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University of Oklahoma Athletics
'09 Opponent Preview: Texas Tech
July 29, 2009 | Football
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NORMAN, Okla. -- SoonerSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at Oklahoma's Week 11 road trip to Texas Tech.
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Game Buildup |
The Sooners and Red Raiders have taken turns dashing each other's national title hopes the last two years. In 2007, Tech played the role of spoiler in Lubbock, while OU returned the favor last season in Norman. With two of the nation's most dynamic offenses, this year's matchup promises to incude plenty more fireworks.
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Season Outlook |
Texas Tech will feature several new faces in 2009, particularly on offense with superstars Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell both gone. As long as Mike Leach is running the show in Lubbock, however, the Red Raiders will only continue to reload.
Tech will certainly continue to air it out on offense, but the strength of this year's team could be on the opposite side of the ball, where much of their experience returns. With more balance across the board, the Red Raiders fully expect to be right back in the middle of the Big 12 South race.
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Player to Watch |
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Taylor Potts | QB | No. 15 | Junior
Year-in and year-out, Texas Tech's QBs put up record-breaking numbers. Taylor Potts is simply the next in line.
A three-year understudy of Harrell, Potts brings something to the table we have not seen from Red Raider QBs in years past -- size. He stands 6-5 and weighs 215 pounds. Potts may not be as mobile as some of his predecessors, but he brings a cannon of an arm to an offense built around the passing game.
If Potts can settle in as the team's leader early on in the season, he has the ability to put up big numbers.
Other Key Players
 Brian DuncanWR Edward Britton, Sr.LB Marlon Williams, Sr.Baron BatchOL Brandon Carter, Sr. |
Jamar WallDT Colby Whitlock, Jr.Detron LewisOL Marlon Winn, Sr.LB Bront Bird, Jr. |
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Scouting Tech's Offense |
Mike Leach has a system and he's sticking with it. Everyone knows the Red Raiders are going to throw the ball, yet no one has figured out how to stop them on a consistent basis.
While Crabtree and Harrell are gone, Tech still has plenty of firepower on offense. Detron Lewis and Edward Britton established themselves as reliable targets in the passing game last year and should thrive as the go-to receivers in 2009. Given Potts' arm strength, the Red Raiders may look for the deep ball more often as well.
Senior running back Baron Batch is a versatile weapon out of the backfield. Batch led Texas Tech with 758 yards and seven TDs on the ground and was the team's fourth-leading receiver with 43 catches. The Red Raiders may rely on the running game a bit more than in years past while they break in a new quarterback and retool the offensive line.
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Scouting Tech's Defense |
Texas Tech loses a couple of key players on defense in Brandon Williams, the Big 12 sack leader a year ago, and All-American safety Darcel McBath. Much like on offense, however, the Red Raiders return plenty of talent across the board.
Brian Duncan is the leader of an excellent linebacking corps that has all three starters back. Duncan compiled a team-leading 94 tackles a year ago and emerged as one of Tech's most valuable players. On the outside, Bront Bird and Marlon Williams provide the Red Raiders with two very athletic linebackers who can cover the entire field.
The Red Raiders employ a good combination of size and athleticism in the secondary. Jamar Wall has established himself as one of the top cover corners in the Big 12 with seven interceptions over the last two seasons. Fellow senior Brent Nickerson is back at the other corner spot. Cody Davis and Franklin Mitchem, two of the bigger safeties in the conference, will patrol the middle of the field for Texas Tech.
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Game Implications |
With conference play winding down, the Sooners hope to change their fortunes in Lubbock. It will be another pivotal game in the Big 12 South race for both teams.
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Stay tuned throughout the summer as we provide an in-depth look at each of OU's 2009 opponents.
Thursday, June 25
Monday, June 22
Monday, May 18
Thursday, April 30
