Mike Leach Lacking Something
9 comments so far
October 13, 2009 by
Texas Tech's Mike Leach is a different kind of coach. And while many people are defined by what they are, Leach at times seems defined by what he lacks. Tact, for example. While most coaches would be careful about taunting other programs, Leach seems to go out of his way to put down Texas A&M. He mocks the "soldiers" at A&M and derided the Dallas Cowboys for drafting former Aggie quarterback Stephen McGee. What other coach does that?
He also lacks fear. He'll attempt a 4th down conversion on 4th and 5 on his own 36-yard line in a tie ball game. What other coach has the cajones to do that? Leach is the only guy that comes to mind. That kind of decision burned him in the loss at Houston, when he passed on a field goal to go up 8 points and ultimately was stopped on 4th and goal.
Some have said he lacks a soul, the way he mercilessly runs it up in garbage time. Husker fans can recall the 2004 contest in Lubbock. And Kansas State fans saw something similar in a week ago.
But what probably concerns Red Raider fans most is that he lacks a Big 12 Championship game appearance. He lacks a running game (or what seems like any respect for the value of one). He lacks an undying loyalty to Texas Tech it seems, based on the tough contract negotiations this past year. He lacks patience for dissenting opinions from his players to the public (which admittedly, is probably the right approach).
Leach has no lack of ability to lead a team that puts up big passing numbers and big point totals. He never lacks a team that's exciting to watch. Come Saturday, let's hope he lacks a win over Bo Pelini in Lincoln.
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Brandon Oct 13 09
The coaching profession has gotten less interesting by the decade. Leach at least does his best to combat that.
James Moore Oct 13 09
Probably objectivity. Look it's a system that's worked, no doubt about it. BUT his problems in bowl games (the result of people getting one month to prepare for the air raid) and showdown contests would think that at some point he would tinker a little bit with his approach to games. Simply put when you had a Harrell and a Crabtree it SHOULD be a breakout year. To a degree it was. Last year's game at Oklahoma and against Ole Miss in The Cotton Bowl has to ask the question of whether this program has the ability to beat a serious opponent even when it seems to have all the weapons it needs. This is a good program and one that's come a long ways under his tenure. But the same problems came to haunt him (Oklahoma front four obliterating his Offensive Line due to a non-incentive to have to play the run) and frankly a little lack of balance. Seems that going for it on 4th & whatever in questionable circumstances is in his genetics. To make that next step is going to require some adjustments. Whether he has the cajones to do that remains to be seen. . .
paul Oct 13 09
Some have said he lacks a soul, the way he mercilessly runs it up in garbage time. Husker fans can recall the 2004 contest in Lubbock. And Kansas State fans saw something similar in a week ago.
I suppose 55-0 over Louisiana Lafayette was just business as usual.....yes we throw the ball and no we do not ask that our players lay down after we get ahead. Grow up, get some stones and worry about your own coach.
darren Oct 13 09
It's not as simple as the scores, Paul. Lord knows, NU has blown out some opponents in the past. It's conduct that matters.
But go rewatch those games and look at Leach's choices, his actions.
Up by 5 touchdowns late in a ball game, he'll go for a touchdown on fourth and goal, rather than kick a field goal. It's THAT sort of thing that leads people to think he lacks a soul.
It is pretty cool the way he disregards certain football coaching mantras, like the way he goes for it on 4th down more than most, especially on his half of the field. But, his utter disregard for opponents margin of loss is unsportsmanlike.
As justification, he hides behind a "it's our job to score, and your job to stop us" general statement that every coach will stomach and endure just out of pride, if nothing else. But it's not just coaches out there, it's players, young people.
He disrespects the game and makes a clown of himself every time he pulls that stuff. So, yeah, go swing your pirate sword...
We have plenty of stones, by the way. Thanks for wondering about it though.
tom Oct 13 09
There's also a huge difference with using backups to get experience at the end of the game and leaving your starters in to throw for seven touchdowns or run for a fourth or fifth. When Callahan left starters in to punch one more in with time winding down against Kansas State a couple years ago, I was the first person in line to call it pretty classless.
Greg Morrow Oct 13 09
Given Steve's breakdown, you could say that Leach carries a light pack.
Fairly unburdened, concience wise.
He's his own Dog, in a profession of highly networked, obedient "company dogs."
From what little I've seen, he can get after you, like Pelini. But, he also lacks that crazy look in his eyes that Pelini owns.
His guys play for him, which is what I see.
His record is impressive, to me.
Now, I'm glad he's not the Corn's coach. Then again, if his program had somehow been transposed to the colder north, how many Big 12 Conference title games would he'd have been in, since 2000?
I'd think more than Nebraska's 1.
Like Mangino, he's a guy I can't get enough of. He's the Conference's Spurrier.
Verbally cross them, verbally get "worked".
C Dris Oct 14 09
Let me see, Leach leaves his potentially new quaterback, who has seen maybe 120 snaps in his college career in for one series in the 4th quater and he is running up the score? How can you not see the need to get the QB reps to prepare him for a potential starting job throught the season???
And yes, Leach does continue to run his offense throughout the game. When the Big Red Machine would continue to option left and right, break huge runs and score in the forth quater was that wrong? Is it OK because they hand the ball off? Its the same thing.
And look at the number of minutes that Lee played against ULL and Ark St. Well into the 3rd quater and even into the 4th.
This is a matter of perception of Leach, driving an opinion without a lot of basis. He runs his offense, no matter the situation. Sometimes it even hurts the team... up 5 against UH, late in the 4th, 4 straight passes, when the run had worked, and a punt. It wasn't running up the score, it was the offense, it is what it is.
I respect Husker fans a bunch, but sometimes you have to take off the red covered glasses, step down from the alter and really try to understand something that looks different. You might see that it is really the same.
ttletter75 Oct 14 09
Would like to say that from my POV, Nebraska fans are some of the most well informed and classy fans in the Big XII. I would caution those who would say Tech does not have a running game, however. I've been a Tech fan all my life, and IMO the Red Raiders have the best trio of RB's EVER @ Tech. It's true that the rushing stats don't reflect this @ first glance (though nearly 200 yds rushing against K St wasn't shabby), you must read between the lines a bit. Tech will run a lot a swing passes, inside screens, and shovel passes that are in effect running plays. And believe me, the 2 freshmen RB's are absolute game breakers, and Barron Batch is one of the toughest north-south runners around and a proven commodity.
Having said that, I suspect that yards will be tough to come by against a very impressive Nebraska defense. History would dictate, however, that Tech's offense is at the very least equally imposing. Count me as one Red Raider who is looking forward to the challenge, and may the best team win.
GO TECH!
ttpilk645 Oct 14 09
There are many, like you, who are not enamored by some of Mike Leach's 'habits'. He is, after all, a lawyer who like to coach football, so he will definitely walk a different beat from most other....no, from all other coaches. Like him or not, he has done quite a lot in molding the Tech football team into his preferred type of team. While his style of play may not appeal to most, it does work, even though he has, up to now, had to utilize perceived lesser talented players. He is now signing the perceived better players, so his style of football will only get better. Also, McNeil is starting to put in more of the type defensive schemes he likes because of the perceived uptick in defensive talent. It all adds up to potential championship seasons ahead, and it would not be a surprise to see the Red Raiders leave Lincoln with another win. If not, it sure will not be because of Leach not trying to score from anywhere at any time.