How Disappointed are the Raiders?

by Ivory Tower on Dec 11, 2008 5:36 PM EST

Michael Crabtree is not jazzed about playing in the Cotton Bowl. He and Graham Harrell were snubbed by the trophy people, Crabtree hasn't (wink, wink) decided whether he's leaving Lubbock, and did I mention that both of them were injured in the season finale against Baylor.

Baylor, who they beat in an inspired comeback win by the margin of 38-35.

Something is fishy with this team. It was fishy three weeks ago when they got shellacked by Oklahoma. It got wrapped in newspaper and forgotten when they scored 14 first-half points against Baylor. And since that game it's only gotten to smelling worse.

The Texas Trio in Lubbock all have plenty of reason to have their minds somewhere other than Dallas. Perhaps someone out there is maintaining focus. Maybe they do not need a great deal of focus to beat an Ole Miss coach who has a 2-5 record in the post-season. Maybe the Rebels have exactly the wrong weakness to match up against Texas Tech.

Wait, there's no maybe about that.

But, maybe there's some merit in being the team that has every reason to be excited, focused, and motivated, rather than the team that is none of the above.

Plus, we got that ESSSS EEEEE SEEE SPEEEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!1!1! ARF! ARF!

The question is, what reasonable basis is there to believe that the off-the-field circumstances surrounding the Red Raiders should give folks cause to doubt their unimpeachable chances against the home team?

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Graham Harrell apparently gets his sweaters at the same place as my uncle Frank and aunt Frank.

http://deadspin.com/5106580/graham-harrell-will-be-your-man-for-all-seasons

by La Loché on Dec 11, 2008 7:37 PM EST reply actions

Oklahoma was in his face and rattled him. You think Peria, Laurent, Hardy and co. can make a difference?

by JaxReb on Dec 12, 2008 4:44 AM EST reply actions

@ JaxReb: Well, of course, that's the hope. I'm just racking my brain trying to think of historical examples where these sorts of disappointment and distractions really were behind a team losing a game it shouldn't.

And, non-football things being equal, I don't think Texas Tech should lose this game.

by Ivory Tower on Dec 12, 2008 10:22 AM EST reply actions

Michigan beat Florida last year. Boise State beat Oklahoma. Those are two pretty good ones.

I'm hoping for two things, not related to distractions off the field:

1. Their offensive line, while huge, may be ridiculously slow by SEC standards. If they can only get one hand on Peria, then they are pretty screwed. Generally, you need 3 or 4 hands, plus a flamethrower.

2. We run the gadget play where the quarterback lines up under center, gives the ball directly to a 'running back,' a fast, stocky, angry individual who doesn't like to be tackled. He then gains yargage by, get this, running the ball between the guard and the tackle, slowly advancing the ball up the field and breaking the will of the defense. They'll never see it coming.

by Whiskey Wednesday on Dec 12, 2008 1:18 PM EST reply actions

This is a rare occasion, but here goes.

Whiskey is right on the money with the O-line/D-line analogy.
TTs O-line is mammoth in size but slow as hell compared to the Rebels D-line.

If Hardy brings his A-game and the LBs play that little inside pitch to the RB (Woods) well, the Rebels should have a pretty good shot at controlling the line of scrimmage.
With Jerry clogging up the middle like a snow plow, that particular play may not even materialize to begin with.

That, combined with not turning the ball over on offense, should lead to a win for Ole Miss.

Nutt improves to 3-5 and thanks Orjeron for the favor.

by GonzoHog on Dec 14, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions