Football Articles
A Trip To Lubbock: Winnable?
Posted by Hiphopopotamus on October 29th, 2009 under Football
On account of the ineptitude throughout the north, this game isn’t a must-win. But shit if we couldn’t get a whole lot of mileage out of making it one. While still plenty capable of running teams off the field, Tech has taken a big step back from a year ago and they’re even more vulnerable right now.
QB
Since Sergio Kindle turned Potts into a full retard, Leach will turn to 3rd stringer Seth Doege. I’m still debating what I think about this, because Potts may have actually been a better matchup for us, given that he’s pretty much a sitting duck back there. Doege, on the other hand,brings some mobility to the table. What he doesn’t bring is much experience. He played in mop-up duty in the throttling of K-State (6-8 for 64 yards and 1 TD) and he came in midway through the third quarter in last week’s loss (18-25 for 146). If past results are to be any predictor, Leach doesn’t yet wanting him going down the field, so we’ll be well advised to sit on short routes, especially the hitch screens, and make him prove he can beat us over the top. I’d say we should rattle his cage early, but: 1)I’m not sure we’re capable; and 2) I have no reason to believe he’ll get rattled.
RB
Perhaps my biggest worry, because I know how well they set up screens and how capable both of their backs are of breaking them. Baron Batch is the real deal, both as a runner (76-408-6) and a receiver (30-220-1), as I’m sure you all remember from their trip to Lawrence last year. Harrison Jeffers (Rushing: 31-207-4, Receiving: 25-206-1) quite the dependable back Batch is, but he’s plenty capable of breaking plays and I’m terrified thinking about any of our LBs responsible for him in space.
WR
Since Tech receivers are what they are to the casual observer, let’s just look at some figures:
Alexander Torres (6′2″ 196): 41-481-4 (long of 56)
Detron Lewis (6′ 205): 41-538-4 (58)
Tramain Swindall (6′3″ 180): 30-512-5 (79)
Lyle Leong (6′1″ 165): 29-389-6 (34)
Ed Britton (6′ 174): 24-289-2 (31)
As alluded to above, I’d like to make them prove they can connect to beat us deep, rather than let them pick us apart on short routes all day. Britton torched Corrigan Powell early last year and ended up with 3 grabs for 106 yards and that TD. He and Swindall we’ll need to watch over the top, while we need to jump on the others on their short routes.
OL
This isn’t the Tech line we’ve been used to, but they’ll be solid all the same. Expect us to generate some pressure, but with how quick Leach will want Doege getting rid of the ball anyway, I won’t be counting on us living in their backfield. I know pressure is the key of all keys to disrupting the spread, but given my pick this week, I’d rather us play the lanes and eliminate their running game. Leach’s fatal flaw is his willingness to abandon a stalling running game; take it away early and they’ll become one dimensional on the arm of a guy that’s never played a full college game.
DL
Colby Whitlock is a third team all-league guy on the inside, but I still can’t get over the 321 rushing yards allowed to A&M and their awful offensive line. Quite simply, the Ags spread the field with 4 wide and ran draws and counters all game. Granted, we don’t have a back as talented as either Gray or Michael, both Opurum and Sharp could have some room this week because of how honest they’ll have to play our receivers. If ever there’s a week to be balanced, if for no other reason than to rest our defense, this could be the one. They’re gonna want to take away Todd, Kerry and Dez, so we’ll need to punish them straight up the gut.
Some say they’re missing Harrell and Crabtree. I say they’re missing Williams and Dixon. OK, they’re probably missing the first two also, but if last week was any indication, neither Daniel Howard not Rajon Henley have any idea what they’re doing out there . Let them have the outside, funnel them upfield and let Todd step up and make plays. Neither has proven he has any idea how to do anything but speed rush, let alone hold contain. Let’s exploit, please.
LB
Because I liked what he wrote, I’ll just copy and paste dedfischer here:
- A good run stuffer between the tackles with limited coverage skills.
- A serviceable perimeter run defender with decent coverage skills.
- A guy you aren’t scared to have on the field in 3rd and 25.
If your expectations are for any of those guys to be better at anything we’re asking them to do other than that, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed as was the case in this game. Duncan can stop the run between the tackles, but can’t cover Tannehill or McCoy in the slot. Bird can limit the running game on the outside and kind of cover Tannehill or McCoy, but can’t stop the run between the tackles. We have to depend on 10 other guys to get us in 3rd and 25 before Marlon becomes useful. On a positive note, Sam Fehoko played his best game as a Red Raider. He’s going to show up good in the film room on a few snaps. Things are starting to come together for Sam and he appears to bring fresher legs to the table. If I had one personnel suggestion for Ruff, it would be to start finding more snaps for Fehoko over the last 4 games of the season. Preferably, in lieu of Daniel Howard as our “Joker” and Marlon Williams on running downs. He also might not be a bad option for Duncan in 3rd and longs, but I still don’t completely trust him playing more than one gap if the run is still in play. We got toasted with Bird and Williams on the field by QB draws. I don’t know, man. We’re about out of options here until the spring.
I’ll say it again. Let’s exploit, please. Kerry Meier. Bradley McDougald. Have a day out there.
CB
I like Jamar Wall on one side, and I’ll go out on a limb and expect they’ll have him lined up opposite Dez as much as possible. However, while he’s plenty solid, we should in no way be afraid of throwing his way. Speed is a push, but Dez has the body to both seal him off and go up and grab it out of the air above him. LaRon Moore is on the other side and I can’t say I know much about him at all. Honestly, haven’t really noticed him, which for a corner is usually a good thing.
Safety
Neither Will Ford nor Brett Dewhurst will dress this week, and especially the former is big news as he’s the only one in their secondary much capable of breaking on a ball. Suffice to say, Darcel McBath will not be out there. Sounds like a good day to go down the field.
Long story short, we’ve got an advantage at every level of their defense (assuming that A&M running game wasn’t just an aberration). If Todd is back to being Todd, he should have no trouble picking this defense apart. The template has been set, and nothing A&M did last week is anything we’re not capable of mimicking (aside from speed at the RB position). If our offense is what we thought it was, we’ll put up 40 this weekend. It’s up to the defense to make sure that’s enough to escape Lubbock with a season changing win.
Rock Chalk!
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 30th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Not to alarm anyone – although how could it not – but apparently Todd’s recent struggles are explainable. Unfortunately, they aren’t explainable in a good way.
It seems he’s got a very badly pulled groin, which as you might expect, greatly hinders his ability to push off his leg when throwing and would further explain his limited scrambling of late.
Now, I’m all but positive you’ll see Todd out there tomorrow, but according to the person who knows things, the medical staff had posed the question of holding him out. I’ll obviously be stunned if that happens. And if we need to get him a personal masseuse, I’m sure we can round up a volunteer or two. Ginger?
Phenomenal Smith said:
October 30th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Reesing’s playing hurt. And the ‘09 KU season becomes even more like the ‘08 MU season. Really kind of freaky.
Good health to Todd. Who pulled his groin, anyway? The guy at the boxed wine/short cutoffs party?
Triston27 said:
October 30th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Good health to Todd. Who pulled his groin, anyway? The guy at the boxed wine/short cutoffs party?
This was pretty funny.
IF we can stay balanced I like our chances. I think clock control will be key in this game. Last year we tried that back and forth scoring thing with Tech and it worked, for a quarter. Then after we didn’t capitalize once, Tech stepped on the throttle and never looked back. I’m reall excited for this game.
kuoirad said:
October 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hiphop:
Where’d you hear that, out of curiousity? Not doubting you, I definitely like that explanation better than the “Todd’s hungover” explanation I’ve seen splashed around.
Neon Boudreaux said:
October 30th, 2009 at 8:52 am
I am kind of hoping it’s an injury too, but it seems mental to me. He’s never struck me as a guy that can get shaken, but he’s definitely seemed that way the last 2 games…
Ben F said:
October 30th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Good writeup.
I can say as someone who had a pulled groin in college, it takes a lot of your strength and mobility away. If you’ve ever had a hamstring strain, imagine 5x the pain and place that pain on the inside of your leg next to your junk, and that’s what it’s like. I’d like to think of myself as someone who could play through most any injury, but this one was so restrictive b/c once it got bad, I just COULD NOT go harder than about 75%, even at just sprinting, b/c of the pain and lack of strength.
Needless to say, I would totally empathize if they held him out (which they won’t).
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 30th, 2009 at 10:02 am
oirad: I’m not comfortbale putting his name out there, because of his affiliation with the athletic department, but just know that it’s a very reliable source.
Neon: He may be off mentally as well, but as Ben mentions, there’s no way he isn’t being adversely affected with a pulled groin, especially considering all the moving around he likes to do back there.
kuoirad said:
October 30th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Hiphop: fair enough. Thanks.
mikecrabtree said:
October 30th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Good write up. you know more about Tech’s team then most Tech fans, and that’s not even a bash on them. This is a scary game for me after I watched last week’s debacle against a&m. not sure we can beat a KU team that should be way better than aggie.
Raider Red said:
October 30th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Really thoughtful, well-articulated write-up and balanced (accurate) perspective on the travails and treasures at Tech – an interesting read for us Pirates. I am a little surprised to hear that Reesing is hobbled? I guess we are finally due to play a team without its starting QB at full-speed – like us. Not counting Nebraska, who didn’t actually field a QB … oh .. wait … they did? Must’ve missed it -
Big Head said:
October 30th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
So many crossroads games this week.
kU/TTech, Mizzou/Colorado, Oklahoma/K-State, and ISU/ATM. After this week, maybe some of this mess will clear up. My personal opinion- Mizzou and Oklahoma roll, kU has a good shot at Tech (I’d say 50/50 still), and K-State gets smoked. It’s really up to Seth Doege’s (sp?) play in your game.
Nebraska should win easily, and Texas/Okie State will decide the South. I’m going Tejas.
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 6:58 am
Appreciate the compliments.
Raider: it’s still very much up for debate whether or not Lee is considered a quarterback, so you may not have actually missed anything.
What are you guys thinking for a score today? I’m just not sure what either defense can take away from the other’s offense when they’re clicking.
gingerballs said:
October 31st, 2009 at 9:21 am
Collison likes what he sees
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 9:55 am
Jesus tits I miss college. And being single. And…just about everything.
Anyway, Jesse Newell did a real nice job breaking down last week’s first play fro
scrimmage. Nothing we didn’t know already, but a nicely depicted analysis.
http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/newell_post/2009/oct/31/the-breakdown-what-really-happened-during-todd-ree/
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Well, I’d love to be upset, but at this point I’m almost apathetic.
I’m not sure I’d it’s the groin injury or something else, or both, but Todd isn’t the same guy. And because of that we’ve now lost three straight games we’ve have every chance to win.
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 4:01 pm
11 minutes to go and we’re ahead…
2 minutes to go and we’re down by 21…
BluManGrp said:
October 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
1. Todd has given up 42 points the past 3 games. Let that sink in.
2. Way to put Kale in an absolutely no-win situation.
3. The offense looks like they don’t even care anymore? How many drops did Dez and Kerry have?
4. The defense has come SO FAR.
5. Jake has become slow and is therefore pretty much worthless. And TO is a beast.
6. If we run the option with Todd running about 3 steps at 2mph and pitching 5 yds back, I’m going to lose my mind.
7. Ed’s playcalling is so predictable even Ron Franklin is calling the shovel passes before the play.
8. This team is no fun to cheer for.
9. I am dreading this trip to Manhattan. If we lose, I WILL be getting in a fight in that town. That’s a guarantee.
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 4:58 pm
You went on a nine point rant and I agree with every point. That’s a problem.
BluManGrp said:
October 31st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
And I stopped because I was getting too upset, not because I ran out of gripes. Notice I didn’t even mention Jeff Spikes.
kuoirad said:
October 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
WRT Reesing – more crap on KUSports’ forums claiming Todd’s got a drinking problem and that’s been contributing, if not the factor. No mention of the groin injury.
Also apparently some talk (that gets deleted fast) about coke, but…
Dunno. I’m pissed off, and I actually thought about trying to sell my ticket for the game here in Austin. The D can keep us in the games with KSUck and NowledgeU, but hell if I know if the offense can step the hell up and be productive or not. Something is *very* wrong on that side of the ball.
Oh, and we need a new special teams coach. Our coverage and return games are awful.
kuoirad said:
October 31st, 2009 at 6:50 pm
BluMan: Forgot to mention I understand the upset bit – I angrily turned the game off when McDougal muffed that punt and actually swore at my girlfriend when she asked me an innocuous question. First time I’ve been *that* angry at any sports game in a while.
Question for everyone else – people over on KUSports are angry at Leach for scoring that final touchdown – justified or no, I’d turned the game off.
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
BMG: you didn’t think spikes looked good as he half-assed blocks with his hands? I thought that’s how it was suppose to look?
Oirad: again, I’d suggest you pay little to no attention to anything on the KUSports boards. Haven’t found any insight there yet and don’t expect to. That said, who knows. I’ll tell you one thing, that’s not our Todd out there. He has no pocket presence anymore and as we all know, that WAS his best attribute. And now somehow it’s just gone.
kuoirad said:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Hiphop: *nods* And I wonder too, it’s sad. He just hasn’t been Todd all season.
Watching bits and pieces of the KSUck game in Norman tonight, next weekend could be ugly.
Dots61 said:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Those of us that are silent but fans of this site come here to escape the idiocy that is KUsports. Let’s not let those people impact the quality of OBK (or RCT for that matter).
I buy Todd being hurt and pressing a bit due to expectations. As for having a drinking problem? If Todd has one, we all do/did when in college. I hope he gets after it in the offseason and enjoys a few on Saturday nights in season.
Let’s keep some perspective. Even at 1-3, the north is (strangely) still in play. A bowl for the third season in a row seems likely. 2007 was a great season for the oklahomas and nebraskas of the world-let’s not let it jade us to the point of expecting 9 wins every year.
Leach can’t help it if our boys quit in the fourth today…
Rock chalk!!
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I still don’t know what to think. Right now, I’m not sure which QB gives us a better chance and that is simply stunning.
That said, KState still doesn’t look any sort of good to me. I know they were awfully proud of thy D, but 42 to that OU offense is nothing to be very proud of…long story shrt, I’m still not very impressed.
kuoirad said:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Dots61: fair enough, I’ll try not to foul the room with the KUSports stench.
The being hurt and pressing explanation makes a hell of a lot more sense anyway. I can’t quite see Mangino letting something like drinking the night before a game go on w/o repercussions.
kuoirad said:
October 31st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Hiphop: main reason I’m worried (now) about next week is that KSUck has looked passable, and the KU game was always a big game to Snyder. He knew/knows it’s a big deal to the alums.
Hiphopopotamus said:
October 31st, 2009 at 8:22 pm
The KU game was bigger to them when they were struggling and we were soaring. Now, we seem to be on equal footing.
Dots: Appreciate it, thats definitely something we try to uphold here. Also appreciate you bringing some glass half full attitude. We’ve become jaded pretty quickly, but I think it’s because we all feared life After Todd and never in our wildest imagination expect things to unravel because of Todd.
We’ll have more tomorrow, once I put down the bottle, but as you said, the north is amazingly still there for the taking (just would have been a lot sweeter to take one from the south). It’s just a matter of sweeping the rest (minus UT) and I think we all know that KSU, NU and MU are very beatable. But we’ve got to fix some shit in a hurry.
BluManGrp said:
October 31st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
How many snaps does Jordan Webb get in practice this week? I’m kidding… but seriously… but no really I’m kidding.
kuoirad said:
November 1st, 2009 at 7:47 am
The groin story is out.
Reesing talked about it in his post game presser, and Keegan wrote a column about it.
Hiphopopotamus said:
November 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Ya, I saw that piece. Can’t say I agree with Keegan that Kerry meier is the obvious choice if Todd can’t go. Haven’t seen anything from Pick to suggest hrs not capable and nothing helps a new quarterback (as either would be) than a dependable receiver.
kuoirad said:
November 1st, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Well, it *is* Keegan. Wasn’t a big fan of his *before* he wrote what he did during the “feud” between basketball and football.
I think putting Meier back at qb for this would be a horrible idea like you do – why take away one of our best receivers and have him do something he hasn’t done in a few years….
This is looking to be a *very* bad weekend for me football wise, the way the Packers are playing. Their offensive line looks as horrid as ours did yesterday…