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2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders Football Preview

Texas Tech Red Raiders

2006 Record: (8-5, 4-4)
Coach: Mike Leach (56-33 at Texas Tech, 56-33 overall)

Starters Returning: 10 (4 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist)

Offensive Starters Lost: WR Joel Filani, WR Jarrett Hicks, WR Robert Johnson, OL Gabe Hall, OL Glenn January, OL Brandon Jones, OL Manuel Ramirez

Offensive Starters Returning: QB Graham Harrell, RB Shannon Woods, WR Danny Amendola, OL Louis Vasquez

Defensive Starters Lost: DT Dek Bake, DT Chris Hudler, DE Keyunta Dawson, LB Fletcher Session, LB Brock Stratton, CB Antonio Hufman

Defensive Starters Returning: DE Jake Ratliff, LB Kellen Tillman, CB Chris Parker, S Joe Garcia, S Darcel McBath

Starting Specialists Lost: P Alex Reyes

Starting Specialists Returning: K Alex Trlica

With just nine field players returning, there are a lot of questions surrounding Texas Tech heading into the 2007 campaign. Both lines have been decimated by graduation and that will cause a whole lot of problems. Yet, quarterback Graham Harrell and running back Shannon Woods are back to lead the always potent Red Raider offense.

2007 Texas Tech Offense:

Harrell threw for 4,555 yards and 38 touchdowns last year and for the first time since 2002 a quarterback is returning to his starting position at Texas Tech. Yet, replacing most of the receivers from a year ago will not make the transition to this season an easy one. Joel Filani and Robert Johnson combined for 180 catches, 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns. Danny Amendola is the only experienced receiver returning and the Red Raiders will need a lot of production from L.A. Reed, Eric Morris, Edward Britton and redshirt freshman Mike Crabtree.

Shannon Woods has had his problems with the coaching staff, mostly cited as poor work ethic, but when he is on the field the running back is a dynamic player. Woods rushed for 926 yards last year, the most since Coach Mike Leach arrived in Lubbock, and added 572 more receiving yards and 310 on kickoff returns. With just one starter, Louis Vasquez, returning to the line, the numbers could be down for everybody, not just Woods. The line did an amazing job protecting the quarterback and opening some holes on those rare running occasions. Brandon Carter and Ofa Mohetau are a couple of names to look out for, but the battles to replace the linemen will be fierce and important.

2007 Texas Tech Defense:

The front seven could end up being the Achilles heel of the Texas Tech season. Entering spring practice, only seven scholarship players were listed as defensive linemen. Ends Jake Ratliff and Brandon Williams will need to replace the production of Keyunta Dawson, who ended his career fourth on the all-time sack list at Texas Tech. In the middle it gets even worse. Rajon Henley and Richard Jones were forced into action as freshmen and they will need to harness that experience quickly if the team wants to improve on their 86 th national ranking in rush defense.

Thankfully for the linebackers, Kellen Tillman was granted a sixth year of eligibility and will return to his strongside position. There are some experienced players ready to take over the other spots, but once again the depth will be a concern behind Paul Williams and Chad Hill. After all that, there is some good news on defense. Safeties Joe Garcia and Darcel McBath, along with cornerback Chris Parker, return to a unit that ranked the best in the Big XII.

The Bottom Line for the 2007 Red Raiders:

The offense will be fine. While, based on the numbers, it sounds like the receivers will be hard to replace, the Red Raiders have plenty of players ready to step into the dynamic offense. The defense is another story. The secondary sees a lot of passing in practice and only gave up a Big XII best 182.4 passing yards per game. This year, the front seven will not be a big help and the defensive backs cannot do everything.

by Joel Welser