Tech vs Rice

Tech is managing to win games with an offense that is impressive, even more so when one considers the number of new players on that side of the ball, but their defense is less than inspirational. The defense has had trouble getting the opponent’s offense off the field in their non-conference games. The team has managed to get by so far, but such performances in the Big XII conference games will spell disaster.

Crabtree is really lighting things up at receiver, and one gets the feeling that Harrell has already developed a confidence in him that makes Crabtree the go-to receiver. Eight TD passes in the first three games of his college career is pretty impressive. One thing the Rabbit Hole would like to see from Crabtree is less stopping to attempt to make a move on the defense or to attempt to get a defender to run past him so he can cut back. That might have worked in high school, but in D-1 everybody is fast…this approach is not going to work too often….just turn on the jets and go forward!

The offensive line has done admirably. Final scores of 49, 45 and 59 in the first three games means Leach’s offense has not lost a step even with the number of new kids they had to plug in this year. This was a suspected weak spot coming into the season, and though they still have the fires of Big XII in which to prove themselves, one could not ask for much better than they have provided thus far. The one concern early is that they have had their starting center come out of two of the first three games with injuries. Hopefully this is a trend that does not continue.

Defensively the Rabbit Hole is not impressed with the lack of pressure Tech has been able to bring on opposing QBs. The DBs are doing their job on most plays, but Tech has allowed QBs to scramble out of the pocket and hurt them too many times. Much tougher offenses are on the horizon and Tech must find a way to get more pressure on the opponent. The abysmal tackling that reared its head in the UTEP game didn’t appear to be present at Rice, which is an encouraging sign.

Next up: Oklahoma State. Talk about a team that is stinking it up, my word. The Cowboys look hopelessly lost. Sounds like a trap game to the Rabbit Hole. Tech has a habit of dropping a grumpy somewhere along the way…we at the Rabbit Hole fear OSU may be that game. If not, Tech can look forward to a Jones Stadium showdown with A&M sporting a 6-0 record.