article on espn about our defense, insider subscription Options

[jonathan83]

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/new...%3fid%3d3037140

is anyone a subscriber on here that can post the article? its about our new defense.

[koreanp1e]

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach hinted that a big change might be necessary to help his team get meaner and nastier after a demoralizing loss last week at Oklahoma State.

Texas Tech

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Texas Tech's defense had trouble containing Oklahoma State's offense.

Less than a day later, veteran defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich announced his resignation. Leach replaced him on an interim basis with Tech assistant head coach Ruffin McNeill, who had been working with the Red Raiders' special teams and defensive tackles.

The move was precipitated by a weak defensive effort in the Red Raiders' 49-45 loss to Oklahoma State last week. Tech allowed 610 yards of total offense, four big-play touchdowns and three individual 100-yard rushers. Poor tackling techniques and players who were lined up in the wrong position marked the defensive debacle.

That effort set off Leach in an expletive-laced news conference after the OSU loss.

"Anybody who's not on board, you get rid of them," Leach said. "It doesn't matter if it's a player or a coach or somebody in the background. If you're not on board, you get rid of them."

Setencich announced his resignation in a move that Tech athletic director Gerald Myers told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal had been initiated by Leach. Setencich, 62, had been dealing with family health issues in addition to his coaching duties.

His wife, Kathy, had been hospitalized for the past several days.

"First of all, I think that Lyle has a lot of personal issues that he needs to tend to," Leach said. "I think players reflect the mentality of their coach, and I think we needed a change in mentality."

That change was apparent to Tech cornerback Chris Parker at the defense's first practice with McNeill in charge.

"The intensity was up, the tempo was going a little faster and he was just making sure we got to the ball and were lined up right," Parker said.

â€Â¢ The Red Raiders erupted for 718 yards in the Oklahoma State loss, including 646 yards passing from QB Graham Harrell, marking the fourth-best single-game performance in NCAA history. It was the first time Tech had ever produced more than 700 yards in a game under Leach and lost the game. But the defensive struggles helped pave the way for the shocking defeat. "There were a lot of positives out there, especially on offense," Leach said. "All of the elements that we need to win our games and be a really good team are all there. We just need to do it all together."

â€Â¢ Freshman WR Michael Crabtree continued his remarkable first season, although his drop of a potential game-winning fourth-down TD pass in the final 11 seconds ended up costing Tech the victory. Leach doesn't expect that disappointment to stunt Crabtree's development. "Part of what makes him what he is that he's got a lot of personal assurance and confidence," Leach said. "He's not an excuse guy. He believes in himself. He's made a ton of plays. We wouldn't have even been in that position without Michael Crabtree." â€Â¦ Crabtree produced 238 receiving yards on 14 receptions against OSU, marking his second straight game with more than 200 receiving yards. He leads the nation in receptions and receiving yards and has 52 catches, which is more than 14 teams have combined.

â€Â¢ Tech will meet Northwestern State for the first time in school history. Tech is 4-0 in previous games against Division I-AA teams under Leach, winning the games by a combined margin of 263-31. Tech has averaged 7.9 yards per snap and 446.3 passing yards in those four games. â€Â¦ One big aim against Northwestern State will be to provide more opportunities for RB Shannon Woods, who has only 56 yards per game. Tech ranks 105th nationally in rushing (85 ypg) but will be facing a Northwestern State defense that was gashed for 374 yards by Division I-AA Henderson State in the season opener.

[jonathan83]

thanks

[jwttu]

no new information, i'm ready to see the new defense in action

[impala454]

i hope we go in like pros, and without mercy and absolutely decimate NWST. i'm talkin like 75-3

[jonathan83]

i hope we go in like pros, and without mercy and absolutely decimate NWST. i'm talkin like 75-3

well if OU can beat A&M 77-0, we should at least be able to do that against NWST. one can hope....

[koreanp1e]

112-3 period

[jonathan83]

I played NCAA 07 (don't have 08 yet) last night. I put difficulty on Junior Varsity and won 98-3.
Only reason they got 3 was because I wanted one more TD in the final seconds, so I did an onside kick...they recovered, and just kicked the field goal with a few seconds left