Texas Tech No Joke
Mike Leach might have done Nebraska a favor when he ran the score up on Kansas State this past weekend. The Huskers victory at Missouri was so exciting, that it might have made the players lose focus on the next game. And Texas Tech showed against the Wildcats that they are not a team to be overlooked. The Red Raiders looked more like the team that's beaten Nebraska three straight times than the one that lost two straight games in September.
Statistically, Tech is better than NU in a number of categories. They have better numbers in every major offensive category except rushing offense. They have a better rushing defense, more sacks and tackles for losses than Nebraska as well. They do a better job on kick returns and their net punts are better. Nebraska by contrast has a tougher schedule, is better in most other defensive categories, returns punts further, and most importantly has a much better turnover margin.
The Huskers are likely to be the favorite, but that doesn't mean the game will be a cakewalk. Texas Tech is better than Missouri offensively and will be the ultimate test for a scoring defense ranked second nationally. Thankfully, their rushing game is pretty modest and thus they ought to be a one-dimensional opponent. Look for a lot of the four-man fronts and cover-two schemes used against Missouri, to keep the receivers in front of the defensive backs.
A win this week would represent another step forward for the NU program, as the Huskers would end a losing streak to a conference opponent. It also positions Nebraska extremely well in the North. But a win won't be easy. The defense must continue to shine and it would certainly help for Zac Lee to revert to his Memorial Stadium form and for Roy Helu to get healthy.
Last week was great because the Huskers showed great heart, this week they'll need to do the same.
Omaha, NE
10/12/2009
Nebraska opened as a six-point favorite over TT.
10/12/2009
This game doesn’t scare me but worries me in so far as it doesn’t matter whether we take away their running game. I feel a lot better about my secondary after last week. They close well, tackle well in space, and know that they are capable of being on islands for 60 minutes and performing at a high level. What I’d like to see is a performance similar to what Oklahoma did to Texas Tech in Norman last year. No not that margin of victory (it’d be nice though) but I do want to see PA, House of Spears, Mr. Crick & Turner, Meredith & Steinkuhler put a comparable amount of pressure in the Red Raider backfield like last year’s Oklahoma’s defensive line. IF we do, then straight up we can run the table if we stay focused. This will be a big game for a lot of reasons. Besides showing that we can play well one week after a big win and handle our business it will be a victory over another team with a well-deserved offensive reputation. . .
Funny, where are the Missouri and Colorado fans? They used to come visit us here at brn all the time a couple years ago. Even during the offseason we’d hear their rants. I wonder what happened to them?
10/12/2009
James—the Mizzou fans are still draining their swimming pool of a stadium from Thursday’s game, and the Colorado fans are trying to find $3 million to get their AD in the black so they can fire Hawkins. So they’re kinda busy right now… ;)
As for this week, I’m not reading too much into their win against K-State. The Wildcats were overmatched athletically and, from some accounts, gave up early in the second half.
Add to that Tech’s soft pass defense and their O-Line problems (their best O-Line player is still suspended, I believe, for saying the coach has no clothes publicly…), Suh and the front four should have a field day, and seven on five in the secondary will always tilt in our favor with the way the defense is playing.
Bugeaters: 42
Naked Pirate Gang: 20
10/12/2009
Matt:
Our “best O-line player” is not still suspended. He played against k-state. He cut off his mohawk so was harder to recognize. And he wasn’t suspended for saying the coach has no clothes publicly. It was for slamming his helmet around in the locker room after losing to Houston. No way NU puts up 42 points.
NU-28
TTU-31
Wreck ‘Em Tech!!!!
10/12/2009
TT represents a different kind of challenge. Leach has so much faith in the aerial attack he may abandon the run all together. Their QB operates out of the deep shotgun and depends on quick timing short throws to slow down the defensive rush. When TT QBs have time they can pick apart any defensive. The game plan for the Blackshirts is to disrupt the timing and pressure the QB. Up front will be a battle of two All Americans. Should be a great matchup. If NU can put effective pressure with the front 4 again it will limit Tech’s 2nd and 3rd reads. The Huskers O must find an effective sustained running attack and limit Tech’s opportunities to get their potent offense on the field.
Long range forecast looking good for Saturday. Go Big Red, Wreck Tech!
10/12/2009
The Huskers better concentrate on offense this week in preparing for Tech. Their game plan last year - hold the ball and keep the Red Raider offense off the field - nearly worked as the game went into overtime and was won by Tech on one (of very few) mistakes made by Nebraska. Nebraska didn’t stop Tech (only 2 punts) and the Huskers only punted once; both teams rolled up nearly exactly the same yardage, a little over 470 for NU; over 420 for Tech. The biggest difference was that Nebraska held the ball for over 40 minutes while Tech didn’t have it for 20 minutes ... that is a recipe for success that likely plays to Tech’s weakness from last year. The Red Raiders are slightly better on defense this year - but, only slightly. After the display in Lubbock last Saturday, it would be wise to assume that they are every bit as effective on offense as in last and previous years.
10/12/2009
Raider Red,
I kinda agree with you… Your offense is effective this year, but not quite as much as last year. You don’t have a breakout threat at WR, like Crabtree, and you don’t have a running game like last year.
You will face a better NU defense than last year and a streaky offense. If you can get pressure on Lee and force him to make mistakes you’ll stay in the game. But if the Huskers get an early score or two, then the D will really clamp down and it will be a low-scoring, but safe, NU victory.
Should be a good game!
GBR!
10/12/2009
Well, Austin - in this season, NU has faced the #34 offense (Va Tech) and the #68 offense (Mizzou) in addition to 2 Div II squads. This week, you have the #1 offense in the country coming into your house on an absolute steamroller. Also, I am not exactly sure why you (and most everyone else) are dimissing Tech’s running game - it might be interesting for you to see the re-run of the Tech-KSU game this week, so you can see just how good it is. Yes - I agree that the NU defense looks very good (and Suh would likely get my vote for the Heisman, too), but there is going to be a LOT more to stop in Tech’s offense than the Huskers D has seen, to-date. Again - I really do believe that NU’s key to beating Tech is to keep the Tech offense off the field. And, after seeing a couple of Nebraska’s games earlier this season, they’ll need to be WAY better on offense than they have been, so far.
Best of luck, but - Wreck ‘em Tech!
10/12/2009
Red Raider fans, welcome to brn. We’re a lot different team from last year. A lot different. This team isn’t even comparable to the one that we last saw in Jacksonville in The Gator Bowl. We’ve come a long, long, long way. We don’t have to use the same strategy as last year. There is no need to have to work the clock. Like Austin mentioned above, you don’t have Crabtree, and that makes a HUGE difference. I’m just not sure that you have a gamebreaker on the perimeter that requires special attention. I think that we can run on you guys, and despite his troubles on the road Zac Lee has looked pretty good in Lincoln. At Virginia Tech we DID get to the red zone five times. Now to be fair we didn’t finish, and that’s on us, BUT we should be able to move the ball against you guys. IF we can get 170 out of Helu in Blacksburg, I feel comfortable about my chances of being productive offensively in Lincoln against Texas Tech. Yes, the offense did look awful for three quarters last Thursday in Columbia, but when the rain did start to slow down we started to make some plays. A lot of coaches would quietly take a conference win like that because it takes some character to respond the way we did after the first three quarters. After all you had you’re ugly conference win last year against Nebraska and I’m sure you wouldn’t have given it back. We’re going to continue to grow, on both sides of the ball. Coach Pelini is not going to allow these guys to get complacent and after the past few years I have a hard time that our guys very quitely don’t have a HUGE chip on their shoulders. It won’t be easy for sure, but it’s not as difficult as last year. IF, and IF you can’t handle House of Spears you can forget about running your offense. The spread offense, is based on timing and the ASSUMPTION that your offensive line can hold their blocks one-on-one. IF you can’t check him, and we can get to you sending four, then we win. The guy truly is special. He does things that a DT/NG shouldn’t be able to do. He’s a special talent and really one of the best defensive interior lineman in the past few years. . .
We all respect your offense & what Coach Leach has been able to accomplish in Lubbock. Nobody would deny you guys that. Of that I can assure you that most Husker fans would agree with that statement. With respect, putting up 66 on Kansas State ain’t too much to write home about. We’ve scored 73 & 59 in our last two outings. You should torch Kansas State, you’re that much better than them. . .
10/12/2009
Okay - well all that’s left is to play the game, huh? I know that everyone who is going up to Lincoln to see Tech v NU is looking forward to it - not just because of the excitement around Sticks Sheffield and what he might do against the #15 team in the country, but also because there is no better place to enjoy a college football game than in your Memorial Stadium - your fans are the absolute class in college football, at home and on the road.
But, after those niceties - here is what I am predicting -
Texas Tech - 42
Nebraska - 21
And, we’ll see you in Lubbock in 2012 - hopefully both of us playing for something meaningful, by then!
Wreck ‘em Tech!
10/12/2009
Raider Red,
Just curious, who do Tech fans want to see start at QB: Sheffield or Potts?
10/12/2009
It’s pretty clear that Sheffield has won the job - at least in the hearts and minds of most Tech fans. This is a guy who was a walk-on, earned his way past a blue-chip QB (Doege) to be the back-up to Potts, who is also pretty good (when his vision is clear!) Sheffield stepped in suddenly in the New Mexico game, where the team was very much in disarray, and really got it together well, managing the team to an ugly win. The results last Saturday against KSU have confirmed what we all saw glimpses of when he stepped in the week before. Now, you never know what Captain Leach is going to do - but, I think most of us would be surprised if he didn’t start Sticks in Lincoln.
10/12/2009
The Blackshirts may be bigger, but can they run up and down the field for 60 minutes? Tech has re-shuffled their O-line, but it worked to perfection against K-State. Mike Leach tinkers until he gets it right, and now it is right.
Expect a fierce Nebraska defense, but Tech only has to get “it right” a few plays. No team in the Big 12 can keep up with Tech’s offensive pace, and anyone who takes their running game lightly will suffer for it. Harrison Jeffers is big, fast and fierce. Batch is fast and quick. Both will set up the 8 yard slant that goes for 50 yards.
Two great teams, two Big Reds, and what a game this will be. What’s the weather forecast???
10/13/2009
I’m curious about the weather, too.
It’s hard to peg the Tech team this week, mainly because of all the troubles we had in the early games. Everyone talks about losing Harrell and Crabs, but the real problem was losing 3 starters off that O-line. Between suspensions, injuries, and the myriad of personnel combinations they tried, there was no continuity or chemistry among the big uglies. That resulted in penalties, turnovers, and constant QB pressure. It’s hard to be sure (considering who we played last week), but hopes on this end are that we finally got things right.
The running game (or lack thereof) is directly related to that O-line problem. We have some young backs that can flat out play, in addition to Batch. Last week we had a net 175 yds rushing, and almost that much in the 2nd quarter at UH. Other games we’ve had less than 50 (-6 in one game). Again, hopes are that we’ve got that problem fixed. Guess we’ll find out Saturday. Sure wish I could be there.
10/13/2009
What you Husker fans fail to realize is that Tech spreads the ball around. A lot. We average over 10 different receivers with receptions every game. We may not have a Crabtree, but we don’t necessarily need a Crabtree when you have 10 different playmakers that can catch balls out of the backfield or downfield on a regular basis. Also, Sheffield is starting on Saturday…he’s not a pocket passer. He scrambles, throws on the run and makes some insanely quick reads. Sheffield also knows when to bail on a play. To top it off, we can run the ball very well if we need to…we just don’t do it nearly as much as we pass.
Essentially, we’re a triple threat team that will keep the Nebraska defense honest. I expect to see a lot of Zone and Cover 2 played by Nebraska. Just sayin…
WRECK EM
10/15/2009
Red Raider 42 points on Nebraska Defense. Thats pretty high hopes on a team that only put up 38 on North Dakota & 28 on Houston. The only teams that they have put up more then 40 points on, is Rice, New Mexico & K State. Sorry to tell you K State could beat themselves out of a wet paper sack. Rice is still looking for that first victory of the year & North Dakota lost to Stephen F. Austin (Who ever that is). You might want to re think that score. The front four of the Huskers are gonna have there way with TTs O-Line & Suh will put which ever QB starts on his back more then a girl workin at the cathouse.
NU 33
TT 21
10/15/2009
Red Raider 42 points on Nebraska Defense. Thats pretty high hopes on a team that only put up 38 on North Dakota & 28 on Houston. The only teams that they have put up more then 40 points on, is Rice, New Mexico & K State. Sorry to tell you K State could beat themselves out of a wet paper sack. Rice is still looking for that first victory of the year & North Dakota lost to Stephen F. Austin (Who ever that is). You might want to re think that score. The front four of the Huskers are gonna have there way with TTs O-Line & Suh will put which ever QB starts on his back more then a girl workin at the cathouse.
NU 33
TT 21
10/19/2009
Another Pirate victory for Mike Leach. Most of you were so wrong. Nice boos from the homecrowd and coaches handshake after the game. No class huskers !!!