Blogger Q&D - Double T Nation

Double T Nation, a very well written and detailed Texas Tech blog, agreed to exchange some questions with us in traditional game-week fashion. Juco All-American's questions and Seth of Double T Nation's answers are below. You should also earnestly peruse the last few weeks of posts on the blog. They've gone all "in-depth" and shit.


1. What do you think holds teams back from using the Mike Leach spread? Is it a lack of ability to coach it, fear that it won't work with other players, or something else? Explain specifically what makes your offense tick.

It's pretty ugly when it doesn't work, but when it does, it's an absolute thing of beauty. Teams and coaches have to be patient, something that's not very common in today's coaching circles (see Auburn). Just like any other kind of offensive or defensive scheme, it takes commitment on the part of the administration and school to make sure that the coach is able to fully implement his system. Keep in mind that a lot of Texas Tech fans believe, me included, that the spread helped even the playing field for Texas Tech. Mike Leach was able to take traditionally less talented players, put up tremendous offensive numbers and win more than a handful of games, something his predecessor could not do on a consistent basis. The spread can work with just about any group of players, so long as they're talented, so long as the quarterback can quickly read a defense. If you have a quarterback that reacts slowly then it's disaster.

As to the specific portion of your question, what makes it tick is that Mike Leach has written the book on the spread, he knows it inside and out, and is able to teach his quarterbacks (I'm pretty sure its some sort of voodoo) how to quickly assess a situation and react correctly. There's nothing fancy to the plays, it's merely a matter of reading the defense. What's made this offense even better than in previous years is an absolutely insane athlete in Michael Crabtree, a quarterback who has had 3 years in the system in Graham Harrell, and two running backs that have run like their lives depended on it.


2. We've all heard the debate. SEC defenses look good because SEC offenses are so bad. Big XII offenses look good because Big XII defenses are so bad. Talk a little bit about Texas Tech's defense and why that argument (with respect to Big XII defenses) is wrong.

For Red Raider fans, the defense took huge strides this year and the biggest reason for the improvement has been up front, in particular the play of the two defensive ends, Brandon Williams (1st in the conference) and McKinner Dixon (6th in the conference). As I'm sure that Rebel fans are aware, having two guys who can rush the passer makes everything easier, especially in the Big 12. In previous years, Texas Tech would have one talented pass rusher, but not much elsewhere, however, with the arrival of McKinner Dixon, it meant that teams had to focus on both defensive ends. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that quite a few of the defensive players had another year under their belt as 8 of 11 starters returned from last year. A big part of the team's success was/is continuity, plus the defensive coordinator's willingness to put the most talented players on the field rather than play players who were maybe more experienced but not as talented (remember, Leach replaced defensive coordinators in the middle of the year of 2007).


3. Who's the best player on your team that no one talks about? How do you think he can impact this game?

I know you only asked for one, but receiver Detron Lewis on offense and linebacker Brian Duncan on defense. Lewis is Michael Crabtree-lite. He is a big receiver with speed, agility, and were it not for the incredible Mr. Crabtree, Lewis would be and probably will be next year, a bonafide star. Duncan may be the best linebacker at Texas Tech since Zach Thomas. Of course, that can be interpreted that there haven't been that many good linebackers since that time, and that's probably true, but Duncan is one of those rare players who is athletically gifted and able to correctly read an offensive play.


4. What has made this season different than other recent Texas Tech seasons where a high-powered offense yielded an 8 win team?

Two of the things mentioned above: improved pass rush and improved running game. Again, the improved pass rush made it easier on the team in general from top to bottom. A better pass rush helps the secondary, which allows for the safeties to help the run, which allows the linebackers to play a little more free in space, etc. It's cyclical.

The running game has really been a revelation this year. Texas Tech went from 3.13 yards a rush in 2007 to 4.71 in 2008 and there's no doubt that Leach has learned that a more balanced attack is a better offense. This may surpsise some folks, but I believe that Leach could care less about the passing statistics, it's all about putting the ball in the endzone, that's the ultimate goal, although I do think he believes that passing the ball is a more efficient way of accomplishing that goal. In any event, Leach's reliance on the rush meant that Harrell threw for 1,000 less yards than last year and 100 less plays, but more than 4 points more per game than in 2007. In fact, don't be surprised if you see a two tight-end set or a two running back set on Friday.


5. What is your prediction for the game? How will it play out?

I think this one is closer than many Texas Tech fans would like for it to be. I've always thought that one of the equalizers for the spread offensie is an athletic defense (i.e. Ole Miss) and if the defensive front can put pressure on Harrell and force him to make some bad throws then I really like the Rebels chances. However, I'm not sure how well Ole Miss will match up with Crabtree and Lewis on defense as these are two bigger receivers, one of them will be a top 5 pick in April's NFL draft. There's more size in the Texas Tech receiving corp than some might think and I think that's going to be the toughest matchup for the Rebels. I think Texas Tech is going to win every game (I'll be disappointed if you don't feel the same way about Ole Miss) so I'll take Texas Tech, 38-35.

I don't see his questions and Juco's answers just yet but when I do I'll link 'em up.

MSU Turkey-day Q&A

I contacted the MStateSports blog to get this week's Q&A. Here is a link to their questions and my answers. My questions and their responses are below.

1. Is Sylvester Croom the right coach to get your program to a level where you go bowling almost every year? If so, explain what you like about him. If not, who is?
I think Croom has been what the program needed since Jackie. He returned discipline to the program, which it was badly lacking. However, he seems stubborn when approached about change. He is loyal to a fault to many of his assistants, especially Woody McCorvey. Even though it is obvious that the offense is the main problem, he seems willing to blame just about all other parts of the team except the offense.

I am willing to give him another year, maybe two, if changes can be made where needed, especially the offense and special teams. If not, there are plenty of names that people will throw around as possible coaching candidates, but I would really like to see someone young come in that could take the team in a completely new direction. (RSC - please give him two years.)

2. What do you think are the three biggest reasons for what appears to be an offensive regress? Things looked to be headed in the right direction with a decent quarterback returning and two successful running backs.
The first thing is loss of players. We had an off-campus incident before summer practice that cause 5 players to be kicked off the team. Next, we had some injuries that caused us to shuffle the O-line around before the first game, forcing players to quickly change what they had learned and try to adapt. Then we started the year with 2 quarterbacks, and a team with an already fragile offense can't really support that. Miscues, bad reads, and terrible passes were common. We would get behind early in the game and abandon the run game too early, forcing us to throw more. I think many of those things combined have caused many of our offensive woes. (RSC - so playing poor offense is the reason for your offensive woes? Awesome.)

3. Have you noticed significant changes in your defensive philosophy now that Ellis Johnson is gone? Do you think you're missing him?
I don't think there has been a huge difference. We seem to be running many of the same schemes with many of the same personel (sic). One thing that has hurt us defensively is the loss of Jamar Chaney in the first game. His experience at linebacker and as a leader on the defense as a whole has hurt us some.

The loss of Jesse Bowman in the Alabama game will be a huge hit to the line. He was probably our strongest player in the trenches. (RSC - look at it this way. At least he was lost in a season that doesn't matter for you. We lost Peria Jerry for the first three games of a season that could end at 9-4.)

4. Who is the best player on your team that no one really knows about? What makes him so good?
I think Tyson Lee has the potential to suprise (sic) some folks. He has experience from playing JUCO ball and is not afraid to stay in the pocket and take a hit. He is also very mobile and can scramble for yardage when a play breaks down. (RSC - Really? Tyson Lee? Everyone knows about him. Can someone say cop out?)

5. What is your prediction on the game? How will it happen?
Of course I want this to be a Bulldog victory. The defense will need to step up and contain the Rebel offense and the Bulldog O will need to generate some yardage and some rest time for the D. If the Bulldogs win, it will be a low scoring affair, so I am going to call it for State, 14-10. (RSC - if we only score ten points, I will write a column about how much we suck.)

LSU Q&A

This week's blogger Q&A is with a blog that we didn't make up. I promise. Pelican State Sports is an LSU blog. Really. Anyway, they have our answers up over there. Here are their answers to our questions.

1. Is Les Miles the right coach to keep you at a national championship caliber level? If so, what do you like about him? If not, what is his downfall, and who would you like to replace him with?

After some thought caused by the cleverly worded question, I have to say yes. Much as been made of Les' strange calls at times, his crazy hat style, his antics, and his apparent stupidity. But the numbers don't lie: 41-9 so far, 3-0 in bowls (all three blowout victories, by the way), and a national championship, albeit with two losses. Granted, if you talk to "football" people, they will tell you that a certain other SEC West coach is a better coach, but Les has shown the ability to maintain a level of excellence. Imagine: this is the worst year of his tenure and the team is 7-3, and pushed #1 Alabama to overtime. Just about any team in the SEC, with the possible exception of Florida, would trade places with LSU during Les' tenure, and as long as he continues to recruit well–this year's class is shaping up as a top-fiver–I see no reason why he cannot maintain a high level of competitiveness.

Secondly, whatever else Les is, he is a fun coach to have on your sideline. He runs more fake fg's, punts, and trick plays than anyone else in college football. He lets his players audible to fake punts from their own end zone, as he did in 2005 at Arizona State. In other words, he plays football like I do when I am on playstation, and it makes his teams incredibly fun to watch.

Finally, during his tenure, Les has, in my opinion, outooached Larry Coker, Tommy Tuberville, Philip Fulmer, Steve Spurrier, Charlie Weis, Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel in individual games. Some of those coaches (looking at you Weis and Fulmer) are overrated, but others (here's to you Spurrier and Tressel) are the very top of the coaching heap. And yes, at times he has been outcoached. But more often than not, his teams come up big. As I said in the first paragraph: regardless of what one thinks of his personality, just about every team in the SEC and the country would take his record right now.

2. We all know about Jarrett Lee's struggles this season. Can you explain the pick sixes though? Having not seen many of your games, I would guess that the offense is sluggish when he throws a pick and just doesn't respond well. Is it that, or is he just throwing them to corners with nothing but green in front of them?

Ugh. Its a combination. Just off the top of my head, it seems that when he misses a throw, he misses it by a wide margin and defensive players get the ball with room to make something happen. And they do. Combine that with some player frustration and that could lead to a lack of effort on some players' part to make a play on the defensive player with the ball.

3. In the comeback win over Troy, it seems like the first three quarters provided a blueprint for teams trying to beat you. When Troy was 4 or 5 wide on offense and stacking the box on defense, they tore you apart. What adjustments did you make to stop them in the fourth quarter, and what happened to your offense then?

Full disclosure - I chose not to watch the Troy game. I went to the movies. But from what I have read and seen, LSU woke up a bit, and started playing like the game mattered. Regardless, going 4-5 wides on offense is a good way to get an advantage on LSU because of an inexperienced and at times ineffective secondary. Good teams have found a way to isolate certain players, especically Danny McRay, on receivers and take advantage of his weak cover skills.

Defensively, with LSU timid about throwing the ball, stacking the box is a good tactic against Charles Scott. The LSU offensive line, huge and experienced, has been a big let-down this year, and has been unable to dominate the line-of-scrimmage like they should have in games like that. Teams have been effective doing exactly what Troy did.

4. We all hate to think about Billy Cannon, who will be honored this weekend. Name the one player on your team (other than Trindon Holliday) who could make a last second play to give you the victory. Go into detail about what makes this player special.

This one is pretty easy: Demetrius Byrd. He is a good candidate for this answer because he has done it in the past, notably against Auburn last year with one second to go on the clock. He is a big receiver, at 6'3" and 200 pounds, but his biggest weapon is his speed. He is incredibly fast. And while Bradon Lafell has become more of a go-to receiver this year in the LSU offense, Byrd is still their best big play threat from anywhere on the field.

5. What's your prediction on the game? Give me specifics about how it will happen.

As I mentioned in my questions, I fear Nutt above all others. He really really scares me every year, and I was very much pulling for him to leave the division when he left Arkansas. Of course, that was crushed about two seconds after he left, when he showed up in Oxford. But I don't fear him enough to pick a Rebel win. I think LSU can gut this one out. There are, of course, all of the requisite stories coming out of Baton Rouge about how Jarrett Lee "turned a corner" against Troy, with the obvious implication that now he will be a consistently better quarterback. I don't believe it. What that boy needs more than anything is an offseason. So I don't expect the LSU offense to come out and look like the 94 Cowboys at all.

What I do expect is Ole Miss to take a lead in the first half, maybe 10-0 or so, and LSU to get a field goal or maybe even a touchdown before half. Then I expect LSU to come out strong in the second half, grab the lead, and then have to fend off a fierce Rebel charge (sounds like I am describing Gettysburg or something) and hold on like mad for the win, something in the 27-24 variety.

Blogger Q&A: Squawk Em Hawk Em

So we actually managed to convince that Squawk Em Hawk Em guy to do a blogger Q&A. His responses are priceless. Check out his blog here. He apparently didn't understand that you put up the other blog's responses.

1. Talk a little bit about the impact that Kim Dameron and Ron Dickerson had on the program last year. Are you happy or sad to see them go?

I really don't waste a lot of time paying attention to assistant coaches. I'm sure you're glad to have them in Oxford where, at the very least, they're not horrible like your last group of morons! Looking on your website I can see that they're coaches for your defensive backs. Well, being as how your secondary is one of the worst in the $EC you can have those two coaches!

2. Do you feel like the win against Alabama helped your program significantly in terms of helping to build you into a team to be taken seriously within your conference?

It let the world know that Sun Belt football is just as good as anybody else's football. Yeah, the other conferences might have the money and fans but we're every bit as big, athletic, and tough as you.

3. Who's the best player on your team?

Kinsmon "The Lank" Lancaster is a real deal dual threat quarterback. He's got a total of 21 touchdowns on the season compared to your overhyped QB's 14. Ole Miss' poor secondary is going to get shredded to bits by Lancaster's pinpoint accuracy.

4. Do you think ULM should move to a different conference? If so, which one?

Once we can get the cash to run with the big boys, all we'll need is a good season or two to get serious looks by the SEC. I think it would be to everyone's benefit to have two Louisiana schools in the mix!

5. What is your prediction for Saturday's game?
ULM - 30
Ole Miss - 21
It's on Webbuhs!

Blogger Q&A Red [REDACTED] Cup

With it being a bye week, I decided to contact Ghost of Jay Cutler over at Red [REDACTED] Cup to do a link exchange. You really should check out the blog he writes for. Very funny, though no better than this one. Actually, Red [REDACTED] Cup and this blog are about the same.

Anyway, my questions, and his answers, are listed.


1. How's the new job?
Dude, it suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. But, it pays.

2. Awesome. So, election huh? Your thoughts?
Oh yeah, that? I wasn't paying attention. Somebody said something about something being all "historic" and I was like "bla bla bla you like the History Channel you queer!" I will say this, though: I got an email talking about how Barack Obama is a secret Muslim. Think about THAT!

3. Dude, that coat is really cool. Where did you get that?
It was a gift from my Dad.

4. Weekend plans?
I'm cooking ribs; delicious, juicy, sweet, spicy baby back ribs. Seriously, you should make your way to my place. After that I'll probably get drunk while cursing at my television and likely end up doing something somewhat regrettable that evening. On Sunday, more of the same, but this time with ribeyes.

5. What happens with Ole Miss for the rest of the season, oh great GOJC?
Our scout team beats ULM while hungover, we embarrass LSU in Baton Rouge, and we stomp State into a mudhole. We'll get a bid to a bowl lower on the bowl "totem pole" than what we deserve but, having not been to one in four seasons, we'll take it with a big smile.


I think that GOJC got his post up before me. Go to [A WEBSITE WHICH DOESN'T EXIST] to check it out.