HUGE
https://latech.rivals.com/news/trans...its-to-la-tech
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It is huge. This is a BIG TIME player and a big time "get" for LA Tech. Auburn was still chasing him last week. I can't believe the backfield we've ended up with in 2021. WOW!!
Quote:
Henry-Brooks joins a Tech backfield that includes Marcus Williams, Greg Garner, Harlan Dixon, and Marquis Crosby.
After entering the transfer portal in February, Henry-Brooks was considered one of the top transfer RBs available in the country.
Wow things are really looking up. What a difference a week makes. A starting QB and a starting RB in one week.
Looks like I need to raise my expectations for the year- yes, I know that is dangerous, but the season is certainly looking more promising!
9 years and the "season is looking more promising"Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal&Ken
With all due respect for our 2020 players who were on the roster last season, we'll have a big influx of very good transfer player talent this season that could make us a much better football team than initially expected. Some of these transfers are very good players, and hungry for playing time. This football program needs that! Of course, as the old saying goes, "the proof will be in the pudding". While this transfer class may not change everything, it sure appears to change a lot!Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
The skilled positions are looking up, but as everyone knows it comes down to having at least a decent OL. Even the best QBs can't complete passes lying on their backs, and the best RBs can't be expected to break a bunch of tackles just to get positive yards.
In baseball it's all about pitching, in offensive football it's all about the OL. Have to have it!
at least i can agree with dawg80 about football! what have we done to improve our line since last year's disaster?Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
This is awesome!!!!!! As mentioned above, though, how ARE we looking with our OL? I was so happy to get a QB transfer (IMO our greatest need) and adding a RB is even better. Now, just to improve that OL and we could have an exceptional year!!!!! If anyone could give a really good analysis of our OL, I would love to see what we have that might make a difference.
Say what!? I'm such an agreeable fellow I am easy to agree with :DQuote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
By my count, here's a list of 7 OL additions to the LA Tech roster. None of these guys were at LA Tech last December. This list includes 4 transfers and 3 incoming Freshmen.Quote:
Originally Posted by champion110
1) Chris Fournier, 6'4, 285, SR, OL, Lehigh - Made 28 career starts at Leigh
2) Kellton Hollins, 6'2, 291, SR, OL, TCU - Played in 23 games in 5 yrs at TCU. He started all 11 games at Center, that he appeared in as a sophomore in 2018
3) Samuel Williams, 6'7, 322, SR, OL, ULM - Appeared in 33 games for ULM, including 16 career starts at Right Tackle
4) Kenneth Bannister, 6'6, 290, FR, OL, New Orleans/Edna Karr - Incoming Freshman
5) Erron Bean, 6'5, 280, FR, OL, Shreveport/Huntington - Incoming Freshman
6) Carson Bruno, 6'4, 290, FR, OL, Shreveport/Byrd - Incoming Freshman
7) DeMarcus Gordon, 6'5, 320, JR, OL, Tunica, MS/Copiah-Lincoln CC - Appeared in 10 games. Earned All MACCC South Division
Also, our RB's will be MUCH better in 2021 than last season. The new guys are bigger, stronger and faster than last years class. And they'll be able to help out our OL in pass blocking formation. Last year, our RB's were smaller, and just got "pancaked" almost every time they tried to block on-coming rushers.
Tech only had 3 RB's on the roster last season; Israel Tucker (5'8, 200), Justin Henderson (5'10, 218) and Greg Garner (6'0, 205). Henderson --the expected starter for last season-- showed up badly "out of shape", and only rushed 75 times for 252 yds. This was a terrible performance for Henderson, who had rushed 188 times for 1,062 yds the previous season (2019) and had made the All-CUSA team. In short, Henderson was a "no show" for 2020, and it hurt Tech badly. That left Tucker the bulk of the remaining carries, and he rushed 149 times for 648 yds last season. So, the much smaller Tucker had TWICE as many carries as the supposed more durable Henderson in 2020. The sophomore Garner was only used sparingly in 2020. Not sure why.
This 2020 RB corps was just not enough to meet Tech's needs. Tucker --at 5'8-- is not and was never intended to be an every-down back. But with Henderson' disappearing act in 2020, Tucker had to do it. This contributed heavily to a "bring the house" defensive strategy by our opponents on almost every down. And our OL just couldn't handle it.
Make no mistake, our RB's were a HUGE part of the "OL" problem last year. It was Skip Holtz's fault for letting our RB ranks get so thin. (only 3 RB's, and one badly out of shape?) I think that's why he beefed up the RB class considerably this year.
For sure!]Quote:
Originally Posted by HogDawg
You didn't mention the new OL coach. He's the one with the hype.
I also think some of our OL were thrown into the fire before they were ready last year, especially at tackle. OL really benefits from experience, so having played last season (as poorly as that went in some cases) plus just having another year in the weight room/training table plus getting a spring and fall camp in, hopefully will also improve our blocking.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgpix
Especially when your S&C coach is one of the best in the country. Did you know that he loves Ruston and N LA?Quote:
Originally Posted by inudesu
Yes, we know. Everyone here knows. Because everyone here repeats it.Quote:
Originally Posted by glm47
Well I bet you didn’t know that Jack Bicknell III was the center at Boston College when Doug Flutie was there. Just a slightly lesser known fact I would imagine🤫.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tech52
And maybe Walter Johnson ate glass.
GREAT summary! Thanks HD! It looks like decent size to our OL. If they have a little speed with that, we should be in better shape than I thought. Hopefully, the freshmen can contribute quickly. Also, great RB's can make a world of difference. I watched some film of our new QB in high school and in the Liberty Bowl from last year. He needs just a little time, but is great at dropping the ball in the perfect space. I am getting excited about our team now... We shall see what happens. I wonder if Skip believes we should compete against our P5 opponents or are they just money games? That could be a difference maker on where we end up. I truly believe that psychological momentum plays a HUGE part in how we perform the next week each time - so, we can't just dial it in on P5 competition. Not to mention, what it will mean to our national reputation.Quote:
Originally Posted by HogDawg
Typically not the case for OL.Quote:
Originally Posted by champion110
I can tell you this: I've been told by a personal "insider" that Kendall Austin isn't here to ride the pine. He's here to START and PLAY football games. If he has ANY thoughts or dreams about playing at the next level, then he knows he needs a very big year at LA Tech, which would obviously include performing well against the P5's on our schedule. He needs a "Jeff Driskel" kind of year. Also, please remember that unlike most "recruits", Austin gave up a lot to be here. He had a new apartment in Dallas and a very good job with a large pharmaceutical company, and more. He WANTS to be here.Quote:
Originally Posted by champion110
Honestly, Louisiana Tech couldn't ask for a better game changing opportunity than this.
From your fingers to the eyes of the football gods! Here's to a great season for Austin and the Dawgs!Quote:
Originally Posted by HogDawg
Here here 🍻
I am not worried about Austin. My concern is our game plan with Holtz against P5's. Saying that, Kendall Austin might shape that mindset a lot!!!!! :D We can have no more "just get to a bowl with a decent record". We need to be playing to win the conference and to be in the top 25. No excuses anymore.... If we can do that, we have a CHANCE to be a good destination for great transfers in the future, which will help with overall recruiting as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by HogDawg
I was impressed by him in the interview I heard with Deitrich. I was especially impressed by what Holtz said when he hired him. "We need to go in a different direction with our OLine..." Ya think?!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgpix
Key-HB would be a catchy, easy to remember nickname for the player though I don't know if it would be accepted
SO glad he is acknowledging it, at least... Maybe this will be a turning point year... Who knows? We seem to have all the weapons. Game plan is going to be everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
This. I am not interested in starting the season with a 14-56 loss to a poor MSU team, and while that'd be fine with holtz i suspect Kendall has a higher barQuote:
Originally Posted by champion110
Even Eeyore has a higher bar than that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
https://img.women.com/images/images/...der-062019.jpg
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...MygSegUIARCRAg
I believe we will have a pretty good idea where our season will be after MSU and the jackasses in the 3rd game.....
Yeah, about that......I hope Skip Holtz realizes that SMU Coach (and former LA Tech Coach) Sonny Dykes would love nothing more than passing the football for 600 yds on LA Tech, in Ruston. Sonny WILL run up the score on Tech if given the chance. Tech kinda ran it up on SMU 51-10, in Sonny's first game as SMU's head coach back in the 2017 Frisco Bowl. Skip better not bring a knife to a gun fight.Quote:
Originally Posted by BullPupN'46
Exactly! We all know Dykes remembers that and is going to use it in the locker room. I think SMU will be about like we were with Sonny - high flying offense...Quote:
Originally Posted by HogDawg
Knife? When did skippy get a knife?Quote:
Originally Posted by HogDawg
I expect something more like water balloons at a gunfight.
I don’t think Dykes believes we ran up the score on SMU in that Frisco Bowl. SMU practically scored half our points for us with pick-6’s, and turnovers in their half of the field. True that he does want to put up big numbers no matter who they will be playing.
My family and some friends are planning a trip to Starkville and I'm trying to decide whether our new players are worth the drive to see.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
Or really, whether Holtz has changed enough to risk a weekend surrounded by a ton of MSU fans.
I think our new players will be good.
How is MSU’s defense looking? I know it wasn’t anything good last year.