Williams: This season, Raiders lack winning rhythm
STILLWATER, Okla. — When Texas Tech got the football back here Saturday night needing to go 88 yards in 98 seconds to force overtime, quite naturally Detron Lewis thought back on better days.
There was that game last November in Lubbock when the Red Raiders took possession needing to go 62 yards in 89 seconds to beat Texas, and they did it. Graham Harrell hit nearly every pass — five out of six.
He connected on a couple to Lewis, one to Baron Batch, one to Ed Britton and then the haymaker to Mike Crabtree, the signature play in a memorable season.
He didn’t have a timeout, but everything was so efficient, he didn’t need them.
Texas Tech's Sam Fehoko, center, gets in on the tackle against Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson during the second half of their game Saturday, Nov, 14, 2009 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
So Saturday night, when Jamar Wall got the Red Raiders the ball back with a hit fit for an Advil commercial and the offense lined up at its 12 trailing Oklahoma State by a touchdown, Lewis thought, ‘We can do this.’
“Of course,’’ he said. “That drive reminded me of that Texas drive. We scored in like a minute, 29 (seconds). I felt pretty good on that last drive, but it didn’t turn out like we planned.’’
That was true of the drive, which ended on downs, the game, which ended with Oklahoma State winning 24-17, and the season, which now has Tech sitting at 6-4 with two games left. In fairness, the August forecast here — based on massive personnel losses and some testy road games — was for a 7-5 season. The Red Raiders are going to be right around there, maybe one better.
That made Saturday’s loss no less aggravating.
The Red Raiders were bitten by that old saw — the three interminably long drives allowed in the second half. On one, they used a timeout early in the third quarter to try to interrupt a 19-play drive. It might have helped; Tech forced the Cowboys to settle for a field goal. In any event, even one timeout might have come in handy on Tech’s last possession, though Mike Leach didn’t see it that way.
“You guys are in love with them timeouts,’’ Leach said. “Any of you that think it would have made all the difference, you’re out of your minds.
We were doing a good job of getting it out of bounds, moving along, on the ball quick. That wasn’t a big issue. Oklahoma State was a bigger problem than having or not having timeouts.’’
Last year, on the last drive against Texas, Harrell threw every pass on target, even one that bounced off Britton’s hands. But the Red Raiders caught a break. A Texas safety whiffed it, too. This time around, the rhythm and confidence to make it happen were lacking. Tech’s best chance to send it to overtime went awry when Taylor Potts tried to hook up with Britton on a deep ball down the middle and overshot him by inches. The drive and the game ended when Tramain Swindall missed a fourth-down pass that was on target.
Potts had started, then sat for the equivalent of two quarters, then been sent back in in the fourth quarter.
Why switch at that point?
“Just basically had too many flat spots,’’ Leach said. “I’m just tired of flat spots. That’s not just quarterback play. That’s line and receivers and all that other business.’’
Saturday was the Raiders’ lowest point output in 28 games, since a 41-10 loss at Missouri in 2007. Frankly, because it was Tech’s fourth time under 30 in the last 13 games, it didn’t occur to me to check until someone asked.
The defense noticed, though. Those 17 points made them play every series under pressure, and it was too much.
Defensively, the Raiders did everything possible in the first half, getting three sacks and holding the Cowboys’ Big 12-leading rushing attack to 36 yards. Contrast that with the second half, when OSU put together drives of 19, 15 and 11 plays, the first two to take the lead and the third to run out much of what was left of the clock.
OSU quarterback Zac Robinson ran as if he were auditioning for the next time the wishbone comes around. Defensive end Daniel Howard blamed himself for losing containment. Defensive tackle Richard Jones said the Cowboys picked up the pace, making it tough on pre-snap alignment.
Whatever the reason, the offense had plenty of time to just watch and wait.
“I was getting cold the whole time,’’ Lewis said. “I was just trying to jump around and keep my body warm.’’
It wasn’t that long ago that most of the jumping around the Raiders did was to celebrate. Big plays. Big victories.
This wasn’t one of those nights or, for that matter, one of those seasons.
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We may be a little snake-bit at the QB position right now, but we’ll be ok. We got two good ones left so let’s give it our best shot. This bunch gets a little better, a little wiser each week. We’ll be ok! Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd next yr jus beat the hell out of Texas!
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always with the “next year comments”!!!! give me a break!!! next yr we have mizzou and colorado on our schedule and we go to norman, ok!!! i suppose next november we will be saying “next year again!!!… I expected this to be a rebuilding year but the loss to A&M and how we have lost the close games have been really frustrating and eye-opening as to how this team is coached and the lack of discipline our team displays on a consistent basis…
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Works for the Cubs…well maybe not. Fans still love’em though. “Go Cubs Go, …Cubs are goin’ to win today…”
Mizzu and Colo aren’t anything special anymore. Average Big 12 South or lower. We swept the North this year, even as bad as this year was…we have that.
Wreck’Em Tech!
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It is a fact they are 6-4. The reasons are: (1) Schedule. Tex and OSU on road this year. (2) For first time ever, Leach spent 3 years developing the wrong QB. But to Leach’s credit, he realized his error and put in the right guy. (3) Then, tragically, the right guy got hurt. TRUST ME, I’M STICKING WITH LEACH.
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Dear t-bone: Go back to your own beloved web site.
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Tech is 6-4 and the blowout to A&M was unacceptable. But other than the A&M game, we have only lost to ranked teams on the road in competitive games. That is alot more than most teams can say. Tech keep your heads up and and keep battling! Get better every week. Tech does need to focus on discipline and focus. They dominated the first half defensively, but penalties and turnovers kept OSU in the game.
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ERRATIC.
Erratic offense & defense.
No more “system” talk! Apparently “who” is playing makes a great deal of difference.
No one can possibly guess what kind of team will show up for the remaining games.
It changes quarter-to-quarter.
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“This always happens to Tech”
ZACH THOMAS- Linebacker
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Fire Gerald.
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Does this team have the heart to get OU? Do the fans care enough now to provide the winning edge at 11 a.m. vs. OU? I’m skeptical on both accounts.
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Look at the bright side! Texas won! And they are still in the BCS mix! Get your Horns up for the KU game on Saturday and let us all cheer the Horns on to their 5th National Championship! HOOK ‘EM HORNS!
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BTW: We are not rivals. I just like this site better. All the red and black, they are good colors. Better people too than the horn sites. My coach and team is just so wealthy and we cheat so much that we can’t avoid not to win the Championship (even though there really isn’t one), so we all might as well admit it now Texas is the best.
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Sure was wierd to watch Tech play a good defensive game. IT really bothered me to see Sheffield gimping around on the field for so long. As much as Potts needed to pulled for his attitude adjustment, Leach chould of kept Sheffield in for a few series, then get hiim out of there. My concern is for Sheffields’ health. The boy does not need to do any more damage to that left foot…..
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It is frustrating that we don’t seem to handle an open date very well. Last year we had an open date before the OU game and came out flat and looked unprepared to play. I noticed that Coach leach gave them all of last week off maybe we could have used that week for preparation. We usually have this same flat unprepared attitude at the start of all of our bowl games. I also had trouble with changing to Sheffield who obviously was no where ready to be on the field and then we stuck with him too long before giving up. I would rather have seen Doege then back to Potts. The defense played great only giving up 17 points to a very good team. Come on Raiders take care of OU and Baylor and end the regular season right! Guns in the air!
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chould….SHOULD!!!!
I apologize. I got a bad eye….
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These guys on all sides of the ball played their hearts out on Saturday. The first half was a lesson in how to handle a team like OSU. The second half was different as OSU controlled the line of scrimmage on offense. Quick lineups keep the defense off balance as we well know. I hope the team doesn’t read the negative comments I see here from “fans”.
We got blown out in one of these losses and were definitely in the game against TU, UH, and OSU all three ranked. I know close only counts in washers and horseshoes but I could’nt be more proud of our team and have never questioned their “heart”.
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The quarterback competition next fall will be interesting…Potts, Sheffield, Doege, and maybe even Karam all will get a shot at the job.
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This season show the importance of having a good QB. Without that, the team is very average. Also, they dont seem to have the killer instinct to put teams away (A&M and Houston). Looks like a 7-5 year if we can beat Baylor and dont just play down th their level. OU game will be a big test,but I am not too optomistic.
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Frustrating season, but nothing to be ashamed of, except matbe the A&M game. Regardless, the team has played hard and lost all the close ones to ranked opponenets on the road. Play each game like it may be your last. Iy might be. Beat OU and HFTB.
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Nice work AJ staff. Read the caption under the picture. Sam Fehoko did not hit Tramain Swindall to force a fumble late in the half. Swindall plays on our team, and Wall made the hit. Try proofreading this a little better next time.
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People in Lubbock are so starved for something to do, they actually fill the stadium on game day, to watch just an average team. That is all Tech has ever been, and until something changes, that is all they ever will be.
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NorthRaider
a-j is writing in the same style as the coaches are coaching.
they may even criticize you for not reading what they meant to say.
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just pitiful, well there is next year,
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Reverend,
Go preach at your congregations’ website; we’re way better off where we are now than where we were under Spike. Exception of the aTm game, we’ve been in every one of them.
Yeah, it’s frustrating but clearly it’s not a system- as proven by Potts. We must have 3-4 seconds in the pocket to make progressions but also be ready to check the run at the line of scrimmage. We’re missing that running game from ‘08 that helped us to get to 11 wins.
Even in the spread you must still run the ball.
Can I get an amen?
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Amen and that includes your QB Coach!
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and the “next year” comments keep coming in!!!… When will tech fans start holding those responsible for bad losses…. (i am refering to A&M this year), (ole miss last year), (CU and Mizzou the year before), and (CU and mizzou the year before that)…
Watchdog…. cu hasnt been relevant for years and has owned tech (i have witnessed the last four games in person)
and darnce… quit being such a homer…. I thought this would be a rebuilding year but the ways tech has lost makes it even more frustrating… We as fans should expect excellence and light fires under those who are slacking at their jobs. I lvoe teh PR leach brings but if he can’t be a talking head and still motivate and coach the young men he is being paid to coach and motivate, then we have a problem!!!
Our offense looked like they were coming off a short game week rather than having two weeks to prepare!! receivers dropping balls and qbs that looked confused much of the game and our best option was a guy running around in a cast??? really???
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I’m always amazed at the numbers of Bonghorn fans who flock to a Tech website after a loss. With the numbers of TU players in and out of the slammer, wouldn’t “Book-em Horns” be a more accurate screen name? Without a doubt you’ll make it to the BCS championship game because the BCS over-lords don’t want to hear Mack whining again this year. As far as Tech’s concerned, until the defense can consistently stop opposing offenses, the oSu loss will be repeated year after year. Good luck the rest of the year. Tech doesn’t deserve to go to a bowl game this year, but they probably will.
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Sorry Rick, I disagree with your assement of Tech. The only “bad” loss was to a&m and the others have been close and well faught defensively. The offense had been the problem this year. No urgentcy and lack of concentration.
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I am sick and tired of dropped balls. This business of looking up field before securing the football or just plain being scared to catch it is ridiculous. The line play this year can be attributed some to injuries, but by and large it’s just flat out not getting the job done. These beasts are from very good programs and ought to be able to handle their duty most of the time. Our QBs are just not given enough time and when they are, the receivers are on break. The defense did as much as they could do, especially given that our DC can’t seem to figure out how to rotate. I cannot stand how this season has turned out. Hopefully every single part of this program can learn from it and move on. Quite possibly, though, we’ve been pretty fortunate from the standpoint of injuries and QB play until this year.
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Oh stop your blubberin Eddie! Theres never been nor will therte ever be a receiver in any league of football that hasn’t or wont continue to look away when receiving a ball. It just happend and always will, so get over it. It happens in high School, College and even in the Pros, Tech’s main problem is the lack of solid play by the offensive line. Fix that and it would help the team tremendously on both sides of the ball. To me, working their butts all week long in the sand pits might get a lil more responce out of them, hehehe.
LMAO at realr and his bad eye as well as fourty acres and his Jed Clampet Piyiful, lol.
WRECK’EM TECH! BEAT OU!
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Anyone else feel like Potts attitude seems to bring the team down. I compare it to Jay Cutler’s. Shefield’s on the other hand, seems to raise the team sprits. It’s just an attitude, Up vs. Down. You bloggers here that cut everything down could learn a thing or two from Sticks.
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