It's almost time. Like most everyone else, I'm going crazy with anticipation for this game, as well as this season.
Malcolm 1990 asked me at Beard's Fantasy camp for some comments about this year's football team, and I have slow played him until now. So following are a few game thoughts to throw out (although I'm sure they have been covered a million times over the past few weeks on this board):
- This team will look different than pretty much any Tech team in the Air Raid era.
- Team conditioning is at it's highest level since KK became Head Coach. Almost every drill and every practice has emphasized "finishing". It's not just a credo, it's manifested in lots of extra running and pushing physical limits. One of the things that Leach and Benny did so well was to have the best conditioned players in the conference, resulting in lots of good 2nd half and 4th quarter performances. I predict that our new level of conditioning will be obvious and impressive.
- Our QB's will run with the ball this year. Don't be surprised if McClane Carter has 10 or more runs on Saturday, not including forced scrambles.
- KK will give Carter plenty of chances to lead this team on Saturday, but he will be more apt to substitute at QB than in previous years. He won't say it publicly, but it's likely that one of his biggest disappointments last year was in how long he stuck with Shimonek in certain games.
- Our OL is the real deal, especially with respect to run blocking. That is an oxymoron in the Texas Tech Air Raid era, but it's true. We will be at more risk on obvious pass play protection than on obvious running plays. It's a crazy phenomenon that I'm still struggling to get my mind around.
- Our DL is also the real deal, mainly due to excellent depth, and the addition of Joe Wallace and Preston Gordon. Kolin Hill will be disruptive in the backfield to compliment Eli Howard on the other side. Broderick Washington is a man among boys. And we finally have depth so those talented starters can be more effective at the end of games.
- LB's are even better than last year due to improved conditioning and experience. Stringer and Taylor will actually contribute as back-ups this year.
- DB is the one area that I'm not as confident about, but mainly due to the fact that Jashawn may be limited for awhile, and the loss of Octavious Morgan. What I do know is that we have LOTS of team speed. Douglas Coleman and Demarcus Fields are absolute burners that will not face receivers they can't run with. Scott Salwasser has done wonders with the speed training on this team, and I can't wait to see it play out in actual games.
- Special teams will be better. Just count on it.
- Having KK back to concentrating mostly on offense will pay dividends. Last year's experiment helped in the sense that the defense realized he appreciated them. But the offense suffered with the time lost by Kliff spending more practice time with the defense.
- One of the common themes in Kingsbury's tenure has been weak spots/immaturity on his coaching staff. This current group is decidedly different, and their cohesiveness and maturity should pay dividends.
For those that bothered to read through this, thanks for indulging me. (Disclaimer: I have no special inside info on which to base my above comments, I'm just a very interested observer!)
Malcolm 1990 asked me at Beard's Fantasy camp for some comments about this year's football team, and I have slow played him until now. So following are a few game thoughts to throw out (although I'm sure they have been covered a million times over the past few weeks on this board):
- This team will look different than pretty much any Tech team in the Air Raid era.
- Team conditioning is at it's highest level since KK became Head Coach. Almost every drill and every practice has emphasized "finishing". It's not just a credo, it's manifested in lots of extra running and pushing physical limits. One of the things that Leach and Benny did so well was to have the best conditioned players in the conference, resulting in lots of good 2nd half and 4th quarter performances. I predict that our new level of conditioning will be obvious and impressive.
- Our QB's will run with the ball this year. Don't be surprised if McClane Carter has 10 or more runs on Saturday, not including forced scrambles.
- KK will give Carter plenty of chances to lead this team on Saturday, but he will be more apt to substitute at QB than in previous years. He won't say it publicly, but it's likely that one of his biggest disappointments last year was in how long he stuck with Shimonek in certain games.
- Our OL is the real deal, especially with respect to run blocking. That is an oxymoron in the Texas Tech Air Raid era, but it's true. We will be at more risk on obvious pass play protection than on obvious running plays. It's a crazy phenomenon that I'm still struggling to get my mind around.
- Our DL is also the real deal, mainly due to excellent depth, and the addition of Joe Wallace and Preston Gordon. Kolin Hill will be disruptive in the backfield to compliment Eli Howard on the other side. Broderick Washington is a man among boys. And we finally have depth so those talented starters can be more effective at the end of games.
- LB's are even better than last year due to improved conditioning and experience. Stringer and Taylor will actually contribute as back-ups this year.
- DB is the one area that I'm not as confident about, but mainly due to the fact that Jashawn may be limited for awhile, and the loss of Octavious Morgan. What I do know is that we have LOTS of team speed. Douglas Coleman and Demarcus Fields are absolute burners that will not face receivers they can't run with. Scott Salwasser has done wonders with the speed training on this team, and I can't wait to see it play out in actual games.
- Special teams will be better. Just count on it.
- Having KK back to concentrating mostly on offense will pay dividends. Last year's experiment helped in the sense that the defense realized he appreciated them. But the offense suffered with the time lost by Kliff spending more practice time with the defense.
- One of the common themes in Kingsbury's tenure has been weak spots/immaturity on his coaching staff. This current group is decidedly different, and their cohesiveness and maturity should pay dividends.
For those that bothered to read through this, thanks for indulging me. (Disclaimer: I have no special inside info on which to base my above comments, I'm just a very interested observer!)
