Coach Leach: Potts never ‘got in a rhythm’
The Texas Tech fans couldn’t have been clearer as the second quarter drew to a close.
“No more Potts,” their chants rose from Jones AT&T Stadium. The sometimes quarterback had just thrown his second interception of the half, a pass from the 17-yard line that Texas A&M’s Terrence Frederick picked off in the endzone for a touchback.
The Red Raiders’ quarterback shuffle continued in Saturday’s 52-30 loss to the Aggies. Potts returned to the starting lineup for the first time since suffering a concussion against New Mexico on Oct. 3, but was pulled in the second half after A&M built up a 38-14 lead.
Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts throws an incomplete pass under pressure from Texas A&M's Von Miller, right, during the first half of their game Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts walks off the field after failing to convert on 4th and 1 in the second quarter against Texas A&M during Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts talks with head coach Mike Leach after throwing an interception against Texas A&M towards the end of the first half Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Texas Tech quarterbacks Taylor Potts, left, and Steven Sheffield, right, watch the 4th quarter from the sidelines during the second half of their game against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
“I don’t think Potts ever got in a rhythm,” coach Mike Leach said. “I don’t know if he tried to make too much happen, but he looked slow and statue like.”
Potts was slow to get out of the pocket, seemingly second-guessing his options before firing passes or scrambling with the ball. It was not only his first start but his first playing time since the head injury that took him out of Tech’s win against the Lobos and left him hospitalized overnight.
Backup quarterback Stephen Sheffield replaced Potts as Tech’s starter, leading the Raiders to wins against Kansas State and Nebraska. But Sheffield injured his foot in the second half in Lincoln, Neb., and is expected to be sidelined at least until the Oklahoma State game on Nov. 14.
So when Potts was pulled, Leach turned to third-string quarterback Seth Doege, a redshirt-freshman whose only experience was fourth-quarter mop-up minutes in Tech’s 58-28 win against Kansas State.
Potts finished Saturday’s game 25-of-36 passing, a 69.4 percent completion rate, for 310 yards with two interceptions.
Doege went 18-of-25, a 72 percent completion rate, for 146 yards with no interceptions.
“When Doege went in, he played pretty well,” Leach said. “Doege went out there and didn’t try to make too much happen but was pretty good at routine plays.”
Receiver Alex Torres wouldn’t point to the quarterbacks as the reason for Tech’s offensive struggles against the Aggies. In truth, Tech finished with 520 yards of total offense to A&M’s 559. It had just seven fewer first downs, and nearly double the passing yardage.
“It’s not just (Potts). It’s everyone,” Torres said. “It’s the whole offensive group. We put ourselves in bad situations and it’s tough to come out of.”
Leach stuck to his mantra that the starting quarterback will once again be a “game-time decision” when Tech faces Kansas next Saturday. He did not indicate whether Potts or Doege is the leading candidate.
“We’ve got to find the best one and put the best one in there,” he said.
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I feel bad for Potts. He had a bad game, but our defense should take some of the blame for this.
Go Raiders, beat Kansas!
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I agree John. The defense should takes some blame for this one. I feel bad for Potts too because he’s been out with his injury and sometimes with a rhythm offense, it’s hard to just turn it on. I remember Graham Harrell getting booed merciful against Missouri in his first year starting. This is very similar and it’s too bad our fans ridiculed Taylor. If it was that simple playing quarterback, everyone would be playing the position. Tech has been blessed with the good quarterbacks we’ve had and to a point I think we as fans have become spoiled. I’m sure there are some teams that would want to trade positions with us when it comes to quarterbacks.
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It is a shame that our fans (or students) would turn on Taylor, or any Tech player for that matter.
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Dear John and ScarletBlack:
Well I feel sorry for Tech. They started a bad QB.
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Its a shame Sheffield wasn’t healthy enough to play. Makes you wonder if the outcome would have been different? I guess we will never know :(
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Well Joe,
Guess if it’s so easy then I guess you need to get your football uniform on and start at Quarterback next week. Maybe you need to be the head coach since you already know so much. No one said Taylor played great. We just said we felt bad for him on his return from injury. If everyone called Graham a bad quarterback and the coaches gave up on him during his first year, you may not have gotten to witness a great 2008. Guess you didn’t watch Tech’s stellar defense play that gave up 52 points.
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John – remember these are raider fans..I’m not suprised
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Boo-ya, joes right. I don’t like the thought of anybody in a tough situation but this is college football, not a 3rd grade recital. Potts is not the guy on many levels. Leadership, decision making, mobility, accuracy, timing and last but not least…..MOJO. He’s lacking in all these areas.
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Horrible game for the Red Raiders. Defense is to blame, can’t give up 52 pts and expect to win. Potts didn’t help things by throwing 2 really bad picks. INT in endzone, he stared down the WR the entire route and still threw it even though he was covered up. That play was a momentum killer going into half.
Considering how Doege played and Scheffied coming back after bye week, wouldn’t be shocked if Potts is done at Tech and he transfers to ACU at semester.
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This thing is bigger than any one Red Raider football player. I am not for calling out TP personally, but the truth is that he is not the best option for Texas Tech’s football TEAM. Playing better in practice does not warrant continuing to start when you cannot translate your practice behavior into your performance on Saturday. I do not want the best QB Sunday through Friday playing on Saturdays. Red Raiders deserve to have a starting QB that is going to give TEXAS TECH the best opportunity to win on Saturday. On Saturday, TP is not best QB right now. Period.
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Dont surprise me that Tech fans would turn on their own,what a crock, Alex Torees even said it wasnt his fault, and I guess he should know it was a team loss hopefully we can do better next week ..
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To Scarletblack and John,
Everyone turned on potts because he sucks and is probably the worst qb leach has ever started, who else has 8 thats right 8 interceptions in 5 games????? Thats why everyone turned on him, plus if you were there then you would have known how awful he is, he is a clipboard qb keep him on the sideline with his clipboard where he belongs.
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Instead of blaming your quarterback you tech fans might want to ask your defense why A&M gashed you for over 300 yards on the ground. Two RB’s with 100 yard games and JJ with 71 yards rushing.
A&M’s much maligned offensive line owned the line of scrimmage.
Sounds like your “Pirate” coach didn’t take his opponent seriously. His loss, literally.
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John….Would not have mattered if Sheffield had played; Raiders got beat by a better team. Step up and realize it.
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Leach never takes his defense seriously. That is why they have to try and out score everyone.
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no true about leach and the D. the answer is that for tech there is no heart or leadership. sheff is the one who provides that heart and that leadership. no lead, no wins.
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You can keep talking about QB leadership but your defense couldn’t stay off the field. A&M was getting long sustained drives that kept your offense off the field. You could have had a clone of Johnny Unitas back there but it wouldn’t have made enough of a difference.
Look, you got a mad scientist coach that does great with getting talent for his offensive system. But his lack of regard for defense will be his Achilles heel. Ole Miss should have told you that.
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saddens me to see the raiders get beat by a&m, but some good will come from this;.more than likely tech started reaing press clippings about k state dismantling a&m and thought “hey we killed a team that killed this team so we should kill them” and probably thought we had them beat once they entered the “dreaded” jones. as for potts hes a good qb, just not for this system. but once again good will come of this tech should realize theyre a good team but cant start thinking they are great. im stickin with tech all the way but unless they pull their heads outta their butts it will end up another 7-5 year with a comeback bowl win. but if they pull it together which they can, we could be looking at 9-3 with a decent bowl.it would also be nice to have that nice defense from last week too
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Must have been a humbling defeat….wish I was there…..
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Funny how all the Aggies show up after their win to gloat on the AJ board.
Why don’t you go post on the Kansas State boards, genius?
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I will post on the k-state board and congratulate them. On ths board, I will say THE AGGIES HAVE DEFEATED TECH 52-30. TECH LOST TO A TEAM THAT GOT BEAT 62-14 THE WEEK BEFORE. WHOOP!! long time comin for ya,tech! Sure puts that school best Cotton Bowl loss seasonseem like a distant memory!
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People in Lubbock can be so friendly. But put them in Jones Stadium, and they become classless morons. The piranas that turned on Potts by chanting his name, exhibited yet another way to make your alumni cringe. It never seems to end. The university leadership, and most importantly the lack of student leadership turns this monster loose again and again. I hope there weren’t a bunch of recruits in the stands listening to how you treat your 18 to 21 year old kids.
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Potts is our best QB. Leach says so and He is paid millions to evaluate and pick our QB. You armchair QBs need to lay off Taylor, he is one of the best football players to wear a Tech uniform.
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I feel sorry for Potts too, and by now I am sure he is SICK hearing of that! However the kid has had two starting chances now with a Big 12 team and neither has turned up good. I predicted here a week ago we would be embarrased by A&M if Potts started or stayed in too long. Both happened and both were like watching paint dry compared to Harrell or Sticks or even Doege. For whatever reason the kid pads his stats throwing sideways (probably exactly what coach calls) and seldom thru downfield and never long – NEVER! When he was about to have a coverage sack he went brain-feeze dead. He is DONE!
But he aint the only reason we lost – tho he was the biggest thanks to the turnovers, not converting twice on 4th and 1 and just simply no energy or passion like we are used to now. The defense could not seem to get together to stop the ags 160 yds 1st half rushing and game basically over!! The ags played smash-mouth old time football right at us and we just did not come thru. And when they passed our pass rush was ANEMIC! Coach Ruff what channel were you on cause we were getting our butts whupped time after time and there was NO PASS BLITZ nothing zero zilch to disrupt an average qb in his passing game and below avg receivers. We shoulda beaten these chumps by 30 and blew it. Tho mostly Potts fault for setting the game tone (or lack of) the whole team just looked like dog poop! So back to the drawing board with Doege and the team and maybe we can get to 6 wins next week and then lookat stuff even deeper during the bye week.
Yeah, it was a long drive back to Midland 10 to 12 and all those red tail lites of dozens of cars snaking home down the highway seem to remind us of the same stuff we saw tonite : borrrrrrrrrrrrrring! Get Doege ready now – he is a gamer!
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I like Sticks. No need to to chant stuff like “no more potts”. Typical Marlboro U mentality. I hate TTU…the 13th grade.
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TTech got beat and it was bad, very bad and not televised grrr. Anyhow, any hardcore football fan will blame the leaders of the team for a loss and Taylor Potts just can’t fit the role as a leader for the Red Raiders football team but the man can take a lot of heat and if he hasn’t already then he is now. I’d like to see him bounce back and rise above all the negativity from fans and critics but most importantly himself because he’s most likely his worst critic if he is a true quarterback.
I myself like probably most TTech fans think Sheffield, or Sticks as you call him, is the best fit for the team. Why? When things look down as if it’s over Sheff will just get right back up for the next play ready to give some hell for the defense, without making any major mistakes I might add. When you’re on the field with a cool head and a positive mindset you can achieve a lot knowing the guy taking the snap is ready to do some damage.
I feel sorry for Leech not getting his 82nd win but I’m sure he’ll get it eventually, so boohoo. I’m sure he cares little about records than he does about winning football games.
The Defense tonight was terrible, if I heard right from listening to the radio. Allowing 52 points on the board is unacceptable as is 559 total yards. The entire team and staff is to blame for this one.
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Coach Leach sorry for the misspell just avoiding any angry fans who try to correct me.
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Hope that Seth Doedge is ok, noticed they taped up his ankle, anyone ever hear of traumatic head injury, I think Potts may be or still hasnt fully recovered , Dont think it would have made any difference who the Quaterback was, they werent mentally there tonightand not focused, evident after A. m first drive, too many mistakes, dropped balls,etc.. better get it together before next saturday.
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This one’s on the defense for sure. 30 should have beat the Ags. As far as ‘fans’ chanting ‘No more Potts’ goes, it’s a shame when people forget these are student athletes, not pros. What’s wrong with you people? Show some respect for Potts. The guy is recovering from a head injury he suffered while entertaining your fat asses. Don’t turn on your own players, it’s pathetic.
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very disappointed in my fellow Raiders for the no more Potts chants
very childish
we should save the taunts for the aggsy, not our own players
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We needed Sheffield, at linebacker, and safety, and cornerback, and so on. Potts didn’t give up over 500 yards and 52 points to a division II calibur opponent. Defense got to thinking they were good and didn’t show up.
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Shane, really? That would be caliber……and that team just kicked your @$$,
Look at the bright side, at least we didn’t jam your goal post into the stands………
Make sure to bring your Blackout shirt to Kyle Field next year.
Gig ‘em!
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Heck yes–why does the defense give up FIFTY-TWO POINTS?! That’s what lost the game.
However, it should be CLEAR to Coach Leach that Taylor isn’t ready for starting duty yet. Put Doege in and make the best of it until Sheffield gets well.
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Uh, let’s see. The break but don’t bend run defense gave up more than 300 yards. Potts never got in on defense. Your culprit this week is Mr. McNeil.
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Note a number of Aggies on this site today. How predictable. How comical. Aggies are now forever sentenced to Mike Sherman, because Sherman’s predecessors were fired because they couldn’t beat Tech. It’s a fact.
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Yes the blessing is that the aggies have Sherman for at leat 3 more years. If you are going to throw a game away to the aggies do it during a down year. We just need to take care of ok st.
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While the entire loss is a team effort, Potts is just bad. Poor reads, bad throws, and a propensity to either get a first down or throw INT’s at critical times.
The simple fact that the suppose starter is “a gametime decision” says a lot. But what says more is that Leach pulled him and he wasn’t injured. I have yet to see Leach pull a QB for bad play and not let them return. I have yet to see Leach play the 2nd team QB as often, and I have never seen an open QB controversy like this.
Potts is a probably a great kid. I hear he may go to medical school. I hope he does, and goes on to do great things. But in 2009, he is not playing “at a high level” like Leach would say, and quite frankly, hurts this team more than he helps.
This is college football. They charge quite a bit for admission, and the RRC will always never have enough money. This is a business. College athletics is not HS, and if he can’t get the job done. then he will be benched. Potts had an opportunity to earn the starting spot back, and he did not get it done. You could see the pressure (of not playing well) getting to him. After he threw the first INT, he began to press, and the mistakes starting mounting up.
Just one question. At this point in the season, what is Potts “signature moment”? A loss at UT? Beating Mickey Mouse U, and Rice are not “signature moments”. The last win I’m willing to give Potts credit for was vs. Rice–on September 12th.
Sticks, on the other hand, has the UNM comeback (yeah–not a “signature moment I know), the beat down of Kansas State, and of course–the Nebraska win. What is important to note is that while Sticks had two very bad decsions and thows (the pick six vs. UNM and the WTF vs KSTATE), they didn’t put the team in a bad spot. Furthermore, he led his team to TD’s after the mistakes.
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I was shocked to hear the chants “No More Potts!”. That was totally unfeeling to our own team. However, I can’t say I did not want Potts out. Our coaching staff should have been able to see it was not working well before he was removed. I don’t think he was ready to return-but please let’s not ostrasize him!! He is still a TTU QB!! (Excuse my misspelling!)
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Potts whole demeaner is bad. When things go bad a team looks to the leader. The QB is the leader. When Potts gets a sack, an interception or fumble he lowers his head, looks to the ground, shoulders lower, he walks off like a kid who just goit scolded. There is no enthusiasm when things are rough.
If the Tech plyers truely believe what they have been saying about how they look to the next play and what is done is done then there leader must do the same. Potts does not. He tries to make up for his mistakes and makes another one because he is pressing.
Sticks is then kind of leader we need. I hope Doege falls in the same catorgory as sticks. We will see.
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Poor effort all around, especially on the defensive side. OU game last year, Cotton Bowl, Houston game, now this. Four incredibly weak defensive performances in important games. That is not coincidence. D has improved somewhat under McNeill but still not nearly at the level Tech needs to be a competitive team. Offense, frankly, hasn’t been much better this year except against weak opponents. Leach and McNeill did not have their guys prepared and motivated. Just write this off as a rebuilding year and concentrate on recruiting some defensive players who have speed.
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FInding fault with a very average QB is not getting down on him. Potts just does not have any leadership or control of the game and it shows in his playing and how the team and fans respond to Him. The defense was outplayed and so were our coaches. I was there and from the beginning Potts looked scared and iffy. When he was replaced the team and the fans rebounded. Nuff said by me for today…
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This morning I’m suddenly glad the game wasn’t on TV.
Once again, we have trouble against a mobile quarter. Come on coaches, recognize your weaknesses.
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Agincal:
Give our defense a break they were on the field the majority of the time because of the mistakes potts made. I would be ridiculously tired if I was anyone of our defensive players. The truth of the matter is potts doesn’t have leadership of our offense so he can’t make the plays. If a red shirted freshman that hasn’t played since his freshman year in high school can be a better quarterback than a starting junior, there’s obviously a lack of chemistry between him and the rest of the offense. If your team isn’t backing you how do you expect to be protected in the pocket. Which potts never notices when it starts to deteriorate anyway.
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Now we have a “next-level” stadium, a “next-level” ticket price, a “next-level” coaches salary, but the same old sub-par blocking and tackling.
3 things can happen when you pass, and 2 of them are BAD.
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I wonder if Doege gets the start next week? Wow this season has suddenly gotten way off-track.
Man, A&M is just an awful, awful team…I’ve never seen Tech play so poorly.
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I love the fact that up until last night, the aggies haven’t posted anything on tech boards because we have owned them the last ten years. Congrats to the aggs for playing a great all around game. Hopefully next year they’ll put the game on tv.
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This one’s on the defense for sure, 30 should have beat the Ags.
…and to the ‘fans’ chanting ‘No more Potts’:
Don’t forget these are student athletes, not professionals. What’s wrong with you people? If you think paying $100 for a ticket entitles you to act like a complete jerk, then maybe $100 a ticket is too rich for your blood and you should follow the game from your living rooom. Show some respect for Potts. The guy is recovering from a head injury he suffered while entertaining you idiots. Don’t turn on your own players, it’s pathetic and embarrassing.
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As for leadership…is voting on team captains every week really a good idea? They’ve got their reason for doing it, but maybe it’s more divisive and more of a distraction than it’s worth. On a team that’s already in constant flux due to injuries, having the same captains week to week may be the one thing players can count on. And captains should be able to push every player hard without wondering if they’ll be ousted for it the next week. Pick your captains and get to work.
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In response to ScarletnBlack and John’s sympathies for Potts and their comparison to Harrell, when you give Harrell’s example against Missouri, also remember that two games prior to the Mizzou game Harrell in his first major road start had orchestrated a come from behind victory at College Station. That showed his caliber and potential. Potts on the other hand has failed us everytime he got a chance–Texas, Houston, aTm. Sure, if we did not have options we would have to live with Potts and give him enough chances till may be one day he has a good game. But Texas Tech is not here for Potts, Potts is here for Tech and if Potts can’t deliver then someone else. John raised a question what if Sheffield played would the results be any different? I am afraid so. Look at the New Mexico game, then the results in the K-State and Nebraska games and finally, look at what freshman Doege did after replacing Potts. I mean Potts may be a competent QB, but we have some many great QBs just waiting for a chance, shouldn’t we be doing a disservice to them and to Tech and its fans if we continue our masochist path down the road with Potts while not giving our more talented players a chance?
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Aggie Dave said:
Leach never takes his defense seriously. That is why they have to try and out score everyone.
How do you know what Leach takes seriously? If your going to say that about Leach, then wouldnt it be fair to say the same about the Ags coach. Ive seen a lot of points go up on the board against the Ags. As far as trying to outscore everyone, Isnt that the key to the game. How else do you win the game if you do not out score the other team. A&M was the better team yesterday no trouble admitting that. If Tech & A&M played again next Saturday then the result could very well be different. Thats college football. Thats why we play the games.
Get well soon Shef, you definitly make Tech a better team.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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texagy99 said:
I will post on the k-state board and congratulate them. On ths board, I will say THE AGGIES HAVE DEFEATED TECH 52-30. TECH LOST TO A TEAM THAT GOT BEAT 62-14 THE WEEK BEFORE. WHOOP!! long time comin for ya,tech! Sure puts that school best Cotton Bowl loss seasonseem like a distant memory!
Its about time, dont you think Gomer? Dont worry, it wont last long. Never does. Tech has owned the Aggs in the Big 12. That fact will continue in the future. The glory days of A&M are behind them. Theres too much talent in the Big 12 now. A&M continues to do less with more, and as long as Tech does more with less we will continue our domination of the Ags.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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i hate to see any player suffer a injury no matter who they play for but regardless potts hasnt faired well at all this season and as bad as it seems the concussion made him worse he struggled against north dakota if sticks was healthy and played this week the maggots of weirdo land wouldnt have won by that much its known when sticks plays the whole team performs at a high level unfortunately he also suffered a injury which forced us to start potts but if you noticed when doege came in we had a whole different team playing on the field the question is what could potts do to make the whole team not want to play when hes in charge of the team i feel sorry for potts but its safe to say he is not ttu qb material.
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Sure Leach, blame your QB! What about YOUR poor game plan. YOU knew Potts would have to start and did nothing to adjust YOUR game plan. Even suggesting this kid played poorly is diabolical on YOUR part, considering the salary YOU draw. YOU are too arrogant to step up and accept YOUR responsibility for this debacle. YOU are the reason that your team has no concept of the importance of defense. Any defense that could let a team like atm score 52 points has a coaching issue and that starts with YOU! Tech had a great season last year because of great personnel, despite YOUR buffoonish coaching antics. As for the fans, chanting against your QB when you know there’s no competent replacement shows just how classless the ttu fan base has become.
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While I wasn’t at last night’s game, I did listen to every play in horror on the radio. There was one subject discussed frequently during the radio broadcast that hasn’t even been mentioned here on the board. The Drops! I’m pretty sure that Taylor’s “lack of rhythm” was at least partially due to the drops by the receivers of passes which, according to the broadcasters, were on target, or at least went right through their hands. It’s got to be tough on a qb trying to guide his team after coming back from injury when you can’t depend on your receivers to make the catches that Tech quarterbacks and indeed us fans have become accustomed to. As others have stated, there’s plenty of blame to go around, and it wasn’t just Taylor who was “offensive” on that side of the ball. just a thought.
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While there are many comments on here that are accurate and have worthwhile positive content, both by Ags and TT fans, many are childish at best and once again don’t elevate either side. Yes, A&M kicked TT’s you know what (and that’s hard to say since I am a RR thru and thru). They dominated both sides of ball and special teams as well. It was basically Ags in charge of the entire game. First time they’ve done so in a long time. My hats off to Mike Sherman and the players who shook off a horrible loss to KSU last weekend and broke the Lubbock curse they’ve endured for years. They and their fans have something to be proud of.
The real disappointment to me is in fans that chanted “no more Potts”. These are young men trying their hardest out there and sometimes it just isn’t good enough. No doubt, he had an off night and he very well could be suffering from a head injury, but regardless of what the issue is, for fans to chant such at a student athlete in college is dispicable. Lets put those that can so easily toss stones out there and see how they do and then have fans chanting “no more you” when you fall flat on your face. If you’re that good, get on a helmet and take to the field. But most of you that make those kind of idiotic gestures couldn’t tie these guys shoe laces athletically and you may be suffering from a head injury yourself. Or you forgot to take a thorough assessment of your own self this morning while looking in the mirror in most likely a hungover state.
It’s a diferent ballgame when it’s the pros out there making ungodly amounts of money. They are fair game to the crowd’s displeasure, but a college athlete shouldn’t have to hear that. Imagine how that made him feel, much less how his parents or siblings felt hearing such. Potts didn’t have his A game, but I can assure you, it wasn’t all his fault. Our defense may have been reading their own headlines too much. Coaches did not have them prepared for this game like they have in past performances. They looked like the defense of old, not the new, talented one they were just a week ago.
If I were Potts, I would be seeing Lubbock in my rear view mirror. But I bet he’s a good kid and he’ll tough it out, even with all the disappointment in himself after playing like he did. There are some things in life more honorable than winning a football game, like courage, discipline, work ethic, and overall integrity. I’m sure he has all those attributes unlike you little armchair blog QB’s that have about as much athletic talent or common decency as a brick has brains. In most cases I’d give the edge to the brick.
It would serve our university better if you either yelled encouragement to your team’s players or just shutup or it would be fine with me if you saw Lubbock in your own rear view mirror for the last time.
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There is one thing that I am surprised that nobody has caught on to. First of all, GREAT Job aggies. Thank you for bringing our overrated team back to earth. That being said I agree with Johnny up there in Potts being the best qb to wear a Tech Jersey. The thing that I have noticed is that the team refuses to play with Potts. Potts did not let the team down the team let Potts down. It appears that the defense does as horrible as it can when Potts is in so that stix will get the nod to be the starter because all loses fall back on the qb and head coach. Look at Taylors Stats. They are not that bad. Yes he had two int’s but one of those were not entirely his fault. Our RB’s and WR’s cannot quit on a play and that is exactly what Batch did on that first INT. Potts threw the ball expecting for Barron to continue to run in order to hit him in striide and instead he stopped which resulted in the INT. The second INT is all on Potts, He should have thrown in to a taller reciever with better leaping ability but ohh well he tried to make something happen before the end of the half. If any of you were out at that game last night let me ask you a couple of questions, How many dropped passes did the recievers have? I lost count after about 8 and 4 of those came in one drive. I know there were at least 12-15 dropped passes last night from both of the Qb’s throws to recievers. Second question, where was the blocking? I mean i saw Detron and other recievers just let defenders by on those little short passes and TP was being nailed within 2 seconds of getting the snaps. Then we blame him for losing the ball after being blind sided after a second of snapping the ball. Our O-Line and D-line were horrindous in this game. Last question, where was the effort. I mean are guys were not showing any effort at all. Leach is benching the wrong person. I think the first team O-line and Defense needs to be benched if they do not want to play with Potts. Here are some stats to back my claims.
Defensive performances when Taylor Potts is starting the game beginning with the UH game.:
TTU vs. UH
484 yards for the offense (not bad). 579 yards given up by the defense (ouch).
TTU vs UNM
487 yards of ofense (both potts and sheffield are given credit). 431 yards given up by the defense (against UNM.).
TTU vs. A&M
520 Yards of offense (300 plus of which came from Potts and the rest from Doege and the run game). 559 yards given up by the defense (two running backs both had over 100 yards rusing and the qb was almost there).
Defensive performances when Steven Sheffield is starting the game beginnning with K-State
TTU vs K-state
739 yards total offense (Wow! good job stix) Defense gave up 284 yards of total offense (against K-state, not much to hang your hat on but good overall effort.)
TTU vs Nebraska
259 yards of total offense (Not texas tech football but good job with the W). Defense gave up 285 yards (Not impressive now considering that Iowa state did the same to the Huskers).
Just take a look at the stats above and tell me you do not think that the Defense intentionally blows when Potts is the QB.
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I think we’re all too hard on Potts right now. He sluggishness may still be aftereffects of the concussion. Don’t judge less you’ve had a concussion yourself. Fact is we have two quarterbacks who are hurting and a redshirt freshman. Sometimes that just happens. We all knew it would be a rebuilding year, and now with the added injuries, we need to let the coaches decide who’s best fit to play at what times. I just hope we don’t pressure Sticks to come back before he’s really ready and injure him worse. Last thing we need is someone with a career-ending injury right now. THAT would be terrible.
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I feel so bad for Taylor Potts. I know he wanted to do better and our student section is shameful–you can’t justify treating a Red Raider like that. I hope he knows that the NCAA passing TD leader that beat three top ten teams in Lubbock received the same treatment from a home crowd in Lubbock. I feel worse for Potts than I do about the loss. Taylor Potts would have every right to vote Tech fans as the worse in the Big 12, and he wears red and black on Saturday.
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Maybe Leach is partly to blame for starting Potts when he obviously wasn’t ready.
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I’m surprised you turds didn’t trhow tortillas at your loser quaterback!
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What’s up with all the trash talk on Potts. Maybe he isn’t the man but blame the coach who starts him. Apparently he has done something right to be the starter.
I think Sticks is the man to lead this team but the chanting of “no more potts” is uncool. If you were sitting next to his Mom and Dad in the stands would you still chant that or is that just something drunk, stoned, Marlboro smoking students at the TTU do (the 13th grade as I call it).
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Look, Booing a Kid at 20 are you kidding me. If your disappointed be disappointed in the coaches they are paid very well to get the best 22 players on the field. Looks Like the decision to let QB Stefan Loucks leave the program is hurting this team. The following players have left this team this year: Loucks, Adrian Reese, Rashad Hawk, Brandon Sesay, Blake Collier, and Todd Walker. The following two players were dismissed McKinner Dixon and Matt Goetz.
Potts played great against UT. The onside kick killed us (coaching). and I believe the helmet to helmet hit at the UT game really hurt Potts. You take away the fumble from the Helmet to Helmet hit and the onside kick and we had a very good chance of winning that game.
Houston loss coaching lost that game- kick the field goal!
A$M loss- blame coaching.. Tech has never been able to replace RB T. Henderson at the running back position. We have no running game at all. We need a running back that can take the pressure off the QB’s and sustain drives. Defense let a very poor offense run all over them. again coaching- get the best 11 defensive players on the field. Quit playing favorites (probably why Sesay and Collier left the team) and get your best defense out there.
Throwing that interception at the half in the end zone killed us. This is where good coaching comes in and let’s another young man try his hand at QB. This team should be 7-1 right now. not 5-3. UT should be the only loss.
Get ready for Kansas because they just got kicked by OU. It is up to the coaches to get these young men ready to play and have the players that want to play hard every down. QB Jacob Karam from Friendswood is he being redshirted?
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Potts is not a bad qb but he is not working out for this team. It is pretty obvious that the team does not want to perform to its capabilities whe he is the starter. I know the defense gave up over 500 yards of offense, but to me it seemed like they played better once Doege came in. I had worrries about Potts coming into this year, while he was the backup for Graham the past few years I noticed that he was always somewhere on the sidelines not paying attention. The whole team doesnt respond when Potts is in the game.
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techsan yes karam i sgetting red shirted he already did it would be unfair to him if they did put him in now the season is 2 far gone i hope sticks heals 100 percent b4 he comes back in we cant afford not to have him at 100 this is his team and until he comes back doege must rally the troops and get ready to take out their frustration against kansas
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I think the whole team is to blame, not Potts. Potts and Sheffield were injured….the O-Line fell short on protection. This is the first season Leach has had injuries of QBs. That should tell you something. If the other players played well, Potts wouldn’t be in the position he is in. Leach picked him to start for a reason. He was injured (concussion which affects brain functioning), and I believe the injury is affecting his play. It’s definitely affecting Sheffield’s ability to play, as he cannot play at all. I agree with the others who said Potts played well against Texas. I personally thought he was impressive in that game. I was excited for the season. Then the helmet to helmet happened and I thought that is going to have an adverse effect on him. That was the beginning of his troubles. Stop booing Potts, get behind him and start praying for his health. Win or lose, that should be everyone’s first concern, “Is Potts ok?” We’ve got other season to stomp these teams. Potts only has one chance at this life. And furthermore, fix the protection problem so there are no more injuries of QB’s. If Potts is hurt, and Sheffield is hurt, isn’t Doege’s injury just around the corner?
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TTU is weak and they got exposed. Last I checked Qb’s don’t play defense. Quit ignoring the issue. TTU gave up 50 points and 500+ yards. No matter who played Qb that would not have changed. TTU got exposed and the gimmicks are over. The Big 12 is finally starting to solve the riddle. TTU beat an overrated Nebraska team. We see just how overrated they are since they lost to a lowly Iowa State team in Lincoln as well.
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TTU is and always has been notorious for beating teams they should lose to and losing to teams that they should beat handily! The tradition continues. Jones Stadium was not the only thing blacked out yesterday. The offense and defense of TTU was blacked out as well. I wonder if they will be awake before Kansas comes to town! Rock jock Jayhawk!!!!!
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Aggie Fan, how is Tech weak when they whooped K state, the same team that whooped you handily on your own turf, right the next week. Take the gift and run with it, its not going to happen again, in a very long time, tech underestimated a suckingly loser Aggie team, and they paid for it. I can’t wait for next year, that’s when we wipe the field with everybody, this season is more about experimentation, finding the right QBs, building the defense… Can’t wait for next year, Tech is weak, haha. If Tech is so weak on the last 10 years how many times have aggies won against Tech, and how many times has Tech whooped them? Potts sucked, he always seems to have a bad game, and the defense was uninspired, Tech would have lost to a group of Grandmas by the way they played, everybody knows A&M sucks harder than a vacuum cleaner.
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Well, lets put it this way. TTU has been throwing, throwing, and throwing for what, 10 years now, and we don’t even have a Big 12 south championship so to me nothing has changed.
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….and good writing by Don Williams. I would expect only the best from a Tulia person. :)
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Let’s not forget, Leach does more with 2 and 3 stars players than any coach in the nation. We simply don’t get the athletes at Tech that OU, A&M, and UT do……period. Yet we are always a team to watch out for tho. Yes do we do lose games we shouldn’t and yes we win games we shouldn’t……but Mr. Aggie Fan, give me a break. Do you think that team of yours does any different. You can beat UT occasionally, but you’ve lost to Tech, how many times in the last 10 years. And I can go on and on.
One huge thing I like about Coach Leach is his disdain for players talkin too much or pouting about injuries. He makes mistakes at times in decision making himself, but he wants disciplined players to execute their positions and play the game hard and not overplay their positions or underplay them. Name another coach with his excitement and execution of play that would come to Tech at his caliber and proven collegiate winning record and I’ll shut up. There aren’t any, at least any we could afford. We’re fortunate to have him, mistakes and all. I agree, we should be 7-1 and some of that is his fault, but watch, we’ll go to another bowl this year, something that has been done every year of the Big 12, something no other team can say. I want to be able to go to a BCS game as much as anyone else, but elete highly funded teams like UT and OU will always have the edge. What would be nice is to have the BCS not rank teams until the 5 or 6th game of the season tho. You get a high ranking initially, play mediocre and win and you remain high. It isn’t fair and A&M and Tech both should be complaining about it. All I can say at this point is GO FROGS GO!!
Congrats to the Aggies. They won it fair and square. I’m willing to bet the farm it won’t happen again next year, but I’m man enough to admit a butt kicking when I see it.
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Well put Raider Alum. Well put.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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I have to admit that there is more to the story. I have never seen such a disrespectfull bunch of people in my entire life. Booing your own players, throwing things into the opposing teams sections, and leaving early in the 3rd quarter despite not knowing the out come of the game. What chaps me the most is the flipping off and cursing and HITLER saluting of the Aggie Band while they were marching at half. For those of you who don’t know 95% of those kids are military or going to sign with the military. That shows me what all of the TT fans at the game actually think of the people who defend your honor to come to a game and watch of your own free will and accord. I sures hell don’t see yall signing up to go to the front lines of the Army, Airforce, Navy, or the Marines. Not only that it I personally seen two TT people curse a woman with 2 small children with A&M shirts on. Very rude. No respect at all. You tear up your own stadium when you win, charge the field before the game is even over, and boo your own. The alumni need to get ahold of this younger genra of TT and take charge. You not once see an A&M fan cheer when a TT football player is hurt on the feild. But I sure as hell seen them cheer when an Ag was hurt on the ground. It is not the dredded Jones, it is the rude, drunk, irrespectful fans of TTU. It pains me to see such a sight as what I witnessed Saturday night, win or loose (especially loose).
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Maybe its time Potts became a receiver ill bet he would make a good one.
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hey oldways: remember when the aggie core threw feces on the longhorn band a few years back? naw, you wouldn’t remember that. i have seen atm fans come into austin and dump dye into the fountains and peel decals off of cars and just be basic fools. each team has them, your team is no different. they’re as disrespectful as anyone else.
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AginCal said:
Instead of blaming your quarterback you tech fans might want to ask your defense why A&M gashed you for over 300 yards on the ground. Two RB’s with 100 yard games and JJ with 71 yards rushing.
A&M’s much maligned offensive line owned the line of scrimmage.
Sounds like your “Pirate” coach didn’t take his opponent seriously. His loss, literally.
I agree with everything you said here AginCal. While Potts didn’t perform very well, the defense was the main problem for Tech. I doubt the DL expected to get dominated like they did.
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Old Ways,
Listen to your self… You know why other schools give your Corps a hard time??? Because Y’all think yall are the only school that sends its Graduates into the Armed Forces. Our school may not have been founded on a Millitary foundation, but we have thousands of Allumni who have fought and died defending our Country.
These KIDS in the Corps of Cadets, are just that KIDS at College, that have joined an organization. They are not yet active duty Servicemen. They do not wear the uniform of The USA, They wear a very similar out fit as the hitler youth wore… If they take flack, well, they kind of bring it on themselves.
Are you seriously that naive to belive that the good boy and girls of A&M are 100% sober when they sit in the stands of Kyle Field…
I do not agree with any one that cheers an injury on the field, and if we did that, I apoligize on behalf of my University. Same goes for cussing at a mother of two. With that said, how do you think those small kids feel when the AGGIES sing about Sawing Horns off a cow? We at least had the common decency to not structure our fight song around Animal Cruelity.
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No aggie fan will ever be taken seriously again, when they are whining incessantly about every other school’s rude and disrespectful behavior. Every school in the nation has their share of obnoxious students, BUT, A&M took a huge step above everyone else when their school’s official yell leaders led a crowd of lathered up supporters in chanting about putting Joe Paterno in a coffin and burying him because he is so old, blah blah blah…….. That was without a doubt the most distasteful, disrespectful, ill-mannered act that I have ever witnessed by an official spokesperson from any school. It was even worse than the attack of the SMU cheerleader by the sword-wielding A&M core member (CT) at College Station. A&M is a school of social misfits that continually attempt to convince themselves and everyone else that they are superior to everyone in every way, and while doing so, further alienate themselves from the rest of society.
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Calling all Aggies that feel Booing a QB is the worse thing they have ever seen in college football… check out this site:
http://www.mattwalters.com/web/texastech/images/rivalry/aggies.htm
Great moments in sportsmanship!
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Coach Leach knew Potts was not over his concussion.
Leach threw Potts under the bus by setting him up to fail.
Leach left Potts in there after it was obvious that he was still groggy from his head injury.
Why are you people blaming Potts for Leach’s lack of intelligence.
Potts is a competitor and, of course, wanted to compete.
It was up to Leach to be wise enough to start the right QB, or at least make the change after it was obvious that Potts was not well enough to be competitive yet.
Bottom line is the loss is on the defense that allowed a below average aggie team to drive it down their throats without ever making any adjustments in their performance.
This game looked like the North Texas loss that eventually ended Spike’s tenure. Ironic since Leach was trying to tie Spike’s record.
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