Tough
Physical
Disciplined
These are traits of teams that I think win championships. We all know you have to have skill and a great scheme. When I think of college football it typically starts with a great Head Coach that creates a great culture. Saban...Meyer...Stoops...Harbaugh...Miles...you get the idea. Those coaches create the identity/structure and the results follow. They get the best talent and fit it into that culture and greatness/consistency is achieved.
Coaching:
When you think of Kliff Kingsbury/Texas Tech it's often referred to as explosive, but also pretty, soft, and weak if you think about the last 3 seasons. Tough? Physical? Disciplined? Those are terms used for other teams.
This is the first time I actually feel like Coach Kingsbury is changing the culture to what we need. It started with the hire of Coach Gibbs and the firing of 3 of his friends. It continued by hiring Coach Whitt. This offseason and fall camp you are hearing the words Tough and Together. Once again players are playing for each other. Players are providing the leadership. And the identity of the locker room is starting to change. Whispers of playing a physical/disciplined style of football.
When I look at the Big 12 in 2016 I think it starts with OU, OSU, and TCU. I think Texas Tech is in the second tier along with Baylor and UT. Stoops, Gundy, and Patterson are experienced coaches that have the right football culture in place.
Offense:
Return the QB of the number 2 ranked offense in the country in 2015. Pat has it all in front of him. Surround him with players like Murphy, Steele, Akamnonu who are big physical offensive lineman. Toss in one of the deepest collections of skill position talent I have seen in the Air Raid era. I think we are going to be the best offense in College Football in 2016.
Defense:
I think we continue to upgrade our talent on defense. And we have actual depth along the front four this year. You know what? The defense doesn't have to be perfect. They have to be timely. They have to force some turnovers. But most importantly they have to be disciplined. The biggest improvement I would like to see is on 3rd down and in the redzone. Can they get off the field when it counts? We can afford to be a bend but don't break defense again in 2016.
Special Teams:
I like Hatfield and Barden. I think both are trustworthy and reliable. I think Batson at punt returner has a lot of potential for positive yards. Would like to see Reg. Davis back at kick returner. I like having a dedicated special teams coach.
Schedule:
I think we should be 4-0 through September. I like going on the road and playing @Arizona State. Should be a good gauge of what this team needs to improve on heading into the Big 12. I like that we ramp up in October with @KSU and WVU before we play OU, @TCU, UT, @OSU which could be the top 4 teams in the conference. Finishing @ISU and Baylor could provide a boost if both have lost out on bowl eligibility.
I have been drinking the Kool-Aid for a long time. This offseason is no different. Nothing but hype from me.
Kool-Aid #1
Kool-Aid #2
Kool-Aid #3
Kool-Aid #4
Kool-Aid #5
Kool-Aid #6
Prediction:
Expectation vs. Reality. Hardest thing in fandom. I think we are good enough offensively to win 10 regular season games this year. We have enough firepower to score a lot. Do we have enough on defense to make it count for something?
I believe we do. Last year we had tough losses against TCU, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. We were overmatched by Baylor, OU, and LSU. We have West Virginia at home which I think will make a big difference. I think we continue to stay on level footing with TCU and Oklahoma State.
The big questions for me is how far ahead is OU? And how much does Baylor fall? Does UT have a QB? The Big 12 has some really good QBs with Mahomes, Mayfield, Russell, and Rudolph. I think Texas Tech has at the best QB in the conference.
You flip WVU and BU into wins you are at 9. Split one with TCU/OSU and you are at 10. So 10-2 regular season for me.
TL;DR GFY
Physical
Disciplined
These are traits of teams that I think win championships. We all know you have to have skill and a great scheme. When I think of college football it typically starts with a great Head Coach that creates a great culture. Saban...Meyer...Stoops...Harbaugh...Miles...you get the idea. Those coaches create the identity/structure and the results follow. They get the best talent and fit it into that culture and greatness/consistency is achieved.
Coaching:
When you think of Kliff Kingsbury/Texas Tech it's often referred to as explosive, but also pretty, soft, and weak if you think about the last 3 seasons. Tough? Physical? Disciplined? Those are terms used for other teams.
This is the first time I actually feel like Coach Kingsbury is changing the culture to what we need. It started with the hire of Coach Gibbs and the firing of 3 of his friends. It continued by hiring Coach Whitt. This offseason and fall camp you are hearing the words Tough and Together. Once again players are playing for each other. Players are providing the leadership. And the identity of the locker room is starting to change. Whispers of playing a physical/disciplined style of football.
When I look at the Big 12 in 2016 I think it starts with OU, OSU, and TCU. I think Texas Tech is in the second tier along with Baylor and UT. Stoops, Gundy, and Patterson are experienced coaches that have the right football culture in place.
Offense:
Return the QB of the number 2 ranked offense in the country in 2015. Pat has it all in front of him. Surround him with players like Murphy, Steele, Akamnonu who are big physical offensive lineman. Toss in one of the deepest collections of skill position talent I have seen in the Air Raid era. I think we are going to be the best offense in College Football in 2016.
Defense:
I think we continue to upgrade our talent on defense. And we have actual depth along the front four this year. You know what? The defense doesn't have to be perfect. They have to be timely. They have to force some turnovers. But most importantly they have to be disciplined. The biggest improvement I would like to see is on 3rd down and in the redzone. Can they get off the field when it counts? We can afford to be a bend but don't break defense again in 2016.
Special Teams:
I like Hatfield and Barden. I think both are trustworthy and reliable. I think Batson at punt returner has a lot of potential for positive yards. Would like to see Reg. Davis back at kick returner. I like having a dedicated special teams coach.
Schedule:
I think we should be 4-0 through September. I like going on the road and playing @Arizona State. Should be a good gauge of what this team needs to improve on heading into the Big 12. I like that we ramp up in October with @KSU and WVU before we play OU, @TCU, UT, @OSU which could be the top 4 teams in the conference. Finishing @ISU and Baylor could provide a boost if both have lost out on bowl eligibility.
I have been drinking the Kool-Aid for a long time. This offseason is no different. Nothing but hype from me.
Kool-Aid #1
Kool-Aid #2
Kool-Aid #3
Kool-Aid #4
Kool-Aid #5
Kool-Aid #6
Prediction:
Expectation vs. Reality. Hardest thing in fandom. I think we are good enough offensively to win 10 regular season games this year. We have enough firepower to score a lot. Do we have enough on defense to make it count for something?
I believe we do. Last year we had tough losses against TCU, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. We were overmatched by Baylor, OU, and LSU. We have West Virginia at home which I think will make a big difference. I think we continue to stay on level footing with TCU and Oklahoma State.
The big questions for me is how far ahead is OU? And how much does Baylor fall? Does UT have a QB? The Big 12 has some really good QBs with Mahomes, Mayfield, Russell, and Rudolph. I think Texas Tech has at the best QB in the conference.
You flip WVU and BU into wins you are at 9. Split one with TCU/OSU and you are at 10. So 10-2 regular season for me.
TL;DR GFY
