PonyFans.com preview: TEXAS TECH
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2003 8:18 pmSMU kicks off the 2003 season Saturday with a 6 p.m. game at Texas Tech's Jones SBC Stadium.
Entering the 2003 season, much of the talk about the Texas Tech Red Raiders (who finished the 2002 season with a record of 9-5 overall and 5-3 against Big 12 competition) centers around who's gone from last year's squad. Quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, the school's all-time passing leader, is gone, as are Tech's career leaders in sacks (Aaron Hunt) and tackles (Lawrence Flugence). So the Red Raiders are preparing for a down year, right?
Wrong.
The 2003 Red Raiders may lack the marquee names that drew attention to the team last year, but it's not like there's no talent remaining in Lubbock. Many Tech observers seem to think the Red Raiders could be as good as — or perhaps even better than — last year's team.
Taking the helm of head coach Mike Leach's high-powered offense this year is senior B.J. Symons (6-1, 217), a mobile, strong-armed gunner who spent his previous seasons learning under Kingsbury. Symons completed 28 of his 43 pass attempts (65.1 percent) last year (including 1-of-3 in Tech's 24-14 win at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium last year), including a touchdown pass.
"There's certain things each quarterback likes to do," Leach said at Tech's Media Day. "He throws well down the field, both him and Kingsbury complete many passes and they throw very high percentage wise. Our conference was the best quarterback conference in the country last year and the best ones graduated. It was a good cycle. Anytime a quarterback is lost it's like the sky is falling and whenever a new guy starts things are usually alright. He's not a guy who's new to the deal, he's thrown to these guys for years. I don't think it's a big adjustment for the team. It's similar to playing in the middle of the game instead of starting at the end. A quarterback is a guy who you're asking to make the guys around him better. It's a mental exercise in that. There sometimes tend to be growing pains. If you have a guy that's been around, you try to make him comfortable. He knows everyone, watched a lot of film, and he seems very comfortable. It's going to be a painless transition."
But while Kingsbury re-wrote the record books in Lubbock, Symons has the tools — if not the experience — to pick up where his much-heralded predecessor left off. Symons has better mobility and a stronger arm, and is surrounded by a crew of receivers who are the envy of most quarterbacks across the nation. Carlos Francis (5-10, 197), Mickey Peters (6-3, 211) and Nehimiah Glover (5-8, 174) combined last year for 166 receptions, 25 receiving touchdowns and over 2,000 yards. Add to that senior Wes Welker (5-9, 190), a return specialist and running back who caught 86 passes for 1,054 yards and seven scores, and sophomore tailback (and Doak Walker Award nominee) Taurean Henderson (5-10, 190), who set an NCAA freshman record with 98 receptions for 633 yards and six touchdowns in his debut season, and it's safe to say the ball will be in the air a lot when the season opens Saturday in Lubbock. Welker and Henderson also are legitimate running threats; Henderson led the Tech ground game last year with a team-high 835 yards and seven scores.
Like all offenses, the Red Raiders' attack relies on a strong performance from the offensive line. This year's crew includes a massive group of projected starters who average nearly 6-5 and 310 pounds per man across the line. Then projected starting tackles are junior Derek Loper (6-7, 325) and senior Casey Keck (6-4, 310). The guards are expected to be freshman Manuel Ramirez (6-4, 310) and Cody Campbell (6-4, 315). Center Toby Cecil is the "smallest" of the group at 6-4, 290.
At least in the early going, Tech might have to outscore its opponents, as there are more defensive quesitons for the Red Raiders than on the offensive side of the ball. Junior defensive end Adell Duckett (6-4, 261) is expected to pick up the slack for Hunt in the Red Raider pass rush, but the interior of the defensive line is inexperienced, with Fred Thwreatt — who had committed to SMU before signing with the Red Raiders — is among the youngsters being counted upon to generate inside push and stuff the run.
"There's not a specific number that were going to try to hold our opponents to, but more than likely we're going to try to get as close to the number zero as possible," Leach said. "Sometimes you'll have a game where that will go north of that. There are various goals we do have that will try to make us improve, and the biggest goal is to try to improve everyday. The least common denominator is just trying to coach your players to have great focus and tempo in practice and to translate that into games. Your ability to do that will pay dividends down the line."
Replacing Flugence is one of the keys to Tech's 2003 season. Butkus Award nominee John Saldi (6-5, 215) is extremely strong and durable, but his status for the opener is in question after suffering a muscle tear while lifting weights. If he can't go, expect burly Mike Smith (6-2, 235) to man the middle for the Red Raiders. Smith had 104 tackles for Tech last season.
The Mustangs might try to break in their new-look passing game against the Red Raiders, where Marcus Boyd (6-0, 198) arguably is the most talented member of a relatively thin cornerback corps. Safeties Ryan Aycock (6-0, 208) and Vincent Meeks (5-11, 187), however, are solid.
Welker is considered the premier punt returner in the Big 12, having returned 38 punts last year for an average of 13.3 yards per return. He also has six career touchdowns on punt returns. Meeks is a dangerous kickoff return man. Kicker Ryan Bishop and punter Wich Brenner are unknowns, replacing departed seniors.
The Mustangs lead the all-time series between the teams, 44-34-1, but have gone 6-9 in the last 15 meetings. The Ponies also don't have the benefit of the Red Raiders possibly looking past the season opener toward a big opponent the following week; Tech hosts New Mexico in its second game before traveling to nationally ranked North Carolina State in Week 3.
[This message has been edited by PonyPride (edited 08-24-2003).]
Entering the 2003 season, much of the talk about the Texas Tech Red Raiders (who finished the 2002 season with a record of 9-5 overall and 5-3 against Big 12 competition) centers around who's gone from last year's squad. Quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, the school's all-time passing leader, is gone, as are Tech's career leaders in sacks (Aaron Hunt) and tackles (Lawrence Flugence). So the Red Raiders are preparing for a down year, right?
Wrong.
The 2003 Red Raiders may lack the marquee names that drew attention to the team last year, but it's not like there's no talent remaining in Lubbock. Many Tech observers seem to think the Red Raiders could be as good as — or perhaps even better than — last year's team.
Taking the helm of head coach Mike Leach's high-powered offense this year is senior B.J. Symons (6-1, 217), a mobile, strong-armed gunner who spent his previous seasons learning under Kingsbury. Symons completed 28 of his 43 pass attempts (65.1 percent) last year (including 1-of-3 in Tech's 24-14 win at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium last year), including a touchdown pass.
"There's certain things each quarterback likes to do," Leach said at Tech's Media Day. "He throws well down the field, both him and Kingsbury complete many passes and they throw very high percentage wise. Our conference was the best quarterback conference in the country last year and the best ones graduated. It was a good cycle. Anytime a quarterback is lost it's like the sky is falling and whenever a new guy starts things are usually alright. He's not a guy who's new to the deal, he's thrown to these guys for years. I don't think it's a big adjustment for the team. It's similar to playing in the middle of the game instead of starting at the end. A quarterback is a guy who you're asking to make the guys around him better. It's a mental exercise in that. There sometimes tend to be growing pains. If you have a guy that's been around, you try to make him comfortable. He knows everyone, watched a lot of film, and he seems very comfortable. It's going to be a painless transition."
But while Kingsbury re-wrote the record books in Lubbock, Symons has the tools — if not the experience — to pick up where his much-heralded predecessor left off. Symons has better mobility and a stronger arm, and is surrounded by a crew of receivers who are the envy of most quarterbacks across the nation. Carlos Francis (5-10, 197), Mickey Peters (6-3, 211) and Nehimiah Glover (5-8, 174) combined last year for 166 receptions, 25 receiving touchdowns and over 2,000 yards. Add to that senior Wes Welker (5-9, 190), a return specialist and running back who caught 86 passes for 1,054 yards and seven scores, and sophomore tailback (and Doak Walker Award nominee) Taurean Henderson (5-10, 190), who set an NCAA freshman record with 98 receptions for 633 yards and six touchdowns in his debut season, and it's safe to say the ball will be in the air a lot when the season opens Saturday in Lubbock. Welker and Henderson also are legitimate running threats; Henderson led the Tech ground game last year with a team-high 835 yards and seven scores.
Like all offenses, the Red Raiders' attack relies on a strong performance from the offensive line. This year's crew includes a massive group of projected starters who average nearly 6-5 and 310 pounds per man across the line. Then projected starting tackles are junior Derek Loper (6-7, 325) and senior Casey Keck (6-4, 310). The guards are expected to be freshman Manuel Ramirez (6-4, 310) and Cody Campbell (6-4, 315). Center Toby Cecil is the "smallest" of the group at 6-4, 290.
At least in the early going, Tech might have to outscore its opponents, as there are more defensive quesitons for the Red Raiders than on the offensive side of the ball. Junior defensive end Adell Duckett (6-4, 261) is expected to pick up the slack for Hunt in the Red Raider pass rush, but the interior of the defensive line is inexperienced, with Fred Thwreatt — who had committed to SMU before signing with the Red Raiders — is among the youngsters being counted upon to generate inside push and stuff the run.
"There's not a specific number that were going to try to hold our opponents to, but more than likely we're going to try to get as close to the number zero as possible," Leach said. "Sometimes you'll have a game where that will go north of that. There are various goals we do have that will try to make us improve, and the biggest goal is to try to improve everyday. The least common denominator is just trying to coach your players to have great focus and tempo in practice and to translate that into games. Your ability to do that will pay dividends down the line."
Replacing Flugence is one of the keys to Tech's 2003 season. Butkus Award nominee John Saldi (6-5, 215) is extremely strong and durable, but his status for the opener is in question after suffering a muscle tear while lifting weights. If he can't go, expect burly Mike Smith (6-2, 235) to man the middle for the Red Raiders. Smith had 104 tackles for Tech last season.
The Mustangs might try to break in their new-look passing game against the Red Raiders, where Marcus Boyd (6-0, 198) arguably is the most talented member of a relatively thin cornerback corps. Safeties Ryan Aycock (6-0, 208) and Vincent Meeks (5-11, 187), however, are solid.
Welker is considered the premier punt returner in the Big 12, having returned 38 punts last year for an average of 13.3 yards per return. He also has six career touchdowns on punt returns. Meeks is a dangerous kickoff return man. Kicker Ryan Bishop and punter Wich Brenner are unknowns, replacing departed seniors.
The Mustangs lead the all-time series between the teams, 44-34-1, but have gone 6-9 in the last 15 meetings. The Ponies also don't have the benefit of the Red Raiders possibly looking past the season opener toward a big opponent the following week; Tech hosts New Mexico in its second game before traveling to nationally ranked North Carolina State in Week 3.
[This message has been edited by PonyPride (edited 08-24-2003).]