1. Explosive Plays: defined as a running play of 10+ yards or a pass of 15+ yards

We have allowed 142 explosive plays (75 run, 67 pass) this season. Our opponents have held us to 93 explosive plays (34 run, 59 pass). We have allowed 7 TD runs of 20-40 yards and 5 TD runs of 40+ yards. We only have won the explosive play battle in 3 games this year.

2. 3rd/4th down conversion %: We convert at a 39% rate. Our components convert at a 47% rate with a staggering 67% 4th down conversion rate. We’ve had 32 3&out drives in 11 games.

3. Coaching: head-scratching decisions have been well documented on this site and must be factored into the equation. Play-calling, strategy, and time-management errors lead to losses. Play-calling has been very questionable at times from a long-tenured OC—yesterday’s game being a glaring example. Defensively, missed assignments, blown coverages, and questionable defensive play-calling has led to the 127th ranked defense. You’re either coaching it or allowing it to happen, and we’ve seen little improvement on the defensive side of the ball all year.

4. Red-Zone: We only walked away with points 71% of the time we got to the red-zone, which is worse than ALL but 7 FBS teams. We only scored a TD 46% of the time. We had 11 red-zone turnovers.

5. Dogs: Mentally, we lack players who know how to win. Winning doesn’t take place just on Saturdays. Very few of our contributing players have played a substantial role on any winning FBS team. Winning isn’t accidental. We need players who refuse to lose at all costs. I just don’t see it when I’ve been to practices or watched games. Winning starts with winning every rep in practice, winning film study, winning in the weight room, and winning at being a good teammate. Game days should just be executing all the plays you’ve already won during the week. Physically, we lack speed, size, and talent. Perimeter run game and horizontal passing game were grossly ineffective this year. Our WR’s struggle with physical defenders. Roster turnover is the only viable solution.

One more game this weekend:

LA Tech & Charlotte are scheduled for a 2:30 PM kickoff on Saturday afternoon.

The game will be on ESPN3.

Tech is 3-7 overall. Charlotte is 2-9 overall.

Landry Lyddy will make his 3rd career at quarterback for the Bulldogs. I’m excited to see how he responds after a tough week at UTSA.

We’ll learn a lot about the staff on Saturday. Can they get the guys back up after last week? The effort sucked last week, and Tech was eliminated from bowl contention.

Let’s end the road losing streak! Let’s go!!!!

Louisiana Tech (3-8, 2-5):

Monday - The 3-2-1, Inside Tech Football at 6 PM on SportsTalk 97.7 FM

Tuesday - Stat Attack, Sonny Cumbie Press Conference, BTB Radio on SportsTalk 97.7 FM (Will probably start at 6:30, Techsters play at 4)

Wednesday - BC radio interview on SportsTalk 97.7 FM at 7:15 AM, Scouting UAB QB Dylan Hopkins

Thursday - Inside the Numbers, Score Predictions

Friday - Three Keys to Victory

Saturday - Game Thread, Game Day Central, Game Recap presented by Louisiana National Bank

Sunday - PFF Snap Count Totals & Player Grades

Let's go!!

Thoughts?

- I still can't wrap my head around why we went to so much horizontal screen stuff in the passing game? Lyddy hit the deep ball to Cyrus on second drive that he dropped for a TD. Lyddy hit the deep ball to Cyrus the next drive. He hit the one down the field to Nate Jones on the last TD drive. He hit Smoke for 27 down the field late in 2nd quarter. He had a pick on an intermediate throw before half. He had an incompletion on deep ball to Cyrus where DB broke it up in 3rd quarter. We didn't throw down the field to Tre all game??? We 5/6 on good throws down the field when we tried it. An offense that has thrived on deep balls all year went to its most conservative game plan of the year against the worst defense in the country?

- In the postgame, it sounds like Cumbie really trusts what Nathan Young does with the OL. He's mentioned Young's ability to put together a run game plan numerous times this season. Have to wonder if Cumbie is starting to put more and more on Young from a responsibility standpoint.

- I like Crosby and Thornton, but we need a home-run hitter at RB. Hargrove needs to come home.

- Keivie Rose & Cecil Singleton were really good on defense.

- Myles Brooks saw only one target the entire game. It was in the end zone for a PBU. We'll miss him if he heads to the NFL.

Check 'em out!

Trent Taylor (Bengals) - Bye Week

Boston Scott (Eagles) - 5 snaps played, 66.8 PFF grade, 1 carry for 5 yards

Milton Williams (Eagles) - 38 snaps played, 84.8 PFF grade, 1 QB pressure, 1 QB Hurry, 5 tackles, 4 STOPs

Xavier Woods (Panthers) - 63 snaps played, 55.2 PFF grade, 7 tackles, 1 missed tackle, 3/3 for 9 yards when targeted, 1 PBU

Justin Ellis (Giants) - 11 snaps played, 37.8 PFF grade, 1 missed tackle

Amik Robertson (Raiders) - 33 snaps played, 79.7 PFF grade, 4 tackles, 1 missed tackle, 1 FF, 3/5 for 59 yards when targeted, 1 TD, 1 PBU

L'Jarius Sneed (Chiefs) - 64 snaps played, 52 PFF grade, 3 QB Pressures, 3 QB Hurries, 3 tackles, 1 missed tackle, 8/8 for 91 yards when targeted, 2 TDs

Central Michigan & Western Michigan being played in a blizzard tonight. Incredible.

Let's hear 'em!

Tech 45
Charlotte 42

The road losing streak comes to an end.

Jacob Fields is on board:

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Louisiana Tech will host Middle Tennessee in a Conference USA match-up on Saturday afternoon.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 PM on ESPN+.

The Bulldogs & Blue Raiders are both 1-3 in C-USA play.

This isn’t a recruiting weekend, so I don’t expect any visitors outside of local guys. I’ll let you all know if anyone significant ends up coming.

Parker McNeil is expected to start at QB. Lyddy will be the back-up if he’s needed for an extended time. If it’s a helmet pop-off or QB sneak type situation, you’ll see Jack Turner. Like I’ve said, McNeil can’t take a hit. He just can’t, so there may not be much vertically in the passing game unless Tech is dominant up front. He’s just not able to sit in the pocket and let plays develop with the risk of being hit at stake from what I’ve seen.

I expect Tre Harris to play. Will he go the distance? We’ll see. Julien Lewis will be behind him.

Griffin Hebert will truly be a game-time decision. I didn’t think he looked good on Tuesday, but we’ll see.

Want to play in a bowl game? Must win.

@gtpddEvan is going to help Tech figure out what it takes to win on the road:

Louisiana Tech (3-7, 2-4):

Monday - The 3-2-1, Inside Tech Football at 6 PM on SportsTalk 97.7 FM

Tuesday - Stat Attack, Sonny Cumbie Press Conference, BTB Radio on SportsTalk 97.7 FM

Wednesday - BC radio interview on SportsTalk 97.7 FM at 7:15 AM, Scouting Charlotte QB Chris Reynolds

Thursday - Inside the Numbers, Score Predictions, BC radio interview on SportsTalk 97.7 FM at 5 PM

Friday - Three Keys to Victory

Saturday - Game Thread, Game Day Central, Game Recap presented by Louisiana National Bank

Sunday - PFF Snap Count Totals & Player Grades

Let's go!!

This is the entirety of the season to this point. I'll do another one of these when the regular season concludes.

Trent Taylor (Bengals) - 9 GP, 68 snaps played, 54.2 PFF grade, 3 catches for 19 yards, 18 punt returns for 237 yards, 13.2 yards per return ranks 4th in the NFL

Boston Scott (Eagles) - 7 GP, 69 snaps played, 57 PFF grade, 25 carries for 76 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch for 2 yards

Milton Williams (Eagles) - 9 GP, 238 snaps played, 66 PFF grade, 6 QB pressures, 4 QB Hurries, 1 sack, 12 tackles, 10 STOPs

Xavier Woods (Panthers) - 9 GP, 622 snaps played, 59.8 PFF grade, 4 QB pressures, 2 QB Hurries, 1 sack, 44 tackles, 10 STOPs, 4 missed tackles, 13/20 for 150 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, and 3 PBUs when targeted

Justin Ellis (Giants) - 9 GP, 190 snaps played, 33 PFF grade, 1 QB pressure, 1 batted ball, 7 tackles, 5 STOPs, 3 missed tackles

Amik Robertson (Raiders) - 9 GP, 333 snaps played, 63.1 PFF grade, 1 QB pressure, 1 QB hurry, 1 batted ball, 18 tackles, 8 missed tackles, 1 FF, 19/27 for 273 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 1 PBU when targeted (If he would tackle, he'd be in the 70s easily. His tackling grade is 28.)

L'Jarius Sneed (Chiefs) - 9 GP, 587 snaps played, 76.9 PFF grade, 13 QB Pressures, 8 QB Hurries, 4 sacks, 52 tackles, 8 missed tackles, 43/58 for 398 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 4 PBUs when targeted

Jeff Driskel (Texans) - 2 GP, 5 snaps played, 75 PFF grade, 1 carry for 15 yards (Driskel has only been called up from the practice squad for 2 games.)

DT Vernon Butler was signed by the Giants on Tuesday. Hopefully he'll get into some action here pretty soon, but it may come at the expense of Jellybean's roster spot. We'll see.

7 PM tip-off from the Cajun Dome tonight.

ULL is a 2.5-point favorite.

Let’s see if the ‘Dogs can bounce back.

Sonny Cumbie, Tre Harris, and Beejay Williamson will speak to the media today. Starts at 12 PM. I'll have it covered.

Tech has struggled this year, but Charlotte has been worse.

BTB Radio is back on the air TONIGHT!

6 PM on SportsTalk 97.7 FM.

- UTSA Recap
- Football Roster Make-Up
- Dunkin’ Dogs & Lady Techsters talk
- AD Eric Wood joins us at 6:15 to discuss the new TV Deal

Thoughts? Questions? Discussion Topics?

888-993-7762

With the new school year starting this week, I was wondering if anyone had an educated guess on what our Fall '22 enrollment will look like?

The XFL will start up in the Spring of 2023.

Kentrell Brice, Elijah Hamilton, and Shane Carpenter were selected in the draft today.

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Louisiana Tech & UTSA are scheduled for a 2:30 PM kickoff on Saturday afternoon.

The game will be aired on ESPN+.

Tech leads the all-time series 7-3, but the Roadrunners have won the last two contests.

UTSA is currently an 18-point favorite, O/U is at 68. Bet the O.

For the 'Dogs, the redshirt is overrated at quarterback.

Myles Mason did not make the trip. Solo Lewis did not make the trip.

Grubbs is still out.

J-Cole & Beejay are pretty banged up at the safety spot. Turner might start in one spot, Singleton next to him if both Cole & Beejay are out. This would put Morrison & Calhoun at the nickel spot.

Joe Mason had a full week of practice, I expect he'll be back on the DL.

Hebert will start at TE. He's ready to go. Need a big day.

Tech ranks 4th nationally with 32 plays over 30 yards and 12 plays over 40 yards.

Tech ranks 5th nationally with 9 plays over 50 yards.

Going to need those explosive plays to turn into touchdowns to win this one on Saturday.

Offensive scheme should have some things we haven't seen. I'll point them out during the game on Saturday, but you'll see them.

Frank Harris is good at QB for UTSA. Really good. His scrambling ability is what scares me.

The Roadrunners are converting 53% on 3rd down, that's absurd. If the defense can't get off the field, it'll be a long afternoon.

Kevorian Barnes has emerged as a redshirt freshman at RB. He's explosive.

Franklin & Cephhus will challenge Brooks and Roberts all day. Beyond that, there isn't too much to worry about in passing game.

UTSA hasn't been very good on defense. They've given up 158 yards on the ground, and the secondary has really struggled at safety. If I was a betting man, I'd think Cumbie is going to challenge the heck out of those safeties w/ Hebert back. One of the guys back there is 6'5, lets find out what kind of hips he has.

UTSA has 16 sacks this year, Tech has 12. Gives you an idea on how they rush the passer.

Tech will need good kickoffs from Buck. Chris Carpenter has taken one to the house for the Roadrunners this season. Cephus has been trash as a punt returner.

Need a W.

Tech’s secondary will be challenged on Saturday:

Freshmen can play in 4 games while still maintaining their redshirt..

Here is an update on who has played in how many games to this point:

WR Cyrus Allen - 3 games (I'd be SHOCKED if he redshirted at this point)
K Buck Buchanan - 3 games (I'd be SHOCKED if he redshirted at this point)
TE John Locke - 1 game
QB Landry Lyddy - 1 game
TE Tanner Oliver - 1 game
P Patrick Rea - 1 game
TE Kendrick Rucker - 1 game
CB Jhamal Shelby - 1 game

Older guys that have a redshirt left:

C Landon Nelson - 1 game (sophomore)
G Joe Ta'ase - 0 games (sophomore)
T/G Elijah Bower - 0 games (sophomore)
TE Nate Jones - 4 games (sophomore - I'd be surprised if he redshirted)
DT Zion Nason - 1 game (sophomore)
DT Queden Ballew - 0 games (sophomore)
CB Cedric Woods - 0 games (sophomore)
WR Devonta Lee - 0 games (junior - will redshirt)
S Myles Mason - 0 games (senior)

All the classifications are based on LA Tech Sports website.

@ntruppel with a look into some of Charlotte's 4th down decision making:

Check 'em out!

Trent Taylor (Bengals) - 26 snaps played, 58 PFF grade, 2 targets, 2 catches for 14 yards, 3 carries for 18 yards, 48.6 PFF grade as a punt returner, 3 returns for 52 yards

Boston Scott (Eagles) - 5 snaps played, 63.3 PFF grade, 1 carry for 5 yards

Milton Williams (Eagles) - 24 snaps played, 57.8 PFF grade, 1 QB pressure, 1 QB Hurry, 1 tackle, 1 STOP

Xavier Woods (Panthers) - 67 snaps played, 37.9 PFF grade, 6 tackles, 1/2 for 6 yards when targeted

Justin Ellis (Giants) - Bye Week

Amik Robertson (Raiders) - 21 snaps played, 35.1 PFF grade, 1 QB Pressure, 1 QB Hurry, 1/2 for 12 yards when targeted, 1 penalty

L'Jarius Sneed (Chiefs) - 51 snaps played, 86.2 PFF grade, 1 QB Pressure, 1 QB Hurry, 4 tackles, 1 missed tackle, 1/5 for 2 yards when targeted, 2 PBUs