CNNSI: Tech to play for MNC

W

Wesser

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This dude is apparently serious.

Question.... WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

So much has been made about Tech's defensive improvement over the last 6 games since Leach fired the guy that gave him his first job... but the three good teams that they played during that time were UT and OU. We hung 59 on them. Mizzou put 41 on the board. OU had Bradford hurt in the 1st quarter and still almost came back on Tech's defense in the second half.

Tech squeaked by a very mediocre UVa team in their bowl game.

Considering Harrell and Crabtree's numbers were so good last year, I imagine that they will do good to duplicate them. I would not expect any significant growth in production from the offense. Which leaves us with the defense.

Prove it to me on the field and I will believe it. All I remember is Colt driving on these fools at will just two regular season games ago. We put 551 yards of total offense on this new improved "D".

The other two decent teams they played since the switch were Mizzou (who put up 422 yards of total offense and 41 points) and OU with their backup QB who put up 408 yards of total offense. Not exactly Doomsday.

My point, there is nothing to suggest that Tech will be any different than last year. Nothing at all. The media has fallen in love with Crabtree and Harrell, but they can't really do any better than the video game numbers from last year. I see Tech as a really good team, possibly a 8-15 ranked team. But this nonsense is out of hand.
 
Now that's funny **** right there.
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the only team we have ever seen run the hal mumme/mike leach offense that also had a good defense was the 2000 sooners. and even then, the offense had evolved into something a little bit different with mangino calling the plays.

this is the year that will answer THE question about this offense.

does the offense makes it too difficult for the defense due to various factors (on the field too long etc.)? consensus has always been "yes", but there really haven't been too many teams that have had the talent or experience to find out. kentucky didn't have the athletes, 99 sooners were not up to the task, tech... not yet. this tech team has both experience and talent, so it should be answered once and for all this year.

and hpslugga might have some explaining to do
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yes, i understand what the outstanding questions are, and what the theories are. but at some point, and that point is this year and and the amount of returning talent on the tech team, you have to make a judgement.

are you willing to say that tech has the talent to compete on defense this year, regardless of what offense they are running?

i understand your thoughts on the subject, and i'm not even sure i disagree with them.... but let's admit that your theory is just that as well... a theory. this will be, and correct me if i am wrong, the most talent and experience on a run and shoot/mumme spread type offense that we have seen.
 
If I were a Tech fan I would actually worry a little bit about my offense. Yes, they are usually a great offense and rack up a ton of yards; no doubt about that. However, three times in the last two years they have been held to 10 or less points on the road (TCU- 3 points, CU- 6 points, Mizzou-10 points). Heck, they only scored 21 at home against Mizzou two years ago. And I don't think you can consider any of these teams great defenses.

The question is why? I don't know. Any team would have trouble scoring so few points, but with the style and mindset they have it is almost inexcusible.
 
The obsession with Tech is mind boggling. People make a big deal about all the returning starters on defense but when the starters you have coming back suck, well it doesn't make a ****. Second, where's the depth? Anywhere? There WR corps is going to put up huge #'s, but guess what, they always do. So again, tech is right back where they started, no defense and an inability to run the ball and therefore the clock out and they will lose no less than 3 games. There conference schedule isn't exactly a cream puff, their ooc could be handled by a boy scout troop.
 
That's not surprising coming from Austin Murphy -- it'll probably be the best Red Raider team in forever and Murphy loves Leach.


Murphy wrote a glowing article about Leach after interviewing him last year.
 
i don't think many, if any really, tt fans are actually expecting a national championship.

i don't, however, think it unrealistic to expect to have a chance to be better on defense. to begin with, this is the new dc's first full season in the role. taking over at midseason, last year was pretty much just a process of applying patches week by week.

across the defensive front tt will have newcomers brandon sesay (offers from michigan, florida, etc), mckinnor dixon (ut offer) and chris perry (ou, tenn, miami offers).

in addition, in the dl there's is decent young talent returning in 2nd team all big 12 de, brandon williams, and all big 12 freshman team dt, colby whitlock.

there's also better than decent talent returning in the secondary. the lb group in my mind is something of a question mark.

then there's also the issue of the defensive improvement doesn't have to be drastic in order to have a pretty significant impact. as a simple example, i believe if last season tt merely holds okie state to 44 points and ut to 42, they're the big 12 south champs.

we shall see i suppose.
 
Lecturer describes the issue with the Tech defense - the coach cannot play and they do not have enough experienced championship level players to stop good offenses in order to let their offense out score the other side.

As has been the case over the last few years - if Texas can stop TT twice a half, Texas will win by 10+. If Muscamp cannot figure this out - Texas hired the wrong guy.
 
I don't think Tech will play for the NC.

That would suck because that would mean they beat us.

But just THINK of how the folks at texags would react. That would be comedy gold.
 
hey- its college football and anything can happen......except that...
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They SHOULD have a very good year nonetheless...could be bordering on a great year with a few breaks and a one luck out win...
 
If Texas doesn't win the MNC, I can't think of anybody other than Tech who I'd rather win it. I seriously doubt it will happen though.

Tech's secondary is pretty darn good, but the question on defense is mostly can they stop the run and, much like with Texas in 2006, will the secondary be made to look weak in coverage by having to spend so much effort making up for the LBs.
 
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