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I’ve read a lot of people providing high-level thoughts that La Tech is “worse than Maryland” and that the game should be an easy one. But I haven’t seen any actual write-up analysis of the game. So I bit the bullet last night and watched La Tech/LSU from last season. Below are my thoughts, with GIFs of some representative plays from that game. Note: to the extent occurrences in the La Tech/LSU game were outliers, it is the only game of La Tech’s that I watched from last year. So I am wholly basing my opinions on that totally inadequate sample size. With that said, let’s get to it. What to expect from La Tech’s offense? Offensive Coordinator and Scheme: La Tech’s OC is Todd Fitch. Fitch has been with Skip Holtz since 2007 at ECU almost continually, although he had a three-year stopover in Boston College from 2012-2015 before reuniting with Holtz at La Tech in 2016. Fitch was passing game coordinator at Iowa State in 2004 under Dan McCarney, where he coached true freshman Bret Meyer to 7 wins, including a victory over Nebraska. Prior to that, he was an assistant under OC Skip Holtz at South Carolina when Lou Holtz was head coach. Offensively, Orlando’s dime will get a LOT of run this game. La Tech runs 4 wide almost every play. They sometimes bring in an insert-back, but almost never have a true TE in on a play. They’d prefer to motion a big WR into the box to help block than to substitute in a TE. La Tech runs no huddle, but their tempo is not anywhere near what most of the teams in the Big XII run. They are not an air raid team. They are more of a traditional spread team. They will attack with bubble screens, WR screens, RB screens, inside zone and traditional spread passing concepts. This will be a good tune up for what we’re going to see out of Neal Brown’s West Virginia on October 5. Offensive Position Players: The first thing that jumps off the page when looking at La Tech is their experience. Across the offense, every single one of their starters is in their third, fourth, or fifth years. Their QB is a RS Sr., and their line goes RS Sr., RS Sr., RS Jr., RS Sr., RS Sr. Texas will not be able to count on La Tech to “lose” the game. La Tech does not blow assignments or commit dumb penalties. They are assignment sound—they just aren’t extremely talented. Quarterback: La Tech returns its starter, J’mar Smith (8), from last year. He is very good at throwing La Tech’s timing routes, and they throw a LOT of them. Like the original spread offenses of the late 90s/early 2000s, La Tech relies on its timing route passing game to generate yards. It does not, generally, try for chunk yardage. La Tech is content to bite off bite-sized yardage through inside zone and screens to work its way down the field. Smith is also decent at throwing intermediate routes to the middle of the field He will buy time with his feet, but he is not a scrambler and generally does not even look to run. Smith struggles pushing the ball downfield with any accuracy. Here's an example: And another example: Smith struggles even more when he has to throw while on the run. Running Backs: La Tech has two main backs—Dancy (23) and Tucker (22)—who are virtually identical. They are shortish scat backs like we see a lot of in the Big XII. Both are good at running inside zone. Here's an example: Here's another example: Both are also used a lot in the passing game and are effective there. Wide Receivers: La Tech’s wide receivers are a mixed bag. There are times where they make fantastic plays, and there are times where they cannot even catch the ball. Their best WR last year was Hardy (who wore 6 last year but apparently is wearing 89 this year?). He is very good and will be a good test for Jalen Green. Notice here that they use WR bubble motion to bring the safety up while their X and Z run right past their defenders. Their only other returning receiver is Alfred (4), who shows up on tape as doing a good job of getting open, although he struggles with catching the ball in traffic. Defensive outlook against La Tech’s Offense: Don’t expect Texas’ defense to have a field day on Saturday. In fact, don’t count on them to be able to reliably pressure the QB at all. Almost everything La Tech does is predicated on timing routes and WR screens. The key is to focus on fundamental football and limit those plays to minimal yardage. La Tech will bail you out by having a WR drop the ball, and they’ll punt and get off the field. If Orlando gets frustrated and starts bringing the house, it could open up big plays for La Tech. Aranda got very aggressive at times against La Tech and pinned his D’s ears back. But La Tech did a nice job of always responding with a timely RB screen for chunk yardage. With that said, La Tech WILL turn the ball over—especially after completing a short pass play when their WRs try to do too much. Orlando’s unit has to be ready to capitalize on those opportunities. What to expect from La Tech’s defense? Defensive Coordinator and Scheme This is a harder breakdown, because La Tech swapped DCs last year. Their new DC is Bob Diaco, who you’ll last remember as a defensive analyst for OU last year when we played them in the cotton bowl and OU’s LB coach when we played them in the Big XII Championship (Diaco was promoted after Stoops was fired). Diaco was fired from OU at the end of the season. Most importantly, you’ll remember Diaco as the coach who invented the fake rivalry between UConn and UCF called the “Civil Conflict,” which UCF refused to recognize (including leaving the “rivalry trophy” on the field after winning the game. Historically, Diaco runs an odd front defense. Ideally, his nose guard will line up in a zero technique and two gap the center, and his ends will two gap the tackles. We’ll see if Diaco has the personnel to do that against Texas. However, La Tech’s current online roster presents as if Diaco will be running a 4-2-5 nickel defense (listing two DEs, two DTs, and two LBs). Defensive Position Players: La Tech’s defense will be experienced. Like their offense, the defense will feature starters who are all in or past their third year. Defensive Line: La Tech’s defensive line last year was boom or bust. But when they boomed, they were very booming. That line loses its two players (45—Ferguson and 99—Garner). Ferguson was a second day pick at the NFL draft. Both were replaced by upperclassmen. It’s tough to figure out what they’ll be this year against the run, given those two losses and the possibility of moving to an odd front. But last year, La Tech’s DL held up well even against a big OL in LSU. LSU was intent to run on La Tech, but La Tech held their own against LSU’s rushing attack. When they faced obvious passing situations last year, the DL’s pass rush was good. Linebackers: Again, assuming last year is an indication, expect this year’s LBs to be good in run fits. This is especially true when La Tech’s safeties assist with run responsibilities. Their strong safety, Jackson (10), jumps out on film. He plays the run like Brandon Jones. Defensive Backs: Their run defense is solid. But the DBs last year did a poor job of holding up in coverage for any length of time. The DBs often lost receivers in space. In fact, La Tech was way better at covering grass than it was at covering wide receviers. DBs lose receivers in space. Way better at covering grass than covering people. Here's an example: Here's another example: Conclusion: This is a great tune up game against a team that will have inferior talent but will not simply give the game away. Texas will have to come prepared, because La Tech is too experience to just roll over and give up. La Tech played LSU close last year in Baton Rouge (La Tech was within three points in the fourth quarter, battling back from being down 14 early in the game). If Texas plays sound assignment football, they should be able to handle La Tech. The -20.5 point spread seems pretty generous to me, but I’d obviously be thrilled for Texas to cover that, because it would really bode well for the team this year. But if Texas isn’t focused on the game and is looking ahead to LSU, this could be an uncomfortable night reminiscent of some squeakers from last season. And if Texas’ defense is too focused on making a splash play, La Tech’s sound fundamentals could lead to some frustrating extended drives. View full articl10 points
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I created an account just to let y'all know about this important piece of information. Per his Instagram, Bru has broken up with the very girlfriend that brought him back to SoCal. It may remain undefeated, but Bru's taking an L anyway.10 points
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Mike's still not sure if it's gonna happen though. He's waiting until the first episode airs before he can say whether or not he's on it.10 points
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If what is already publicly known is insufficient then literally nothing is sufficient. They're not refusing to proceed because they don't have evidence to support their case, they're refusing to proceed because they're cowards who are terrified of failing. Every day new impeachable shit comes out, and maybe Pelosi and Schiff tweet that it's unacceptable, and the whole party then ignores it and moves on to studiously ignoring the next impeachable offense, rinse and repeat. They're not going to find a golden ticket in any of his finances that significantly improves their case against Trump; not because there isn't extremely damaging evidence in them, but because it won't change any minds.8 points
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the last 10 years of ut football aged all of us at least 20 yrs7 points
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That photo sparked a lot of memories. My dad died when I was a few years younger than when Sam lost his. As an adult looking back, the feeling I remember most as a kid was how scared I was to move forward without a safety net (Dad). Failure was no longer an option. Anyone who bets against this guy will be sorely mistaken.7 points
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There’s no such thing as an ironclad case. This isn’t a fucking movie and Trump’s supporters aren’t going to all suddenly change their minds if we can just stick Matthew McConaughey in front of everyone to say “now imagine she’s white.” The case against Trump can’t fucking hinge on the fact that he’s in some Russian mobster’s pocket. For one thing, even if it can be proven it can’t be easily explained to laymen. More importantly, if that’s what it takes it means that everything else he’s done is acceptable and doesn’t merit criticism much less removal. Any of the lawyers here on shaggy, even Johnny Sack, right this minute could probably draft articles of impeachment that run 200+ pages long, without even getting into anything that’s in the Mueller report. And every single fucking day that passes and the Dems remain silent, they ratify that conduct. How much more shit will they ratify while chasing this mythical ironclad case? They’ve got shitloads of evidence to make their case. What they lack is the will to do so.6 points
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“There’s no climate change.” “There’s climate change, but humans have nothing to do with it.” “There’s climate change, and it’s because there are too many humans.” Who says conservatives don’t believe in evolution?6 points
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see my avatar? you come eat with me...I'll have the goods for you that i'm cooking for some of these fucking heathens on this board. smoked, skin on porchetta rolled/stufffed with with boudin on the pork belly side and crabmeat dressing on the loin side, some crawfish etoufee empanadas, etc. btw, to e'eryone...you know what pisses me the fuck off? this fucking board spell corrected "etoufee" bunch of gotdamn heathens... shoot me a PM, Steelers...6 points
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Charlie Brewer's Dad and Grandfather played for UT but he was not recruited!!!6 points
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Let's be honest, satya saying the floor is still a winning record is a HUGE vote of confidence in this team.6 points
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This is the natural order of things. First you're a kid and all the players and coaches are nearly mythic figures. Then you're the same age as the players and you realize they're all just human beings, albeit human beings you realize you don't have a lot in common with. Then all of the sudden you're older than all the CFB players, and players you idolized as a young boy are retiring from the NFL. By this time, you have probably seen stuff happen that you thought would only happen in your dreams, stuff you will never forget and can't wait to tell your grandchildren about (e.g., the 2006 Rose Bowl) Then you're older than most of the guys in the NFL too and you start noticing recruits who are the sons of guys you watched when you were a kid. Then you're older than UT's head coach, and you've seen enough of the sport and the people that work in it and the fans on the Internet to realize maybe you don't have as much in common with the sport's values as you thought. Maybe the values have changed, maybe you just understand them better, maybe you've changed, maybe all of the above, but you start to feel like a healthy emotional boundary is more important than it was 15 years earlier. The rest is TBD.6 points
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What's up, assholes? Welcome to the 2019 Football Season Game Prediction Contest. I did this a long time ago on HornFans, then for the first time on shaggy in 2014, and now we are here at surly. Thanks to blacklab we are now (again) moving the prediction contest into the automated age. Do not put your entry in this thread. Click on the link below to enter your prediction: CONTEST LINK 2014 winner - laga42015 winner - EZ$2016 winner - knoxtnhorn2017 winner - EZ$2018 winner - mdmost Rules: 1. An exactly correct prediction gets 200 points. 2 points are deducted for every point you miss the margin by and 1 point is deducted for every point you miss the total by. 25 points are deducted for not predicting the correct winner (pick a tie and you're automatically docked 25 points). Minimum score is zero. So go ahead and make smartass predictions, no sweat off my back. Example: You guess Texas 31, Louisiana Tech 13. Final score is Texas 41, Louisiana Tech 7. Your score is 200-2*(34-18)-(48-44)=164. 2. Entries close at 5 minutes before listed gametime on the TexasSports.com team schedule page. 3. All your scores are added up for the season long contest. 4. Tiebreaker for each game is order of entry. The prediction post that is entered first in the contest among the tied entries wins the tiebreaker. 5. Tiebreaker for season long contest is placement for the final game of the season prediction. Doesn't matter if it's a bowl game, a national semifinal, a national championship game, or the Texas Tech game if we don't make a bowl. Whatever the final game played is, that's the tiebreaker. That's it. Keep in mind that the tiebreaker and other rules are from last year and they may be tweaked based on the needs for blacklab's coding. Any other necessary rules or rule changes will be made up on the fly. Good luck. Overall season winner gets jack shit from me, but... 6. Optional Prize Money - Posters may choose to pay the $25 entry fee but are not required to do so. Each week the top-ranked poster of those who are in the prize pool will receive $25. At the end of the season the top three overall finishers will receive 50%, 30%, and 20% respectively of the remaining pool. To enter the paid version paypal $25 to bob at tanmutt.com. Once you've done that send blacklab a PM so he can mark you as paid in the software. Please put your surly username in the note at PayPal, probably best to mention the prediction contest as well.5 points
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There's a huge gulf in the way you talk about the program and the way I do.5 points
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I gotta go with the fake titles on the stadium. It would be bad enough if they had always claimed them but to make that discovery close to 100 years after the fact, when all the players are long dead, well, that's a special type of stupid.5 points
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That's not true, constitutionally. It may or may not be true politically. But from a constitutional standpoint, the sovereign can absolutely refuse to prorogue Parliament. And in this instance, it would not be the end of the monarchy from a political standpoint for two reasons. First, the Queen would have the majority of the populace on her side, both as to the argument against a no-deal Brexit and as to the larger question of subverting democratic institutions to achieve that end. Second, the Conservative Party is not going to lead a charge to abolish the monarchy. Even recognizing that the Conservative Party is no longer conservative, there is no way they're going to adopt republicanism as part of their party manifesto, irrespective of what the Queen does.5 points
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If he did get kicked out of school, seems more probable that he was a problem than "people working against him." Defending your kid is human nature, but, blaming others when your kid screws up is terrible parenting.5 points
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Your first and last sentence is extremely contradictory. Choose a side. No they aren’t. He’s saying that even though he’s a bleeding heart criminal defense attorney that he thinks Moore’s actions are egregious enough to warrant kicking him off the team. He picked the side of punishing Moore strongly. Everybody understood that except you.5 points
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