Texas Tech's Baron Batch To Take the Big 12 by Storm in 2010

It seems that the million-dollar question in Lubbock these days is, "Will we still pass the ball?"

Texas Tech may not have any BCS bowls to its credit, but if there were an award for most exciting team to watch over the past decade, the Red Raiders would win the distinction easily.

Understandably, there is a certain reluctance to lose this identity as a 60 minutes of hell offensive terror, as it has become as much a part of Lubbock as dust storms and the Masked Rider.

But the times they are a-changin' for the Red Raiders.

Upon being hired as the new head coach, Tommy Tuberville announced that he planned to make "a few wrinkles" to Tech's traditionally one-dimensional offense.

Given Tuberville's history of coaching NFL-drafted running backs such as Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Kenny Irons, and Rudi Johnson, one player in particular stands to benefit most from said wrinkles: Texas Tech senior running back Baron Batch.

Batch, who is recovering from sports hernia surgery and is expected to return for summer workouts in mid-June, quietly ended last season quite well, a fact that lost headlines in favor of a certain coach, a certain SMU player's son, and a certain deposition.

Despite receiving limited carries to start the season, likely because of an arm injury suffered in early August, Batch ended the season rushing for at least 100 yards in three of the final five games, which was no small feat in Texas Tech's "Air Raid" offense.

Most notably, Batch carried 25 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns (in addition to seven receptions for 68 yards) in a victory against Oklahoma's nationally renowned defense. For context, should-have-been Heisman Trophy winner Toby Gerhart rushed for 135 yards on 32 carries in a Sun Bowl loss to OU.

It should be noted that a vast change to Tech's offense this coming season is highly unlikely, as the personnel on campus were recruited to fit within the old scheme. But Tuberville's hiring of former Troy offensive coordinator Neal Brown, who is 26 years his junior, indicates there will likely be some changes in the scheme next year.

Brown's Troy offense, which ranked third nationally in average yards per game, rushed the ball 444 times in 2009, compared to 319 rushing attempts by Texas Tech.

While Batch was forced to sit out his sophomore season after suffering a shattered ankle, it's apparent that the shifty back will be responsible for breaking his opponent's ankles this coming fall. Batch, who has decent size and great speed, appears to be on the brink of a very successful senior season, having rushed for 884 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Fortunately for Batch, based on recent history, it's apparent success running the ball on a Tuberville-coached team has resulted in playing on Sundays.

But rest assured, Red Raider fans—Tuberville does plan to keep an important aspect of Tech football intact, as he stated at his introductory press conference: "We're going to be fun to watch."