UT @ Tech Options

[impala454]

Now I know a lot of you will think I'm crazy, but I'm thinking we'll probably beat them. It seems this year we've caught the tech bug of the past, where we play like crap against teams we should beat. Someone like Texas will get them a lot more focused.

[Aaron]

Texas Tech only has two healthy running backs on the roster right now: Shannon Woods and Kobey Lewis. Second-string Baron Batch came down with an injury a couple of weeks ago and is likely out for the season while junior Taurance Rawls was lost for the year before spring practice even started. Pete Richardson entered fall camp at running back, but soon moved to cornerback in an attempt to gain more playing time. Of all of them, Rawls and Batch are arguably the more "powerful" backs, though neither would ever be mistaken for Jorvorskie Lane or Henry Melton.

While the Red Raiders have a fullback-type on the roster in David Schaefer, his primary role is pass protection. There are certain plays where he flares out as a receiver, but I'm not sure if I've ever seen him get a carry during practice. Additionally, Schaef has recently returned from an injury.

The idea of stopping a running quarterback is much easier said than done, *especially* when you're trying to defend a team as talented as Texas. Any one of their two-deep skill players is a legitimate home run threat whenever the touch the ball. Limas Sweed, Quan Cosby, Billy Pittman, Jordan Shipley, Jermichael Finley, Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young are as explosive as anyone else you will find in the entire country. So, to set aside a linebacker to spy on Colt McCoy would arguably make the Red Raiders more vulnerable than less. What you can do, is try keep McCoy contained inside the pocket but that is pretty impossible to do all game long against the Longhorn's All-Universe offensive line.

Plus, there aren't a lot of times where McCoy runs on designed keepers. Not nearly like Jeff Ballard of TCU or Missouri's Chase Daniel. Against Oklahoma last week, Daniel had nearly every single one of the Tigers' rushing attempts in the second half. That isn't McCoy's game, but he will definitely hurt you when the pocket breaks down and there isn't anyone open downfield.

Though next year's receiving corps will likely not be as talented as the one Tech is fielding this year, there isn't much reason to believe that there will be a significant drop in production because of it. The Red Raiders lose three wideouts - Jarrett Hicks, Joel Filani, Robert Johnson - all of them starters. Danny Amendola returns next season and, barring injury, will undoubtedly start at H-receiver. He's really the only guy, I think, that has a secure spot for next year. Of the guys on campus right now, you'll have guys like Todd Walker, Ed Britton, Michael Crabtree battling it out for the nod at X and Z. Grant Walker, Eric Morris, Adrian Reese and L.A. Reed will all be in contention for the vacant Y, though Morris will likely stay at H and Reed could possibly see time at X or Z.

(FYI, Hicks = X, Filani = Z, Johnson = Y, Amendola = H)

Lyle Leong, who grey-shirted this season, could also push for time. He's plenty tall enough, and can leap like a gazelle, but needs to add some bulk. Depending on who they end up signing, a couple of true freshmen could also play for Tech in 2007. A guy like Gerald Jones, who visited this weekend, would probably see the field as a true freshman in some sort of slash capacity.

If I had to guess right now, the four wideouts that start September 1, 2007 against SMU would be Crabtree at X, Ed Britton at Z, Amendola at H and Reed/Walker at Y. Okay, I copped out at Y but Reed could honestly start at either inside position - he's been moved around a ton since he's been on campus.

Honestly, in my opinion, the biggest thing that will help/has helped the development of Graham Harrell will be/has been the lights-out performance of Shannon Woods this season. He has exceeded all of my expectations by a very large margin.