Questions for X's and O's people

**Cyclonepride** · 10-30-2011, 06:50 PM

Was TT playing nickel most of the night? Seemed like it.

**ISUFan22** · 10-30-2011, 06:53 PM

Our defense played very well.

However, our offense actually helped the defense by moving the ball, keeping our defense off the field and putting points on the board.

Our D has received a lot of heat over the last few weeks and some is deserved. But our offense has been absolutely sabotaging our defense until last night.

**heitclone** · 10-30-2011, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

Was TT playing nickel most of the night? Seemed like it.

They run a base 4-2-5. Fit pretty well into what we want to do.

**isulive2train** · 10-30-2011, 07:24 PM

Offensive line had success getting to the next level, putting TTech LB's and blitzing safety in a tough spot to make a play. Once ISU got two first downs in each series, the TTech D-Line was getting very tired.

**reignofthetiger** · 10-30-2011, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Our defense played very well.

However, our offense actually helped the defense by moving the ball, keeping our defense off the field and putting points on the board.

Our D has received a lot of heat over the last few weeks and some is deserved. But our offense has been absolutely sabotaging our defense until last night.

I agree. No turnovers + sustained drives = rest for defensive players. Our defense has been consistently outstanding in the early parts of games (if you ignore Mizzou). Only once they are tired they start missing tackles.

**besserheimerphat** · 10-30-2011, 11:10 PM

Frankly I think it had more to do with execution rather than specific scheming or gameplanning. We ran a lot of the same things we've run before, but guys made and maintained blocks on offense. Correct reads were made by all 11 guys. A zone read is a still a zone read whether you run it against a 4-3, 4-3, nickel, 4-2-5, whatever. You make small changes to who blocks whom, but in the end you still have to make the reads and the blocks for it to work. Add to that we didn't have critical turnovers or penalties, and Tech did have some turnovers that we were able to capitalize on.

**Sammy11** · 10-30-2011, 11:26 PM

Tech sucks on D when you run right at them with QB read spread running plays & qb draws. Nevada tore them a new one with it too and OU isn't a big running team so tech's undersized front was not as big of a liability against them.

Name 1 decent running team that could not run on tech, you won't find it.

**kingcy** · 10-31-2011, 12:13 AM

1. The line blocked, the RBs found holes and Barnett ran the zone read very well.

2. The line got some pressure on the QB and the secondary played a good game.

**jj-cyclones** · 10-31-2011, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Sammy11

Tech sucks on D when you run right at them with QB read spread running plays & qb draws. Nevada tore them a new one with it too and OU isn't a big running team so tech's undersized front was not as big of a liability against them.

Name 1 decent running team that could not run on tech, you won't find it.

OU?

**Sammy11** · 10-31-2011, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by jj-cyclones

OU?

OU is far more of a passing team and is a tough to stop pass team at that. However they haven't run people over on any consistent basis this year at all.

If you look at BCS league competition so far OTHER than KU who is 120 of 120 in total D right now-

FSU- 2.8 per carry
Mizzou- 3.7 per carry
Texas- 4.5 per carry BUT 64 yards came on ONE run. 1.2 on the other 18 carries.
KSU- 6.8 BUT 2 runs totaled 92 yards- other 23 carries netted 78.

So while OU can break the occasional long runs, they aren't very good at getting consistent yards. They aren't a team that moves people off the ball on a consistent basis but their OL is very strong pass protecting.

**TedKumsher** · 10-31-2011, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by cyman05

1. How did we run for so many yards? The running game has been hard to get going consistently all year. What was different?

An early lead. In other games, coming from behind means passing a lot and going for it on 4th and forever.

2. How come Texas Tech never got going offensively? What was different?

An early lead. Good play, luck, whatever led to a 21-0 lead. Tech pretty much had to be mostly pass at that point, which is one of our strengths. Any team that's rendered 1 dimensional is far easier to defend. Add the 70+ yard Duck touchdown, and that's about it.

It's always surprising how 5%-10% of the total plays really change the game. We had a 4th down conversion. They had a fumble. We had a 4th down stop. They threw an interception. 70+ yard touchdown run. Those were 5 critical plays. Getting several of those early on just changes how the other team has to play on both sides of the ball. We have the lead? Run the ball -- we like taking time off the clock. Still have to pass it enough to keep them honest, but we can pass when we want to, instead of because we have to. They have to defend against both. On offense, they need to score and they can't run the clock too much. They're going to pass more often than they might want to.