Lubbock, Texas ? Mike Leach has suggested he may shake up his receiving corps when No. 11 Texas Tech goes against Massachusetts tonight.
But it wouldn’t be to fool the Minutemen, the second Football Championship Subdivision opponent Texas Tech has faced in nonconference.
Leach made no secret of his displeasure with receivers who dropped eight passes in last week’s 43-7 win over SMU. No more than five passes get dropped in practice when nearly 300 balls are thrown, Leach said.
“If we were (ranked) first right now, it wouldn’t matter. My thoughts would be the same,” Leach said. “If we were last, my thoughts would be the same. You do the best you can. If I felt like that was the best we could do, then we’d be fine.”
Massachusetts’ pass defense looks good on paper – 169 yards per game.
But the Minutemen (2-1) have never faced anything like Graham Harrell (417 yards passing per game), All-American receiver Michael Crabtree and Texas Tech’s Air Raid. And Texas Tech has been getting good work out of its running game, with nine rushing TDs.
“Their running backs are excellent speed guys with great quickness,” Minutemen coach Don Brown said. “They’ll slip in there and hurt you with the zone schemes if you just completely defend one side of the ball. So they will keep you honest with the run game.”
It’s the first meeting between the schools.
“They are going to throw a lot of unexpected stuff at us,” Texas Tech offensive lineman Hamby said. “With this type of team they could throw anything out there. They are real wiry and real fast.”
Tech’s defense had a big day against the Mustangs with five interceptions. Daniel Charbonnet set a Texas Tech (3-0) record with three picks. They’ll be up against Liam Coen, ranked No. 20 in passing (863 yards and nine touchdowns) in the FCS.
