Worried about our defense.

[ponyte]

I am concerned with the injury situation to our defense during Aug practice. We have lost one potential starter and several others are nursing injuries that limit their practice time. Given that we had some gaps to fill, how does all this play out in less than two weeks? We still have a question mark about the middle linebacker position. We are concerned about our interior defensive line and we have some banged up folks there as well.

I understand the O-line for TTU has possible issues. How do our injuries factor into that equation? Does TTU have an additional advantage given we lost one of our potential starters in the secondary? The O seemed to shine in our last scrimmage. Is the O improving that much or has injuries depleted our D more?

[jtstang]

I am also concerned about the defense. From the reports from preseason workouts, they do not appear to be very adept at stopping our offense, and we all know that he best run defenders from last year have graduated in addition to the injuries that ponyte mentions. Losing a game 42-35 is still losing.

[KnuckleStang]

When the CSTV guy picked us to win CUSA, he gave 4 "reasons," which went something like: 1. Willis 2. Favorable schedule (?!?!?) 3. Phil Bennett and 4. 20 yrs. since the DP. I'd settle for one "reason" to believe we're going to stop anybody this year, and also for some of that heroin Curtis was shooting into his temple that day.

[LA_Mustang]

defensively, we will find out all we need to know Sept 3rd.

[Techsan-81]

I understand the O-line for TTU has possible issues.

Everybody knows Tech lost 4 starters on the O-line, and it's fashionable to say that they're going to be a question mark for the team, but do not underestimate this group. Tech has done a very good job recruiting on the offensive line in recent years, and have had a stroke of good fortune this season in the form of JuCo transfer Jake Johnson.

Johnson is huge (6'7" and somewhere north of 340lbs.). Nobody had real expectations of the guy, but he has come in, astounded everybody with his athleticism and hard work, and totally shaken up the depth chart to the point that he is now the starter at right tackle.

This has moved Rylan Reed (6'7", 314 lbs) to from right tackle to left tackle. Reed recently broke the Texas Tech bench press record with a lift of 565 lbs., and started his career at Tech as a tight end, so he's very athletic.

In turn, Louis Vasquez (6'6", 335 lbs. and generally considered our best O-Lineman) has moved to left guard. Shawn Byrnes is the center (6'4", 303 lbs.) and Brandon Carter (6'7", 374 lbs.) is the right guard.

Chris Olsen from Highland Park is one of the backups. I really figured he'd be starting by now, but it's a tough group to break in to.

Anyway, I'll be very surprised if the offensive line is a weakness come Sept. 3.

[mrydel]

Apparently the issues with the offensive line is whether or not they can walk thru a doorway without having to duck.

[Corso]

No way the Tech o-line is a weakness. Johnson was a WALK-ON and has knocked the doors off people, causing a restructuring of the whole line, and from what I hear, he's WAY north of 340. The tackles are studs, and a friend in Lubbock said Byrnes might be the best of the whole crew.

[davidsmu94]

Hey, quiet ! I'm trying to worry. If I worry enough, maybe it will make it all better.

[Techsan-81]

Also, there's not a senior in the bunch.

In fact, it's looking like Tech will start only one senior on offense against SMU (Danny Amendola).

[Corso]

Are you trying to make it sound like you're worried? Doesn't matter if you roll out all sophomores — it's not like the guys Tech is playing haven't been successful before.

[mrydel]

Also, there's not a senior in the bunch.

In fact, it's looking like Tech will start only one senior on offense against SMU (Danny Amendola).

Loved him in "Do the Right Thing".

[Techsan-81]

Are you trying to make it sound like you're worried? Doesn't matter if you roll out all sophomores — it's not like the guys Tech is playing haven't been successful before.

No, I'm not worried; quite the contrary. I'm pumped about the prospects for 2008 with all these guys coming back.

[PerunaPunch]

Interesting. With that kind of size, you'd think TTech could just line up and roll over people. But they like running a funky blocking scheme where they spread their o-line out wide. I wonder if those juggernauts will be able to move effectively in space?

Maybe our small, quick DLs can give them some problems...

[Corso]

Yup — they still run the wide splits in the offensive line. We all know Muse and Handy can move, and Ryan Leonard and Chris Parham looked quicker than I thought Saturday. Coaches say speed is better than size .... let's hope.

[Stallion]

Jake Johnson was just sitting out there last year waiting for an offer. Surprised SMU didn't check him out. He's lost something like 60 pounds last year to get to 340 from what I've read. But seriously has anybody ever seen a taller and bigger line that Tech's-even in pro football?