INSIDE SLANT

Whatever inconsistencies that led to shuffling at the quarterback position were ironed out in early workouts for the Alamo Bowl.

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who had never rotated quarterbacks while building an amazingly proficient passing attack over the past 10 years, used three passers during the Red Raiders’ 8-4 run this season.

But he was quick to announce Taylor Potts, the starter to begin the season, as the starter against Michigan State for the Jan. 2 game in San Antonio.

“He’s steady,” Leach told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “and I need to settle on one and quit pulling them in and out. And then in the spring they’ll battle it out.”

Potts’s confidence was questioned most often by Leach, who grew perturbed with mistakes. After suffering a concussion and missing two games, Potts looked shaky upon his return. However, he went the distance in Tech’s last two games, engineering wins against Oklahoma and Baylor.

Steven Sheffield, a former walk-on, looked as solid as any of the Tech quarterbacks during his midseason push as Potts’ replacement. But Sheffield broke his foot in a win at Nebraska and never completely recovered before season’s end, though he tried to play with a cumbersome protective shoe.

A field day is possible against the Michigan State defense, which intercepted just five passes all season and ranked 103rd nationally.

NOTES, QUOTES

• The bowl bids keep coming for Texas Tech, although the Red Raiders still are waiting for the big breakthrough.

Sharing the division title last season was the closest the Red Raiders ever came to qualifying for the Bowl Championship Series. But they didn’t win the tiebreaker to settle the division crown, then Texas was awarded an at-large BCS spot from the Big 12.

This season figured to be a rebuilding year—and it was in some respects as the Red Raiders finished 8-4. Still, there were some impressive moments, including a rout of Oklahoma that began a late-season push that landed Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.

Scouting The Offense:   Settling on a quarterback was an ongoing problem earlier in the season for coach Mike Leach, who openly questioned how much confidence QB Taylor Potts inspired. Well, Potts is back at quarterback now and went the distance in season-ending wins against Oklahoma and Baylor. Tech is, as always, adept at getting various receivers touches. One difference-maker is RB Baron Batch, who is tough to spot sometimes out of the backfield and also is capable of a 100-yard rushing game if the Red Raiders want to throw a change-up. The line allowed a disappointing 30 sacks and sometimes had trouble meshing because of injuries and substandard play.

Scouting The Defense:   The unit is underrated. Capable of leveling big hits, the Red Raiders allowed a respectable 348.8 yards and 21.8 points on average. Normally, those are marks that would carry Tech to double-digit wins if only its offense had generated its typical results in the passing game. DE Brandon Sharpe leads a fierce pass rush, which leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally with 39 sacks. Tech was unable to capitalize in the back end on the steady pressure, snagging just eight interceptions.

Matchup To Watch:   Texas Tech RB Baron Batch vs. Michigan State LB Greg Jones—Jones was great in the run-oriented Big Ten, leading the conference with 141 tackles, including 13.5 for loss. He’ll be out of his element against Tech’s pass-happy offense, but he can’t sleep on the running game. Batch is dangerous when unleashed on unexpected rushes. To Jones’ credit, he has nine sacks, which presents a concern as Tech attempts to protect QB Taylor Potts.

Other Key Matchups:  

• Michigan State secondary vs. Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts.

Potts gained confidence down the stretch, engineering victories against Oklahoma and Baylor. He still ranked among the Big 12’s leading passers despite a concussion that either made him unavailable, or ineffective, during a series of midseason games. The Spartans’ pass defense has been poor. They rank 103rd nationally and picked off just five passes. In addition, they don’t play against teams as capable of spreading defenders and distributing the ball to several receivers like Tech.

• Michigan State mindset vs. Texas Tech mindset.

This particular confrontation is based on intangibles but will be important to monitor. The Spartans suspended and dismissed several players at the end of the season stemming from a campus fight, and they could be reeling from any aftershock. Tech, meanwhile, must guard against complacency after winning two more games than Michigan State and closing the season strong.

Quote To Note:   “The Alamo Bowl is one of the top bowl games in the country and the Red Raiders are happy to be part of this year’s game. We’ve been to 10 straight bowl games and that is something that our program and our fans are extremely proud of.”—Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Bowl Breakdown:   Texas Tech vs. Michigan State, Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, Jan. 2—Texas Tech is bowl-eligible for the 16th consecutive season, while the bowl appearance is the 10th straight, all under Mike Leach. He is 5-4 in the postseason, which represents half the bowl wins for Tech, which is 10-21-1 overall. The 6-6 Spartans drew an invitation despite a recent wave of dismissals and suspensions. Michigan State will be without at least 10 players. Campus police continue to investigate a Nov. 22 altercation at a Michigan State residence hall.

Not only could that prove to be a distraction, the Spartans probably don’t match up favorably with the explosive Red Raiders. Since Nick Saban left as Michigan State’s coach 10 years ago, the Spartans are 60-61. Over that same period, Leach has gone 84-43 as the all-time winningest coach at Texas Tech.

Players To Watch:  

DE Brandon Sharpe—Recorded 15 sacks, all but two of which came against Big 12 rivals, and made up for the loss of Brandon Williams, who left early for the NFL after recording 13 sacks last season. He was an all-league pick.

OG Brandon Carter—Although he missed a game after drawing a suspension, Carter returned and quickly restored his reputation as one of the top blockers in the Big 12. He was an all-league pick.

CB Jamar Wall—His reputation as a hard hitter was enhanced following a vicious collision with Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, which caused a late-game fumble. Wall also ranks fourth in the Big 12 in passes defended with 14.

Roster Report:  

• OT LaAdrian Waddle had his redshirt removed in week eight, then played in just two games, but Tech offensive line coach Matt Moore doesn’t regret the move. “He was a guy that I had to practice because he was one injury away from playing every snap,” Moore said. “So no, I don’t look back on it.” OT Terry McDaniel suffered a season-ending injury in week seven.

• OG Joe King left the Texas Tech squad, although coach Mike Leach said the possibility exists that King could return. The redshirt freshman, however, is suspended for the bowl game.

• OG Brandon Carter and OT Marlon Winn were selected to play in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. the Nation Challenge, an all-star game scheduled Feb. 6 in El Paso.