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Two Minute Drill.
Notebook. The LAJ has a notebook with two notes. The first is that DL Bennett Ofor is not practicing with the team and focusing on academics. The second is about RB DeAndre Washington who the coaches feel did a terrific job last week. Here's OC Eric Morris:
"DeAndre has turned into an every-down back that we feel confident doing anything," offensive coordinator Eric Morris said. "We can run (him) inside, outside, gap scheme, zone scheme or throw the ball to him out of the backfield. ... He did really good in protection as well."
Picking on Madison and Batson. CB Tevin Madison was one of the best Big 12 true freshmen last week according to 24/7 Sports while fellow true freshman WR Cameron Batson is a player in the spotlight for ESPN:
Texas Tech WR Cameron Batson: The true freshman earned punt return duties for his first career game and has wowed Texas Tech coaches with his quick mastery of the offense. They're pushing to get him in the lineup this week and want to use him as an outside receiver.
Just Note Sure. Naturally, there's a lot of folks that just aren't sure what to think about Texas Tech after just having played one mediocre game against Central Arkansas. CBS Sports thinks that Texas Tech vs. UTEP, especially at 20.5 is one of this week's locks:
Hinnen: Texas Tech (-20.5) over UTEP - If the biggest upset of Week 1 might have been Texas A&M's dismantling of South Carolina, the biggest one almost no one noticed was UTEP's surprise win over 9-to-10-point favorite New Mexico. Despite the arrival of Aggie transfer QB Jameill Showers, the Miners were widely expected to be one of the FBS's weakest teams in 2014; they probably aren't quite as good as they showed against the Lobos, and Kliff Kingsbury's Raiders are a good bit better than their 42-35 win over Central Arkansas suggested. (The Miners were narrowly outgained by UNM, while Tech actually enjoyed a 636-404 yardage edge on UCA.) Before the season, this line would have been at least a touchdown wider; grabbing it below three scores seems like quality value.
Then, on the other hand, the Student Section thinks that Texas Tech that needs to get their stuff together because the charm of Kingsbury might be superficial:
This game starts just after 9 p.m. local time in the Sun Bowl, and after UTEP won on the road against New Mexico in week one, the Miners will believe that they can push Texas Tech, which survived a 42-35 shootout against an FCS team (Central Arkansas) in week one. Kliff Kingsbury radiates positive energy and charm, but he's been entrusted with a lot of money and responsibility. If Texas Tech wobbles here in a late-night game... well, you fill in the rest of that sentence.
Miscellaneous. It's not easy catching up with all of the Big 12 news, so here goes. Baylor's Levi Norwood is out for a few weeks with a broken wrist. Norwood joins QB Bryce Petty, WR Antwan Godley and Corey Coleman who have injuries as well. Iowa St. WR Quenten Bundrage is out for the year with a torn ACL and then the starting right tackle Jacob Glennon left the team . . . Football Study Hall makes their completely biased week 2 picks . . . the DMN has this week's prediction for Texas Tech vs. UTEP . . .
