Texas Tech coach Mike Leach on Monday revisited the problems that led to new quarterback Taylor Potts throwing three interceptions in the season opener.
Potts acknowledged after the game that he made some throws off his back foot, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.
Leach said it wasn’t the first time he’s seen the junior quarterback do so.
“No, but he went through a run where he did it more than he usually does,’’ Leach said. “Everybody throws off their back foot at some point. He had a run there where he was doing it quite a bit.
“Some of it was missed assignments by the running back. There were times he’d have to tend to the blitzer, because we were failing to pick it up. At times he didn’t have to tend to it, I thought he was a little happy footed.’’
One oddity is Potts had single-digit interception totals his last two years as a starter at Abilene High School.
“For me to go out and throw three I feel is really uncharacteristic of me,’’ Potts said. “But it’s one of those things. It’s last week, we still won and we’ve got another game this week.’’
Sounding board
If quarterback Taylor Potts needs someone to turn to after a rough series or game, he has the ear of Tech’s starting quarterback from 2004. Potts said it’s nice to have Sonny Cumbie on staff as a graduate assistant for the offense.
“He’s helped a lot,’’ Potts said. “He understands that there’s questions and difficulties that come with the position, and nothing’s a dumb question. He understands what you might be thinking and that kind of thing, so it’s really nice to have him.’’
Tech coach Mike Leach called Cumbie “a sharp guy and a guy that’s on top of a lot of things.’’
“And I think he’s good with players,’’ Leach said. “He’s a good set of eyes to have out there, and just a clearminded and objective guy.’’
No sympathy
A couple of Tech players mentioned fatigue might have been a factor Saturday night. Kickoff came not long after afternoon highs climbed into the 80s.
Asked about a fatigue factor, Tech coach Mike Leach pointed out that North Dakota didn’t run many plays — 57 for the game.
“Well, they’re just going to have to cowboy up a little bit and play 57 plays,’’ Leach said with a chuckle. “You know, God forbid a football player should have to go out and play 57 plays at the ripe old age of 18 to 22. Now isn’t that something? I don’t want to hear anything about being tired.’’
Play count
Texas Tech managed to run only 67 plays in Saturday’s opener, a low number by Tech norms. The Red Raiders averaged 76 plays a game last year, and have been known to break 100 on nights they really get it rolling.
Maybe it was because the Raiders didn’t achieve the pace they’ll reach later in the season. Or maybe it was because North Dakota had three possessions that took six minutes or more.
“I don’t think they really held the ball more,’’ Tech coach Mike Leach said. “We got yards in reasonably big chunks. So if I were to guess, I would say it was a combination (of factors). It may have taken us less plays to finish the drives we scored on, and then we turned it over three times, which took us out of drives.’’
Praise for King
Redshirt freshman Joe King played the entire second half Saturday in place of an injured Marlon Winn and graded out well, line coach Matt Moore said.
“Joe went in there and did exactly what I asked him to do,’’ Moore said. “He did what he was coached to do and played real well.’’
Singling them out
Tech coach Mike Leach said players who made a favorable impression on him Saturday night included flanker Alex Torres, the defensive line and Richard Jones in particular, running back Harrison Jeffers, backup tackle Joe King, receivers Detron Lewis and Austin Zouzalik and safety Cody Davis.
Story courtesy of www.redraiders.com
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