The Red Raiders have been consistently adored in magazine Top 25s, with Phil Steele coming in with a high ranking of No. 11.
Heard about their improved defense?
Yeah, yeah, let's get real.
Talk about Tech pushing the Big 12 big shots comes down to one thing. The same thing we always talk about with Tech – the passing game.
Or, should we say, the receiving game.
Tech's wideouts (tight ends are obsolete in Lubbock) are the class of the Big 12, if not the nation, with super sophomore Michael Crabtree leading the best collection of pass catchers in Mike Leach's time out in West Texas.
It's a good year for ends, split and tight, across the Big 12.
Missouri's duo of wideout Jeremy Maclin and tight end Chase Coffman offers the best 1-2 punch in the league.
Oklahoma may be missing a go-to threat with Malcolm Kelly's departure to the NFL, although tight end Jermaine Gresham may prove otherwise, and the Sooners' cast of solid receiving options runs deep.
Oklahoma State, too, sends out a great tight end in Brandon Pettigrew.
Dez Bryant came on as a playmaker late last season, and the Cowboys are looking to promising youngsters to bolster the wide receiver position.
Out in Lubbock, however, they've long proven they can play pitch and catch. And the Raiders have never featured this much talent.
Say what you will about a system offense – critics claiming such steer clear of Leach barbs – but who from past Tech receiving corps, other than Wes Welker, has been heard from since? And surprise, surprise, none of us fully appreciated Welker during his days in Lubbock.
This Tech unit finally features top-grade talent. Crabtree, the Biletnikoff Award winner last year as a redshirt freshman, is Exhibit A.
Crabtree led the nation in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown grabs.
Beyond the numbers, he's tall and fast, can jump and go get the ball and then cradle it softly with sure hands. Tough, too, he's already the No. 1-rated receiver for next year's draft.
While Tech has no one else like him, the Raiders have upgraded their recruiting at the receiver spot in recent years, making Leach's system, er, attack, that much more deadly.
Eric Morris and Edward Britton caught 75 and 48 passes, respectively, a year ago. Sophomore Detron Lewis and more youngsters are on the way.
Quarterback Graham Harrell can let it fly with complete comfort about what happens next.
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After watching all of spring practice at Texas Tech, it easy to get caught up in all this hype. The offense is fun to watch and you constantly wonder how a defense is going to cover all this. Crabtree is a freak of nature and they have a wealth of other options. Do not be surprised to see former Oklahoma City Millwood standout Tramain Swindall have a breakout year for the Red Raiders. He looked solid in spring practice and his height gives Tech different look at receiver. That being said, by the end of spring practice, the thing that left the biggest impression on your mind was the defense.......yes i said defense. Ruffin McNeill has instilled a nasty attitude on that defense. There were times during spring scrimmages that the defense just plan dominated. They walk with a swagger and have a chip on their shoulder. It is going to be interesting to see if they can carry that attitude into fall practice and the season. In the end, there will be a ton of hype on the South Plains in the coming weeks, but simply put, the Big 12 is going to be really tough this year. Tech's successes have always been undercut by untimely losses. They have to beat Texas this year and travel to College Station before a final road game in Norman. They will be judged on those standards. They have to win the games they are expected to. Watch closely for a real scare on September 9 when they travel to Nevada. This game can be a tone setter for the rest of the season.
After watching all of spring practice at Texas Tech, it easy to get caught up in all this hype. The offense is fun to watch and you constantly wonder how a defense is going to cover all this. Crabtree is a freak of nature and they have a wealth of other options. Do not be surprised to see former Oklahoma City Millwood standout Tramain Swindall have a breakout year for the Red Raiders. He looked solid in spring practice and his height gives Tech different look at receiver. That being said, by the end of spring practice, the thing that left the biggest impression on your mind was the defense.......yes i said defense. Ruffin McNeill has instilled a nasty attitude on that defense. There were times during spring scrimmages that the defense just plan dominated. They walk with a swagger and have a chip on their shoulder. It is going to be interesting to see if they can carry that attitude into fall practice and the season. In the end, there will be a ton of hype on the South Plains in the coming weeks, but simply put, the Big 12 is going to be really tough this year. Tech's successes have always been undercut by untimely losses. They have to beat Texas this year and travel to College Station before a final road game in Norman. They will be judged on those standards. They have to win the games they are expected to. Watch closely for a real scare on September 9 when they travel to Nevada. This game can be a tone setter for the rest of the season.
After watching all of spring practice at Texas Tech, it easy to get caught up in all this hype. The offense is fun to watch and you constantly wonder how a defense is going to cover all this. Crabtree is a freak of nature and they have a wealth of other options. Do not be surprised to see former Oklahoma City Millwood standout Tramain Swindall have a breakout year for the Red Raiders. He looked solid in spring practice and his height gives Tech different look at receiver. That being said, by the end of spring practice, the thing that left the biggest impression on your mind was the defense.......yes i said defense. Ruffin McNeill has instilled a nasty attitude on that defense. There were times during spring scrimmages that the defense just plan dominated. They walk with a swagger and have a chip on their shoulder. It is going to be interesting to see if they can carry that attitude into fall practice and the season. In the end, there will be a ton of hype on the South Plains in the coming weeks, but simply put, the Big 12 is going to be really tough this year. Tech's successes have always been undercut by untimely losses. They have to beat Texas this year and travel to College Station before a final road game in Norman. They will be judged on those standards. They have to win the games they are expected to. Watch closely for a real scare on September 9 when they travel to Nevada. This game can be a tone setter for the rest of the season.
Tech scares me a bit. They have the guy we should have kept as an offensive coordinator as their head coach. But, millions talk, I know. They know our offensive system as well as we do. They are finally getting talent at WR..why it took this long is beyond me. Well, okay. I HAVE been to Lubbock. Crabtree may open up the flood gates of top notch wr's to Lubbock. The defense is improving with coaching changes and recruits. What's not to like about a head coach who wears camo shorts and flip flops to the office, has the understanding that coaches have families too, (like Stoops), and has a motion activated pirate to scare the hell of the cleaning lady. This is a team that I can like, except for one Saturday a year. I would love to see them have two losses this season, and both to us. Go Tech.
They need to be prepared for more than Tech, Missouri, Kansas, Texas... Big 12 means business this year in football! Tech is always putting out the best throwing game, however, their defense usually can't back it up. Defenses when games.
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