SB Nation - Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Saturday Lessons: November 14

Year2 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:00:32 -0000

More photos » by Brett Flashnick - AP

Not pretty, but effective: your 2009 Florida Gators.

Florida and Alabama just keep doing their thing.

This was probably the last realistic chance for Florida to lose prior to the showdown with Alabama, given that its game was on the road and South Carolina isn't a bad team. It would have been the irony to end all ironies for Steve Spurrier to spoil the Gators' attempt at an undefeated season, but UF just won the way its been winning all year: adequate offense and (mostly) stifling defense. Florida completed its third perfect SEC record ever, after 1995 and 1996, and they have just FIU and FSU (who plays less defense than Georgia does most days) to go before heading up to Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide made sure there would be no cowbell magic for Mississippi State. Mark Ingram was his usual great self (149 yards on just 19 carries), and Greg McElroy found his early season form once again as he was efficient and didn't turn it over. The defense was brilliant as usual, holding the Bulldogs to just a field goal and snaring three interceptions in the process. A pit stop with Chattanooga and the Iron Bowl remain for the Tide before they pack for Peachtree City.

No one dominates without help, and USC's help is about gone.

I've said this before: no team dominates a conference without the teams around it being subpar. FSU dominated in the 1990s in part because the ACC was terrible during that time. Miami had a great run in the early part of this decade thanks to the Big East not being very good. Florida and Alabama now are dominating the SEC (a combined 30-1 the last two years) thanks in part to regimes getting stale and/or falling apart in at Auburn, Tennessee, and Georgia. There is no exception to this rule. You can't dominate without weakness around you.

USC dominated the Pac-10 for much of this decade thanks to a lot of lousy coaching elsewhere. The conference didn't have a lot of coaches that could stare down the titan on a consistent basis. Jeff Tedford and Mike Bellotti did occasionally, but without any consistent threat, USC ran roughshod over the league. UCLA went nowhere with Karl Dorrell, as did Arizona State with Dirk Koetter. Oregon State took some time to get going under Mike Riley. The Washington schools fell apart after Rick Neuheisel and Mike Price left. Stanford went through several bad coaches. Arizona has only recently done anything under Mike Stoops.

Teams are upgrading now though. Oregon with Chip Kelly is 2-1 against USC. Stanford under Jim Harbaugh is 2-1 with two wins in L.A. Oregon State is hitting its stride under Mike Riley and is 2-2 since the Pac-10 went to the round robin format. Washington at least hired someone who knew all the secrets in Steve Sarkisian, and UW is 1-0 under him. Sure this was going to be a down year for USC, but this big of a crash was not inevitable. The rest of the conference is catching up, and it's because it's getting smarter about coaching hires.

LSU is not the same without Jordan Jefferson.

An eight point win over Louisiana Tech is not impressive in any way this season, and Jarrett Lee completed just 7 of 22 passes for 105 yards and a 4.8 yards per completion average. Keiland Williams had a good day in relief of the injured Charles Scott, but really, without a functional passing game, LSU's offense is seriously hampered. The Tigers didn't put up as many points on LA Tech as Auburn (36), Navy (32), Nevada (37), Idaho (35), and Boise State (45) did. For a home game where they didn't turn it over, that's not good.

Regrouping is not part of Lane Kiffin's master plan, apparently.

I will grant pretty much any team a distraction-fueled mulligan the week that three players get arrested for armed robbery. However the Vols practically didn't make the trip to Oxford, mailing in a pathetic 42-17 loss to Ole Miss. Some slippage would be expected without starting safety Janzen Jackson, but they allowed Dexter McCluster to serially kill them for 282 yards on the ground. Tennessee normally doesn't give up that much yardage to entire teams, much less single players. UT is still without a sixth bowl-clinching win, but fortunately for the Vols' postseason hopes, they still have Vandy left to play.

Good luck figuring out the Rebels. Again.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, played like we would have thought they would in the preseason. I'm not about to get all that excited over it since I said the same thing after the Rebels' win over Arkansas, and they lost to Auburn the very next week. A win over LSU would give them the tiebreaker for second in the SEC West, something that seemed out of the question not that long ago. That does assume though that they don't find a way to lose the Egg Bowl, which given the inconsistency from the team this year is not 100% out of the question.

TCU may have a point.

A lot of folks assume that if a major player from a major conference played in a non-BCS conference, they'd win pretty much all the games by blowouts. Well, that's exactly what TCU has been doing, with its only close wins being at Clemson (who's not so bad) and at Air Force (who's going bowling). The Horned Frogs are basically doing what we might expect any other titan might do with the same schedule, and two close wins over decent or better teams can be excused. It's hard to give too many more reasons for keeping TCU out of the national title game with their three wins over ranked teams, even with Texas (one win over a ranked team) undefeated.

Georgia won't finish under .500 in the SEC.

I'm not sure how much more we can gather about UGA after its win over Auburn since few elements of it have been repeatable for the Bulldogs throughout the season. If you're wondering if this game saved Willie Martinez's job, your answer is a hearty laugh and a "no." The 17 offensive points that Auburn scored was more than Kentucky gave up to the Tigers, and you still have to look at the bigger picture. Georgia has allowed as a total team 30+ points nine times since the start of the 2008 season. That's more times than than Florida, Alabama, Penn State, Ohio State, and TCU have allowed 30+ in the same span (seven times). Not all of that is on the defense, what with special teams and defensive scores, but it's still a bad relfection on that unit.

Auburn's position as the high variance team of the conference remains unchallenged.

I am not really sure what to make of Auburn. The Tigers can beat Tennessee and Ole Miss, but they find a way to lose to Kentucky and Arkansas too. Now, they can't beat Georgia either, though UGA is the fourth best team in the conference by record. There's no consistency there from week to week, which I supposed could be expected since they are in the first year of a system that requires extreme levels of conditioning.

Kentucky is going bowling.

It's hard to think about football among the bluegrass this time of year, but the Wildcats defeated Vanderbilt to score their sixth win of the season. Like last year, UK is sitting on six wins and just two of them in-conference, but the Wildcats can put a nicer record up with an upsets over Georgia and/or Tennessee in their final two games. Given that Kentucky has already defeated Auburn, Georgia's been wildly inconsistent, and that Tennessee might be going into a late season tailspin, it could happen.

Few teams can torch cupcakes like Arkansas can.

Missouri State: 48-10 win

Eastern Michigan: 63-27 win

Troy: 56-20 win

It's too bad the Hogs couldn't play in the Sun Belt or MAC. Throw out their SEC record, add a few more scores like that, and keep their 47-19 win over Texas A&M, and they might be looking like Boise State is right now. Okay, not quite as good since Oregon's much better than TAMU, but you get the picture.

Minnesota should stop playing teams from the Dakotas.

The Golden Gophers needed a field goal late in the fourth quarter to hold off South Dakota State 16-13 on Senior Day (!). They only outgained the Jackrabbits 231-229. In 2006 Minnesota escaped North Dakota State 10-9, but the very next year the Bison beat the Gophers 27-21. It may be time to find a new area to scout for I-AA opponents, don't you think?

Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC

T Kyle King — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:52:13 -0000

I started with the national games of interest this week, so now I need to circle back around to look at the Southeastern Conference slate. My 6-1 ledger in last week’s league picks left me at 57-10 for the fall, but, honestly, I should’ve gone 7-0 against last Saturday’s sorry schedule, so my usual disclaimer still stands: Don’t Bet On It!

Each of the following games will take place on Saturday because this isn’t the Mid-American Conference, dang it:

Kentucky Wildcats at Vanderbilt Commodores: The battle for eleventh place on my SEC Power Poll ballot kicks off in Nashville when the Bluegrass State Felines visit the Music City Sailors. I’m not going to mince words here: Vanderbilt is so bad that the ‘Dores lost by a double-digit margin to Georgia. Clearly, Kentucky will emerge victorious.

Troy Trojans at Arkansas Razorbacks: The Hogs host the Trojans for the third time in the last four years this weekend after having won the 2007 battle 46-26 and lost the 2006 meeting 50-14. Of course, that 2006 game was against the Southern California Trojans, so this represents a bit of a step down in weight class. I like Arkansas to take care of Troy, who is, after all, just one guy.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at LSU Tigers: I would make a joke about this being a battle for local bragging rights, but, when you look at the other programs aspiring to be the Bayou Bengals’ Pelican State rival, you realize Louisiana Tech really is the prime contender. With apologies to Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech ain’t that much of a contender. Louisiana State’s dominance of Bulldog squads this season continues.

Alabama Crimson Tide at Mississippi St. Bulldogs: Both teams wear maroon, once employed Sylvester Croom, and are pleased with where their current head coaches have gotten them, but there the similarities end. Dan Mullen has done a fine job, but he hasn’t done a fine enough job to beat ’Bama. In his defense, though, any Mississippi State coach who had done a good enough job to beat ‘Bama probably was cheating his hindquarters off.

Tennessee Volunteers at Mississippi Rebels: Apparently, a stricter truth-in-advertising statute went into effect in the Magnolia State on November 1. Prior to that point, almost all of the teams Ole Miss faced were, to put it bluntly, lying. The Vanderbilt Commodores are not, in fact, high-ranking naval officers. The Auburn Tigers and Memphis Tigers are really human beings rather than large jungle felines. The Arkansas Razorbacks are people rather than pigs in need of a veterinary spinal dermatologist. Since Halloween, though, the Rebs have played two teams who were honest about their mascots. As I was informed repeatedly, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks hail from a home town founded by actual lumberjacks. Likewise, it turns out that the Tennessee Volunteers are not paid staff members. Much to my annoyance, the Big Orange will wallop the Rebels on the road.

Florida Gators at South Carolina Gamecocks: Don’t be alarmed, but, when Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer meet at midfield for the postgame handshake, the South Carolina Department of Homeland Security will upgrade the SOB Alert Level to Condition Orange. Actually, I heard that the two coaches had made a private bet on this game. If the Sunshine State Saurians win, Darth Visor will retire from coaching and become a full-time amateur golfer; if the Palmetto State Poultry win, Corch Meyers will take the Notre Dame job. I’m not saying that’s true; I just read it on Bleacher Report. Anyway, I’ll be rooting for South Carolina, but I’m picking Florida.

For my final forecast, I predict that I will be wrong on 50 per cent of the foregoing prognostications. Why am I so willing to bank on my own inaccuracy? Because I know to follow the advice you should have sense enough to take: Don’t Bet On It!

Coming Soon: National Game of Disinterest.

Go ‘Dawgs! Auburna delenda est!

Game balls for Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech

Kevan Lee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:49:28 -0000

The Broncos escaped Ruston with a win on Friday night, pushing their record to a perfect 9-0. It was neither easy nor pretty at times, but Boise State found a way. After the jump, I'll name some of the best players and plays from the game. Feel free to add yours in the comments.

Readers' choice award for player of the game

Austin Pettis

via media.idahostatesman.com

Has Pettis been the Broncos' most important offensive player this season? Take away Kellen Moore, and I think the decision is an easy one. Pettis was huge again versus the Bulldogs, recording a team-high nine catches to go with 105 yards and the winning touchdown. What a grab, too, on that winning score. Pettis snatched a Kellen Moore bullet out of the air, with a man on his back, and brought it down for six. Pettis has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Broncos' games this year, but more importantly, he has been dependable, clutch, and downright uncoverable at key times all season.

The Jeremy Avery run of the night

Jeremy Avery's 44-yard TD run in the fourth quarter

via media.idahostatesman.com

Following Pettis' TD, Boise State answered with a long overdue long gain on the ground. Jeremy Avery took a pitch left, avoided the wake of Chris Potter and Richie Brockel blocks (thanks to ty_ol for the ID on Potter), and scooted his way into the end zone for the 44-yard score. The play was remarkable in its uniqueness. All game long Boise State had done very little on the ground and Avery had made very few tacklers miss. On this one play, Avery wasn't bothered until he was 10 or 15 yards downfield at which point he juked free of a tackler and shook off another on his way to the end zone. Where did that run come from? And how can we get some of that in the first half of the next few games?

Best impersonation of 2008 Byron Hout

Byron Hout

via media.idahostatesman.com

Hout seems to be returning to his pesky form of 2008, totaling five tackles and a sack on Friday night. For the first time all season, Hout has put together solid back-to-back games and he seems to be hitting his stride at just the right time. Still, I think if he gets through the entire season without a fumble return involving a spin move, I think we'll all be a little disappointed.

Really? He had 12 tackles? award

Jeron Johnson

After watching the game, I thought Jeron Johnson had a quiet night. Anybody else think the same? Turns out, Johnson had one of the most productive nights for a Bronco defender yet this season, leading the team in tackles with 12. He didn't make any flashy plays like INTs or spontaneous Russel Hill combustions, but at the same time, he didn't whiff on any tackles or blow any coverages. Johnson was disciplined and effective. I'm okay with that.

Kellen Moore award for excellence in the field of Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Kellen Moore's performance: 28-for-41, 354 yards, three TDs. Just another day at the office for Moore, which is quite amazing considering how many teams would kill for QB numbers like that.

Yay, fundamentals! award

Center-QB exchanges

via media.idahostatesman.com

Boise State fumbled zero times against Louisiana Tech. When's the parade through downtown Boise?

Least enjoyable place to play award

Ruston, Louisiana

Once again, the voodoo of the South put the fear of God in the Broncos. What began as a blowout dwindled down to a nailbiter in the fourth quarter. What is it about Ruston? And considering the blowout win at Hawaii earlier this year, has Ruston replaced Honolulu as the new nemesis for Bronco road venues?

Runner-up: the red zone

Special teams play of the night

Louisiana Tech's onside kick

Perfect timing and perfect execution. Aren't I supposed to be saying that about Boise State's special teams?

The first time all season I have worried about the outcome of a Bronco game

11:30 of the fourth quarter

Though Boise State has played in several close games this season, I have never really fathomed the reality of a loss until a dire moment in the fourth quarter of Friday's game at LaTech. The Broncos were clinging to a 2-point lead following 14 unanswered points by the Bulldogs. Boise State drove to the Louisiana Tech 14-yard-line where the drive stalled. Kyle Brotzman came on and missed a 31-yard field goal.

The combination of Boise State's red zone troubles and Kyle Brotzman's kicking troubles suddenly became very real to me. Points were not a given any more. And that terrified me. Fortunately, the Bronco defense stiffened (barely) on the next drive, the Bulldogs punted, Kellen Moore completed a TD pass to Pettis, and I started feeling much better. But don't you ever scare me like that again, Broncos.

Technical awards

The Dick Tomey award for needlessly aggressive coaching decision: Coach Pete. Going for two with an eight-point lead is not by the book, and Coach Pete knows it.

Kyle Wilson punt return of the year: Wilson's 59-yard first quarter return. He looked like the Kyle Wilson punt returner of old, didn't he?

Worst time to insert a freshman QB for game experience: Against Boise State. LaTech's Colby Cameron had the deer-in-the-headlights look, followed predictably by the deer-getting-run-over-by-a-tractor-trailer look.

Best made-up penalty: Striking blow. Not only was the penalty ambiguous and imaginary, it kept a LaTech drive alive and resulted in a touchdown. Oh, those nutty WAC refs. Always coming up with new ways to disappoint and frustrate.

Boise State turns it on late to beat Louisiana Tech, 45-35

Kevan Lee — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:22:59 -0000

The Broncos ran out to a 20-point halftime lead, gave back all but two of it, then added two fourth quarter scores to hang on to beat Louisiana Tech, 45-35 on Friday night.

Kellen Moore threw three TDs, Jeremy Avery had over 100 yards and fourth quarter score, and Boise State showed some second half moxie in moving to 9-0 on the season. How did the win sit with you? Happy with the outcome? Expected something different? Leave your comments below, and come back soon for some extra analysis.

Moore-to-Pettis couldn't have come at a better time

Kellen Moore's late fourth quarter TD pass to Austin Pettis was perhaps the game's biggest play, giving the Broncos some much-needed momentum (and points). Up until that point, the Bulldogs had outscored the Broncos 21-3 in the second half, Boise State was an anemic 2-for-6 on scoring TDs in the red zone, and Kyle Brotzman had just missed a gimme field goal from 31 yards out. It was as do or die as it gets for this Boise State team.

On 3rd and 7 from the 12, Moore hit Pettis on a post route for the score, and the subsequent two-point conversion gave the Broncos a 10-point lead and breathing room. Had Pettis not made the grab, Brotzman would have come on to make it a 5-point game, and LaTech would have got the ball with a chance to take the lead.

Moore-to-LaTech defensive back couldn't have come at a worse time

About the only thing that could have kept the Bulldogs in the game in the second half was a big play for a score. And it just so happens that is what the Broncos gave them on their first drive. With pressure in his face, Moore threw a long, fat ball to the far sideline that was picked off by LT's Josh Victorian and returned 76 yards for the score. Could Shoemaker have made a better play on the ball? I'm not one to judge. If Moore was trying to get rid of it, he should have made certain and put it in the seats.

Jeremy Avery turns Boise State's three-man RB platoon into a one-man show

Going into the game, there were rumors that Avery, Doug Martin, and Matt Kaiserman would each be featured prominently in the gameplan. Idaho Statesman FAIL. The final rushing numbers?

Avery 25 carries, 145 yards

Martin 4 carries, 2 yards

Kaiserman 2 carries, -1 yards

And Avery ended up doing what Avery does best: adding a long, late-game run to his 4.0-ypc evening. Avery's 43-yard scamper in which he broke tackles for one of the only times during the game made the margin three scores and essentially put the game on ice.

Were you one of the ones calling for Avery to give way to Martin or Kaiserman? It certainly was a surprise to see one Boise State back get the bulk of the carries for the first time all season, especially when the running game was so ineffective for most of the game, especially the first half. Could Martin have done any better?

It easily could have been 42-7 at halftime

The Broncos' red zone woes cost them a shot at putting this game out of reach before the halftime gun even sounded. If Boise State gets touchdowns on its two opening possessions rather than field goals, the score would have been 21-7 after the first. If the Broncos convert either of their two missed 3rd and 1 opportunities, they could have driven down for more TDs instead of punting. If Titus Young had landed a inch or two more inbounds on his sideline end zone grab, Boise State could have added another score instead of a missed Brotzman field goal (by the way, what's the point of having replay officials if they don't replay close calls like that?). I doubt a pick-six to start the second half would have inspired the Bulldogs as much if it only cut the score to 42-14.

Jekyll and Hyde defense picks a bad nationally-televised time to show up

The Bronco defense was a world-beater in the first half, forcing three-and-outs left and right. The Bulldogs' only TD drive was aided by a pass interference penalty on a possibly tipped pass and a third down penalty on Ryan Winterswyk for a "striking blow." LoserWACrefsayswhat?

In the second half, everything changed, and it changed in ways that it has probably never changed before in the history of football. Ross Jenkins, he of the bad quarterbacking, put on his best Terry Bradshaw impression, marching the Bulldogs up and down the field, and reaching the end zone three times in the second half. Ross. Jenkins. I don't even know where to begin with this one.

Were you happy with Boise State's defense? Reflecting back on the game, it didn't seem like the Broncos played that awful. They didn't allow any big plays. They didn't miss a ton of easy tackles. They just gave up yards and first downs, bending and eventually breaking. It makes quite a difference when you can't score TDs in the red zone but the other can.

Byron Hout making Byron Hout-like plays again

Watch out, bad WAC offensive lines.

Kyle Wilson looked like Kyle Wilson in the first half

The Bronco All-American had his best punt return of the season and his second INT. You can see just how dangerous he is on punt returns when teams actually kick to him. It sure made me feel better about his subpar returning season so far.

I shall now ignore his second half and the fact that he got outplayed by a tight end for a TD reception.

Avery breaks tackles, Richie Brockel destroys people

Avery's TD run in the fourth was a great individual effort, but man did he get a couple huge blocks. The first was a WR crackback that sent a LaTech defender flying. Was it Shoemaker with the block? Then, about 10 yards farther downfield, Brockel picked up a man and planted him on the ground. Absolutely loved it..

Other observations

Boise State's offensive line did not get much push at all tonight. The Broncos need to be better on 3rd and short, but they were facing one of the toughest defensive lines in the WAC.
There are so many good Bronco defensive linemen who can make plays. Tonight, at various times, it was Winterswyk, Chase Baker, Hout, Billy Winn ... the list goes on.
Thank goodness Dave Lamont only does college football games once in a blue moon.
Is Will Lawrence ever happy with a block he makes?
How about LaTech fumbling on its first two plays then almost throwing a pick on its fourth? WAC commissioner Karl Benson had to be proud.
All three of the Bulldogs' questionable players played, and they lost all-WAC safety Antonion Baker in the first half with a broken fibula. Why don't I remember him breaking his fibula? Am I supposed to believe that he got off the field on his own with a broken leg?
Winston Venable just keeps making plays.
I wonder if Titus Young has ever been hit so hard.
700 comments on the Gamethread? I love you guys so much right now. Give yourselves a hand. You're incredible.
What did we all think of Tyler Shoemaker's night? He started off with several good catches, but in the second half, his egregious holding call negated a Titus Young touchdown (drive ended in field goal) and his drop in the end zone almost proved to be a killer (drive ended with Pettis' TD grab noted above).
I officially do not trust Kyle Brotzman. With anything. I'm not sure what it will take to earn back my trust.
Bring on the Vandals!

Poll

Who was Boise State's player of the game against Louisiana Tech?

Kellen Moore

66 votes

Austin Pettis

93 votes

Kyle Wilson

8 votes

Byron Hout

23 votes

Jeremy Avery

15 votes

205 votes | Poll has closed

Final pregame thoughts on Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech

Kevan Lee — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:03 -0000

With the Broncos and Bulldogs set to square off in a few hours, now is as good a time as any to vent. What concerns do you have for tonight's game in Ruston? What are your hopes? What are your fears?

I'll weigh in with a few final thoughts after the jump, including an Idaho Statesman flame war, a comparison to the Fresno game, and some comments on reader comments. Share your own pregame thoughts, too.

RB committees bring out the best (and worst) in Statesman commenters

When Chadd Cripe broke the news that Jeremy Avery, Doug Martin, and Matt Kaiserman would each have a role on offense this week, several Statesman commenters provided some thought-provoking commentary. The rest flamed on Oregon and the Broncos' schedule.

Something is afoot here in the running back situation at BSU. Does anyone else find this story a bit fishy? I don't think Martin was injured and i also think Kaiserman is more productive on the field than Avery. Jeremy gets big plays but Kaiserman moves the chains....just sayin.

Pass route running/catching, blitz pickup, etc. are also part of being a running back and in those areas, Avery is still ahead of Kaiserman because of his experience. That's why he's the starter - oh, and because he averages 5.7 yards a carry.

So far this year, we've been terrible on 3rd downs and on the goal line and am a bit surprised that we've yet to see any of our backs step up and become our 3rd down, short yardage specialist, which based on what I've seen so far, I'd go with Kaiserman over Martin or Avery

Nick Saban says that he doesn’t formulate pre-game plans to juggle his tailbacks, instead he prefers to go by a "gut feeling" depending on how the game is going because it allows him to get a feel for who's hot and who's not not that day.

Agreed. On this subject, I feel most times the coaches are too repetitive with Avery when it is obvious it is not working. They did the same thing the last two years with Ian Johnson, and when Avery or Harper was tossed in the mix, more times than not the new guy made a big gain. They do well mixing recievers, do the same on the ground.

And then the whole thing devolved into nonsense and flaming.

When I first heard the news about Boise State's new RB system, I was a bit torn. Earlier in the year, the Broncos swore that they would avoid the platoon style of 2008 that proved to be largely ineffective. Wasn't that why Martin was moved to defense? Now, if Cripe is accurate in saying that "Boise State expects to have a three-tailback rotation," it would appear that the Broncos are going back to exactly what they hoped to avoid. And that concerns me a little.

I'm thinking Cripe worded the story funny and that a three-tailback rotation is not really accurate. I expect the Broncos to stick with Avery in the first quarter and then alternate drives with Avery and Martin for the remainder of the game, much like they had done prior to Martin's injury. Kaiserman's role could very well be as the short yardage back as he has shown signs that he can handle that duty (although his best showing was against the sieve defense of Hawaii). We'll see how it all shakes out tonight. I'm hoping things tend toward two RBs and not toward three.

The last time Boise State played on a Friday night ...

The Broncos have four Friday night games on the schedule this season, and here's hoping that the next three go a lot better than the first one. For the record, the similarities between tonight's game against Louisiana Tech and Boise State's first Friday night affair against Fresno are eerie.

Both teams are named the Bulldogs.
Both teams feature an All-WAC running back.
Both games are on the road.
Both teams have an overrated coach.

I guess that's where the similarities end. But still, anyone find this all a bit odd?

Allow me to bogart some comments

If I were to take a general temperature of Bronco Nation prior to this game, that temperature would be ambivalent, bordering on confident. No one really expects this game to be a nailbiter.

From the OBNUG Intern:

Lots of rushing yards. It must be the Louisiana air that helps the running backs! AP & TY should have a good night as well! There is potential for this game to get a little out of hand.

The last time the Broncos were in Louisiana was Jeremy Avery's coming out party with over 110 yards rushing, 79 receiving, and two scores. Likewise, times were good for Taylor Tharp as he threw for 328 yards and five scores, including one each to Austin Pettis and Titus Young. Offense is rarely the issue when the Broncos head east to Ruston. Intern's right; there could be some big numbers put up tonight.

From TitoRay:

I’m not expecting much from the Bulldogs, but I’m usually wrong.

Here's what I don't get: the Louisiana Tech road game was viewed as one of Boise State's toughest tests of the year coming into the season. Now, it's just another patsy opponent on a cupcake-lined road to possible BCS exclusion.

What happened? TitoRay is not alone in thinking that the Bulldogs won't bring much to the table tonight, which mean that something has gone drastically wrong for LaTech between September 5 and today. Injuries? Yes. Overrated? More likely. The Bulldogs might be case in point why you never put too much stock in a WAC team until the season is at least a couple weeks old. Right, 2008 version of Fresno State?

via www.bulldogblog.net

From drofdarb23:

I think the Broncos play well on the road, they’re just not as dominant as they are on the Blue.

I’m just hoping we can get off to a quick start. We haven’t had a dominant 1st quarter yet this year. It would be nice to see us put a team away in the 1st quarter.. I guess we’ll see.

Drofdarb makes a couple interesting points. First, the perception of the Boise State football team is that it struggles on the road. But is that true? It is easy to see where the perception originated, considering close calls at San Jose State and Wyoming during The Greatest Season Of Our Lives and three road losses in the 2007 season. So I guess the question is whether or not road woes transfer over from season to season?

This year's Bronco team has shown some ups and downs both at home and on the road. There were close away games at Tulsa and Fresno, and there were close home games with Oregon and UC Davis. Then there's Drofdarb's point to consider: It's all relative. Boise State's road struggles might only appear like struggles because of how easily they handle teams at home. I'd be curious to see what everyone else thinks.

Second, getting off to a quick start would be a nice change of pace for this Bronco team, but there is a lot that goes into that happening. OBNUG's Nick and I were talking about that very fact a few days ago. To blow out a team, there have to be several aspects of the game that need to work in your favor.

Takeaways early in opponent drives that lead to a short field.
Three-and-outs by the opponent, preferably with incomplete passes.
Quick scoring drives by the offense.
Big plays on offense or special teams.
Few penalties.
No giveaways.
No field goals.

If Boise State is going to jump out to a big lead early, they will have to have at least three or four of these things working in their favor. Boise State has shown a knack for long, sustained drives, but you can only fit so many of those in over the course of a game. Eventually, Boise State would blow out an opponent, but for big leads in the first quarter, there will need to be turnovers, big plays, and TDs instead of FGs.

What would need to happen for you to consider the Broncos getting off to a good start? For some, it could be as simple as not going three-and-out on their first possession. But others, like me I guess, are kind of hoping for a 21-0 lead and the opponent being down to its third-string QB.

From finloopio:

Boise State wins 24-14 and we drop to 23rd in the BCS

The most talked about part of the game when all is said and done could be how the outcome affects Boise State's standing in the polls. With a Friday night showcase, the Broncos will have another chance to impress voters and make an impact before the regular slate of college games kicks off tomorrow. While finloopio's prediction is in jest (I think/hope), a 24-14 win certainly would not help Boise State's BCS cause. Would it matter to Bronco fans, though? I'll take a 24-14 win if it means the Broncos keep their undefeated season in tact. As Coach Pete says, the rest will work itself out.

Your turn

What's on your mind heading into the game tonight? Any last-minute thoughts, observations, or worries? Feedback on the running back committee? Feel free to share in the comments.

Opponent preview: Can the Bronco offensive line handle Louisiana Tech's D'Anthony Smith?

Kevan Lee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:42:07 -0000

LaTech is hurting and haggard headed into Friday's matchup with the Broncos. Stars Phillip Livas and Daniel Porter are game-time decisions, and Derek Dooley's Q rating is dangerously close to Stephen Baldwin levels. What's left to worry over for the Broncos' big road trip?

Well, Bulldog DT D'Anthony Smith is one reason to fear. Throw in a long road trip on short rest, a history of tough games in Ruston, and the ghost of Tim Rattay, and we could be in for a barnburner. Or not. Read after the jump for LaTech's preview, and get talking about the game in the comments.

8-0, (3-0)

No. 7 Boise State at Louisiana Tech

Kickoff: Friday, 6:00pm MT, TV: ESPN2

Weather forecast: Sunny, high of 68

Spread: Boise State by 21

3-5, (2-3)

What LaTech has been up to

Everyone's perennial darkhorse WAC favorite has thus far been able to replicate last season's Independence Bowl magic. There will be no magic this year for Dooley and gang unless LT finds a way to top LSU and Fresno State. They were illusions, not tricks!

Assuming a Bronco win on Friday night, the Bulldogs will be 3-6 with three games to play, and even if they do win out by miracle of miracles, they could get the the ~~BCS~~ shaft when bowl invites are handed out a la San Jose State last fall. Lose-lose-maybepossiblywin-lose for the Doolster.

Where all the good vibes have gone

Most of them left after a 23-21 loss to Utah State two weeks ago - the same Utah State that had lost to New Mexico State the week prior - the same New Mexico State that thought this was a good idea.

via www.mcm.edu

The Bulldogs are pretty typical of a 3-5 team. They play well in spurts, but for the most part, they have lacked execution in the running game, consistency in the passing game, and big performances on defense. If they really wanted to try to be successful, they would try fumbling snaps like the Broncos do.

Louisiana Tech on offense

QB Ross Jenkins
RB Daniel Porter
WR Dustin Mitchell
WR Cruz Williams
WR R.P. Stuart
OT Rob McGill
OG Jared Miles
C Lon Roberts
OG Ben Harris
OT Jordan Mills
TE Dennis Morris

I am not ashamed to say that Daniel Porter was my preseason pick for WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Derek Dooley was intimidating me with emoticons on Google Chat at the time, so I claim duress. Seriously though, Porter was an animal last season against the Broncos, busting through tackles like he was the future version of Ryan Mathews. Had he been as effective this season as he was against Boise State last season, I might have looked a lot smarter than I really am.

Porter's questionable status for Friday puts a big crimp in the LaTech offense. Add to that Livas' injury and we could see the Broncos hold the Bulldogs to negative yards. QB Ross Jenkins is adequate at best, and though there are some solid players on the line, a lack of playmakers could come back to haunt LT on the final scoreboard.

And now a moment of silence for Taylor Bennett

via grfx.cstv.com

The game simply won't be the same without him completing 30 percent of his passes.

Louisiana Tech on defense

DE Kwame Jordan
DT Adrian Logan
DT Mason Hitt
DE D'Anthony Smith
LB Dominique Faust
LB Solomon Randle
LB Jay Dudley
CB Olajawon Paige
CB Deon Young
SS Tank Calais
FS Antonio Baker

Baker was the player who most often kept the Bronco secondary from sweeping preseason all-WAC lists. He's a good one, and so are many of his friends on the Bulldog side of the ball. I'll get to D'Anthony Smith in a moment, but first let me remind you that leading tackler LB Adrien Cole missed the Idaho game and is questionable for Friday night versus the Broncos. Jeremy Avery says, "Excellent."

via jenhayley.com

Louisiana Tech on special teams

P Cade Glasgow
K Matt Nelson
KR Lyle Fitte
KR Tyrone Duplessis
PR Phillip Livas

The loss of Livas will hurt the Bulldogs tremendously in the kicking game. He had returned both a punt and kickoff for TDs this season, and he is one of the most dangerous returners in the conference. Last week, K Matt Nelson munson'd an extra point that cost the Bulldogs the tie in the Kibbie Dome.

This D'Anthony Smith fellow

via graphics.fansonly.com

Proof that D'Anthony Smith is good:

He's a reigning All-WAC first teamer.
He was on the preseason Bronco Nagurski, Outland, and Lombardi watch lists
NFLDraftScout.com lists him as the third best defensive line prospect for the 2010 draft

Smith's powerful, punishing style has been on display all season long as he leads the team in TFLs and sacks and, most undeniably, triple teams. He attacks offenses from all sorts of different spots along the defensive front, and he works well in combination with other defensive linemen to stunt, twist, and muscle his way to the quarterback and into the backfield. He'll be a handful on Friday night. I predict at least a QB hit, a TFL, and three offensive holding penalties.

How Boise State has fared against D-line studs so far this season

The Broncos have faced their fair share of quality defensive lineman through the first eight games, and for the most part, they have done okay.

Oregon's Will Tukuafu was a non-factor thanks to the mostly-one-man Michael Ames show. (Ames' reward for stellar blocking? The bench.)
Fresno State's Chris Carter had his way with the Bronco O-line for about a half. Then everyone started scoring on long plays and rendered him moot.
San Jose State brought pressure with Adonis Davis, but linemate Ihenacho No. 2 was awfully quiet. The Broncos made adjustments to account for the pressure of Davis.

Boise State has rarely had to keep extra guys in to block on passing plays. The Broncos buy Kellen Moore time by moving the pocket, using play action, and taking advantage of misdirection and quick-hit plays. The occasional big-timer on the defensive line has given the Broncos problems, but for the most part, things have been smooth sailing.

The plan for Friday night

D'Anthony Smith will be one of the best defensive linemen that the Broncos see all season. Since he moves around so much on the line, it will be hard to pinpoint one Bronco O-lineman who will have to step up. They all will. I imagine that Smith might see a lot of time at defensive end and maybe find himself lined up over Matt Slater, which is where Carl Ihenacho was last week and Carter was in the Fresno game. If the Broncos keep with the status quo, Smith might only see a single blocker with the occasional help from the guard if he's free.

Other factors

What else will determine the outcome of the game on Friday night? Here are just a few ideas. Add your own in the comments.

The Broncos on the road. The feeling is that the Broncos don't play as well on the road as they do at home. Do you think there is any truth to that? Games in Ruston always seem to be entertaining, so there's a good chance this one could be close.
The short week. Both teams have one less day to prepare before Friday's game. Who do you think that affects more?
Fumbled snaps. Oh, like you weren't thinking it.
Preparing for the unexpected. Boise State has a knack for shutting down teams' strengths. But what about when you don't know what strength to expect? The status of Porter and Livas could impact the Broncos' defensive gameplan, and the intigue could work in the Broncos' favor. If you were defensive coordinator, how would you gameplan against the Bulldogs?

Your Turn

What are you looking at as a key to the game on Friday? Who needs to step up? What LaTech players do the Broncos need to watch? Can the O-line contain D'Anthony Smith? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Around SB Nation

Peter Bean — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:34:05 -0000

Needing to test something with the story editor anyway, I thought I'd might as well do so by sharing with y'all the compilation of links from around SB Nation's Big 12, Big East, Pac 10 and Non-BCS blogs that I send out to various network partners.

Questions for the comments: (1) Should I post these links more regularly? (2) Any thoughts on the cosmetic tweaks to the site design?

NON-BCS

* BCS Evolution offers his weekly "If I Were King" feature, highlighting the upcoming playoff scenario under his proposed post-season.

* Block U weighs in on critics who claim Utah has just been lucky on the football field this year.

* (HOOPS) Blogging the Bracket previews the Big 10 conference, the MEAC Conference, the Big West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, the Horizon League, the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Ivy League, the Big South, the Summit League, and the America East Conference.

* How to break down the Louisiana Tech roster? With anagrams, that's how.

* (HOOPS) The Bulldogs' freshmen looked great in Gonzaga's exhibition win over Alberta.

BIG 12

* (HOOPS) Big 12 Hoops compares the college and NBA games and explains his preference for the non-paid version.

* (HOOPS) Blogging the Bracket previews the Big 12 basketball season.

* Rock Chalk Talk brings a detailed analysis of the upcoming Kansas vs Kansas State match up.

* (HOOPS) Rock Chalk Talk gets fans ready for No. 1 ranked Jayhawks basketball.

* (HOOPS) Bring on the Cats thoroughly breaks down conference rival Colorado.

* (HOOPS) Rock M Nation takes a look at what be a breakthrough recruiting class for head coach Mike Anderson.

PAC 10

* Bruins Nation has an excellent in-depth look at problems with UCLA's protection schemes.

* The California Golden Blogs breaks down each Pac 10 team's record and bowl chances.

* Conquest Chronicles has found a truly fascinating theory of USC's struggles: call it the Sark Virus.

* Coug Center explains why any Washington State fans who blames the coaches for this year's struggles are wrong.

BIG EAST

* At 85% just a week ago, the Bill Stewart Approval Poll has plummeted to 58% after the South Florida loss.

* Ready to replace Greg Paulus at QB? Troy Nunes reminds you that Doug Marrone SAYS NO.

For Entertainment Purposes Only: 223- 163 (58%), +49.85 Week 7

FSUncensored — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:26:31 -0000

Note: I use this column to examine the college football landscape and the weekend ahead. The use of gambling numbers helps to show the public perception of a team and of their respective conferences. Even if you don't gamble, or are against gambling, this is worth a read solely because it will keep you informed of the happenings with many of college football's teams. Think of this as your weekend primer!

Welcome to another edition of For Entertainment Purposes Only! Last year, this rather informal column went 251-190 (57%) +41.0 That's 251 wins and 190 losses for a winning percentage of 57%. If you were wagering $100 fake dollars per game, you would have netted $4100 at season's end. But since these are fake wagers, I refer to our wager amount as "units." First though, a disclaimer:

I want to emphasize that I don't endorse gambling, and anything on here is for entertainment purposes only. Always check with your local, state, or federal laws to determine the legality of wagering.

First I discussed some wagers for conference and division winners. Then I went over season win totals. Vegas set the number, I called it over or under! In Week 1 I went 20-24 (45%), -6.3 Units. Week 2 I went 42-25 (63%), +16.32 Units. Week 3 was 34-27. +4.50 (+5.7 College, -1.2 NFL). Week 4 was 50-34, +13.62 Week 5 I went 50-33 (60%) for +17.48 Units (25-31, -4.42 College, and 24-2, +21.9 Units in the NFL). Last week I went 27-21 (56%) +4.23 For the season, I sit at 223- 163 (58%), +49.85 If I finish at 56% over 500 selections, I'll be absolutely elated. I like to play a lot of games to grind out the variance. The swings over 500 games aren't nearly as dramatic as they are over 100. It's as simple as grinding out the sample set.

This week, I'll discuss which games I bet on Sunday night when the opening lines come out, and which games I decided to wait out in pursuit of a more favorable line.

As always, anything I bet before this article runs is put in the comment section of the previous week.

I lead off with Boise State -9.5, which was a loser last night. Figured the Broncos would climb to 11 or 12, and planned to play the Bulldogs. Didn't happen. Why? Probably because most of the public doesn't bet early enough in the week to give the extra push.
But for tonight's game I did better, grabbing Cinci -1. The Bearcats are very public. Tuesday night I grabbed South Florida +3.5 I could have waited for +4 or bigger, but being a weeknight game, and didn't want to risk losing the +3.5 in order to get something bigger.
Sticking in the Big East, I felt that Rutgers should be favored over Pittsburgh, so I played Rutgers +3.
In the Red River Shootout, I have Texas -2.5. I believe both defenses are underrated, so I played Texas Under 51. Texas now sits at -4 at some places, so I have to decide whether I will middle. If I do, you'll find it in the comment section of course.
Could there be a better time for the public to overreact than when a team loses at home against Duke by a bunch? I'll say no, and said yes to NC State +3.5. Boston College is pretty public here, and while the line is now down to +2.5, I'll probably not middle. Haven't decided on the total yes.
This next team is one of the most underrated in the country. Purdue +14 was the opener and my line was Ohio State -10, so grabbing Purdue was natural. Wish this was a look ahead for Ohio State. Doubt they will be fired up though to play a Noon game in Indiana.
Sometimes I really nail an opener. Sometimes I blow my opportunity. Sometimes I make a horrible misread. Iowa -1.5 @ Wisconsin was one of those misreads. I thought "ok", let me take this before it hits -3. Well it hit 3 alright, Wisconsin by three! Needless to say, I am eating this one.
The Terps actually opened at +4 but I wasn't fast enough. Did grab Maryland +3.5 at home against an improving Virginia team.
Everyone forgets the Tigers have the 3rd best defense in the country. OK, maybe top 5. But still, Clemson -6.5 was easy money. I actually had them at -11 in my projections.
Sometimes I miss on the openers, but I have to stay true to my system. Iowa State -3 fits that mold, even though they are now only favored by 2.5 I have no idea why Baylor isn't at least a Touchdown favorite.
Counting on a hangover form the Bama game, I took UAB +22 @ Memphis. It hasn't moved, and I don't wanna be holding the bag with UAB. But right now, I have no choice.
Some sharp dogs here now, including Vandy +7.5 hosting a demoralized UGA squad.
Auburn -13 was a good opening play and I expect it to hit +14.5, and then I'll play Kentucky.
Temple -9.5 is a non-public favorite. My best type play. Army is a bit overrated after last week.
WMU +7.5 is another sharp dog. If I can middle with CMU and anything less than -6+100 I will, but that will come later. Feel good about the movement there.
Wyoming +11.5 was a misread that I can't ditch.
Ohio -11.5 was a great opening get, and it has since shot up to +14, meaning I am now adding Miami(OH) +14 -105, playing for the middle.
Utah State +10 I knew it would move and still hated to play it as Nevada is a pretty good team. If this hits +7, I am middling and ditching this.
I misread Minnesota +15, figured it would dip under 2TD's, and it just hasn't.
I don't want to see like a homer here, but Alabama -17 is too low. South Carolina is overrated and hasn't had to travel much. Bama by 21+, beware the backdoor.
Cal -3 was something I thought would skyrocket, but I guess folks are down on Cal. Gonna eat it, but don't like it.
I screwed up Houston -20. I figured that Tulane is terrible (they are), and the line would leap 21. But instead it is down at 17.
Virginia Tech -3 is another I misread, though it hasn't moved much. Don't play VT if you already haven't.
Enough misreads. TCU -20 was too low and I pounced. Colorado State is decent though, so I will hit them if they hit 23ish.
La Tech -17 was a good hit, and I'll now counter with New Mexico State +20 -105
EMU +3.5 didn't work out how I thought it would. Eating it.
Hawaii +11.5 was a good hit, as Idaho is a tad overrated now. I will play the Vandals at 8, but not more.
BYU is overrated so SDSU +18 was the play.
Ugh, I don't get this. Arizona -6.5 over Stanford looked good to me. Arizona is good, Stanford is overrated. Don't get what happened to this line and you can get it at -4 if you want. Needless to say, I am eating it.
Indiana +3 works well. Illinois has quit on Zook, I believe.
So. Miss -10. Let's call this a hit. Memphis +14 will be the counter, and is also a play (obviously, as it is in bold).
Louisville +12 I accidentally bet this, meant to take UConn. Oh well, coin flip at best?
Kansas -9.5 @ Colorado seems like a good play, so why does this seem like a trap?
Miami -15 Feel like I am in for a beating this week, I am way too public. It's now only -14 and everyone loves it. I figured it would climb. This has disaster written all over it, but I can't take -15 and +14.
Florida -24 Here's one I do like. People don't realize just how bad Arkansas' defense is, or how good UF's D is.
A public service academy? Whatever. Navy is now overrated. Officially. SMU +7.5 was and is the play.
Arizona State -3 Arizona State -3 That's not a double take. It is a double play. Rarely do I do that, but I felt this line was way off. It's now -6.5, and will hit -7 soon.
FAU -2. I have no idea what everyone sees in North Texas, but they do, so this is a misread.
Mississippi State -4. Well now MTSU looks like the play but I will have to wait and see what happens. Until then I am stuck with the bulldogs.
I am also now on board with Michigan State -13.5 even though I really don't like that half point. Northwestern isn't great. I'm also playing Michigan State Under 52.5 here.
Ball State +3 -105 looks right and Bowling Green now appears to be overrated once again.
Adding Maryland Under 50
Adding Rutgers Over 45
Wake's defense is not great, so Clemson Over 49
Ball State Over 54
Ole Miss Under 53.5
Auburn Over 57
Western Michigan Under 58.5
Marshall +21 & West Virginia Under 53
USC -10 -105 & Notre Dame Under 49
Kansas State +185
Missouri +7 +100 & Under 57
Rice +18 -105
UF Under 56
MTSU +4.5 +100

NFL

CLE +14.5 +100
Houston +4.5 +100
Wash -6 -105
Bal +3
New Orleans -3
Tampa Bay +3 +100
Green Bay -13
Oakland +14.5 -105
Seattle -3 +100
Buffalo +10 +100
Tennessee +10 -115
San Diego -3 -115

More to come in the comment section, including NFL

Thursday Morning Dawg Bites: SEC Power Poll, BlogPoll, the Game I Missed, and the Best Month Ever

T Kyle King — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:51:37 -0000

For the most part, I have gotten out of the habit of putting up what we in the blogosphere decorously call "link dump" postings, because, frankly, you’re smart enough to visit The Dawgbone, Team Speed Kills, and SB Nation for all your Georgia, SEC, and national news, respectively. However, I’ve been busy, and there are few subjects that warrant our attention, so, if you’ll pardon me, I’m going to run through them pretty quickly just to get us both up to speed. Bullet points, naturally (which I believe are called "wizard points" in Washington, D.C.):

This week’s SEC Power Poll has been released. The Alabama Crimson Tide are solidly entrenched at No. 1 with 15 first-place votes, well ahead of the second-ranked Florida Gators’ five. The LSU Tigers check in at third, with your Georgia Bulldogs finishing fourth.

Likewise, this week’s BlogPoll is out, and it, too, features ‘Bama at No. 1. The Tide edged the second-place Gators by a 50-48 margin in first-place votes, with the No. 3 Texas Longhorns occupying the top spot on the other four BlogPollsters’ ballots. Other notables making appearances are No. 7 LSU, the No. 14 Oklahoma St. Cowboys, No. 17 Georgia, the No. 23 Auburn Tigers, the No. 25 Mississippi Rebels, and both the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the South Carolina Gamecocks among those also receiving votes. Don’t try to think about why Ole Miss is ranked and South Carolina isn’t, because you will only give yourself a headache.

They’ve been doing solid work lately over at Dr. Saturday, where I discovered too late that there was a game on last night. I totally missed the fact that Derek Dooley’s Louisiana Tech Bulldogs were playing the Hawaii ~~Rainbow~~ Warriors on Wednesday evening, about which Holly Anderson had this frighteningly accurate description: "Watching a Wednesday night college football game is the sporting equivalent of a heretofore functional alcoholic drinking vanilla extract." It is scary how true that is. Also, Matt Hinton charitably described last Saturday’s game between the hedges as "the Bulldogs’ third good-looking win in a row." Thanks, Doc.

Finally, it was the best month ever here at Dawg Sports, as attested to by the handy chart copied shortly before all the final returns were compiled:

In the end, September 2009 eclipsed the previous high water mark set in September 2008, both in visits (79,057-77,872) and in page views (125,915-123,183). (Apparently, I should tick off Orson Swindle more often!) MaconDawg and I are, of course, grateful for your presence and your participation.

That should get you caught up on all the news that’s fit to print. You may feel free to go on about your business as a fully-informed denizen of Bulldog Nation.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Scarce but solid talent in La. Tech/Hawaii contest

Mocking Dan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:45:27 -0000

More photos » by Rob Carr - AP

Browse more photos »

When Hawaii plays at Lousiana Tech tonight, many of the Warriors will have a lot more than football on their mind. Several Hawaii players have ties to Samoa, which is reeling following an earthquake and a tsunami.

While the resolve of many of the players may be tested, the players still have a job to do. And thus, so do talent evaluators. Unlike year's past, Hawaii has very few draftable upperclassmen.

Here's a quick look at who to pay attention to tonight.

Hawaii:

John Estes, 6'3, 300 pounds (No. 55)
A first-team all-conference pick the past two seasons, Estes has made his name as a solid all-around center. He has quick feet that he always keeps in motion in run blocking. Once he locks onto a player, he generally sticks in front of them. However, he has a tendency to get high in his stance allowing defenders to push him back.

Louisiana Tech:

D'Anthony Smith, DT, 6'2, 295 pounds (No. 5)
Smith is an undersized sparkplug of a defensive tackle. His frame is probably maxed out, but he's very strong and stout against the run. He could make for a solid three-technique tackle at the next level. Tonight's game, against a powerful Hawaii offensive line, will be a great showcase for Smith's skills.

Antonio Baker, FS, 5'11, 208 pounds (No. 34)
Entering his third year as the Bulldogs' free safety, Baker has more than 300 career tackles and is a consistent performer. He's an intelligent player who makes the adjustment calls for Louisiana Tech and is alway in the middle of the action. Baker doesn't have great power, but he's solid in coverage. He might only be a backup and special teams performer at the next level.

I felt the need to post this horrifying photo from tonight's game. In the booth with Rece Davis, Mark May and Lou Holtz was former basketball superstar Karl Malone.

The Mailman was certainly delivering some creepiness. Observe: