The keys to Saturday’s matchup against Texas Tech are no different than the keys to every game with the Red Raiders.
1. Get off to a good start
The Longhorns had their worst half of the season in the first two quarters in Lubbock last year, which started with a safety on the first offensive play of the game. Texas must have smarter play calling and not change its game plan. The running game must continue to exist, no matter who plays in the backfield, and Colt McCoy must remain calm in the pocket and find his receivers.
2. You can’t stop the Red Raiders from gaining yards, but you can stop them from scoring
Tech has many new faces on offense, but that will not stop the team from gaining yards, especially from the passing game. The Red Raiders will complete passes and make their way downfield. The way to prevent them from scoring though is by stopping them on fourth down. Mike Leach is hungry for points, and it is not often that he opts for a long field goal or a punt. He wants touchdowns and goes for it on fourth down just as much as any other coach in college football.
3. Pressure Potts
Force quarterback Taylor Potts to throw the ball quick. The front seven must get to him early and not let Potts get too comfortable in the pocket. Sergio Kindle, Lamarr Houston and Sam Acho will need to knock down Potts every chance they get. The defensive backs will be busy and will want the plays to be as short as possible. Doing this must not let the receivers run their complete routes and must force the Red Raiders to make adjustments.
4. Hold on to the ball
Tech cannot score if it does not have the ball. Colt McCoy and the Longhorns need to have long possessions and give their defense plenty of rest. They do this by getting first downs. Texas cannot give up on its running game and needs to continue to feed Vondrell McGee, Tre Newton and D.J. Monroe. As much as the fans want to see a touchdown on every play from McCoy, the offense should try to hold on to the ball and go for 5-8-yard plays every down.
5. Don’t get too confident
No, the Red Raiders are not the same team from last year and are not in contention for a national title. But they are still very confident about pulling off an upset and proving that last year’s win was no fluke. If the Longhorns get ahead early, they need to keep playing as if they were down a touchdown. The Longhorns will be pumped for this game but can’t let emotions get the best of them. They need to be careful not to make any personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct. No matter what the team says this week, it still has Nov. 1, 2008 on its mind and wants revenge.
1 comments