Q: Which player is the most
improved? less? From last year, o f course...
A: I
think from '11 to '12, the most improved player might be Doege. From a comfort
standpoint and a leadership standpoint, there's no question Seth is the
man. If he can calm his nerves at the beginning of games a little bit
better, I'd be 100 percent on that. Defensively, the easy answer is
Douglas because he's not playing the same position or side of the ball. He's
getting better. Still would like to see someone at DE step up and take
over from a pass rush standpoint.
From spring
to fall, the most improved player is Javon Bell hands
down. I wasn't counting on much from him this year and early in fall camp it
was very evident that he would be an important part of the offense.
Q: Given the opponents we've played
I know it's hard to make any definitive statements, but do you feel that our
LBs are up to Big 12 play?
Cautiously
optimistic is the phrase I'm using right now. We know all of the good stat
trends, but until it happens against Big XII competition, hope is all we're
going to have. I would have liked to have seen them
face Marcus Curry of Texas St because he is a little more talented than
the rest of the roster.
With the
play of D.J. Johnson and Cody Davis combined with the play and depth of the DL,
the LBs are actually being a little bit overlooked right now, but Kaufman
and Tuberville talk about them each week as far as being in the right place. I
think Will Smith is getting more confident and no one's worried about Bullitt. Eguaveon gave up the TD against Texas St. It was on a
switch with an IR and he just recognized it late. Tubs said Tuesday that they
had trouble with it all week.
The truth
is, we don't know and won't until the competition gets better. And if Holbrook isn't healthy and the freshman QB starts for UNM,
it's not going to be as good of test as it could be.
I've said
this on air and to anyone else that will listen. Iowa State is the most
important game of the season. Because of what happened last year, because it's
conference game #1 and because of what's on the schedule after it. That may be
the first time we know how this team will be defensively the rest of the
season. The problem is, if it's not what the coaches and fans want, it may be
too late to fix.
Q: Is Ward going to play this week?
According
to Tuberville in the weekly press conference, Ward was practicing this week.
Then after Wednesday’s practice he said he was ready to go, he had some good
practices.
“Probably
could have played last week,” Tuberville said. “But just precaution.”
Tuberville
mentioned that with the depth they have at wide receiver, missing one practice
is costly because there are plenty of wide outs that can move up, and
Tuberville said there are not a lot of drop offs between each receiver.
Q: What do we really know about
Tech, considering the opponents. Will we have to wait until Iowa State to
know the direction of this team?
A: I
don’t think so. There have been some questions answered, now granted like
everyone has said the opponents have not been the top-tier opponents to face in
nonconference play, but still a lot has been shown. Against Texas State, the
Red Raiders stopped the run pretty well, actually held the entire offense in
check.
Stopping
the run has been key so far and the Tech defense has stepped up, and with the
turnovers forced last week, especially the pick six, those are all good signs.
Of course
Iowa State will be the first true test of the season, because then after that
Tech has to face two Top 10 teams at home in the Jones.
Those
games will be the biggest revealers of what this team is made of.
I think
you take away little things from each of the first two games, but until they
play a tough offensive and defensive team, there are still a lot of questions
unanswered.
Q: Do you see Kenny Williams playing
a bigger part of the offense?
A: He
already has played a big part in the offense. Leads the team in rushing with
137 yards this season, also and four catches for 25 yards. He also had the “I’m
a man” play of the week against Texas State.
So he will
continue to be used in the backfield, but right now it is a three-headed
monster in the backfield with Williams then Eric Stephens and SaDale Foster.
All three
have either 100 yards or more of rushing this season through two games.
Very
exciting backfield for the Red Raiders and behind them you have DeAndre Washington in case you need him down the road in
the season.