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Texas Tech Monday Morning Notes - Positives Are Still There Edition

By Seth C

Double T Nation News:

In Sunday's edition of the LAJ Don Williams features interim defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill who over the last 8 games, has given to Coach Leach his resume to be considered the full-time defensive coordinator for Texas Tech. Coach Leach gave the response that I would expect, he's not in any hurry to make a decision:

"Things have been such a whirlwind, I haven't really done anything,'' Leach said this past week. "At some point, I'll have to think it through. Right now, we're just sort of carrying on. The last couple of weeks have been real busy for everybody, and we're trying to outline recruiting now.''

That sounds right to me. Besides, I'd prefer to let the season play out and see if there are other more qualified candidates available.

We often talk about wanting a more aggresive defensive coordinator, a guy who's not afraid to blitz, give a team a bunch of looks and generally put opposing defenses in a tizzy. Here's Coach McNeill on what he's like to see from his team:

"There's some things I'd like to do differently, pressure-wise and that kind of thing,'' he said. "I do like to blitz. I'd like to add more pressure to the defense, some different looks, at the same time keeping it simple. I think that's the whole key - not trying to over-coach the kids.''

Snip

"I like to mix zone blitzes with man blitzes,'' McNeill said, "and I think that gives us a chance to cause pressure on run and pass. I like them in run downs as well as pass downs. I would like to do that if given the opportunity.''

Sounds kinda like the guy we want, right?

I'm still trying to figure out if McNeill is the right guy for the job, but I'm leaning towards being in favor of keeping McNeill here and in charge of the defense.

That being said, here's your opportunity, tell me who you want and why. Don't give me the ambiguous coach from the SEC without giving names. Give us a coach who has succeeded, whether or not it's a coordinator or a position coach, and tell us why he deserves to be the next defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. Build his case and convince the rest of us that your pick is better than another candidate or better than Coach McNeill.

Texas Tech Football:

LAJ's Don Williams reports this morning that the Gator Bowl still wants our Red Raiders. Williams notes that this will likely be a matchup between Virginia or Clemson with Texas Tech and when Gator Bow president was asked about whether or not this weekend's games had any effect on their decision he had this to say:

"No, I don't think so,'' he said. "Obviously, the positives are still there. While I haven't talked with the Cotton or Holiday bowl, I didn't see anything that happened this weekend that would change their thought process.''

If forced to give an opinion, I'd probably prefer to play Clemson, although the matchup between Virginia's Chris Long and Rylan Reed would be something to watch (I think Reed might be one of the more underrated tackles in all of college football).

Texas Tech Basketball:

LAJ's Jeff Walker reports back from Anchorage, Alaska with some positive notes about this year's team. Lots of good notes, head on over there and read the entire article.

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