Tech's WRs vs SMU CBs

[jkflamebo]

i was hoping they'd lose a couple of their monster receivers, looking into it it's not the case at all. nearly everyone is coming back including Hicks who's a monster. guys...if they go to a 5-WR set, how are we not gonna get romped? i'm very optimistc of this years season, i just wanna hear maybe a sunshiner or two say we have a couple lights out corners or something like that. plus no one has mentioned the little riff bennett and leach had a couple years ago...i think leach is lickin his chops right now

[mrydel]

CBs improve proportionately with the rush on the QB. That will be the key to any success we hope to have. We will not sack the QB in the scheme they use but forcing quick short passes and keeping the receivers in front will slow down their scoring and stretch the field. Hopefully they will make occassion errors and between slowing down their drives and hopefully controlling the ball with our offense, the score can be kept reasonable. It all has to fall just right however for it to be respectable. Can we win, sure it could happen, but the key is to keep it close and mature quickly to improve the next 3 weeks with wins.

[PonySoprano]

I agree with you, Mrydel, but the other thing to remember is that in playing them to that short passing game, our DBs have to TACKLE. I hate to bring it up, but at the A&M game last year, the Ags threw nothing but short passes, but because of missed and broken tackles, they turned those short passes into huge plays.

[jtstang]

We will have to keep the LBs at home to help cover their short crossing routes so whatever rush we get will come from the line. I do not recall last year's line being particularly dominant pass rushers.

Blogster, you have those stats at your fingertips--how'd our DL rush the passer last year against Big 12 comp?

[Corso]

Cory Muse and Justin Rogers have to have a big game. Tech still uses that goofy formation with wide splits in the line, and they need to be able to fly through the gaps. The problem is that Tech QBs are very adept at getting the ball away quickly, but if Muse and Rogers can hammer the QB a few times, either (A) he gets sacked, (B) he forces a pass before the receiver is open (and hopefully throwing on the run, off the wrong foot, less accurately, etc.), or (C) he throws as he's getting hit, floating a ball that we can pick off.

I can't wait for the season to start!

[MrMustang1965]

plus no one has mentioned the little riff bennett and leach had a couple years ago...i think leach is lickin his chops right now

I assume you're referring to the last second TD attempt by the TT Red Raiders in the game against SMU in Dallas? PB and ML have both said that's all "water under the bridge."

[RGV Pony]

Cover 3...or hell cover four...or nickel, keep them all in front of the defenders. If they start running have Sturdivant spy the back. Then hope for a pass rush. I'm telling you, the key is whether or not those of us in attendance are saying, "LOOK DAMMIT THEY WERE HOLDING JUSTIN THROW THE FLAG" on multiple long pass plays. If so, bad news.

[TechDane]

from SMU's standpoint, I think the key would be to blitz and keep GH on his heels. Teams have made the mistake of only rushing three or four, and let everyone else drop back into coverage. Ask Fran and aTm....

[LakeHighlandsPony]

The best defense is to try and keep our offense on the field. If we start going 3 and out alot it will be along day.

[GoRedGoBlue]

don't underestimate the loss of taurean henderson

The spread has a key component, the RB. Is his replacement up to snuff?

Remember how good the Run-an-Shoot was with the Spoon in Houston?

[Sam I Am]

Tech has got the best receiver in the Big 12 and a true pro prospect. We don't have an answer for him. We don't match up against a team like Tech: no ball control offense and no hard rush on the QB. Playing in Lubbock is poison. I'll be glad when this game is over and the rest of the winnable season begins.

[Stallion]

Tech may have the deepest 5 receivers in the country but I too have always felt that Taureen Henderson was the guy that nobody could account for-legitimatev 4.35 speed with uncanny cutting ability. Geez stick him behind that big line with their wide splits and a team like SMU is lucky to lay a hand on him. Still remember what was it 5 TD runs by Henderson last trip to Lubbock-seroiously SMU was rarely in the same zip code when he made his first move. Haven't heard anyone claim that the new Tech backs are of Henderson's caliber so that is one area of "slight improvement" in SMU's chances. That being said I think Tech's Wideout's will blow SMU's young corners off the field. One of the bigger mismatches we've faced in awhile. The positives are that we do have some decent athletes at those postion including Lindley and Haynes with Big 12 type talent but I've never seen them step up like they will have to Lubbock. If they reach their potential then that's one of the 5 big Questionmarks answered which are in order:

1) Cornerbacks

2) Offensive Line-honestly I don't understand all the claims of huge improvement in talent or performance here. If DeMyron hadn't broken tackles all year long our backs average 3.2 yards per carry.

3) Quarterback-no proven experience and a horrible lack of depth

4)Linebackers-I believe Carrington will excell with playing time. McCray does the best imitation of a Spanish Matador on running plays I've ever seen and the third LB spot will go to scraps and leftovers. Only 1 LB with an acceptable level of strength and speed. Absolutely no depth.

5) Deep Threat at Receiver-We have none unless you include the giuys that sit on the bench so other guys can catch 8 yard passes "and a cloud of dust". Do I think we have deep threats on the team-yes-but I haven't seen the urgency to address this perprtual problem. Willis will also have to prove he can throw the ball deep. Big Questionmark on Deep Passing Game.

[EmeraldCityPony]

If by some miracle we find ourselves up my more than 8 points with 5 seconds left in the game and with ball in hand, I expect nothing less than an attempt to put six more points on the board.

[Kiper]

I agree that Willis has to show he can throw the deep ball, but I don't think he'll be asked to do very often, if at all, against Tech. First college game, I bet the focus is on pounding DeMyron Martin all day and hitting short, possession passes.

Can't disagree more on your assessment, Stallion, of Wilton McCray. He's very fast for an OLB, and he's pretty physical. His only issue is he's too small. I still think he could be a freak of a safety.

Adrian Haywood and Brandon Bonds must collapse the inside of the Tech offensive line. The need to occupy blockers and make Tech shift extra blockers (or leave an RB in) to account for them. If they can get into the backfield, they can chase Harrell or flush him out .... hopefully into the arms of Justin Rogers or Cory Muse.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Tech may have the deepest 5 receivers in the country but I too have always felt that Taureen Henderson was the guy that nobody could account for-legitimatev 4.35 speed with uncanny cutting ability. Geez stick him behind that big line with their wide splits and a team like SMU is lucky to lay a hand on him. Still remember what was it 5 TD runs by Henderson last trip to Lubbock-seroiously SMU was rarely in the same zip code when he made his first move. Haven't heard anyone claim that the new Tech backs are of Henderson's caliber so that is one area of "slight improvement" in SMU's chances. That being said I think Tech's Wideout's will blow SMU's young corners off the field. One of the bigger mismatches we've faced in awhile. The positives are that we do have some decent athletes at those postion including Lindley and Haynes with Big 12 type talent but I've never seen them step up like they will have to Lubbock. If they reach their potential then that's one of the 5 big Questionmarks answered which are in order:
.

TR was the man. I am concerned with those WRs as well. Tech didn't seem to do much with their 'frosh" QB at the Bama game last year, but he did have a cannon of an arm. Only if the Leach offense requires 4 years of redshirting/backup before starting will SMU have a decent chance.

Note that TECH put mushy-armed senior QB back in after one or two series to finish the game despite not being about to do anything for 3 quarters...