Odds and Ends
I'm Back: Safe and sound, everything is good, although I woke up late this morning and I'm just now getting the opportunity to take a look at DTN. Yesterday was my wife's birthday and part of her present was to not be distracted with DTN. Mission accomplished.
In any event, I'm incredibly happy to be back and a huge thanks to everyone, and I do mean everyone, who helped keep DTN running. It's very cool to come back and see so many new FanPosts, comments, and FanShots. I'll take the time to read everything tonight.
One last thing. I'm probably going to repeat a couple of links because you guys did such a great job linking to everything, so I apologize in advance.
Texas Tech Football
Offensive Line Shuffle: LAJ's Don Williams writes about the offensive line shuffle, but it appears that the play of LaAdrian Waddle has caused offensive line coach Matt Moore to move Waddle to right tackle, and Joe King to right guard, who is backing up Mickey Okafor. Also, it appears that Chris Olson is slightly ahead of Terry McDaniel for that left tackle spot:
Between now and then, one of the key position battles — not just on the line, but for the team as a whole — is at left tackle, where Olson and McDaniel have taken turns with the starters.
"Olson’s probably ahead right now,’’ Moore said, "but they’re really making it a hard decision.’’
Tech Notes: LAJ's Don Williams also has his Tech Notes which included news on the following :: the competition between Ryan Erxleben and Donnie Carona for the punter position is up for grabs, as well as the candidates for returning punts and kicks . . . IR Adam James had a tremendous day yesterday . . . freshman S Will Ford is working the nickel:
"We’re just experimenting with one (nickel back) at a time right now, trying to figure out what we have,’’ defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. "We’ll see who can do what. Nothing’s been solidified.’’
. . . freshman D.J. Johnson is impressing at cornerback, despite never having played the position . . . and finally, some practice notes.
Henley Move: FWSTs Dwain Price features DE Rajon Henley, who sounds confident about the defensive line this year:
"We lost Brandon Williams, but overall if you look back, it’s been the same guys the last two to three years," Henley said. "Overall, I think we’ll be a better d-line than last year.
"We know each other well, we worked so hard this summer, we love being here and we love the sport. So I think we’ll do a lot better than we did last year, even though we did have a successful d-line last year."
Mays Spotlight: LAJ's Don Williams and RedRaiderSports.com's Brian Lane each talked with freshman receiver Derrick Mays.
Texas Tech at #20 in Sporting News Top 100: Surprisingly, Texas Tech comes in at #20 in the Sporting News Top 100, and I say surprisingly because I don't know if Texas Tech has had a higher rating by any other publication or major news outlet.
WR Torres Video: For those of you asking about WR Alex Torres, RRS.com has a post-practice interview with Torres: