Texas Tech's skill: Avoiding negative plays Texas Tech's knack of avoiding negative plays will be tested against Oklahoma Sooners
By Jake Trotter
Published: November 17, 2008
NORMAN — Texas Tech’s 10-0 start can largely be explained by three statistics.
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Four-hundred ninety-nine pass attempts.
Six interceptions thrown.
Five sacks allowed.
Tech’s penchant for avoiding negative plays has been remarkable.
In back-to-back wins over Texas and Oklahoma State, Red Raider quarterback Graham Harrell threw 103 times with eight TDs, no picks and was only sacked twice.
The challenge for Oklahoma’s defense this weekend against Tech will be to continue what it has been doing the last month: inflicting negative plays on the opponent.
Since a 45-35 loss to Texas, in which the Sooners failed to record a turnover, OU has been as opportunistic as any defense in the Big 12.
The Sooners have forced 15 turnovers over the last four games, which have led to easy victories.
Saturday won’t be easy against Tech, the nation’s No. 2 team.
The Red Raiders are third in the nation in scoring, averaging almost 48 points a game.
Harrell is the frontrunner in the Heisman race. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree is also a Heisman contender.
With that kind of skill, the Red Raiders are sure to score their share of points against a Sooner defense that is allowing almost 31 points a game against Big 12 competition.
But if OU can counter with forced turnovers to set its offense up with great field position, the Sooners will send Tech back to Lubbock with its first loss of the season.
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Well, well,
Sounds like Billy is gonna take on that task of kicking OUs butt all by himself!!! Way to go, loser!!!! Pokes better be leary of getting scorched by OUs offense!!!
Jimmy Stevens admits sticking a right jab into the facemask of teammate Cordero Moore last week at Texas A&M was a move that may have lacked discretion.
Special teams meltdown - A look at some of Oklahoma’s woes on special teams:
OU ranks 109th nationally in covering kickoffs (25.63 yards per return)
The Sooners are one of only two teams in the nation to allow three runbacks for touchdowns (the other is Tulsa). Four others were long enough to directly contribute to scores.
OU has forced just 13 touchbacks this season and has the most kickoffs (87) and faced the most returns (71) in the nation.
OU has allowed a school-record 1,820 yards on kickoff returns.
Redshirt freshman kicker Jimmy Stevens is just 4-of-7 on field goals, with a long of 42, and has missed four extra-point kicks.
Senior punter Mike Knall averages just 35.8 yards per kick — ninth in the Big 12 and last among statistical qualifiers.
"I can't wait to kick the Gooners rear ends in Stillwater." A, which position can we look for you to destroy OU from? And where can we find you in the program? Didn't think so. You'd be better served finding out which network will be airing the Alamo Bowl so you can make sure the mental institution will be showing the game. Good news, though, rasslin' season is here!!
Funny, all these Tech and poke fans reading all about their beloved Sooners. They only hate when yer great!!! I have never read a single article directed for either team, cuz I simply don't care. Probably all Sooner fans at heart and yer daddy probably won't let you be a Sooner fan!
A, I don't think you're even going to be a part of the game. Heck, aren't even going are you? Going to watch it on TV? Man, the Cowboys will LOVE that support. Bob hasn't "chocked" in Big 12 play in his career. And I believe its five straight against the Cowboys right? And seven of nine? But even if the Cowboys DO beat the Sooners, few will be calling it a choke.
Your-way, I think I speak for most OU fans. We don't to win against Tech's second string quarterback. We want to beat them at their best.
Edwin, OSU also has one of the country's best vet schools. OU is the center of the National Weather Service and hosts the best Meterology program in the country. Both are great academic schools. There's no point trying to talk down either schools academic accomplishments because you'd look stupid to do so.
"Toothless Gooner fans?" Let's see...OU has the state's dental school, the law school, the medical school, seven national championships in football and five of the last eight conference championships. OSU is an agricultural school that cannot grow grass on a football field and shared a conference football championships with two other teams 32 years ago. This is OSU's best football team ever. Good luck to it in all games except the one in Stillwater on the 29th.
Hey A, YOu're obviously one of the many classless OSU fans, so why don't you go back to the stories about OSU and post there. OU might not beat Texas Tech their a very good team. OSU might beat OU in Stillwater they also have a very good team, but making comments about the Sooners like this is just plaih ignorance on your part since Texas Tech has already beaten OSU. So go play with yourself and leave the posting to adults
I can see the OU Gaylord Family newspaper is already cranking up the excuse machine. I can't wait to kick the Gooners rear ends in Stillwater. I hope they can survive the Tech game, but I bet medium game Bob will choke off another one. I can just hear all the toothless Gooner fans making excuses like they always do.
Jordan are you even close to literate, Your questioning Coach Stoops and Coach Venables? Coach Stoops is one of the top 5 coach's in America, and he feels Venables has done a good job. You need to go back to the rock you came out from
Tech has been doing it against quality opponents too. OU's last opponents since the Texas game are Kansas, K-State, Nebraska, Texas A&M. Not exactly stellar competition.
" A man oh Venables just aint get in er done. Stoops needs to look elseware man" Im inbareassed as a human bean to be represanted by dat der coach. I mean gym in e kristmas, K-state scored 35 points. Boomer Sooner."
Yep, those games were in Lubbock. Don't get that luxury this weekend! Stoops has lost how mant times in Norman? Oh, that's right, only twice!!!! Don't get to bring yer homer refs this week Leach.
You missed one more stat:
Texas Tech's O-Line has been called for holding once in the last 118 passing attempts. That's where Tech wins the game - up front.
Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech →When: 7 p.m. Saturday
→Where: Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman
→TV: ABC (Cox 8)
→Radio: KOKC-AM 1520, KRXO-FM 107.7
→Live blog:blog.newsok.com/ouIntercepting Leach’s offense
This year, Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell has only tossed five interceptions in 463 attempts. But picking off passes has been a big key for OU in disrupting Tech’s efficient offense under Mike Leach. In the eight meetings between Leach and OU, the Sooners have intercepted a combined 19 passes and have held Tech to an average of 20 points a game:
→2000: OU 27, Tech 13 (Norman)
INTs: 2
→2001: OU 30, Tech 13 (Lubbock)
INTs: 2
→2002: OU 60, Tech 15 (Norman)
INTs: 2
→2003: OU 56, Tech 25 (Lubbock)
INTs: 5
→2004: OU 28, Tech 13 (Norman)
INTs: 3
→2005: Tech 23, OU 21 (Lubbock)
INTs: 2
→2006: OU 34, Tech 24 (Norman)
INTs: 1
→2007: Tech 34, OU 27 (Lubbock)
INTs: 2
By Jake Trotter
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