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Keys to the Big Games
Week Six, Oct. 8
Texas Tech vs. Nebraska
a. A change for the better – Quick, name the best receiver in the Big XII. Whoa, okay, um Dominique Zeigler, Baylor? He’s solid, not bad, but not the best. Well, how about Billy Pittman or Brian Carter, Texas? Not there yet. Oh, what about Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech? Ah, right team, perhaps wrong guy. If not Hicks, then who? How about Robert Johnson? Haven’t heard of him? Join the crowd. Johnson was once one of the most sought after junior college QBs in the nation, and chose Texas Tech with visions of the Play Station controller in his hands. But, he didn’t beat out Sonny Cumbie in 2004, but Mike Leach wanted to get him on the field. Here was a guy 6’2” and 202 pounds and could run like a deer. If you were Leach would you want him holding a clipboard? Didn’t think so. Before spring practice, Johnson moved to receiver. Since that move, he’s become the leading receiver for the Red Raiders and the Big XII, registering 25 catches in four games, for 419 yards, a strong 16.8 yard per catch average. With Cody Hodges spreading out the receptions like soft butter on bread, Johnson can continue to rack up catches and yards all season long. Hicks will continue to draw the double coverage, which means that Johnson, Danny Amendola and Joel Filani can have field days. But, it’s Johnson who is the most explosive of the bunch. Nebraska hasn’t seen a receiving corps like this one. Well, not since Tech torched them for 70 last year in Lubbock, but they haven’t seen Johnson at all. Maybe they’ll know the answer to the question by the end of the game.
b. The Caretaker – The eternal question facing any opponent of Texas Tech is can you get pressure on the QB? Nebraska DE Adam Carriker would like to answer that with a resounding yes. The Huskers bandit end is explosive off the edge and you’ve got to love the way that this kid plays. Man, he can get off the ball, but facing the Tech passing game is more than just a quick ‘get off’. It’s extremely difficult for defensive ends for a few different reasons. First of all, the Red Raider linemen take such wide splits that ‘jet’ defensive ends have to go that much farther to get to the QB. With the tackles taking such a ‘wide’ stance, it really puts Carriker in a tough spot. It would seem that he could take a direct path to the inside, but if he gets ‘caught’ by the tackle, who mashes him down the LOS, then Hodges can skate to the outside and have clear sightlines to an open receiver. If he tries to take a wide path, that might be the three seconds that Hodges needs to get the ball off. Furthermore, by taking such a wide path, it opens up quick slant passing lanes, and nothing would please Mike Leach more than his receivers with the ball in space, with a head of steam behind them. The last thing that makes it tough for Carriker is that he must play the screens and draws to TT RB Taurean Henderson and can’t completely pin his ears back and attack Hodges. It’s a difficult spot for Carriker, but this kid can play. He’s a great role model for his teammates, who feed off of his ‘endless motor’.
c. Back to the Future – A few years ago, if you were told that Nebraska ran for only 36 yards in the game, what would you think? Definite L. Blow out, even. But, for the 2005 Huskers, that meant victory against the scrappy Iowa State Cyclones to stay undefeated. Whoa, 36 yards…and they won? Yep, but that won’t fly much this week. The Red Raiders gave up over 100 yards to Kansas RB Jon Cornish, so they’re not the 1985 Bears stopping the run. Better than last year, but not great. The Huskers must find a way to use Cory Ross and the running game a bit more. The most obvious reason is that Ross can be explosive with the ball in his hands. Eight catches are nice, but handing it to him is that much easier. The second reason is that the more that Nebraska’s offense can be on the field, Texas Tech’s point-a-minute offense isn’t. And, that can’t be bad at all. In a typical West Coast system, Zac Taylor did a solid job moving the chains against Iowa State, controlling the ball through the controlled passing game, but Ross is a talented runner and could take advantage of a Red Raider front wanting to storm the pocket. Expect a few more draws and interior runs to capitalize on Ross’s running skills.
Conclusion – Although Nebraska doesn’t need any motivation for a Big XII game, the Red Raiders gave the Husker 70 reasons why this game might be the most important of the year for Nebraska. The hard part is grasping the fact that this Tech offense might be better than they were last year, but DC Kevin Cosgrove has gotten the most out of his troops this year. He flies under the radar, but his game plan for Tech this weekend will be a major factor in this game. Although Nebraska will play well at home, Tech’s WR will find open space, with the ball in their hands all game long. The Huskers emotional state keep them close, but Tech will pick up the huge victory.
Texas Tech – 35 vs. Nebraska – 31
