http://www.collegefootballnews.com/wac/2...review.htm

Good read JL.

I think the author short-changed Tech a little with the "nice" ground game part.

It was a "damned good" ground game considering how young the skill guys were...and deep.

I think the running game was at times inconsistant last year which I expect to get better this year. At times last year in games I watched with them, when they needed that key run for a few yards they weren't able to get it sometimes. I think that is the major difference I am expecting to see this year is better running game.

Of course QB play is going to be very interesting to watch this year as well.

wolf pack 1 Wrote:I think the running game was at times inconsistant last year which I expect to get better this year. At times last year in games I watched with them, when they needed that key run for a few yards they weren't able to get it sometimes. I think that is the major difference I am expecting to see this year is better running game.

Of course QB play is going to be very interesting to watch this year as well.

I think a lot of the run game problems were caused by inexperience last year as well as Freddie Franklin missing a few games. Hopefully Freddie will play like a senior for us next year.

I honestly think Tech's QB situation will be better this year. We had a great game manager last year but the 3 QBs we have fighting for the job now have a ton of talent. The RS Freshman probably has the most raw talent of the 3 (blazing speed and a cannon). Will be interesting to see if one of these guys can step up and take over the legacy of a Louisiana Tech QB.

Don't be suprised if true freshman Daniel Porter also sees time in Tech's deep RB corp this year. He rushed for 2,000+ yards last year and was the Baton Rouge Advocate offensive MVP.

I also think the offensive line didn't turn out as good as some people thought it was going to be for Tech and I do believe that contributed to the problems of inconsistant running but you have to look at the running backs also. I think in one game I watched, the QB had more rushing yards than the three running backs combined.

wolf pack 1 Wrote:I also think the offensive line didn't turn out as good as some people thought it was going to be for Tech and I do believe that contributed to the problems of inconsistant running but you have to look at the running backs also. I think in one game I watched, the QB had more rushing yards than the three running backs combined.

Well, our QB was pretty good on his feet. I actually think the line may be just as good this year...if not better. Lipps played injured most of the year. One thing that's not in question is the talent at RB. They're a year older and a year better. Not to mention, we've got 3 true freshman who could contribute if needed (William Griffin, Myke Compton (both 3 star recruits) and Daniel Porter). Griffin and Porter are both about 205 and 6 foot. Compton is like 5'9" and 195. These boys are men! But, what I think will improve our running more than anything is the fact that whoever is at QB will likely have a better deep ball that Kubik. With a verticle passing game, defenses have to lay off the run some. If you stack 8 in the box this year, we'll make you pay. That's not exactly something we could do last year.[/b]

Well one thing's for certain. I don't think anyone would envy La Tech's football schedule. I'd be very surprised if La Tech wins more than one of their first five games. They should win their only home game of the first five games against Nicholls State (huhhh?) but La Tech has four of their first five games on the road.....AT Nebraska and AT Texas A & M and AT Clemson and AT Boise State.

BoiseStateRules Wrote:Well one thing's for certain. I don't think anyone would envy La Tech's football schedule. I'd be very surprised if La Tech wins more than one of their first five games. They should win their only home game of the first five games against Nicholls State (huhhh?) but La Tech has four of their first five games on the road.....AT Nebraska and AT Texas A & M and AT Clemson and AT Boise State.

Nicholls State runs the wishbone, so they may be tougher than a lot of folks think. That said, we should kill them. 1 out of 4 in those other games would be good. Two would be great. More than two might overexcite to the point of hospitalization.

@Nebraska
@Texas AM
@Clemon
@Boise State

Who exactly is doing the scheduling at La Tech, Mr. Magoo?

Playing good teams is nice, but set up for some success early!

The Knight Time Wrote:@Nebraska
@Texas AM
@Clemon
@Boise State

Who exactly is doing the scheduling at La Tech, Mr. Magoo?

Playing good teams is nice, but set up for some success early!

Yeah i don't like the schedule...I would like to take off Clemson and play someone close like Tulane, ULL, SMU, or Houston. I don't mind Nebraska or TX AM...be nice to knock off a Big 12 school like we did against Oklahoma State.

I agree with you Knight Time, playing good team is nice, but we need to set up seom success early...

LRdawg Wrote:

The Knight Time Wrote:@Nebraska
@Texas AM
@Clemon
@Boise State

Who exactly is doing the scheduling at La Tech, Mr. Magoo?

Playing good teams is nice, but set up for some success early!

Yeah i don't like the schedule...I would like to take off Clemson and play someone close like Tulane, ULL, SMU, or Houston. I don't mind Nebraska or TX AM...be nice to knock off a Big 12 school like we did against Oklahoma State.

I agree with you Knight Time, playing good team is nice, but we need to set up seom success early...

Keep in mind Clemson and A&M are 2 for 1.

With that early schedule, it could put a lot of pressure on LT during the WAC season to become bowl eligible but also could put the wrong attitude in the locker room if there isn't a lot of early success.

wolf pack 1 Wrote:With that early schedule, it could put a lot of pressure on LT during the WAC season to become bowl eligible but also could put the wrong attitude in the locker room if there isn't a lot of early success.

Another thing is the tough start could help get the young kids we are using into playing form for WAC play. This will be the biggest question in the WAC IMO this year. Will Tech learn from the start of the season or will we lose confidence. JBIII will be the key (and that scares the crap out of most Tech fans). And if we beat one of the BCS schools (which I expect) look out.

Well the thing is, the three BCS schools that you will be facing haven't been having those great years. Nebraska is still trying to find its way, Texas A&M is alos and you never know about Clemson but the advantage does go to all three because of their home field.

But the key will be what happens at the beginning of the season like I said. If things don't go well and the defeatest attitude comes into the clubhouse, well things are going to go bad I think.

wolf pack 1 Wrote:Well the thing is, the three BCS schools that you will be facing haven't been having those great years. Nebraska is still trying to find its way, Texas A&M is alos and you never know about Clemson but the advantage does go to all three because of their home field.

But the key will be what happens at the beginning of the season like I said. If things don't go well and the defeatest attitude comes into the clubhouse, well things are going to go bad I think.

Nebrask found it's way at the end of last season. They will be a very tough team in 2007. Hard to believe that the run, run, run Nebraska is a pass happy team now.

They are still inconsitant and rumors are if nebraska doesn't have a break out year this year, their coach is gone. Nevada plays there in 07 which should be a tough game. However Nebraska still has a way to go before they are the same team.

The problem with the schedule is not who is on it, but when we play. Our schedule would be just fine if we had a home game the weekend we play Boise and played at Boise later in the year.

5 non conference games versus a 1-AA, a Sun Belt team, 3 avg to above avg BCS teams. It is not that tough. Two or three years ago when we played Miami, Auburn, and Tenn out of conference was a tough schedule. This year's schedule does not compare to that.

I think we finish anywhere from 6-7 to 9-4. Games we should be favored to win include: Nicholls, UNT, USU, NMSU, Idaho, and SJSU. I think of the BCS schools Texas A&M is our best bet for a win (we have a reputation for winning games like this over the last ten years). I also think we will win at least one if not two of the remaining conference games.

Most of the preseason magazines I have seen have the WAC falling into the following three tiers:

Ranked anywhere from 35-55:

1. Boise
2. Nevada
3. Fresno
4. Hawaii

Ranked in the mid 70's:

5. LA Tech

Ranked in anywhere from 95-115:

6. USU
7. SJSU
8. Idaho
9. NMSU


I am expecting at least 6 wins. Anything less will be a disappointment.