserve) QB Josh McCown and former Texas A&M QB Randy McCown. Like Josh, Luke has a very strong, accurate arm and better mobility than many think (like Josh, Luke isn't overly elusive but can cover a lot of ground when in a flat-out sprint). Through six games, McCown has put the ball up an average of 44 times per game, completing 155-of-264 for 1,560 yards, 11 interceptions and 8 touchdowns. His average of 265 passing yards per game is the third-highest average in the WAC, trailing Nevada's Zack Threadgill (310.2) and Hawaii's Timmy Chang (287.2).
McCown's favorite targets are senior RB Joe Smith (6-1, 180), who has a team-high 29 receptions out of the backfield, but he's averaged just 5.5 yards per catch, for a total of 153 yards. The 'Dogs' second-leading receiver is junior WR D.J. Curry (5-10, 167), who has 28 receptions for 277 yards (9.9) and a touchdown. Junior WR Chris Norwood (6-1, 180) has 24 catches for 276 yards (11.5) and a touchdown, while junior WR Erick Franklin (5-11, 191) has 19 receptions for 251 yards, for an average of 13.2 yards per catch. He has a team-leading two touchdown catches this year, and is a deep threat, having caught McCown's longst pass of the season: 61 yards.
Smith leads an underrated LaTech ground game that would have been utilized more had the 'Dogs not found themselves throwing the ball in early games will playing catch-up. Through six games, Smith has 98 carries for 486 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and 5 rushing toucdowns. McCown also has rushed for a pair of scores.
The offensive line is ancored by its bookends, senior LT Tywoin Breaux (6-5, 300) and senior RT Damian Lavergne (6-6, 328). The starting line averages 6-5, 301. And considering how many times McCown throws, the 13 sacks surrendered this year are impressive.
Junior free safety Michael Johnson (5-8, 183) leads the team with 58 tackles through six games, including 34 solo stops, followed by junior cornerback Corey Brazil, who has 45 tackles.
SMU could continue its trend of running success against LaTech, considering the Bulldogs' starting defensive line averages just over 6-3 and 265.5 pounds per man. Senior DT Quincy Myles is the lone 300-pounder (307) on the starting LaTech defensive line.
LaTech starts three seniors at linebacker, led by OLB Chris Marshall (6-0, 233), whose 25 tackles are the eighth-highest total on the team. Senior OLB Curtis Randall has a team-high 5.5 QB sacks.
[This message has been edited by PonyPride (edited 10-15-2002).]