TECH / Alabama. TECH Def v. Bama Off.

[TexasTechAlum]

it's going to be a long 27 days until game time, but that leaves plenty to discuss.

This match-up won't get the headlines like Tech offense v. bama defense, but it's just as important.

1. Can Tech's defense force 3 and out's?
2. Can K. Darby run for 150+?
3. Can the Alabama OL step up, or fold under the tech blitzes?
4. Can TECH force some TO's, to help the offense get some short fields?


looking forward to talking with bama faithful...

 

[cbi1972]

4. Can TECH force some TO's, to help the offense get some short fields?

They don't need turnovers if they get the 3 and outs.

 

[C Earl]

Nice to speak with a TT fan with a little tact and class. What's up with that linebacker I hear about? Is he the real deal? Darby can break 100 with no line and a minimum of carries, after a month to work on the line maybe the offense will have a little something for TT's defense.

 

[IHateUT]

I expect Darby will get 100+. If you are looking for turnovers, don't count on him to do it. As said before, a three and out is just as good as a turnover. Especially since Bama has a punter that can't kick it over 38 yards.

Bama must have good ball control. Lots of running with lots of fresh legs. Need to get Coffee and Johns about 5-10 carries each as well. I would give the ball to do Darby at least 30 times. Will the coaches do it? Don't know. That is what the coaches hinted at before Auburn and they only gave it to him 18 times. So, who knows....if Bama can run it, Bama will win it.

If Darby only gets 18 carries against TT, 1)that means Johns and Coffee might have 1-2 carries each, 2) I'll be expecting a final score similar to that of the AU game.

 

[jdpas29]

I expect Darby will get 100+. If you are looking for turnovers, don't count on him to do it. As said before, a three and out is just as good as a turnover. Especially since Bama has a punter that can't kick it over 38 yards.

Bama must have good ball control. Lots of running with lots of fresh legs. Need to get Coffee and Johns about 5-10 carries each as well. I would give the ball to do Darby at least 30 times. Will the coaches do it? Don't know. That is what the coaches hinted at before Auburn and they only gave it to him 18 times. So, who knows....if Bama can run it, Bama will win it.

If Darby only gets 18 carries against TT, 1)that means Johns and Coffee might have 1-2 carries each, 2) I'll be expecting a final score similar to that of the AU game.

ditto... sadly

 

[NYBamaFan]

If Darby only gets 18 carries against TT, 1)that means Johns and Coffee might have 1-2 carries each, 2) I'll be expecting a final score similar to that of the AU game.

If Darby only gets 18 carries and we lose, he will be very upset...

 

[IHateUT]

If Darby only gets 18 carries and we lose, he will be very upset...

He already is which is why I expect him to declare for the draft. I would...

 

[day-day]

If Darby only gets 18 carries against TT, 1)that means Johns and Coffee might have 1-2 carries each, 2) I'll be expecting a final score similar to that of the AU game.

Getting more 1st downs, fewer 3rd-and-longs, and not getting behind 21-0 in the 1st quarter will increase the number of carries for Bama's backs....

 

[IHateUT]

Getting more 1st downs, fewer 3rd-and-longs, and not getting behind 21-0 in the 1st quarter will increase the number of carries for Bama's backs....

Running the ball usually keeps that stuff from happening.

 

[bamar]

i cant believe some of you are complaining about darby only getting 18 carries in a game where the tide was behind 21 to 0 in the first quarter because of special teams, and bad field position. rarely, would any team be able to recover with only a running game. besides, not having a dominant offensive line allowed auburn to control the line of scrimmage either way being that far ahead. i am sure if tech gets ahead by 3 touchdowns or more the same situation will occur. in other words we lose. we dont have the team to come back from 3 touchdowns without the offensive line for protection. we need to keep the game close going into the second half. if so, we will put pressure on the tech offense, and keep the defense fresh. cant do it the whole game though. offense has to run the ball a lot the first half.

 

[Rolling Tide]

it's going to be a long 27 days until game time, but that leaves plenty to discuss.

This match-up won't get the headlines like Tech offense v. bama defense, but it's just as important.

1. Can Tech's defense force 3 and out's?
2. Can K. Darby run for 150+?
3. Can the Alabama OL step up, or fold under the tech blitzes?
4. Can TECH force some TO's, to help the offense get some short fields?


looking forward to talking with bama faithful...

You will not even need to blitz the Bama O to get them to fold. They will pretty much do that for you.

 

[cbi1972]

i cant believe some of you are complaining about darby only getting 18 carries in a game where the tide was behind 21 to 0 in the first quarter because of special teams, and bad field position. rarely, would any team be able to recover with only a running game.

If you're talking about coming back 21 points in the 4th quarter, sure you'll probably need to throw and conserve clock. But if it's only the 1st quarter, you have time to pound it out on the ground if that's what will be most effective.

 

[TidePrice]

Jb?

Will JB be back to play vs. TT? I heard something a few weeks ago saying that he may be able to play after 5 or 6 weeks? Anyone heard anything? It would be nice to get him back in there for one last Hoorah.

 

[IHateUT]

Will JB be back to play vs. TT? I heard something a few weeks ago saying that he may be able to play after 5 or 6 weeks? Anyone heard anything? It would be nice to get him back in there for one last Hoorah.

I believe Shula said that it was possible but highly unlikely. I wouldn't count on seeing him out there.

 

[Bama323]

If our OL plays like they did the first part of the season, we'll be fine. But, if our OL doesn't allow us to keep TT off the field, we're in for a long day and this game could easily get out of hand.

I hope Shula has the team ready to go out and win this game, because if not, we could easily get embarrassed. I sure would like to see us get our 10th win of the season.

The good news is that although TT is 9-2, the Big 12 as a whole has been pretty down this year, with the exception of Texas. That tells me that TT more than likely played a much easier schedule than we did. However, they still put up almost 400 yrds per game passing this season and that is not easy to do against anyone.

 

[CapitalTider]

If our OL plays like they did the first part of the season, we'll be fine.

Yeah, let's hope that TT doesn't like to bull-rush on defense and doesn't watch the tape of every game from Ole Miss on.

The good news is that although TT is 9-2, the Big 12 as a whole has been pretty down this year, with the exception of Texas. That tells me that TT more than likely played a much easier schedule than we did. However, they still put up almost 400 yrds per game passing this season and that is not easy to do against anyone.

The SEC was also down this year, so the same could be said of us. We're the #2 defense in the country but only faced two offenses that could be considered "explosive" all year. Oddly both resulted in losses.

 

[cbi1972]

We're the #2 defense in the country but only faced two offenses that could be considered "explosive" all year. Oddly both resulted in losses.

Against those teams with "explosive" offenses, our offense was "implosive" enough for us to lose.

 

[Tide&True]

The good news is that although TT is 9-2, the Big 12 as a whole has been pretty down this year, with the exception of Texas. That tells me that TT more than likely played a much easier schedule than we did. However, they still put up almost 400 yrds per game passing this season and that is not easy to do against anyone.

Texas Tech played three I-AA schools to start the year (obviously they ran the score up on them). Then the I-A teams they beat badly were Kansas State (ranks #84 in total defense); Baylor (ranks #66 in total defense) and Texas A&M (ranks #107 in total defense).

The only defense they have seen like ours was Texas (ranks #6 in total defense)....that was a loss 52-17.

Having said all that they are very good in passing offense (rank #1 in pass offense). This game really comes down to our offense...how many points can we put up against their D (ranked #70 in total defense).

 

[cbi1972]

Texas Tech has a very unusual style of offense, and it probably helps to face them every year like Texas and Oklahoma State do.

Their recent bowl record:
2004: Texas Tech (8-5) defeated California (10-2) 45-31 in the Holiday Bowl
2003: Texas Tech (8-4) defeated Navy (8-5) 38-14 in the Houston Bowl
2002: Texas Tech (9-5) defeated Clemson (9-5) 55-15 in the Tangerine Bowl
2001: Iowa (7-5) defeated Texas Tech (7-5) 19-16 in the Alamo Bowl
2000: East Carolina (8-4) defeated Texas Tech (8-4) 40-27 in the Gallery Furniture Bowl (haha)

 

[TexasTechAlum]

most of those numbers are correct, but tech has lead the nation in passing 3 straight years. Hodges was pretty banged up toward the end of the year (tech's bye week was week 1). TECH did outgain UT (in Austin), if it wasn't for a pick in the endzone, blocked punt, and various nervous play it would have been much closer, but tech still wouldn't have won.

Bama could come out and totally blast tech's OL, leaving tech in bad shape....