|
WR
Joel Filani |
|
|
2005
Statistics |
Coach:
Mike Leach
48-28,
6 years |
2005
Record: 9-3 |
|
FLOR.
INTERNATIONAL |
WON
56-3 |
SAM
HOUSTON STATE |
WON
80-21 |
INDIANA
STATE |
WON
63-7 |
KANSAS |
WON
30-17 |
at
Nebraska |
WON
34-31 |
KANSAS
STATE |
WON
59-20 |
at
Texas |
LOST
17-52 |
at
Baylor |
WON
28-0 |
TEXAS
A&M |
WON
56-17 |
at
Oklahoma State |
LOST
17-24 |
OKLAHOMA |
WON
23-21 |
COTTON
BOWL |
vs.
Alabama |
LOST
10-13 |
|
2005 Final Rankings
AP-20, Coaches-19, BCS-15
|
2006
Outlook |
While
it may appear on the surface that
Tech’s fortunes will live or
die with the new quarterback, Leach
has proven for three years that he
can plug just about anyone in behind
center and have success. However,
unlike last year when Hodges had a
chance to acclimate himself against
I-AA foes instead of programs on this
level, Harrell will be thrown into
the fire, facing an upstart SMU program
and then two tough road games against
Mike Price’s quality UTEP squad
and deceptively good TCU (coming off
a three of its best four seasons in
decades). The Red Raiders also have
the misfortune of playing in some
tough road atmospheres after having
all but one of their tough games at
home last season. Tech travels to
A&M, Colorado, Iowa State and
Oklahoma. Texas is at home, and that
will tell all as to how far the team
really will go.
Coming
off the best season since the 1970s,
Tech didn’t win its bowl game
for the first time in three years,
but seemingly succeeded in the fact
they played in the Cotton Bowl, reserved
for the Big 12’s No. 1 non-BCS
team, and lost on a last-second field
goal to Alabama 13-10.
Tech’s
program has been on the rise for the
past few seasons, led quietly by an
improving defense which is always
overshadowed by its record-setting
offense. This season’s schedule
presents more challenges than last
season’s and a 9-3 regular season
finish seems to be the best-case scenario
for the Red Raiders, assuming they
can take care of business in winnable
non-conference games, which has proven
to be a problem in the past.
Projected
2006 record: 10-2
|
|
|
WR
Jarrett Hicks |
TEXAS
TECH
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 2.5 |
LB
- 4 |
WR
- 5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Graham Harrell, 55-37-0, 422 yds.,
3 TD
Rushing: Shannon Woods, 24
att., 168 yds., 3 TD
Receiving: Robert Johnson,
67 rec., 951 yds., 4 TD
Scoring: Alex Trlica, 13-18
FG, 60-60 PAT, 99 pts.
Punting: Alex Reyes, 49 punts,
42.8 avg.
Kicking: Alex Trlica, 13-18
FG, 60-60 PAT, 99 pts.
Tackles: Fletcher Session,
81 tot., 43 solo
Sacks: Keyunta Dawson, 2.5
sacks
Interceptions: Chris Hudler,
Paul Williams, Chris Parker, Antonio
Huffman - 1 each
Kickoff Returns: Shannon Woods,
11 ret., 20.7 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Danny Amendola,
32 ret., 9.8 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
TEXAS
TECH |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 8 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 5 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Cody Hodges-QB, Taurean Henderson-RB,
Bristol Olomua-WR, E.J. Whitley-OG,
Bryan Kegans-OG |
DEFENSE:
Randall
Cherry-DE, Brett Bischofberger-DE, John
Saldi-SLB, Sylvester Brinkley-WLB, Khalid
Naziruddin-CB, Vincent Meeks-SS, Dwayne
Slay-FS, Greg Aycock-FS (left team),
Marquis Johnson-WR (NFL) |
|
|
2006
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
Tech
coach Mike Leach is firmly against naming
a starter at the helm of his offense until
the first week of the Fall, but all signs
point toward redshirt sophomore and Texas
prep legend Graham Harrell (2003 Gatorade
Texas H.S. Player of the Year) to take over
Tech’s high-octane passing offense.
Since 2000, Tech’s quarterback has
led the nation in passing, but no matter
what happens, Leach will break the unwanted
trend of starting a fifth-year senior. The
past three seasons have seen three –
B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie and Cody Hodges
– lead the offense, and Leach has
said on numerous occasions he can’t
wait to buck the trend. This will be his
shot with Harrell, redshirt freshman Chris
Todd and possibly true freshman Taylor Potts,
of Abilene, competing for the job, which
should be Harrell’s to lose. Harrell
completed 37-of-55 with no picks, 422 yards
and three scores in mop-up duty last season.
He showed tremendous poise for a freshman
in the Cotton Bowl when Hodges left with
a leg injury in the fourth quarter. He led
Tech’s only scoring drive late in
the game, but Hodges returned to finish
it. He has prototypical size (6-2, 190)
and might have the best arm of any quarterback
Leach has coached at Tech. Early buzz from
Lubbock says Potts might have something
to say about that though.
Running
Back
This is the most unproven link of the offensive
chain. With four-year starter Taurean Henderson
gone after becoming the NCAA’s all-time
third leading scorer and the third back
in NCAA history to rush for 3,000 yards
and have 2,000 yards receiving in a career.
Redshirt sophomore Shannon Woods will be
the early favorite to start after earning
all-Big 12 honorable mention as a kick returner.
Woods is faster than Henderson, but it is
doubtful he’ll be as versatile as
Henderson, who was an excellent runner,
receiver and blocker. The biggest dropoff
here will likely be Woods’ adjustment
to picking up blitzes. Taurance Rawls, who
might be the team’s best athlete,
will also figure into the equation as well
as Midland true freshman Baron Batch (4.4
in the 40). This team passes to set up the
runs, so there will be production here due
to the potency of the aerial assault.
Receiver
This
is the unquestioned strength of the Red
Raiders’ offense this season. Every
starter returns to the Air Raid offense,
including two all-Big 12 first-team selections
in Joel Filani and Jarrett Hicks and second-team
selection Robert Johnson, who moved from
quarterback prior to the 2005 season to
earn Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors.
While Leach used to have great success with
small, unheralded receivers such as Wes
Welker and Nehemiah Glover, Tech is finally
starting to get NFL-size receivers, which
could be scary. Johnson is the shortest
of the three (6-2) but also the fastest.
Danny Amendola rounds out the starting rotation
of receivers (inside “H” Back),
hoping to show the promise he flashed as
a freshman two years ago, when he led the
conference in punt returning.
Tight
End
Leach
doesn’t use a true tight end. Rylan
Reed, a 6-7 sophomore, will try to fill
in the void. Reed caught just two balls
last year but should be able to get open
down the middle of the field with his size
alone.
Offensive
Line
After
suffering some growing pains last season,
Tech loses just one starter on the line,
albeit, the best in Whitley. The line will
be anchored by the right side, consisting
of RG Manny Ramirez and RT Gabe Hall (6-4,
285), a converted tight end who may lack
bulk but has great agility. The key will
be protecting the quarterback’s blind
side, no matter who it is, which will be
left up to LT Glenn January and likely Louis
Vasquez. The center position is the most
likely change - last year’s starter
Brandon Jones had some problems running
the line at times. Sophomore Josh Aleman
has been hearing he will “start soon”
since the middle of last season. One thing’s
for certain, Tech has its usual line made
up of mammoths with great footwork and pass
blocking skills.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
The
only hope for opponents is that Harrell
will stumble out of the gates and crumble
under the pressure of playing major-conference
college football, but that’s not likely.
Harrell has been touted to be the “next
big thing” in Lubbock ever since he
set foot on campus two years ago. Fans have
been salivating over the possibility of
having another quarterback who can grow
in Leach’s system (Kliff Kingsbury
was last guy to start three years before
giving way to the fifth-year senior train).
The only thing Tech loses with Harrell is
mobility. The biggest strength for the Red
Raiders is unquestionably at wide receiver.
Filani, Hicks and Johnson should all have
monster seasons and are tough matchups for
many teams due to their size and speed.
The biggest question mark would seem to
be behind center, but in Lubbock, it’s
been proven that anyone can play quarterback,
even the “7-Eleven clerk from behind
the counter,” as Leach put it. That
question mark lies at the running back position,
not because of a lack of talent in Woods
and Rawls, but because of all Tech loses
in Henderson. The experience gained by Filani
and Johnson last season should help ease
the transition for whoever starts at running
back.
|
|
OG
Manuel Ramirez
|
|
|
TEXAS
TECH 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Graham
Harrell-So (6-3, 197) |
Chris
Todd-Fr (6-3, 201) |
RB |
Shannon
Woods-So (5-11, 197) |
Kobey
Lewis-Fr (5-6, 167) |
WR |
Jarrett
Hicks-Sr (6-3, 208) |
Todd
Walker-So (6-1, 178) |
WR |
Robert
Johnson-Sr (6-1, 218) |
Grant
Walker-Jr (6-1, 187) |
WR |
Joel
Filani-Sr (6-3, 214) |
Catron
Houston-So (5-11, 183) |
H |
Danny
Amendola-Jr (5-11, 175) |
L.A.
Reed-So (6-2, 203) |
OT |
Glenn
January-Sr (6-7, 287) |
Marlon
Winn-Fr (6-6, 309) |
OG |
Louis
Vasquez-So (6-6, 335) |
Ofa
Mohetau-Jr (6-3, 340) |
C |
Brandon
Jones-Sr (6-3, 309) |
Shawn
Byrnes-Fr (6-3, 318) |
OG |
Manuel
Ramirez-Sr (6-4, 328) |
Brandon
Carter-Fr (6-6, 351) |
OT |
Gabe
Hall-Sr (6-4, 293) |
Andrew
Johnson-Fr (6-4, 300) |
K |
Alex
Trlica-Jr (6-0, 172) |
.. |
|
|
2006
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
This unit has been the weakness of a steadily-improving
defensive unit, which finished ranked 26th
in total defense, but 67th against the run.
That number should improve this year with
a number of returners and backups who had
valuable experience making headway. The
biggest surprise last year was the lack
of a pass rush by first-year starter Keyunta
Dawson, who two years ago led the team in
sacks as a pass-rush specialist. Look for
Dawson to make a switch to LB this spring
however. He finished with just 2.5 sacks
last year, but has incredible speed and
talent. The tackle position is the most
experienced on the line with returning starters
Chris Hudler and Ken Scott, who should be
better based solely off having another year
under their belts. Seth Nitschmann also
returns from a season-ending injury at end,
which was his at the beginning of 2005.
This is a well-sized, athletic crew that
has the potential to keep up with anyone
in the conference.
Linebacker
This
will be the strength of a defense that has
been secondary-heavy over the past couple
of seasons. The Red Raiders get back MLB
Brock Stratton, who suffered a season-ending
knee injury in Tech’s conference opener
last year against Kansas. Stratton reminds
many of former Tech great Zach Thomas with
his undeniable nose for the ball despite
his size. Stratton is also an extremely
smart player, who’s a 25-year-old
junior who took two years off for a church
mission. He earned Big 12 Freshman of the
Year honors before suffering the injury
last season. Stratton’s return will
allow Fletcher Session to return to his
original position of outside linebacker.
Session, a senior, was the team’s
second-leading tackler last season after
replacing Stratton in the middle, but his
speed is more conducive to playing the outside,
likely on the weakside. A handful of players
will vie for the other outside starting
position, including two freshman signees,
Julius Howard and Blake Collier, a svelte
cover-type from Justin Northwest.
Defensive
Back
This
is the most questionable unit on the defense,
solely because of its inexperience. The
secondary has been the team’s strength
the past two seasons, finishing in the top
15 in the nation in pass defense both years,
but it only returns one starter, left cornerback
Antonio Huffman, who is the team’s
best cover corner. Huffman will lead a group
of talent, but inexperienced players who
will attempt to fill the void left by all-Big
12 second-teamer Vincent Meeks (SS) and
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Dwayne
Slay (FS). Replacing Naziruddin will be
junior Chris Parker, whose season was highlighted
by his interception against Texas last year
to stop an early scoring drive as the game
was still within Tech’s reach. Parker
is a bonafide playmaker who should excel
in Tech’s scheme, which allows corners
to be aggressive. The safety positions are
the biggest question, but Joe Garcia should
be a viable replacement for Meeks in the
same mold as Slay, a fearsome hitter. Anthony
Hines and Greg Aycock should compete to
replace Slay at free safety, with the edge
going to Hines because of his size (6-1,
223). Sophomore Darcel McBath will push
Parker for a starting corner job, but will
likely be the nickel guy.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Fourth-year
defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich has
improved his units at every stop, most notably
California and Arizona State, and has done
the same at Tech. The squad ranked dead
last (117th) in his first season and improved
to 26th last season. Setencich’s trademark
is his aggressive, off-kilter blitzing schemes,
which he might have to curtail some this
year with the inexperienced secondary, which
in the past could make up for a mistake.
That’s not to say this year’s
squad won’t be able, but it is a question
mark with the unit’s inexperience.
The linebackers will be the strength and
Tech will welcome Stratton’s return,
who’s a genuine ball hawk. Each year
over the past three, Tech’s defense
has actually won a couple of games (more
each year), and has slowed potent offenses
(with the exception of Texas) to fewer points
in their efforts. The defense’s success
came to a head in last year’s Cotton
Bowl against Alabama, which possessed the
nation’s No. 2 defense. The game was
billed as Tech’s offense against Bama’s
defense, which some Tech defenders took
personally. The game showcased a trademark
defensive slugfest, ending on a game-winning
field goal as time expired to give the Tide
a 13-10 win.
|
|
DE
Keyunta Dawson
|
|
|
TEXAS
TECH 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
McKinner
Dixon-So (6-3, 265) |
Jared
Williams-So (6-5, 252) |
NT |
Chris
Hudler-Sr (6-3, 289) |
Dek
Bake-Sr (6-5, 268) |
DT |
Ken
Scott-Sr (6-2, 327) |
.. |
DE |
Seth
Nitschmann-Sr (6-4, 246) |
Tyler
Yenzer-Jr (6-4, 235) |
SLB |
Keyunta
Dawson-Sr (6-2, 248) |
Kellen
Tillman-Jr (6-1, 237) |
MLB |
Brock
Stratton-Jr (5-11, 225) |
Paul
Williams-Jr (6-1, 221) |
WLB |
Fletcher
Session-Sr (6-0, 232) |
Brent
Slaughter-Sr (6-1, 209) |
CB |
Antonio
Huffman-Sr (5-11, 179) |
Marcus
Bunton-So (5-8, 187) |
CB |
Chris
Parker-Jr (5-11, 177) |
Brent
Nickerson-Fr (6-0, 171) |
SS |
Joe
Garcia-Jr (6-2, 206) |
Anthony
Hines-So (6-1, 236) |
FS |
Darcel
McBath-So (6-1, 193) |
Lance
Fuller-So (6-0, 217) |
P |
Alex
Reyes-Sr (6-1, 226) |
.. |
|
|
|
2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Alex
Trlica’s career was rejuvenated last year,
as he was a perfect on his 60! PATs and went 13-of-18
on his field goals, including 6-of-8 from 30-39
yards and 3-of-6 from 40-49, when his previous
career high had been 34 yards. He hit a 47-yarder
in 2005 and is a solid option.
Punter
Ever
since Alex Reyes has been at Tech, punting has
been one a ‘golden child’. Reyes has
one problem – qualifying for the Ray Guy
Award with the lack of time he gets due to Tech’s
potent offense. He’s still one of the nation’s
best after averaging 42.8 yards per, including
a long of 71 yards and over a third of his efforts
either being fair caught or dropping inside the
20. Net results need help.
Return
Game
Danny
Amendola hopes return to his freshman form, which
saw him earn Big 12 first-team punt returner.
Last season, he averaged nearly three yards below
his 2004 average. The kick returner position is
wide open, but will likely be led by Woods and
Amendola.
|
|