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ODDS AND ENDS | This may bring back some old memories of the Sportatorium for some of you, but the children of Kevin Von Erichs are back wrestling.
Uniwatch continues the uniform rankings, 51-75 and 50-26.
I've been meaning to mention this for a while, but Big 12 blog-friend Pistols Firing has a new blog, Sports Reads, which are a culmination of long reads about sports. If you like to read long articles about sports then this is for you.
SOCCER | The soccer team travels to Ft. Worth to play in a tournament and the DT features freshman Janine Beckie and the LAJ has a preview article.
VOLLEYBALL | The volleyball team opens the season in Boston against Boston College and the LAJ writes that they are optimistic.
BASEBALL | The Valley Record (a paper in Proudfoot's home area of Washington) checks in on SS Tim Proudfoot and the official site checks in with former Red Raider Barrett Barnes.
FOOTBALL | Didn't have time for HC Tommy Tuberville:
DC Art Kaufman: Trying to get into game-week mode. Trying to find out who we use today. Get scout team started and get adjusted to those things. I think after 2 or 3 weeks, everyone practices to get into the season. It's not about the opponent, but about us. There is still work to do on run defense, still working on technique for young guys. We have goals as a team, the big thing is to stop the run and force passing situations. Battle at defensive end between Branden Jackson, Jackson Richards and Dartwan Bush. Pete Robertson is in there too, he's done a good job this fall. I think some guys are stepping their game up, Bruce Jones, Derrick Mays are at the front. Olaoluwa Falemi and Brandon Bagley have the chance to be in the mix. Will Smith gained 10 to 12 pounds, he's 230 now, he's been able to focus on technique, he's done a good job. If 80 play game, play break-down for 50 plays for Smith and 30 for Dees. Strength of team is experience in the secondary. Until we can be tested, is going to take game experience for tackles and that takes time to clean up in September. We have four DT, could be Lee Adams or Michael Starts. We'd like to have five. Micah Awe is playing special teams and some linebacker, intelligent guy and more instincts. You don't tackle a lot to keep care of each other, we like to tackle all we can.
OC Neal Brown: Alfredo Morales is a bit ahead, had more reps, Beau Carpenter is more rusty, but he's starting to pick it up, they will both play. We're a long way from settling, we have next week to even that out. Have three weeks and a bye week. Z = Javon Bell and Darrin Moore. X = Bradley Marquez and Eric Ward. H = Jace Amaro, ?. Y = Alex Torres and Tyson Williams. Coaches are no different than players, we have our goals re-set. Have to work through hurt feelings sending some guys to the scout team. I think DeAndre Washington and Eric Stephens are ready, feel really confident with Stephens, pleased with scrimmage. He needs to get some recovery. Eric and Kenny Williams are competing to start, SaDale Foster are in the mix. Didn't have the burst last year, but he's getting close. Trey Keenan is getting ready, we'd like to redshirt him. Derreck Edwards, we're pleased with him, he's picked it up, Edwards reminds me of where Ward was, we can tell he's super-talented, but it might take him a little time. Ward was on the scout team and then he caught 84 balls. Torres is getting better, day on and then a day off. When his legs are fatigued, he doesn't look good. Washington is doing good.
LAJ's Don Williams follows up with a notebook for things that I missed.
LAJ's Williams also has a feature on backup linebackers Blake Dees and Zach Winbush. More confirmation that last year's defense was too complicated, from Dees:
"This system is a lot more simple and basic," Dees said. "Coach Kaufman wants us to learn how to do it, so when we’re out there we have no questions on what we need to do. Last year’s defense, there were so many things — having them call the play (from the sideline) and having to look at our play sheet (on the player’s wristband) took too much time. Now we get plays quick, quick, quick. It helps a lot. Now I’m set and I can see the formation."
The Williams and Hyatt Show's Hyatt and Williams discuss football things
RP.com sent me two emails yesterday saying that Copiah-Lincoln C.C. defensive ends Jerrell Jordan [6-3 | 230 | 4.6 40 yd] (Scout) and Terrell Hartsfield [6-3 | 246 | 4.6 40 yd] (Scout) have committed to Texas Tech. I don't know what this says about me, but I don't know whether or not to believe it because usually RRS.com is first by a mile and they still haven't reported it on the front page. You can watch some high school video of Jordan (YouTube) and for those of you who don't recall, Hartsfield was one of DE/LB coach Robert Prunty's first commits in 2010 and Hartsfield went to Hargrave Military Academy and then had to go the JUCO route. As a freshman, Hartsfield received MACJC First Team All-State honors. It's been a long journey for Hartsfield to get here.