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.