Yummy Crow
- By MacRed
- Inside The Double T
- 30 Replies
I said this...I meant this...
I was very wrong and Im happy I was.
I love Donovan Smith, I was ready to ride with him until he figured it out. But, I gotta say, after what we saw Saturday...Behren can be an all time great.
I knew he was talented, but wow. That release, that throw on the move, that zip on the ball. Got Gundy saying "That's not good" in relation to him only being a freshman. Thank you Shough and Smith, but please move aside for the future. No reason not to start this guy the rest of the year and let him find the rhythm to flourish.
STORY: My Thoughts: Texas Tech's Morton displays toughness in first-career start in loss to Oklahoma State
- By B. Soliz
- Inside The Double T
- 43 Replies
- Before critiquing the Red Raider play, play calling, officiating, let's start by giving a nod to redshirt freshman Behren Morton in his first career start for the Red Raiders. He went 39-of-62 in his debut for 379 yards, two touchdowns and a really bad interception into triple coverage. Besides that though he showed me a strong case on why he might start against WVU if Shough isn't totally cleared. That will be something to monitor closely. Shough is guaranteed to be back for Baylor as Joey McGuire has stated before. After what I saw today, I would give Shough an extra week and go with the Eastland product in two weeks. That's also being said cautiously as we hear more about his ankle injury.
- Officiating was balanced - because it was pretty bad today on both sides. I saw some holdings missed on both. Green should've been hit with an offensive PI in my opinion in the first quarter. Joey McGuire, on the "fumble" by OK State (I say that because he did bounce his right knee off the ground), was completely ignored regardless of the right or wrong call. I don't see how they ignore him especially when they snap the ball and he's still on the field. So weird. Then a positive gain and they place the ball back on the original line of scrimmage. Oklahoma State then was given a first down on a play where the guy was short by at least a yard or two. That was so confusing that even the broadcast was off on the down and yard mark.
- A positive - the first half for Krishon Merriweather, Kosi Eldridge and SaRodorick Thompson were very key in the first-half lead. The first two mentioned continued that positive play. Sarodorick couldn't get much going as OK State adjusted in the second -half. However. I think Zach Kittley didn't use him enough to keep him hot, which leads me to my next thought...
- Kittley was calling a good game and one that gave you the lead for a great amount of time. But, as we've seen before, it was oddly changed and stalled. I don't know if it's the opponents adjustments and keep in mind Behren wasn't obviously 100%, but he tends to stray away from what works. I think we've seen that happen throughout the year. They get stagnant and it doesn't really seem like it is opponents forcing you to adjust. And, I sound like a broken record but as we've seen prior, he suddenly gets the offense flowing for a comeback attempt.
- Another positive... shoutout to the Goin' Band. They were loud on the broadcast and I could feel them in a sense in big moments. They were terrific today.
- Another negative... Kittley went away from targeting Xavier White, Trey Cleveland and Nehemiah Martinez when the slump began. He got the ball back into Xavier and Trey's hands but that was too late.
- Positive... Rayshad Williams had himself a game today. He was awarded five pass breakups on the day. Texas Tech had a total of 10.
- Tyree Wilson, as of this write-up, leads the Big 12 in sacks with six. Felix Anudike-Uzomah of Kansas State has 5.5 and they play Iowa State later this evening.
- I don't think a ton of folks were shocked by the outcome. But, through now six games, McGuire has Red Raider fans confident in this team being in every single contest and it still holds true. This is a Texas Tech win with a few plays made on offense like Donovan Smith's pass being batted down on what looked like a walk-in score on 3rd and goal. I had Texas Tech in this one and a loss by 10. The road doesn't get easy but a break here and a winnable homecoming game against WVU should get this team in the win column. Baylor, TCU, then Kansas is now a tough three-game stretch. The finale against Oklahoma seems to be the second easiest game on the remainder of the schedule.
- Officiating was balanced - because it was pretty bad today on both sides. I saw some holdings missed on both. Green should've been hit with an offensive PI in my opinion in the first quarter. Joey McGuire, on the "fumble" by OK State (I say that because he did bounce his right knee off the ground), was completely ignored regardless of the right or wrong call. I don't see how they ignore him especially when they snap the ball and he's still on the field. So weird. Then a positive gain and they place the ball back on the original line of scrimmage. Oklahoma State then was given a first down on a play where the guy was short by at least a yard or two. That was so confusing that even the broadcast was off on the down and yard mark.
- A positive - the first half for Krishon Merriweather, Kosi Eldridge and SaRodorick Thompson were very key in the first-half lead. The first two mentioned continued that positive play. Sarodorick couldn't get much going as OK State adjusted in the second -half. However. I think Zach Kittley didn't use him enough to keep him hot, which leads me to my next thought...
- Kittley was calling a good game and one that gave you the lead for a great amount of time. But, as we've seen before, it was oddly changed and stalled. I don't know if it's the opponents adjustments and keep in mind Behren wasn't obviously 100%, but he tends to stray away from what works. I think we've seen that happen throughout the year. They get stagnant and it doesn't really seem like it is opponents forcing you to adjust. And, I sound like a broken record but as we've seen prior, he suddenly gets the offense flowing for a comeback attempt.
- Another positive... shoutout to the Goin' Band. They were loud on the broadcast and I could feel them in a sense in big moments. They were terrific today.
- Another negative... Kittley went away from targeting Xavier White, Trey Cleveland and Nehemiah Martinez when the slump began. He got the ball back into Xavier and Trey's hands but that was too late.
- Positive... Rayshad Williams had himself a game today. He was awarded five pass breakups on the day. Texas Tech had a total of 10.
- Tyree Wilson, as of this write-up, leads the Big 12 in sacks with six. Felix Anudike-Uzomah of Kansas State has 5.5 and they play Iowa State later this evening.
- I don't think a ton of folks were shocked by the outcome. But, through now six games, McGuire has Red Raider fans confident in this team being in every single contest and it still holds true. This is a Texas Tech win with a few plays made on offense like Donovan Smith's pass being batted down on what looked like a walk-in score on 3rd and goal. I had Texas Tech in this one and a loss by 10. The road doesn't get easy but a break here and a winnable homecoming game against WVU should get this team in the win column. Baylor, TCU, then Kansas is now a tough three-game stretch. The finale against Oklahoma seems to be the second easiest game on the remainder of the schedule.
