The Texas Tech Red Raiders: College Football's Darkhorse in 2008

I have always been intrigued with Mike Leach and Texas Tech in past seasons, and I have tried to catch their games when I could, being that I reside on the West Coast.

However, after Texas Tech's victory over Virginia in the Gator Bowl last season, I began to look into what kind of team the Red Raiders would field in '08 and what I found had me startled to say the least.

The statistic I came across that peaked my interest was this: In a study conducted by the Univ. of Temple last season, Texas Tech's football team was ranked as the second youngest team out of all Division I-A teams in 2007. I thought to myself, "the second youngest team in America finished 9-4 and ranked 22nd in the nation.”

Being for the most part like other followers of college football, the first thing that came to mind when I began looking into the Red Raiders in 2008 was the offensive side of the football. It was when looking at their offense that lead me to my first conclusion.

Forget about Heisman hopefuls Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell, as well as the completely intact offensive line returning in 2008. Everyone knows that Texas Tech will put up Playstation-like numbers on the offensive side of the ball next season. It's staggering to think what the nation's No. 2 offense from a year ago will be able to accomplish with 10 returning starters.

But all that is irrelevant when judging how good this team is going to be this season. Now let me ask you a question: "What would be the one area that if improved upon would make Texas Tech scary?"

I'm sure your thinking of the same thing I am, "a good defense."

An unknown statistic by many is that last season Texas Tech actually lead the Big 12 in total defense the last eight games. This began after a defensive debacle against Oklahoma State in which they lost, and head coach Mike Leach replaced then-defensive coordinator Lyle Setenich with assistant coach Ruffin McNeill.

Among players at Texas Tech coach Ruffin McNeill was the most favored and beloved coach on Leach's staff. Ironically, he was also the team's motivator. Before each game the newly appointed defensive coordinator would lead the charge for his young and undersized defensive unit as it took the field. This must have been a sight to behold, considering Ruffin is a 300-pound man.

That young defensive unit went on to lead the Big 12 in total defense from that point on, and although the Red Raiders still had their problems against the run from time to time, a shift had taken place in Texas Tech's mentality.

No longer was the defense feeling as though they were just the practicing dummies for the nation's best offense. The defense now had their Mike Leach on their side of the ball and this turnaround was evident by their steady improvement after McNeill's hiring.

Their psyche hasn't changed since, and in the annual spring game Ruffin McNeill's defense dominated by blitzing aggressively and registering nine sacks on the day. They limited Graham Harrell to one lone touchdown, to who else but Michael Crabtree.

This aggravated offensive mastermind Mike Leach so much he rescheduled a second spring game closed to the public. Reportedly the defense won this game as well.

Now with the interim removed from his title, newly appointed defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill has eight starters returning on his defense this upcoming season.

THE RED RAIDERS' SCHEDULE:

When looking at Texas Tech's schedule three games, maybe four, stand out.

The first is an away trip to A&M. I don't foresee them losing this game due to the new coaching staff at Aggie Land and their inexperience in facing this kind of offense. Plus given history, Texas Tech has won in 10 out of the last 13 seasons.

The second game is a trip to Lawrence to face the Jayhawks. This game will be very interesting. The week before Kansas has an away game at Oklahoma and after they play the Red Raiders they host in-sate rival Kansas State.

The Jayhawks will not be what they were a year ago due to their regular season schedule, and when they face the Red Raiders the loss of first-round cornerback Aqib Talib will definitely not help. Texas Tech should win this game.

A young and inexperienced Texas team comes calling in October. The fact that Tech plays second fiddle to the Longhorns in Texas will have the Red Raiders playing more like underdogs while in all likelihood they will be favored to win. Don't be surprised if this game turns into a blowout, closely similar to the Oklahoma game a year ago.

Texas has won big over Tech the last several years and the Raiders will be out for blood in Lubbock.

The final clutch game for the Red Raiders, and what will be one of the best games of 2008, is against Oklahoma in Norman. It's very possible that both teams could be 10-0 heading into this game.

Both teams will have two weeks of preparation leading up to this clash and time to heal whatever wounds incurred during the season. Remember, Texas Tech beat Oklahoma at home last season and the Sooners will have revenge on their minds when the Red Raiders come calling in November.

This will be a hard-hitting and uncharacteristically low scoring game next season, with potential conference title and national title implications on the line.

2008 PREDICTION:

The Red Raiders return 18 starters from last year's 22nd-ranked Gator Bowl championship team. Additionally, 36 of 44 players from last season's two-deep also return. Texas Tech has steadily expanded its program over the last two decades.

No other Big 12 team has been bowl eligible since the inception of the conference in 1996, and with 16 straight winning seasons this looks to be the year Texas Tech will emerge as a national power.

In order for Texas Tech to begin challenging for national championships it must only produce a decent defense. Not a great defense, but just a good solid defense able to produce several key stops over the course of a game.

The offense is already as good as you can get. You pair a decently good defense with the nation's best offense and you begin to have a scary situation. Texas Tech this season will have that defense. Thus, they will be good enough to challenge the Georgia's and Ohio State's, among others, to run the table this season.

Now do I predict them to be national champions? No, I think there are six, maybe seven teams capable of winning it all this season.

Now do I think they have as good a chance as anybody in the country? Yes.

Naysayers will support their argument by stating the fact that Texas Tech has never been to a BCS game before, and perhaps their program isn't ready for it. However, I disagree; the consistency from year to year displayed by Texas Tech teams while being out recruited by UT and Texas A&M is proof of an excellent coaching staff.

As this coaching staff begins to recruit better athletes year after year and implement them into their offensive system, the sky really does become the limit.

Now with eight returning starters, a dominating display by the defense in the annual spring game, several key additions over the offseason, and defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill entering his second season, signs are pointing to a shift in mentality in Lubbock and the state of Texas.

POSITION GROUP BREAKDOWN:

QUARTERBACK: Senior quarterback Graham Harrell enters his third season at the helm of Texas Tech's Offense. The CBS Sports Heisman hopeful, Unitas Award, and Davey O'Brien Award candidate has amassed 10,682 career passing yards, 89 touchdowns, and only 24 interceptions in primarily two seasons of work.

His completion percentage has been 68 percent. His primary back-up will be sophomore Taylor Potts.

RUNNING BACK: It appears that senior running back Shannon Woods will start for the Red Raiders. As a sophomore in 2006, Woods lead the Raiders in rushing with 928 yards and this past season shared time with Memphis, Tennessee true freshman Aaron Crawford.

Added into the mix is Barron Batch, a powerful back who is also one of the fastest players on the team. Batch returns after an ankle injury that sidelined him last season.

All three were impressive during spring practice and Mike Leach commented at the Big 12 Media Days that he has no problem dividing playing time among all three if one is not head and shoulders above the rest.

Added into the mix is heralded true freshman Harrison Jeffers, who was the highest rated schoolboy recruit out of Leach's 2008 recruiting class. By all indication Tech will have a four player battle for the spot, but don't be surprised if Shannon Woods is named the starter.

WIDE RECEIVER: Texas Tech's only offensive attrition from a year ago is at receiver. The Red Raiders have two burners in returning starter Edward Britton at wide out and a contributor from two years ago in Todd Walker, who is returning from an injury that sidelined him last season.

Both players have sub-4.4 speed and most likely will be relied upon for the deep ball when Michael Crabtree is in double coverage.

Eric Morris is another returning starter at inside receiver and has been aptly named “The Elf” because of his small stature. Morris is the perfect offset to a Michael Crabtree type on the end, as the shorter Morris is very quick and has nice hands. He does a good job of nestling himself in between coverages and can turn the short ball into a long gain.

Morris was QB Graham Harrell's third favorite target last year after amassing 75 receptions for 769 and nine touchdowns.

Then, of course, there is Michael Crabtree, the Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver from a year ago. The Heisman hopeful has been named a unanimous All-American by every college sports publication this year and looks to put up big numbers once again for the Raiders.

He recorded 134 receptions for 1962 yards and 22 touchdowns in '07.

Several other contributors should be Detron Lewis, who saw playing time as a true freshman last season, sports analyst Craig James' son Adam, and true freshman Cornelius Douglas. Coaches think Detron could be breakthrough in '08.

OFFENSE LINE: The Red Raiders will challenge Oklahoma this season for the best offensive line in college football. Don't worry, you read that statement correctly, and remember I'm not an overzealous fan.

I'll give you some facts to back up my reasoning: Tech returns all five offensive linemen from a unit that gave up only 16 sacks on 713 passing attempts. As much as the Red Raiders air out the football this is a very impressive statistic, even for a professional line. Since these are not professionals, this position group is coached very well.

Texas Tech's offensive line has been deemed by the press as the largest offensive line in the nation. The line averages a gigantic 6'6" and 334 pounds.

On the left side of the line protecting QB Graham Harrell's blind side are seniors Rylan Reed and Louis Vasquez. In all likelihood both will be first day draft picks following the 2008 season. Each has individually set bench press records in their university's weight room.

Louis Vasquez has recorded a bench press of over 560 pounds, and Rylan Reed recently shattered the old record with a bench of 625 pounds.

Head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Leach seems to think the most athletic out of the lot is junior returning starter Brandon Carter, a 6'7" 360-pound guard who Leach has said is one of the fastest linemen he's been around since at Tech. That's saying a lot for someone of that stature.

By all accounts this mammoth group is not only athletic and well-coached, but also a year older and potentially much improved.

Texas Tech's gigantic offensive line as follows:

LT: 6'7” 314 Reed Sr.

LG: 6'6” 335 Vasquez Sr.

C: 6'4” 306 Byrnes Jr.

RG: 6'7” 360 Carter Jr.

RT: 6'7” 358 Johnson Sr. (or) 6'6” 329 Winn Jr.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Texas Tech returns all four starters on the defensive line. This group that was young a year ago looks to be much improved with an extra year in the weight room and added experience with second-year defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill's system.

A couple plusses to the unit are the addition of two junior college All-American defensive ends. Dixon originally signed with Texas Tech in 2005, where he was a freshman All-American before having to go the junior college route for grades, while Sesay originally signed with the Univ. of Georgia coming out of high school.

This past recruiting period Sesay was one of the most heavily recruited junior college players in the nation standing at 6'6” and 278 lbs while being clocked at a 4.6 40.

A transfer at defensive tackle from the Univ. of Miami also joins the already deep defensive line. The transfer Perry participated in spring drills and is a contender to start at the nose tackle position in the season opener.

Ruffin McNeill has commented recently that this year will be the deepest his defensive line has been since he's been at Tech. McNeill is an original member of Leach's staff in 2000.

An added year of maturity can make a huge difference in a position group when coupled with big additions. A second year of experience in Ruffin McNeill's defensive system means this unit could become one of the best in the Big 12 in 2008.

LINEBACKERS: The Red Raiders return two out of three starters in the linebacking corps. The group is headlined by weakside linebacker Marlon Williams and middle linebacker Brian Duncan.

The strongside linebacker position will be held down by Odessa Permain High product Bront Bird, who saw significant playing time as a true freshman last season.

Several back-up players could make an emergence as the season progresses, one of those being back-up redshirt freshman middle linebacker Sam Vehoko from Honolulu, Hawaii. Coaches on the Red Raiders staff have praised his natural instincts.

Back-ups Tyrone Sonier, Julius Howard, and Blake Collier are all young and exceptionally fast at the outside linebacker spot and have 40 times in the 4.4 to 4.5 range. Ruffin McNeill has cited that he prefers fast agile players compared to the big bruiser types.

Expect these younger players to get plenty of playing time in blitzing packages. This group as a whole will also be improved from last season as the group as a whole matures a year.

DEFENSIVE BACK: Two out of four starters will return in the secondary for Tech. Opposite of second team Big 12 cornerback Jamar Wall is one of the deepest position battles on the team. A competition among seven cornerbacks to lock down the remaining cornerback position is still open.

One of the favorites is L.A. Reed, a converted receiver who was most noted for his big hits and athleticism on special teams. A physical specimen, Reed stands at 6'2” and 212 pounds. Tech's cornerback coach has been quoted, "Reed could start at wide receiver, safety, or cornerback for any team in the country, he is just that athletic."

At safety, three-year returning starter Darcel McBath will return for his senior season. The remaining safety position is up for grabs among four seniors. Senior Anthony Hines is most likely to start at the strong safety spot and carries an imposing frame at 6'1” and 222 pounds.

While there are two departures from last year, don't expect any drop off in the secondary.