Tech vs Baylor, uh oh for Baylor Options

[Aaron]

On the play in question, Graham Harrell ran what is commonly referred to as a zone-read. Teams that utilize the spread-option (Texas, Texas A&M, West Virginia, etc.) use this play to various degrees.

Harrell began by beginning to hand the ball off to Shannon Woods. He recognzied that the defensive end to his left crashed towards the running back, so he pulled the ball back and ran relatively unmolested 20-yards downfield.

The play was not something that was sent in from the sidelines, nor is it something that they have ever practiced. Harrell ran it a bit in high school and he called it at the line of scrimmage. Honestly, I'm pretty sure that's the first zone-read that the Red Raiders have run under Mike Leach.

It's interesting, because Harrell was noticeably more mobile in the pocket today than he has been all season long.

Honestly, I would much rather Texas Tech run that play once or twice a game instead of the plays that involve an endaround of some variety. That play, and the variations on it (fake, double, etc.) haven't worked much at all this season to the best of my recollection. Joel Filani did gain 14 yards on a fake-endaround reverse but that was only because Harrell made a nice, heads up move and pitched it to him after the play had been blown up.

Oh, and how retarded is Dennis Franchione? Third and goal on the fucking two and he runs a play-action designed to get the ball to Tellus. R-e-t-a-r-d-e-d.

[Rocky]

We will definately have to see if the trends continue, but things that really stuck out from yesterdays game :

- The Tech Defense is really getting better and better. Great awareness on getting their hands on a QB who is mobile. Only allowed 197 yards passing ? Not bad. I know it was with the backup QB, but he looked good, and a number of those incompletions were due to solid coverage. Lookin good.
- Woods had a 100 yard day. By no means against a powerhouse run defense, but still makes you wonder.....will he be running around more and more ? I guess what I'm really getting at, is will this open up the eyes on the offensive coordinating staff to maybe work harder to give him more opportunities.

I'm excited for next week

[Aaron]

Shannon Woods, who currently leads the Big 12 Conference in all-purpose yards, didn't really get any more rushing attempts yesterday than he normally does. Woods averages 11 rush attempts per game. His success yardage-wise on the ground yesterday is more a testament to how porous the Baylor run defense is than any change in the Red Raiders' gameplan. Even last week against Texas, Woods had eight carries.

I'm with you, though, I would like to see Woods get about five or six more rushing attempts per game.

[Rocky]

That really doesn't surprise me since Tech had what...43 pass attempts in the first half ? So seeing the running game a little more in the second half made it look like he was getting the ball more. Plus the two big runs really stick out mentally.


Thats what I'm hopin for, that they give him the ball more. But really more than that....maybe expand the running game play selection further, and just have more to work with as they give him more opportunities.

[Throwdown]

Tech will never run more because Leach is a dumbass and isn't capable of making adjustments when the passing game starts sputtering