Yesterday was the Joey McGuire, Tim DeRuyter, and Zach Kittley weekly pressers (embedded below) in preparation for the Arizona game. This, at least for me, has turned into a check of the weekly Availability Report (shouldn’t this be called the Unavailability Report?) and as expected, the list grew to include Chapman Lewis, Joseph Plunk and now Isaac Smith.
OUT FOR SEASON
Dylan Spencer So. OLB Knee
Joseph Adedire Jr. OLB Knee
Vinny Sciury Sr. OL Knee
Cam’Ron Valdez Jr. RB Knee
OUT FOR ARIZONA
Javeon Wilcox R-Fr. DB Knee
Dylan Shaw R-Fr. OL Hand
QUESTIONABLE FOR ARIZONA
Charles Esters III Jr. OLB Thigh
Chapman Lewis So. DB Hamstring
Jason Llewellyn So. TE Head
Bralyn Lux Sr. DB Thigh
Jalon Peoples So. DB Hip
Joseph Plunk Sr. DB Shoulder
Isaac Smith Jr. OLB Head
I’d also add that my time is short (Youssouf had a football game last night [he scored 2 touchdowns], didn’t get to bed until 11 and I’m tired), so not a ton of time to include lots of things. This post is here to discuss football things and I have a basketball post as well.
Cinematic recap.
One link to share today.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: Is Texas Tech football’s Joey McGuire changing his approach to fourth down? | Don Williams
Joey McGuire is backing off some on that thing that has divided Tech fans over his first 2-plus seasons, though perhaps more on account of game circumstance than a true change in belief system. In Big 12 wins over Arizona State and Cincinnati, Tech kickers went 3 for 3 on field goals — both weeks, first Garcia making one, then Burkhardt, then Garcia again. In both games, the last field goal came in the fourth quarter and extended one-possession games to two.
“It’s a seven-point lead. Well, let’s take the 10-point lead,” McGuire said Monday. “Fourteen would be great. You might say, ‘We’re going for it right here or it’s better to go for it,’ but hey, let’s kick the field goal to keep the 10-point lead. Keep playing off of that to where you’re not getting to that one-score (margin).”
McGuire said he’s also sent out punter Jack Burgess at times when he might have gone for it during his first two years. Previously, he’s adhered closely to Championship Analytics Incorporated, which tailors game-situation recommendations to past percentages and opponents.
It’s been the source of misconception among the skeptics. For instance, Championship Analytics isn’t the product of a football nerd. Its director of coaching development is Rob Ash, who went 247-137-5 as a small-college head coach. Also, the information is updated each week and customized to the opponent. The down-and-distance recommendations to go for it against North Texas aren’t the same as the down-and-distance recommendations to gamble against Ohio State.