I know Texas Tech scored a bunch and gave up a bunch to Abilene Christian last Saturday. The ACU quarterback threw for 500 yards so that would seem to be a good sign for our offense which moved the ball at will against Portland St. On the other hand Texas Tech put on its own offensive display and our D didn't look real convincing against PSU. I liked the way Mateer looked downfield and got a lot big plays. We also showed some signs of a running game. Hopefully the D can get some pressure on the Texas Tech QB. Perhaps somebody with a more technical understanding of defense than I have can explain to me why our defensive ends constantly crash down on any play action. If they insist on doing that we should at least have a linebacker or corner back ready to close that side off. The number of times the PSU QB made a simple play action fake to one side and then easily got outside on the other side was rather disconcerting. It seems to me we have been vulnerable to this for years.
Between part of the problem to most of the problem was, is:
1. PSU has a really good running game, according to the so called experts.
2. Even though the Defensive Tackles on the WSU, D line, and even the ENDS are quite BEEFY, BEASTLY SIZED averaging 6-4.5 315 pounds, and being VERY STRONG, etc, about 4 deep DT wise, and 6-4.5 263 pounds, Isaac Brown type Very fast, very athletic, etc, on a 4 man DL, is that.
A. PSU O lineman, are well coached, strong, get semi leverage, hats on semi hold blocks on DL.
B. That created creases, gaps, where both the END, edge, LB's have their assignments to contain a running QB, and RB's.
In a WSU video Taarique Buddah, who is BEAST extremely fast, BEAST good sized, extremely athletic, etc, explained that he, Thornton, and edge were at fault. He said that he over pursued, bit way too hard on play action, and that on counter gap, counter trey, cut backs, jukes, he would get faked out, overreact, get his ankles broken, IN THE HOLE, CREASE, GAP, AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, because he left his feet, launched at RB, instead of coming to a controlled stop in the hole, and waiting for RB, and not launching, not leaving feet, and then make a standard run through standard tackle(similar to how a perimeter guard should avoid be beat off the dribble by another perimeter guard in bball)
Because of being a newer starter, first game jitters Taarique and the edge missed Tackles, failed on contain, etc, early in the game, that led to 2,3,4 BIG plays for PSU early game.
C. And then because WSU got a big lead, the back up ends, LB's made the same mistakes as the starters because of first game jitters, mistakes, etc. Which caused about 2,3,4 big plays early game for PSU
D. And the coach staff worked on correcting those first game jitter mistakes, adjusted, and the starters, back up, then settled down, in and then started containing PSU's offense.
E. It was these things that led to PSU's QB run to a outside TD run because of those first game mistakes, jitters, etc.
F. Taarique Buddah said that the Defensive coaching staff spent a even more LOTS of time in film room, and then even more LOTS of time on:
1. The Edges, Ends, LB's. Re Teaching them how to tackle IN THE HOLE, and how not to get juked out, and how to follow their assignments, stay in their lanes, and help contain, steer the offensive player to inside, towards the help defense from linebacker, safeties(similar to how bball coaches say to not let guards drive baseline away from help D)
2. Altho Taarique didn't say this, Defensive staff also probably spent a lot of time Re Teaching, Reminding, doing more drills on how to shred, beat blocks, how to correctly use their extremely great size, extreme athleticism via technique, in order to not put as much pressure on the LB's, Safeties, IN THE HOLE, AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, since they the LB's, safeties have missed Tackles in the hole, at line of scrimmage, giving up big plays.
G. Even extremely awesome, but slightly lesser experienced athletes, sometimes are either semi deer in lights first game jitters, and sometime take awhile to settle down, have the coaching, Teaching, drills, etc, SINK IN.
H. They say the most improvement either happens, can happen between first game to 2nd game
I. That's why the real test is Texas Tech. The defense, END'S, LB's can still rise to the occasion, but will have to wait and see if that happens.
J. The keys to the Texas Tech game:
1. Offense having sustained at least 4 minute drives, instead of 1 minute scoring drives, in order to help the defense, rest the defense, etc, instead of the defense being on the field a lot.
2. Ball control.
3. Running game
4. O Line.
5. 1,2 forced turnovers for the WSU defense, like a fumble or INT.
6. Special teams.
I see WSU's offense doing just fine achieving their keys.
I think it will be a win for WSU. Think the score will probably be:
WSU: 4 TD's, 4 field goals. 40, TT: 3 TD's, 2 field goals, 27, by a bend but don't break WSU defense that get 1 turnover off of TT, that helped by a WSU BALL CONTROL Semi RPO, semi spread, semi Mike price, semi 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, COUG RAID, SEMI SONNY DYKE RAID, SEMI AIR RAID offense, that use whole field by RB's, QB runs, WR run, PASS: 63%, RUN: 37%, offense.