Tech defensive line featured in DMN
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 11:17 amTech's defensive line is left in flux
Injuries force Red Raiders to plug in untested players on defense
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News
LUBBOCK – Texas Tech's defense made an instant star out of Ohio State's Maurice Clarett last season when the Buckeyes running back piled up 175 yards in the season opener. SMU's Keylon Kincade wants to do the same thing Saturday.
Tech's defensive line will open the season against SMU in shambles. Both starting defensive ends are injured. The starting defensive tackles have never played a down of Division I-A football. There are no proven players on the sideline, either.
Coach Mike Leach puts on a brave face about the situation. Injuries happen every year, he said. "When they heal up, you go on."
Junior defensive end Adell Duckett, however, remains optimistic that his unit can develop into a solid group. He will play alongside three redshirt freshmen against the Mustangs. Freshmen will start at middle linebacker and cornerback, as well.
"There's a lot of negative stuff being said about us," said Duckett, the defensive line veteran with 12 career starts. "People doubt us because of our inexperience. A good game this Saturday would do wonders for our confidence."
Tech's defense has not stopped the run since Leach took over as head coach in 2000. Last season, the Red Raiders allowed 163.9 yards per game. Five years ago, Tech was holding foes to 118.9 yards per game. In the run-oriented Big 12, that is not winning football. Tech overcame the problem by playing high-scoring shootouts.
New defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich has implemented an aggressive scheme that could buck the trend. A nose guard now aligns over the center, and the defensive ends alternate sides based on the offensive alignment. Setencich wants to gamble with more blitzes and line stunts.
But Setencich isn't sure how the defensive front will perform against the Mustangs, who piled up 227 rushing yards in last season's 24-14 loss to Tech. Kincade had 167 yards and a touchdown.
Duckett, Tech's weakside pass-rushing end, should benefit by lining up away from the tight end. But in training camp, Duckett broke a bone in his left hand. He will play wearing a cast that will be heavily padded.
Strongside end Gathan McGinnis suffered a dislocated hip Tuesday and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. He is out three to six weeks, Setencich said. Redshirt freshman Seth Nitschmann will start in his place.
Tech's tackles would not be as much of a question mark had Stephenville product Clayton Harmon not gotten injured. A back problem sidelined the 6-7, 287-pound sophomore most of last season. It did not heal properly, and now Harmon's career is probably over.
That leaves redshirt freshmen Chris Hudler and Ken Scott to handle interior duties. On the positive side, each weighs 300 pounds and has good hands and agility. Tech had only two 300-pounders on the two-deep depth chart last season. Sheer size should help.
This year, all four tackles on the two-deep roster are 300 pounders. The biggest player of note is 6-3 sophomore Fred Thrweatt, who did not contribute as much as expected last season. He's gotten down to 320 from 333.
Setencich, like Leach, doesn't get ruffled about the defensive line situation.
"The sun's going to come up tomorrow," Setencich said. "I may not want it to, but there's nothing I can do about it."
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Injuries force Red Raiders to plug in untested players on defense
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News
LUBBOCK – Texas Tech's defense made an instant star out of Ohio State's Maurice Clarett last season when the Buckeyes running back piled up 175 yards in the season opener. SMU's Keylon Kincade wants to do the same thing Saturday.
Tech's defensive line will open the season against SMU in shambles. Both starting defensive ends are injured. The starting defensive tackles have never played a down of Division I-A football. There are no proven players on the sideline, either.
Coach Mike Leach puts on a brave face about the situation. Injuries happen every year, he said. "When they heal up, you go on."
Junior defensive end Adell Duckett, however, remains optimistic that his unit can develop into a solid group. He will play alongside three redshirt freshmen against the Mustangs. Freshmen will start at middle linebacker and cornerback, as well.
"There's a lot of negative stuff being said about us," said Duckett, the defensive line veteran with 12 career starts. "People doubt us because of our inexperience. A good game this Saturday would do wonders for our confidence."
Tech's defense has not stopped the run since Leach took over as head coach in 2000. Last season, the Red Raiders allowed 163.9 yards per game. Five years ago, Tech was holding foes to 118.9 yards per game. In the run-oriented Big 12, that is not winning football. Tech overcame the problem by playing high-scoring shootouts.
New defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich has implemented an aggressive scheme that could buck the trend. A nose guard now aligns over the center, and the defensive ends alternate sides based on the offensive alignment. Setencich wants to gamble with more blitzes and line stunts.
But Setencich isn't sure how the defensive front will perform against the Mustangs, who piled up 227 rushing yards in last season's 24-14 loss to Tech. Kincade had 167 yards and a touchdown.
Duckett, Tech's weakside pass-rushing end, should benefit by lining up away from the tight end. But in training camp, Duckett broke a bone in his left hand. He will play wearing a cast that will be heavily padded.
Strongside end Gathan McGinnis suffered a dislocated hip Tuesday and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. He is out three to six weeks, Setencich said. Redshirt freshman Seth Nitschmann will start in his place.
Tech's tackles would not be as much of a question mark had Stephenville product Clayton Harmon not gotten injured. A back problem sidelined the 6-7, 287-pound sophomore most of last season. It did not heal properly, and now Harmon's career is probably over.
That leaves redshirt freshmen Chris Hudler and Ken Scott to handle interior duties. On the positive side, each weighs 300 pounds and has good hands and agility. Tech had only two 300-pounders on the two-deep depth chart last season. Sheer size should help.
This year, all four tackles on the two-deep roster are 300 pounders. The biggest player of note is 6-3 sophomore Fred Thrweatt, who did not contribute as much as expected last season. He's gotten down to 320 from 333.
Setencich, like Leach, doesn't get ruffled about the defensive line situation.
"The sun's going to come up tomorrow," Setencich said. "I may not want it to, but there's nothing I can do about it."
E-mail [email protected]