Swindall could start, but not in Crabtree’s spot
BY DON WILLIAMS
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said this weekend that his offensive staff probably will break up the pairing of Detron Lewis and Tramain Swindall, who shared the team’s “Y’’ inside receiver position this season.
As a redshirt freshman, Swindall caught 46 passes for 561 yards and two touchdowns while backing up Lewis (76-913-3). Leach said it makes sense to give Swindall a chance to start.
“I would have to say he’s probably in the top four (returning receivers), somewhere in there,’’ Leach said.
Tech star Mike Crabtree’s father said Friday that Crabtree plans to enter the NFL draft, but Leach said he doesn’t favor moving Lewis or Swindall outside to Crabtree’s spot. Both will stay inside, according to Leach and wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons, and one could take over at “H’’ slot receiver with the departure of senior Eric Morris, a two-year starter.
Leach said he doesn’t know which of the two of Lewis or Swindall would move to “H.’’
“I don’t know if it really matters (which one),’’ he said. “They both play both.’’
Two offseasons ago, Tech broke up a 1-2 of Danny Amendola and Morris at “H’’ receiver, moving Amendola to open a starting spot for Morris. Last offseason, the Raiders decided to get Lewis into the lineup by moving him out from behind Morris.
The Raiders return tight ends Adrian Reese and Adam James (15-159-0 this season) at “Y” and “H,’’ respectively. Also back at the inside spots will be freshmen Austin Zouzalik at “Y’’ and Cornelius Douglas at “H.’’
Fighting over Crabtree’s old flanker spot will be a mostly young cast: Jacoby Franks (6-58-0), Lyle Leong (18-206-3), Rashad Hawk (5-65-0) and Todd Walker (7-37-0).
“I think our talent pool can withstand the loss,’’ Simmons said. “Obviously, it’s a tremendous loss if that’s what happens. But I do think that those kids will step in and play well.’’
Leong, Hawk and Walker all have played both split end and flanker. Franks’ game time has come only at flanker.
Senior-to-be Edward Britton (35-577-6), who caught two touchdown passes in the Cotton Bowl, is the most experienced returning wideout. He seems anchored at split end.
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good luck mike , wish you would have stayed,but i guess the millions of dollars are hard to pass-up. tech will have a lot of very good receivers next year.
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Lyle Leong will be an excellent player for Tech.
Now on the defensive side there will be lots of returnees, but do we want ‘em?
Hopefully Tech will come up with a replacement for the up/down Ruffin.
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I still say if they don’t make changes on defense, i.e. the coach, next year will be another disappointment.
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This was the first year with Defensive coach. Give him 4 years with his recruits before talk of canning the man! His improvements that he was able to do deserve at least that respect.
No on to Daddy warbucks. Sorry Mr Crab the money is Michael’s not yours! I hope he does stay for at least 1 more year! He would be giving up 2 years of playing if he does leave now. Question is he in his classes now?
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You would think we could offer Crabtree’s position to one of these five star receivers and at least get one! I’m not saying the three recruits we have how aren’t capable of coming in and playing, probably not starting though.
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I dont know how some of you people can say the the d coach (Ruffin) has to go he as only been in that spot for one year and is doing the best with what he has. plus the spark that he has added to this team is one of the reasons we won some of our close games this season give him and all other coaches time to get the players they want then decide if they should stay or go.
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WATCH THE BEST COLLEGE GAME IN 2008!
http://www.ioffer.com/i/81614346
GO RED RAIDERS IN 2009!!!
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For those wanting to talk DEFENSE …. check out what Ryan Hyatt had to say on his blog. I’ve placed the link below. I think he is right on the money. Scroll down to his January 5, 2009 blog and see what you think.
http://williamsandhyattblog.wordpress.com/
Guns Up! And get more speed on DEFENSE!!!
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Ruben you are dead correct on that analyst. This is only Ruff’s first FULL season and he should get credit where its due. Yes, the last 3 games of the season were not as impressive as the other 10…. so be it. This season was the first season in who knows how long, that Tech has been in the national spot light. Dont go and bash Coach McNeill and the defense for their poor performance at the end of the season, look what they did before that. Being in the national spot light after defeating the #1 team in the nation then defeated a top 10 opponent took alot out of this team…. first time any of these players on this roster had to deal with all the national media and attention. First time is always a doozy, they know now how to handle that pressure and will not let it happen again. If in a couple of season, McNeill and company dont show any improvement on the other side of the ball….. then we can chant…. CHANGE. Until then, be happy with what he has done at the moment…. Tech 3rd best in the BIG 12 for overall D… 4th best rushing D in the BIG 12…. 3rd best secondary in the BIG 12. Not bad for a first year DC and most importantly leading this Team to an11-2 record.
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JHMc – This year wasn’t a disappointment. Just settle down big boy.
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Keep Ruff! His aggressive style and attitude is why we won many games. Just give him time. The D is in the right hands.
Wreck’um Raiders!!!
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Since being in the national spotlight is such a great excuse for the problems, then maybe we won’t have to worry about that for a while?
I just thought we should expect and strive for it. And expect to have coaches who could guide us successfully thru it.
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If you really want to shuffle coaches as fast as some would like, go take a look at the Washington Redskins. Decade plus of bumbling, complete absence of continuity, and people talking about the Nats by Thanksgiving.
Lubbock and Tech can do better. Give ‘em time.
WRECK ‘EM!!
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TTU had an awesome season! I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed with the OU game because we are better than that. I was at that game and nobody would’ve beaten the Sooners that day. Not even Florida. Football is a very emotional game and they were VERY emotional that day. Too bad we did not match their intensity. However, this was a GREAT season for TTU. If you think otherwise, you haven’t been a Red Raider fan for many years. I’ve been with through good and bad years. I’ve been a fan for 49 years. Trust me, the Leach years have been good to us. This year was the BEST! I am looking forward to next year. We will still be good!
GUNS UP!!!!!!!!!
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Don’t loose sleep over open WR spots.
You should have nightmares about who will play at corner next year. Jamar Wall needs help and a backup.
We choices: Tall and slow or very short and fast.
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Listen, I like most of you live and die on every play, but shuffling coaches now would only hurt us not make us better. I know, what you are going to say, “but 806 Ruffin took over at mid season and we did OK”, and yes he did but, he was already on the coaching staff. Anyway the defense will get better we have some speed headed are way and it is sure to help. As for the receivers, with all the ones we have and the ones we are sure to get, somebody is sure to step up, have faith. 11 and 2 is pretty good for a program. Act like a winner and everybody around you will start to believe you are. That is how it starts, truth is we have no say in what happens with the team, all we can do is support, support, support. So be as proud as you say you are, to dawn the RED and BLACK, and do not doubt believe. 2009 the year of the RAIDER…… GUNS UP!!!!
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Blind support? uh that’s a hard one to sell AND SHOULD BE!
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These poor kids! They were studs in high school, they were recruited by bigger schools than us, they are paid by the university to go to school.
If you were a talented enough player to get in these shoes, then you are not new to having to perform.
Most of these players have been on TV in the previous bowl games!
Their not showing up unprepared is not to be excused.
The coaches and team leaders didn’t have them ready to play.
How did they show up for Kansas and Texas? Must’ve been a miracle.
In a season and a half, if Ruffin hasn’t figured out how to stop an offense we had a month to prepare for, send him packing!
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Jamar Wall is overrated. He has been constantly burned at his corner position ever since he got the first start again SMU his freshman year. Move him to safety and put people that know how to cover at corner. Wall is a wanna be Ed Reed, except half the coverage ability.
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How bout you write an article about what were going to do about Defense!!!!!!!! Yes Defense is also part of the game. Ruffin has got to go!
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Has the talent level of our defense really dropped off that much since the great defenses we had under Spyke? I remember we had the number 2 total defense in the country at one point and I’m pretty sure our recruits were pretty comparable to those today.
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Edward Britton for No. 1 WR
Sure, without Woods and Crabs it will be a stretch, but I think with Britton and Batch you still gotta good arsenal.
The REAL question is the OLINE and DEFENSE
and QB
Where will the Red Raiders be in the Big12 South?
Above Oklahoma…. what about texas?
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I agree with 806. A coaching change at this point is absurd, also, I do believe that support is exactly what this team needs. It is difficult to succeed in any venture when nobody beleives you can. And watchdog its not called “blind support” its called faith, and if you don’t have any faith in our team maybe you should find a new one
WRECK ‘EM TECH!
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watchdog113, why should it be hard to sell support for your team? If you are a true fan you back the plan win or lose. You sound like a T- SHIRT fan, so find a Florida shirt and jump on that wagon. And if anybody thinks that they can do better, as a defensive coach, than go to school become one and apply for the job. As for everybody else keep those guns up! “RED RAIDERS AMERICAS TEAM”
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j and 806 I suppose your one of those people easily duped in life. I didn’t say we shouldn’t support, just that we have a right and obligation to speak up and voice our concerns if we see something that ain’t just right.
The only thing I see that needs fix’n is Leach! Why won’t he sign? Why is he ruining our recruiting class? Why is he speeding Crab’s exit? If you don’t like it or not happy with the millions just leave please, though I would like to thank you for the memories.
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Faith is the substance of things unseen.
We sure didn’t see anything since the OSU game.
Some of us are trying to avoid having to keep seeing it – cause it’s too late then.
We think a defensive coaching change would help.
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i thought zouzalik was a qb……?
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CENSORSHIP? That’s a form of intimidation against free thinking individuals that question things that are not right. Why did my post get deleted? Was I too close to the point with Leach? I did praise the man for his accomplishments here!
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wathdog113:
I myself got put on a monitored status one time.
this is Lubbick texas = so conservative they’re constipated = you’re lucky not to be sent off to a camp somewhere.
snap out of it, you’re not in the old America anymore.
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WATCH THE COMPLETE AND BEST COLLEGE
FOOTBALL GAME OF 2008!
http://www.ioffer.com/i/81614346
GO RES RAIDERS IN 2009!!!
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