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EARLY
BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008 |
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TEXAS
TECH |
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OFFENSE
- 4 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Graham Harrell-QB, Shannon Woods-RB,
Eric Morris-WR, Rylan Reed-OT,
Louis Vasquez-OG, Stephen Hamby-C,
Michael Crabtree-WR (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Jake
Ratliff-DE, L.A. Reed-CB, Daniel
Charbonnet-SS, Darcel McBath-FS,
Brandon Williams-DE (NFL) |
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Defensive
Front Seven |
Five
of the front seven
return to the defense.
Dixon, Whitlock,
Duncan and Williams
are all worthy of
All-Big 12 status.
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Offensive
Line / Secondary |
The
All-Big 12 (left)
side of the OL has
been dismantled.
Outside/inside coverage
is crucial nowadays
in this pass-happy
division/league,
and the nation's
91st ranked pass
defense will need
to find another
gear via experience
as they restock
the safety position. |
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RB
Baron Batch |
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CB Jamar Wall |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2009 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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TEXAS
TECH 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Taylor
Potts-Jr |
.. |
RB |
Baron
Batch-Jr |
.. |
H |
Adam
James-So |
.. |
WR |
Lyle
Leong-Jr |
Edward
Britton-Sr |
WR |
Detron
Lewis-Jr |
Tramain
Swindall-So |
WR |
.. |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
.. |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Brandon
Carter-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Marlong
Winn-Sr |
.. |
K |
Matt
Williams-Jr |
Donnie
Carona-So |
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TEXAS
TECH 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
McKinner
Dixon-Sr |
.. |
NT |
Colby
Whitlock-Jr |
.. |
DT |
Richard
Jones-Sr |
Rajon
Henley-Sr |
DE |
Daniel
Howard-Sr |
.. |
SLB |
Bront
Bird-Jr |
.. |
MLB |
Brian
Duncan-Jr |
Victor
Hunter-Sr |
WLB |
Marlon
Williams-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Jamar
Wall-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Brent
Nickerson-Sr |
.. |
SS |
.. |
.. |
FS |
.. |
.. |
P |
Jonathan
LaCour-Jr |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
12/9/08
Hopefully, higher expectations
will not ruin what head coach
Mike Leach accomplishes annually
in Lubbock. The Red Raiders
may not initially be at the
same offensive level as they
were coming into 2008…what,
with only five starters returning.
But, seriously, since when has
this made any difference to
Leach and his staff and the
results they procure from whomever
wears the TT uniform? From Kingsbury
to Symons to Cumbie to Hodges
to Harrell...the QB names change,
but the results never do. This
time the opportunity is Taylor
Potts’, an Abilene product
that came to Tech ranked as
the No. 13 pro-style prep quarterback
nationally (Rivals.com and Scout.com).
He has the prototypical 6-5
frame of a pure passer to fit
the Leach protégé
mold, and with three years already
logged in the system. Team leading
rusher Baron Batch returns as
a nice running option. Of course,
the biggest question (if not
nationally) will be whether
or not two-time All-American
Michael Crabtree will return
for his junior season (redshirted
his first year and is eligible
for the NFL Draft). This will
be a major factor given the
departures on this side of the
ball. Protecting the QB will
be an adventure on the left
side of the line as all three
blockers have departed (Reed
and Vasquez named All-Big 12).
The best news lies on the defensive
side, where 2009 represents
maybe the best talent and the
most experience Leach has ever
had in Lubbock. DE Brandon Williams
is a sack machine (11 in ‘08),
and six of the front seven returns
in tact. As with most every
Big 12 defense comes the problem
of fixing the all-important
secondary, and Tech is no exception.
Both safeties need replaced.
The incumbents get tossed into
a burning ring of aerial fire
since most of the heralded Big
12 QBs are back in the mix next
season. This team has done more
in past seasons with less offensive
talent. So it should be no surprise
when Leach, with his new $12
million dollar contract extension,
continues to keep his squad
on the top of the offensive
yardage map. New faces do not
mean any steps back, though,
losing Crabtree could easily
hinder these purely positive
preseason prognostications.
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TEXAS
TECH
2009 SCHEDULE
Sep.
5 North Dakota
Sep. 12 Rice
Sep. 26 at Houston
Oct. 3 New Mexico
Oct. 10 Kansas State
Oct. 17 at Nebraska
Oct. 24 Texas A&M
Oct. 31 Kansas
Nov. 7 at Texas
Nov. 14 at Oklahoma State
Nov. 21 Oklahoma
Nov. 28 at Baylor |
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