For the third time this season, the Texas Tech Red Raiders will amazingly have a different quarterback in their starting lineup.
According to multiple sources, redshirt freshman Seth Doege will get the starting nod when the Raiders (5-3) host Kansas (5-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. Doege replaces Taylor Potts, who was fairly ineffective and booed during last Saturday's 52-30 home loss to Texas A&M.
One source said: "I don't think (Doege starting against Kansas) is a surprise.''
Tech coach Mike Leach has been singing the praises of Doege since he completed 18 of 25 passes for 146 yards -- he also successfully completed passes on a pair of two-point conversions -- in less than a half against the Aggies.
"I thought he looked really good, I thought he played good,'' Leach said earlier this week. "I thought he made routime plays and I thought he didn't try to make too much happen.
"He has a good arm and he is a sharp guy. Just read the material in front of you and then don't add to it and read between the lines. I thought he did a good job of that.''
Other than fourth-quarter mop-up duty against Kansas State on Oct. 10, the game against A&M was the first regular season _ or postseason _ action for Doege since 2005 when he was a high school sophomore at Crane. He blew out his ACL in each knee prior to his high school junior and senior seasons and never played a down in either season.
Thus, to put Doege in the starting lineup at this critical juncture of the season tells you how far out of favor Potts has slipped.
"I think he did a tremendous job,'' wide receiver Alex Torres said of Doege's performance against A&M. "He stepped up under pressure.
"We needed to get a drive going and he came out ready to play and did his job. He got the offense going and a tempo going. It was awesome seeing him go out there and really perform the way he did.''
Potts started the first five games this season, suffered a concussion against New Mexico on Oct. 3, then lost his starting job to Steven Sheffield.
Sheffield made two impressive starts before injurying his left foot against Nebraska on Oct. 17. Back came Potts to start last week against A&M.
However, against the Aggies, Potts was 25 of 36 for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and two back-breaking interceptions, and he also lost a crucial fumble. Fans started chanting "No More Potts, No More Potts,'' late in the second quarter, and Leach agreed and removed Potts from the game in the third period.
Sheffield is expected to return in time for the Nov. 14 game at Oklahoma State. In the meantime, Doege will start against Kansas and Potts will be his understudy.
So how does all this quarterback shuffling affect the Raiders and the offensive chemistry? It's obvious not a good thing to be making changes at such a key position, and the revolving door must stop in order for the Raiders to be successful.
Asked for his perference on who should be Tech's starting quarterback, Torres said:
"That's not under my control. I'm going to go out there and do what I can for the team, and that's doing my job for every play. That's as far as I can control.
"As far as the quarterbacks go, that's not in my hands. And I'm glad it isn't, because we've got a lot of guys back there that can do a great job.''
_ Dwain Price
"
If I was a QB that had committed to Tech/Leach, I would take a step back and re-think my position. After last spring Leach made Potts the starting QB and said he was one of the best he had coached. After the Texas game Leach has nothing but high praise for Potts. After the Houston game, Potts is the nation's leading passer and Leach takes the blame for that loss due to his mistake in play calling. Potts is on his way to a 500 yard day against New Mexico and gets the concussion after being mugged by the ferocious Lobo defensive line (sarcasm intended). Sheffield steps in and plays well. Sheffield throws 7 TD's in the KSU game (Potts threw for 7 TD's against Rice earlier in the year lest anyone forget). Even though cleared to play, Sheffield starts against Nebraska and does well, but gets beat up by the Huskers (Note: the trend is for Tech QB's to get brutalized when the Tech OL has to play against a decent defense). Sheffield is out due to an injury sustained against Nebraska. Potts starts against A&M and is on his way to another 500 yard day but has two INT's and a fumble (the fumble was caused by a blindside hit allowed by the porous Tech OL) before being yanked when Leach obliges the student chant of "No More Potts". Doege comes in and plays well, but also fumbles and the Aggie defense drops one sure INT. However, to think Potts was the reason Tech lost to A&M is absurd. The Tech defense gave up nearly 600 yards of offense to A&M and let's not forget the fumbles other Tech players lost and the 4th and 1's that were not converted. Anyway, if I was a QB headed up to Lubbock I would start looking for alternatives because, at Tech, under Leach, you can (1) lead the nation in passing and lose your job while injured and (2) be replaced if the student section demands it during a game.
Posted by: RPW | October 29, 2009 at 07:54 AM
The comment above has to be made by somebody who reads the box score on Sunday, rather than actually watch the game. If you watch the game, you understand that the QB in the Tech system is required to change calls as needed based on the defense, keep a good offensive tempo, complete passes in all phases of offense, and limit mistakes. If you can do those things, you will be successful in that offense. As much as you may want Potts to succeed, he failed particularly with tempo and limiting mistakes (interceptions). That equates to Tech not scoring, which means you give the ball back, which leads to your defense being on the field too much, which leads to a long day. The defense did play their worst game of the season, and it is a team sport, but a QB should be able to lead the team. That is why Potts finds himself as a backup, and likely a 3rd stringer when Sheffield is healthy.
Posted by: Neal | October 29, 2009 at 12:24 PM
ISN'T IT A SHAME THAT WE ARE ALL
ARM CHAIR QUARTERBACKS AND HAVE
THE ANSWERS. WOULD NOT LIKE TO
BE IN ANYONES SHOES AT THIS TIME.
TAYLOR POTTS IS A FINE, FINE YOUNG
MAN. AND, MIKE LECH A GOOD COACH.
SEEMS LIKE A NO WIN SITUATION...
WE'LL STILL BE THERE ON SATURDAY!
Posted by: JAN RIGSBY | October 29, 2009 at 05:20 PM