(Sports Network) -
2007 SEASON IN REVIEW: The high-powered Red Raiders were at it again in 2007,
picking up huge chunks of yardage and lighting up the scoreboard with what
appeared to be very little effort. Texas Tech put up 40.9 ppg, relying almost
exclusively on a passing attack that averaged a national-best 470.3 ypg. Coach
Mike Leach's club shot out of the gate by winning six of its first seven
games, including routs of both Iowa State and Texas A&M in Big 12 play. Losses
in three of their next four however, brought the Red Raiders back to Earth. A
34-27 win over Oklahoma got the team back in a positive frame of mind as it
finished the regular season 8-4, 4-4 in the Big 12. Tech was rewarded for a
solid campaign with an invite to the Gator Bowl against ACC foe Virginia. The
Red Raiders prevailed in that contest, 31-28, giving them wins in four of
their last five bowl games. Tech hasn't won a league title of any kind in more
than 50 years, and while 2008 could be the year the drought ends, plenty needs
to go right for that to happen.

2008 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Coach Leach prefers to throw the ball on just about every down, which
is just fine with the talented offensive players he asks to go out and execute
his game plan. It all starts with senior QB Graham Harrell, a 6-3, 205-pound
Heisman hopeful who has all the tools to lead his team to the lofty heights it
seeks this year. Harrell hit the mark on a stellar 71.8 percent of his passes
last season, amassing an amazing 5,705 yards and 48 TDs against only 14 INTs.
Leach has nothing but high praise for his talented signal caller saying, "How
good of a quarterback is he? Well, how good is the guy making the players
around him better? I think Graham is really good at that. I think one of his
strengths is that he really doesn't have any weaknesses."

Harrell will once again have the good fortune of throwing to WR Michael
Crabtree, who as a freshman last year caught 134 balls for 1,962 yards and 22
TDs. Crabtree, a Heisman candidate as well this season, won the 2007
Biletnikoff Award and is widely considered one of the top pass catchers in the
country -- and he has played only 13 collegiate games. Despite his lack of
ideal size, senior Eric Morris is another guy Harrell will look to often after
catching 75 passes for 767 yards and nine TDs in '07.

The run game, which was basically nonexistent last year (59.3 ypg to rank last
in the country) will feature the return of junior Shannon Woods, who despite
not getting that many carries, averaged better than five yards per tote and
scored eight TDs. All five starters are back on the offensive line, including
standout seniors Rylan Reed and Louis Vasquez.

DEFENSE: Although they had a tough time stopping the run last year (177 ypg),
the Red Raiders played pretty well defensively overall. They did a solid job
against the pass (188.4 ypg) and improvement in both areas is expected this
season. Like the offense, several players with starting experience return for
another go, among them all four defensive linemen. Junior DE Brandon Williams
could develop into one of the better pass rushers in the Big 12, while DTs
Colby Whitlock and Rajon Henley do their part to get plenty of push in the
middle.

The linebacking corps is highlighted by leading returning tackler Marlon
Williams (81 tackles). The secondary boasts plenty of speedy ball hawks, with
the best of the lot being senior FS Darcel McBath and sophomore CB Jamar Wall.
McBath was credited with 73 tackles and eight PBUs last year, while Wall
logged a team-best five INTs.

Leach is excited about the emergence of his defense last year and the prospect
of bigger things to come. "I think our defensive line got better and better as
the year went on. I think we steadily improved. We got a little older and more
experienced and improved."

SPECIAL TEAMS: Punter is the only stable part of the kicking game coming into
the 2008 season, as sophomore Jonathan LaCour is back after averaging 42.6 ypp
as a rookie. The placekicking job could land on the foot of freshman Donnie
Carona, although that isn't exactly a given at this point. Texas Tech always
seems to have success in the return game (think Wes Welker or Danny Amendola),
and the next star could be Morris, Britton, Wall or perhaps all three.

OUTLOOK: Texas Tech is one of the favorites to win the Big 12 this year, and
for good reason. This is perhaps Leach's best all-around team and a soft non-
conference schedule (Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU and Massachusetts) means
the team's first real test won't come until the conference opener at Kansas
State on the first Saturday in October. Trips to Texas A&M, Kansas and
Oklahoma will be tough, as will a home date versus Texas. That said, the Red
Raiders should have little trouble at least matching last year's offensive
production, while an improved defense will go a long way towards helping them
realize their goals.



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