Cowboys run game tough test for Raiders
By Don Williams | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Not every football team in the Big 12 Conference has gone to the spread offense. In the last five Texas Tech-Oklahoma State games, the Cowboys have gashed the Red Raiders for rushing touchdowns of 95, 48, 53, 83, 25, 46 and 48 yards.
McNeill
OSU’s approach hasn’t changed – the Cowboys are fifth in the nation in rushing – but the Red Raiders hope their capability to deal with it has. Tech, too often a sieve against the run in recent years, is 10th in the nation in rush defense, allowing 98.7 yards per game.
“I think the credit goes to the players first,” defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said Tuesday. “It starts with the D-line doing a great job attacking, the linebackers doing a great job filling their gaps, both groups getting off blocks quickly and safeties fitting where needed.”
Last week, the Raiders gave some legitimacy to their high ranking against the run. Since 2000, when Mike Leach took over as Tech head coach, Texas averaged 226 rushing yards in eight games against the Raiders. The Longhorns managed only 80 – their lowest in 16 games – in Saturday’s 39-33 Tech win.
Improvement against the run was a point of emphasis after Tech ranked 82nd in that category last year with a 177-yard average yield.
The fact that Tech’s defensive front seven was flush with returnees going into the spring and then the season provided a better starting point.
“I would say that’s a big part of it, and then the fact that we work on it, too,” McNeill said. “They understand their (gaps) and their responsibilities because of their experience and because of the fact we work on it. Everybody realizes it’s critical that they do a good job attacking their gaps. I would say that’s a big deal. They understand it now.”
Seven of the first nine opponents have wound up with fewer rushing yards against Tech than their current season average.
One component has been the Raiders’ ability to not only keep running backs in check but keep containment on quarterbacks. Opposition starting quarterbacks have only 83 rushing yards on 74 carries.
It’s not been all rosy. Nevada’s run-dominant option game got 224 rushing yards – easily the most on Tech this season – and Nebraska had a quietly effective 114 rushing yards.
Neither of those teams, nor even Texas, presents the challenges on paper that the Raiders will get from Oklahoma State.
“This will be the best combination of skill-position players we’ve faced,” McNeill said. “We haven’t faced a team with a great quarterback, an NFL tight end, an NFL wide receiver and two NFL running backs.”
McNeill was referring to OSU quarterback Zac Robinson, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, wide receiver Dez Bryant and running backs Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston.
Hunter, the nation’s fourth-leading rusher, has run for 1,220 yards and eight touchdowns. Toston, after conquering a fumbling problem that got him benched last year, has run for 565 yards and eight TDs.
The Raiders’ rush defense will be challenged because of the presence on the outside of Bryant, who might be the closest thing around to Tech’s Mike Crabtree – a big, playmaking receiver.
Because of him, McNeill implied, Tech’s defensive line and linebackers will be on their own.
“It’ll be tough to add people to the box with No. 1 (Bryant) sitting out there,” McNeill said. “We’ve got to give him a lot of attention.”
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I think we will be able to slow down the OSU rushing game. I am concerned at the overall play of our cornerbacks. The secondary needs to be ready for a difficult task with Dez Bryant. Too bad he didnt choose Tech, he is in the same category as Crabtree. We can’t keep getting beat deep. OSU will go deep all day on us. This is the biggest game of the year until the next game. Tech is in control of our own destiny. We need to play that much harder to beat OSU. I know we can do it. I think Tech has the right mindset, play hard and execute to the best of their ability and the rest will fall into place. Hard play does get rewarded. This is beginning to shape up to be a very special year. This is our year to shine. GO TECH!!!
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Techs defense already faces the passing team in practice.
The defensive line will press the qb.
Stop K Hunter….this is the key.
Guns Up!!!
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Yes, and don’t bite every time on play action. We’ve got a good shot @ thsi one @ home. Remember last year defense!!!
WRECK’EM!!!
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This one has all the makings of an epic but instant classic with both defenses improved significantly this year, while maintaining juggernaut offenses. Wish in a way this was at a neutral site, just to see what would happen. Here’s wishing both teams come out of a great game with no injuries, so both can squash OU.
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Safeties have got to stop biting on the inside move. If you keep biting… there is no one else. Do your job, and trust the others to do theirs. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!!! Guns UP!!!
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Tech should be worried about the jump ball. Bryant is big and physical. They’ll throw it up and let him go get it. I don’t know if Tech has a corner that can out jump and man handle Bryant.
I hope Tech plays a complete game and hangs in there. No mistakes from here on out. They got a shot at something that may never come another again in their life time. GO Tech. Do it!!!!!!
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We might be able to put LA Reed on Dez. He’s a big physical corner.
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Go Reed!!!
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In any championship year, in any sport, there is an element of luck. Although we took it to both Nebraska and Texas, there was an element of luck in both wins. I don’t expect that we should depend on that luck to continue.
From this point forward we must depend on talent, focus and desire. We are as good as any football team in the country…..maybe the best college football team ever! When we’re on, nobody can stop us.
There’s no doubt in my mind that if we have them same intensity, confidence and focus we’ll be number 1 when we go into Norman, because my Mafia friends in Baton Rouge will assure a win for LSU over the Tide!
Go Tech. History is in your hands.
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COWBOYS 41
TECH 38
POKES WIN WITH A LATE FG
SORRY BOYS, BET OU!
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Tech is well aware of what went wrong in Stillwater last year. While both teams are improved across the board, this Tech group seems to be more focused than anyone else. This gives them a great opportunity to reach the 10-win plateau they have been unable to crack for long time now. I know OSU will be tough, but with homefield on Tech’s side this is a big “W” for them, a heartbreaking “L” for OSU. Just too many errors for the Cowboys.
Prediction: Tech 52 OSU 21
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We have the number 2 ranked team in the nation and I am having to read the same article for the last 3 days!! Do the writers at the AJ have writers block? These are exciting times for Tech football, surely there is something you can give us.
Wreckem Tech 42-28
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Harry 89, I had something good deflecting all of the ‘woe is us’ stuff about OK State and their supposedly unbeatable team but this site took it down.
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