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Texas Tech Tuesday Morning Notes - Presents Under the Tree Edition

By Seth C

Double-T Nation News:

I wish I knew how to quit you. My dogs decided that I needed to get up at 4:45 this morning and there were some stories out there from the LAJ this morning. I also finished how I think the 3-4 defense could work at Texas Tech and that's posted below. Consider this your present under the tree. Merry Christmas.

Texas Tech Football:

LAJ's Don Williams writes on whether or not the Virginia pass defense has figured out the Texas Tech offense yet, or better yet, how the Texas Tech offense is preparing for the Virginia offense. Here's Texas Tech receiver Eric Morris on preparing for Virginia:

"We don't even have one game film for us to compare our offense to Virginia's defense (against spread-formation passing),'' Tech inside receiver Eric Morris said. "It's been kind of hard for us, because we really don't know what looks we're going to get, because they don't face anything similar to it -- a true, four-wideout set. I think it's tough for them, but at the same time we don't know what they're going to do either.''

Williams has a pretty interesting tidbit on how Leach and his staff prepares for a game as far as tape is concerned:

Tech coach Mike Leach said he's had to plumb a little deeper in UVa game film for clues to the personnel and coverages the Cavs might use. Tech coaches have all 12 of UVa's game tapes, the norm for bowl preparation, and have watched every one.

For most opponents, Leach said his staff can ascertain what it needs to know from zeroing in on three game tapes.

"This time,'' Leach said, "we did bits and pieces of seven.''

Excellent stuff from Don this morning.

Don also has his Tech Notes this morning, noting how both Leach and Groh have a healthy respect for the other's All-American player. Here's Al Groh on Michael Crabtree:

"In two ways -- his quick acceleration after the catch ... and then his ability to jump on the run, which is not only very impressive, but consistent,'' Groh said. "One coach's quote (from a team that played Tech) was, 'After you watch the tape, however good you think he is? He's better.''

Texas Tech Basketball:

LAJ's Jeff Walker has an excellent article this morning, comparing former Texas Tech guard Ronald Ross and current senior Martin Zeno. Walker gets Ross to talk about all of the people he sought advice from in becoming a better player and draws the comparison between Ross' senior year struggles with Zeno's. Perhaps the most interesting quote from the article is this from Ross on how Coach Pat Knight dealt with the situation:

"I also had Coach Pat Knight come at me in some ways that I really didn't like, but he could not have done it any other way because I responded to it," Ross said. "It put that chip on my shoulder, and it made me take my role as a leader to another level on and off the court.

"I had a lot of meetings that week after the TCU game that let me know that what I was doing was not enough, especially if we wanted to accomplish any of the goals that we had set as a team at the beginning of the season."

I found it interesting that it was Pat Knight that was challenging Ross as I tend to see Pat as more of a mediator with his father and the players, but I certainly find it interesting to see that it's Pat who is challenging players to become better leaders. I think that's an excellent sign for the future of Texas Tech basketball.

There's a ton of good stuff in this article, so do yourself a favor and read the whole thing.

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