MeanGreenTexan

I think/hope this is right.

When you realize you have to FORCE something to happen, you start going away from sound, fundamental Defense in hopes of forcing a turnover, thus: Hit the QB as hard as you can. Don't wrap up & bring down on a tackle, instead try to strip, or put a helmet on the ball. Put extra effort into every play, which just tires you out. The last point was not demonstrated any better than the 3rd TD in the 2nd Q where Buyers came up to press (which I think we can all admit, is not his style) only to get burned in man-to-man coverage... because he was probably gassed.

We ARE a good team though... that's where all of the confusion stems. Reading through these threads today (I knew last night this place would be burning, so I just went to bed), any of you trying to place an iota of blame at the feet of the defense must not have been watching the same game I was. This defense came out playing well enough to win the game... Not a doubt in my mind. As the game went on, the blame became crystal clear: QB play is the issue. Missing open receivers, taking AWFUL sacks, rolling out of the pocket & not keeping his eyes down the field (I think I counted this 4 or 5 times where Greer was geared on running out of bounds or going to his outlet RB 5 yds in front of him), missing open receivers, hanging receivers out to dry, missing open receivers... All the while, the defense is on the sideline for all of 1-2 minutes at a time, not getting any rest, and deflating with each horribly botched 3rd down play. End of the 1st Quarter? Still 0-0 because of the defense. It becomes PAINFULLY obvious early in the 2nd quarter that the defense is going to need to make something happen... so we start seeing bad penalties, missed tackles (going for a strip/turnover), and just overall being gassed. This just makes it easier for a good QB like Sokol to start dissecting... and he did. Mr. Bigshot, Dixon, was held in check for the most part. Sokol killed us. We go to halftime down 21-0, and with what? 1 first down & 12 yds of total offense (including -5 yds rushing because of the sacks)? 12 YARDS!! I have no idea what was said in the locker room, but I noticed DW had his helmet on at the 2nd half kickoff. This must have lit a fire under Greer's ass, because he came out and played much better, but still not anywhere near good enough. The Wade interception early in the 3rd gave me some hope... but Greer kept coming out, and kept playing terribly. I left before the 4th quarter, so I didn't get to see Dajon. For those of you who are blaming 'gameplan' or whatever on Chico... HELLO?!? What can he do if his QB cant play? TTG said it beautifully, but to paraphrase: I don't care what Dajon is, or isnt doing in practice... if he can help us win games, he needs to play. It's as simple as that. I hope we get to see him try starting next weekend. It's apparent Greer and/or McNulty are not going to get the job done. Looking forward: Nicholls St is not going to tell us anything. The team will be angry, and it will hopefully look like the SMU game... The week off to continue practicing, then the Indiana game will tell us what we can expect out of this team, and I'm still sticking with my prediction of an L there. Big difference between a competitive L, and what we saw last night though.

OK. You go left while everyone else identifies the actual problem. BREAK!

This is really our only hope. The prayers, that is...

Oh Snap! I just went to Mean Green Church. Thank you preacher man.

Sokol is a bad man. That's how a real QB looks. Best of luck to y'all this year.

Well, their colors are red & black, and they probably don't want to wear red since they're playing Arkansas... oh, nevermind... this is just not thought through very well at all. Of course, we are talking about Texas Tech here, not the brightest bunch.

Don't know that I would count on a kicker to make a difference in a brawl.

I remember a thread per week on Olen's kicks being line drive... hence, they kept getting blocked... hence he lost his job.

Can't imagine Bulldog would taste very good... gonna need to go ahead and smother with a Roux.

I learned a long time ago that if NT03 drops something, it's a lock. Dude's one of the most-informed guys on here... if not the most.

If he's anywhere near Baz, I'm very happy.

Since we're a cordial school. I'd like to reciprocate the kind introduction of Mr. Sokol with that of Mr. Lee:

This guy, and the myriads of others like him beg to differ. They'll pay whatever for a hip new Apple product and new skinny jeans.

The safeties will cheat up for Dixon, as they should. We're going to be counting on Jones/Buyers to play fast and not let the big play go over the top. With the way they play 10yds off the outside receivers, I think they should be able to do it.

No way. You must have forgotten one of their most treasured alumni. They would hire a dead hooker before hiring the Pirate. #CJK5H

You could see the encouragement/pointers going through the sausage maker in McNulty's head, but the blank look showed that he was talking to the wrong QB. Shoulda been talking to Greer.

Cyril = Debo made me chuckle.

Are any of the people associated still at the school in any capacity (from the coaching staff up to their BOR)? If so, this is terrible. If no, why continue to punish people who have/had nothing to do with it?

honestly, right now, I don't think I would want ANY TX, OK, LA P5 team (with the exception of maybe Tech @ Apogee). For some reason these schools seem to get our guys snakebit. I'm excited about the IA games and even the TN game.

Any of Maryland's uniforms with their state flag (like the one above) are awesome. I like them all. They love their flag there like we love the lone star here. The one CBL linked to... not so much.

I only went with MT because they're at home. Toss-up really.

So, we've been pounded by a team that was pounded the following week. We've also pounded a team that was pounded the previous week. SMU looked like they had quit at the half. Who are the mean green? We're going to find out Thursday, 9/11. If there is rain, that will increase rushing, for both teams. Kenneth Dixon is certainly a threat, and giving him more touches is probably not a good thing for UNT's defense. However, I think our O-Line can wear this defensive front 7 down. The problems will arise if the box gets loaded with 8 or more. We have to have good QB play and have a +1 or better turnover margin to win this game. It's going to be MUCH closer than last year's game in Ruston. If the O-Line had a hard time with UT's blitzes... just look at the D-coordinator for LATech. Diaz makes a living off of his blitz schemes. This game is going to come down to a battle of wills. I think the Apogee advantage lifts the will of the Mean Green to rise above the Bulldogs. Give me: Mean Green - 24 LA Tech - 20

What's up with the Chinese throwing star on the helmet? That's not American...