I don’t want to be a negative Nancy, but I’m worried about our boys in Red. As the proudest member of the Texas Tech Alumni, I want Tech to be Big 12 champs and in a BCS bowl game more than anyone. With the preseason ranking of number 11 in the nation, people keep talking about this being “our year.” Unfortunately, I’m skeptical.
In ever year that I was in college Tech was ranked (at some point in the season) in the top 25. Every year we blew it. The hype, the media coverage…we just couldn’t handle it. Now we have the highest preseason ranking we’ve hand in quite a while and I’m worried it might make for an ill-fated will.
Garnering national media attention are Heisman hopefuls Mike Crabtree and Graham Harrell, not to mention 16 other returning starters. ESPN and Fox sports continue to comment on the five linemen returning to protect Harrell and the spread offense that Tech so dearly loves. Also, everyone has noticed the defense has improved, and those guys are coming back to be Tech’s own wrecking crew. We hope.
Here’s where it breaks down:
Graham Harrell completed 71.8 % of his passes last year…pretty damn good. We had the number one offense in the nation again last year…but nothing to show for it. This guy is the son of a coach and he knows and understands the game. My only problem with our fearless leader is fear. He’s afraid to get hit. He’s not a scrambler by a long shot and it kills me because he’s obviously one of the most talented QB’s the game right now. The guy’s got a cannon and I’m ready for him to use it, but on the days where we play teams that know how to defend against the spread, we need to know he won’t think twice about running it up there and gaining some yards for the home team.
Mike Crabtree. What can be said about this guy that hasn’t already been said? He had the best freshman season of any freshman in NCAA history. Having said that, let go of the hype. This guy is amazing, sure, but it’s time to deal with the pressure. Every team in the nation knows this is going to be our go-to guy and they will defend him that way. Can he make the big plays? You would think so, but I’m reminded of a loss to OSU last season where he was all by himself in the zone and dropped a perfect pass…cost was the game. Obviously it would have been a heroic win and another notch in our belt of credibility as a Big 12 gun. I just hope his head isn’t too swollen from the media coverage and we can get everything we need from this guy.
Defense. Defense. Defense. Eight guys are returning this season to be our Tech Swarm and I’m hoping they’ve really matured over the spring. ESPN has been quoted many times in saying that Tech’s defense improved down the stretch of last year’s season and this year they are expected to be closer to the top of their game. It’s no secret that Tech is an offensive team and our lack of defensive strategy has kept us from being major contenders in the nation. If you have the best offense in the nation AND the worst defense in the nation you don’t finish at the top.
So here’s the River Card: We’ve got the guys and we’ve got the goods…but maybe knowing that will be the difference between being good and being great. There’s a lot of pressure on our boys. It’s like everyone knows what we have in our hand and they’re waiting for that river card to see if we get lucky. We’re holding good cards, but we’re going to need some luck too. My guess? The Red Raider in me knows that when that card is turned over we’ll have the best hand on the table. It really is our time, so get your guns up and support what will probably be the best Texas Tech team of the decade.
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