Skinny - In a very similar situation to Missouri, Texas Tech loses a heralded receiver/quarterback combo. It's hard to decide who meant more to the team. Michael Crabtree was the playmaker, the one who beat Texas, the one who made the National Championship Game controversy. But Graham Harrell was the one who threw him that pass, he was the one who was a four year performer, the one who spread it to all the receivers. Three receivers had over 70 receptions last season. It might be different from scouts points of view, but from the college football point of view it wasn't Crabtree or Harrell, it was Crabtree and Harrell. Both are gone and so is co-leading rusher Shannon Woods. The offense should be devastated right? Wrong, this is Texas Tech. Quarterbacks move on and the next one gets plugged in. Taylor Potts will continue that legacy this year and Detron Lewis will take the torch as designated receiver. The defense continues to improve and Texas Tech is not the same dormant program it used to be. The problem for Tech is the Big Twelve South is the best division in the country and the first three programs are way better than most of the country. Baylor, I expect to surprise people behind Robert Griffen. That leaves Tech at the bottom of the pecking order, but don't expect less than say 8 wins.
Strength - The ability to reload
Its hard to really pick a unit that is the strength. Brandon Carter and Marlon Lynn lead an offensive that is otherwise not so great, but they play well themselves. The defensive line was hit hard when McKinner Dixon entered the supplemental draft due to academic problems at Tech. His precense would have been huge for the Tech defense. But if Tech is known for one thing, it is there ability to recover from personnel losses. Losing Harrell is costly because he was a four year starter, but haven't we gone through this before when a big time production quarterback graduates from Tech and the next one plays just as well. Taylor Potts will be given the chance to play in one of the best college football systems in America and so will the receivers, with the top 3 all gaining considerable starting or relief experience from a season ago.
Weakness - Half the offensive line
Like I mentioned in the strength. Carter and Lynn are two very good lineman, with Carter getting 2nd team All-American honors on my list. The other three starting spots are up for grabs after the loss of the productive Louis Vasquez and Rylan Reed. Center Ryan Hamby is also gone. Its hard to lose players of that quality, but Tech is lucky to have some stars left on the line. Center Shawn Byrnes was the starter two years ago, so Tech should be all right in that position, but Chris Olson and Mickey Okafor are both frontrunners and inexperienced for the other positions. This system excels on good pass blocking and this unit must pick it up quickly and gel.
Key Game - 10/31/09 Kansas
Texas Tech has a winnable game at home against the North division favorite Kansas at the end of October before a pivotal three game stretch that includes two of the big three and my darkhorse Baylor. Tech should be bowl eligible going into this game and this game should only improve their stock if they were to pull it off. Kansas should be better this season after flying under the radar for most of last year. Reesing has the ability to win and he'll try to pull a Graham Harrell this year.
Key Player - Taylor Potts
Every quarterback it seems like excels in this system. The list goes on and on with players under Mike Leach. The torch has been passed and Potts shouldn't have much contention for the job. Potts has a very experienced group of receivers back in Lyle Leong, Edward Britton, Detron Lewis, and Tramain Swindall. Baron Batch is also a very good receiver out of the backfield and could catch 50 balls from Potts this season. With tons of weapons at his disposable and Brandon Carter more than likely defending his backside, the offense will operate however Potts will allow it. Potts has done well career wise in relief and boasts a 5-2 ratio with a 65% percentage in his limited time.
Impact Freshman - Joel Gray
Predicted Big 12 finish - 5th (South)
Top 5 Players
1. OL Brandon Carter
2. OL Marlon Winn
3. WR Detron Lewis
4. CB Jamar Wall
5. RB Baron Batch
Views
No comments:
Post a Comment