As I sat on the railroad tracks drinking coffee ☕️ and watching practice this morning, I observed the following

The Defense totally dominated the offense. NOW NOW, before we get too excited thinking we are the ‘85 Bears, our offense just isn’t very good.

QB’s: The QB rotation was #10, #7, #5, #1
Lots of interceptions today, 2 pick 6’s etc.

WR’s: Today the starters were, Solo & DeColdest at X, Tru and Latulas in slot, #17 at TE, and #47 & #89 at Z. They completed 2-3 passes. One went to an out to Solo and another out to DeColdest. Everything else was no separation, under/over throw, interceptions, and lack of arm strength throws/floaters!

OL: it appears that the defense has Lawrence Taylor #56, Warren Sapp, and TJ Watt rushing today. No protection. Tremendous work has to be done there or it will be a very long season.

This new Defensive Coord is a certified Hype Man. He along with his staff are very energetic and every big play they are celebrating and having fun dominating the offense right now. I know the Head man is fuming 😡 and pissed off.

Defense looks great however the offense looks bad and I really don’t know how the defense will be because the offense is looking very FCS.

Offense needs some dudes in the worse way. There are no Chad Mackey’s, Moats, Troy E, Willie Roafs, Luke Mc, etc. just don’t have dudes.

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AD Ryan Ivey agreed to a 4 year deal for $300K/yr + up to $15K in academic incentives, $15K in team performance incentives, and $25K in fundraising incentives.

Tech also paid SFA $149K to buyout Ivey's prior contract.

If either party terminates this contract, that party will owe the other 50% of the remaining value.

For comparison, Dr. Wood was making $335K/year with similar incentives, so the difference in salaries is basically the amount that Tech paid SFA in buyout money.

The spring game is 9 days away, so I figured we take a look at the defense and the production returning for the Bulldogs in 2024.

In parenthesis, we will have career starts & career statistics at the FBS level.

DE: Jessie Evans (2 career starts, 32 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks), J'Dan Burnett (4 career starts, 32 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks)

DT: David Blay (1 career start, 16 tackles) or Zion Nason (4 career starts, 44 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks)

DT: Trevell Vivians (NA) , Adam Lamar (NA) or Keenan Landry (NA) or Kells Bush (0 career starts, 1 tackle)

DE: Mykol Clark (28 career starts, 104 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 sacks), Jayden Gray (1 career start, 18 tackles, 3.5 TFL), Ezekiel Durham-Campbell (1 career start, 16 tackles, 1.5 TFL)

LB: Zach Zimos (5 career starts, 60 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack), Avery Huff (0 career starts, 23 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack)

LB: Kolbe Fields (0 career starts, 5 tackles), Sifa Leota (1 career start, 23 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks)

LB: Demardrick Blunt (NA) -- this is a nickel spot that will also be played by DGT, Michael Richard, or Jordyn Morgan

CB: Cedric Woods (33 careers starts, 86 tackles, 17 PBUs, 4 INTs), David Webb (NA) or Jhamal Shelby (0 career starts, 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 6 PBUs, 1 INT)

S: Isaiah Mcelvane (0 career starts, 23 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU), Jakari Foster (NA)

S: Michael Richard (6 career starts, 32 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 7 PBUs), Jordyn Morgan (11 career starts, 38 tackles, 4 PBU, 1 INT)

S: Blake Thompson (1 career start, 12 tackles, 3 PBUs), BJ Blake (NA)

Notes

- I definitely think that the defense will be improved in 2024, but I do wonder who is the difference maker. I think Kolbe Fields and Michael Richard have a chance to fall into that category, but can they do it for 12 games?

- Can the DL cause enough disruption to the QB?

Thoughts?

CB: DeMarcus Griffin-Taylor, Jordon Myles (NA)

TY is off to a hot start:

Louisiana Tech will travel to Monroe for a non-conference matchup with ULM on Tuesday night.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM on ESPN+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM.

The Bulldogs defeated the Warhawks 8-4 in Ruston earlier this season.

Need a win.

TY goes deep in his second AA game:

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The spring game is 13 days away, so I figured we take a look at the offense and the production returning for the Bulldogs in 2024.

In parenthesis, we will have career starts & career statistics at the FBS level.

QB: Jack Turner (4 starts, 57%, 1,193 yards, 6 TDs, & 7 INTs), Blake Baker (NA), Evan Bullock (0 starts, 40%, 21 yards, 1 INT), Ty Keyes (3 starts, 51%, 355 yards, 3 TDs & 4 INTs)

RB: Donerio Davenport (0 starts, 458 yards, 2 TDs), Omiri Wiggins (NA)

WR: Marlion Jackson (0 starts, 12 catches, 161 yards), DeColdest Crawford (0 starts, 2 catches for 17 yards) or Jay Wilkerson (NA)

WR: Tru Edwards (5 starts, 23 catches, 284 yards, 2 TDs), Dedrick Latulas (0 starts, 3 catches, -2 yards)

WR: Solo Lewis (0 starts, 2 catches for 56 yards), Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (11 career starts in FBS, 20 catches, 220 yards, 2 TD *had 2,488 yards & 22 TDs at Alabama A&M)

TE: Eli Finley (1 start, 2 catches for 10 yards), Nate Jones (7 starts, 29 catches, 285 yards, 1 TD)

LT: Daniel Keys (0 starts), Hayden Christman (0 starts)

LG: Bert Hale (18 starts), Ashanti Cole (0 starts)

C: Landon Nelson (0 starts), Zarian McGill (

RG: Jerren Gilbert (10 starts), Ja'Marrion Kennedy (0 starts)

RT: Kenneth Bannister (1 start), Brett Canis (0 starts)

Notes:

*Marquis Crosby, Keith Willis, and Hunter Tipton are out due to injury right now. Bannister got banged up Thursday, but he was a 1 prior to that.

*Very inexperienced across the entire offense. Will need numerous players to step up around Jack Turner to help his transition into the starting role.

*As far as the identity of the offense, Bert Hale said post-practice on Thursday that they are really still trying to figure that out and might not know until we get into games this fall. If Crosby, Willis, and Davenport are all healthy at RB, I think it has to be 60/40 or 65/35 run to pass if they offensive line is getting any sort of push. Those are easily your 3 most talented players on offense.

*In terms of Turner, Scott Parr said post-practice on Thursday that the belief is Jack just needs to play football and he'll develop adequately. He mentioned that he didn't play much in high school or junior college and that his first real reps were last season.

*In terms of WR, there's obviously not a Smoke Harris or Cyrus Allen in the room. Parr said post-practice on Thursday that the group is very competitive top to bottom and not having to force it to a go-to-guy might can help the unit.

*I'll do this same exercise for the defense on Thursday.

Check it out:

Louisiana Tech will travel to Arizona for a 3-game non-conference series this weekend.

Friday | 8 PM
Saturday | 8 PM
Sunday | 12 PM

All 3 games will be on PAC-12 Network+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM.

The Wildcats come in at 18-13 overall and have won 8 games in a row.

Arizona is an interesting team in that they rank 15th nationally in ERA. It’s all centered around ranking 1st nationally in walks per 9 IP. They are 130th in hits allowed, and 126th in fielding %. Pretty pedestrian, but they force you to beat them by getting hits.

The Bulldogs rank 39th nationally in team batting average. Good pitching beats good hitting? We’ll find out.

Also, Tech ranks 26th nationally in fielding %. Maybe I’m too hard on the defense at times.

Reed Smith moves back to Friday night, Nichols on Saturday, and Swistak on Sunday.

We’ll see what is in store for McLeod & Davis when it gets closer to game time. If both are out, it’ll be interesting to see what Tech does. Lefty starts on Friday for Arizona, so I doubt you want Safford & Drost in the lineup. Maybe Coates gets a start? Somehow get Evans in the lineup? We’ll see.

Dunkin' Dogs (22-9, 12-4)

3.13 - vs Middle Tennessee - 8 PM tipoff on ESPN+/KXKZ 107.5 FM

3.15 vs TBA

3.16 vs TBA

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Lady Techsters (13-18, 7-9)

3.14 - vs Jacksonville State - 11:30 AM tipoff on ESPN+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM

3.15 - vs TBA

3.16 - vs TBA

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Diamond Dogs (25-9, 6-3):

4.10 - @ UL-Lafayette - 6 PM first pitch on ESPN+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM

4.12 - @ Arizona - 8 PM first pitch on PAC12 Network+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM

4.13 - @ Arizona - 8 PM first pitch on PAC12 Network+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM

4.14 - @ Arizona - 12 PM first pitch on PAC12 Network+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM

Tech Softball (24-11, 7-5):

4.10 - vs Ole Miss - 4 PM first pitch on ESPN+ (Doubleheader)

4.12 - vs Jacksonville State - 6 PM first pitch on ESPN+

4.13 - vs Jacksonville State - 1 PM first pitch on ESPN+

4.14 - vs Jacksonville State - 1 PM first pitch on ESPN+

Shelton is ranked as the 122nd best RB in the draft, per The Athletic.

Hall is ranked as the 138th best DE in the draft, per The Athletic.

Roberts is ranked as the 89th best CB in the draft, per The Athletic.

Singleton is ranked as the 116th best S in the draft, per The Athletic.

That’s all the Tech players I could find on the list of 1,900+ ranked.

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Few Nuggets on first week of spring ball:

- Jack Turner has really struggled, thrown 5 or 6 INTs. Keyes is clearly behind, but he’s been ok with the reps he’s gotten. Two freshmen kids have done nothing of note, probably two years away.

- Jackson, Solo, and Tru are starters at WR. Dakota Williams behind Jackson, Claville & DeColdest behind Solo. Latulas behind Tru in slot.

- OL is a massive work in progress. Tons of new faces, struggling to gel right now.

- Lots of familiar faces on defense that are back, they are making tons of plays. Really like the scheme, Jeremiah Johnson get some rave reviews early on.

- Buck has really kicked it well.

LA Tech & ULL are set for a 6 PM first pitch down in Lafayette tonight.

Game will be on ESPN+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM.

The Cajuns have won 16 games in a row, they are the hottest team in the country.

ULL ranks 7th nationally in team era.

The cast is off, but I doubt we see Dalton Davis until this weekend at the earliest.

Does Tommy target Duffy Conroy?

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BC & Nick Brown will be back for BTB Radio on Tuesday night! 6 PM on SportsTalk 97.7 FM!

For BTB Radio tomorrow night:

- National Championship Reaction for Men & Women
- Catch-up on Baseball & Softball play of recent
- RPI Check for both programs
- Impact of Dalton Davis injury for Lane Burroughs team
- Mitch Gaspard will join us at 6:45
- This new proposed relegation model in College Football (Can it work? Will it happen? Should the G5 be all in for it?)

Questions for Gaspard?

Calls/Texts - (888)-993-7762

Let’s go!!

Who ya got?!

The two best teams all year. Who ya got?

Battle of the Big Men!

Will there be a practice report for day 1 of spring practice?

Louisiana Tech will host Middle Tennessee in a 3-game CUSA series this weekend.

Friday | 6 PM
Saturday | 2 PM
Sunday | 1 PM

All 3 games will be on ESPN+/SportsTalk 97.7 FM.

MTSU has lost 6 in a row, so they’ve hit a skid. Tech needs to handle its business.

The Blue Raiders are a decent offensive team hitting .299 and are averaging 6.7 runs per game.

Pitching wise, they are dreadful. Team ERA is over 7.

Check it out: