2010 Texas Tech Opponent Prospectus
Game 1: SMU Mustangs (9.5.10) :: Game 2: @ New Mexico Lobos (9.11.10) :: Game 3: Texas Longhorns (9.18.10) :: Game 4: @ Iowa St. Cyclones (10.2.10) :: Game 5: Baylor Bears (10.09.10) :: Game 6: Oklahoma St. Cowboys :: Game 7: @ Colorado Buffaloes (10.23.10) :: Game 8: @ Texas A&M Aggies (10.30.10) :: Game 9: Missouri Tigers (11.06.10) :: Game 10: @ Oklahoma Sooners (11.13.10) :: Game 11: Weber St. Wildcats (11.20.10) :: Game 12: Houston Cougars (11.27.10)
General Information
| Opponent | Weber St. |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
| Location | Ogden, UT |
| Enrollment | 23,335 |
| Conference | Big Sky |
| Head Coach | Ron McBride |
| 2009 Record | 7-5, 6-2 |
| Starters Returning | 6 Offense : 5 Defense |
| Blogs | - |
| Links | Big Sky Conference Prospectus |
Join me after the jump for a closer look at the Wildcats.
Statistics
Statistics are based on FCS competition.
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| Statistic | Weber St. | Texas Tech |
| Pass Offense | 282.92 (8) | 386.77 (2) |
| Rush Offense | 115.33 (86) | 84.00 (115) |
| Total Offense | 398.25 (19) | 470.77 (4) |
| Scoring Offense | 28.17 (31) | 37.00 (7) |
| Pass Efficiency | 183.52 (26) | 143.79 (19) |
| Sacks Allowed | 1.58 (40) | 2.38 (87) |
| Pass Defense | 220.17 (88) | 225.62 (73) |
| Rush Defense | 155.67 (72) | 126.77 (38) |
| Total Defense | 375.82 (82) | 352.38 (49) |
| Scoring Defense | 21.67 (41) | 22.46 (41) |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 120.78 (56) | 117.38 (35) |
| Sacks | 1.83 (59) | 3.09 (4) |
| Tackles For Loss | 5.25 (83) | 6.46 (34) |
| Turnover Margin | -0.67 (98) | -0.46 (94) |
Top Returners
| Category | Player |
| Rushing | Bo Bolen :: 88 Rushes : 442 Yards : 3 TD |
| Passing | Cameron Higgins :: 289/454 : 3,321 Yards : 20 INT : 30 TD |
| Receiving | Joe Collins :: 48 Receptions : 455 Yards : 4 TD |
| Tackles | Taylor Sedillo :: 34 Solo : 66 Assists : 100 Total |
| Sacks | Ryan Eastman :: 4 Solo : 0 Assists : 18 Yards : 4.0 Total |
| Interceptions | Jordan Brown :: 3 INT : 65 Yards : 0 TD |
Key Losses and Returning Impact Players
Disclaimer: I'm not an expert on the opponent, but I try my best. If I have something wrong, please let me know and I'll correct or revise as necessary.
Key Losses:
RB Trevyn Smith, WR Tim Toone, OL Nestor Cruz, OL Kyle Mutcher, DB Beau Hadley, DL Kevin Linehan, DB Josh Morris
Impact Offensive Player :: QB Cameron Higgins:
I think I could go with the Wildcats All-American offensive lineman (see below), but because Weber St. is replacing their top rusher and top receiver, I'm guessing that like most offenses, this offense is going to be dependent on the success on the play of Higgins. Higgins actually had a pretty good year last year, but his touchdown to interception ration is worrisome. Reducing those interceptions will help the offense tremendously.
Impact Defensive Player :: LB Taylor Sedillo:
Sedillo was named as a preseason All Big Sky first team player and he was truly all over the field for the Wildcats. In addition to his 100 tackles he had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 6 pass break-ups and 2 forced fumbles.
Coach Speak:
Head Coach Ron McBride on the defense during the purple-white spring game:
"Defensively we have had a bunch of our red-shirt freshmen and new players step up and become contenders," said McBride. "I thought Anthony Morales (6-0, 225 RsFr. - Edmond, Oklahoma) played well and Mo Neal (6-2, 235 Jr. - Oakland, California), a transfer from Utah is a special cat. He knows how to hit and drive players backwards. Trevor Percher (6-2, 240 Soph. - Edmond, Oklahoma) also gave us a boost along the defensive line today as well."
Spring Chatter:
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Oram Preseason All-American: Offensive lineman J.C. Oram is tabbed as a Division I FCS All-American:
The Sports Network has released its 2010 Division I FCS Pre-Season All-America teams, and included Weber State offensive lineman J.C. Oram on the squad.
Twelve players from the Big Sky Conference were selected to the three teams. Oram, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound junior from Slaterville, was selected to the second team offense.
It is the second time this season Oram has been named to a preseason All-America team. Last month he was named second team by Phil Steele's Football Preview Magazine.
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Expectations: Weber St. head coach Ron McBride expects to make the FCS playoffs again this year:
"We expect to win and we expect to be in title contention," said coach Ron McBride. "I think this team is very prepared coming into camp. We should be able to go pretty fast with this team."
That's an encouraging statement for a team that was picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky Conference by both the coaches and the media, and welcomes back just six starters on offense and five on defense. Every college football team has holes to fill each year, but before the Wildcats start finding the new go-to players on offense and defensive studs when they open the season on Sept. 4 at Boston College, there is more important work to be done.
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Looking to 2010: QB Cameron Higgins wants to redeem himself and the team after a playoff loss in 2009:
As for Higgins, who accounted for five turnovers against William & Mary, he said he has changed his mental approach from last season.
"It was definitely a learning experience," he said. "Last year, I think I was more of a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy."
Higgins said last season he liked to look for the home-run play, a long, risky pass down the field. Any football fan knows those plays can be electrifying. However, they can also lead to a loss of field position, or worse yet, a turnover.
Now a senior, Higgins said he is committed to making smarter decisions.
Sometimes it's better to go for the higher-percentage play, get the first down and, "live to fight another day," he said.
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Defense Rules in Scrimmage: The defense ruled in Weber St.'s second scrimmage:
"The defense controlled the whole scrimmage, up until we got into the red zone sessions," said WSU head coach Ron McBride. "Then we started getting a little more downhill, got a little tougher. But the defense got turnovers, the defense got stops. By far it was the defense's day."
The Wildcat defense held the offense without a score in full field drills, one week after the offense racked up a bunch of yards and four scores in the same format.
"You're always pissed off at one side or the other. You're never happy completely," said McBride. "But I was happy to see the defense toughen up and stand up, and they came out here obviously ready to play. They made plays when they needed to make them. One thing we've done good all spring is getting turnovers. The defense has been very good at getting turnovers, and understanding the importance of getting turnovers."
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Halfway Through Spring: Halfway through spring practice the Wildcats were making improvements:
With the Wildcat missing three-fifths of their starting offensive line, they still managed to move the ball well move of the morning.
"We didn’t have a lot of experience on that offensive line today, but I thought they fought pretty hard," said McBride. "Tytan Timoteo and Spencer Rangasan are doing a nice job at center, and Kevin Halfhill is making a good transition from tight end to right tackle."
vs. Texas Tech:
I'm not going to insult any Weber St. fans by trying to discuss or have an opinion on the Wildcats. I haven't seen a second of Weber St. football in my life so it would be completely disingenuous for me to make comments. Everything I know about Weber St. I've linked to above. I will say that Weber St. loses their top running back, Trevyn Smith, and the best receiver to have played at Weber St., Tim Toone, who was the last player drafted in this year's NFL draft and was Weber St.'s version of Wes Welker, except Toone has dread-locks, which makes him awesome.