Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach runs an offense that puts up
big numbers, sets records and loses to OU.

Texas Tech quarterbacks have set 25 school records since Leach
arrived in Lubbock. Last year B.J. Symons set the NCAA record for
passing yards. Kliff Kingsbury set the NCAA records for career
completions.

However, since moving to Texas Tech from OU’s offensive
coordinator job, Leach is 0-4 against the Sooners. The most points
Texas Tech’s odd offense has scored against Oklahoma was in
last year’s 56-25 loss in Lubbock.

“Their offense is different than the spread offense that
most people run,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “Coach
Leach has a structured offense that he knows and sticks to. You
have to admire the fact that he sticks to what he knows and
believes in.”

Leach has run the same offense and put up the same big numbers
at coaching stops in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

“It really has a lot of similarities from when he was at
Kentucky,” Stoops said. “I could go through my Kentucky
notes from when I was at Florida and the patterns and the
principles of the offense are still there.”

Leach’s offense is a version of the spread offense. The
spread offense usually runs from the shotgun and has a one-back
running game.

Texas Tech’s offense goes without a huddle and usually has
five wide receivers in a variety of sets.

Senior quarterback Sonny Cumbie calls plays at the line of
scrimmage. He also calls variations based on what he sees from the
defense.

“They have receivers flying all over the place,”
senior defensive back Brandon Shelby said. “If Cumbie throws
a decent ball, he’s going to have guys open. They have an
offense that if you don’t pay attention to the little things
they make big plays against you.”

Another difference between Texas Tech’s spread offense and
others’ is its offensive line. The Texas Tech line is spread
out more than a traditional line. The Red Raiders’ line is
often spread from hash mark to hash mark.

Freshman defensive tackle Carl Pendleton said their offensive
line is the reason he looks forward to playing the Red Raiders.

“The thing I like about playing Tech is that there
isn’t too much threat of a double team,” Pendleton
said. “It will be a one-on-one battle with the
center.”

Pendleton redshirted last season when OU held Texas Tech to 359
yards of total offense. The Red Raiders averaged 582.8 yards per
game last season.

Shelby said the reason OU has had success against Texas Tech is
because of preparation. He said the Sooners are focused on every
detail in practice and film session.

Leach’s offense is touch to defend, but it is fun for
defensive backs, Shelby said.

“It’s going to be fun but it’s going to be
crazy, too,” Shelby said. “They’re going to throw
the ball all over the park. We defininitely cannot relax out
there.”

In addition to Cumbie, the Red Raiders have wide receivers who
have set records.

Senior wide receiver Nehemiah Glover set the Texas Tech season
record for receiving yards by a sophomore. He was also part of
three receivers who had over 1,000 yards last season. Texas Tech
became the first school in NCAA history with over 1,000 yards in
the same season. The other two were Wes Welker and Carlos Francis,
who graduated.

“They have a lot of guys who are going to go out there and
make plays,” Shelby said. “I think our defense has a
lot of guys who will make plays, too. It’s going to be a fun
day.”

Shelby said the defense will try to keep Texas Tech from putting
together a string of big plays. He said that is one of the keys to
stopping the Red Raider offense.

“The thing is not to get caught up in the wave,”
Shelby said. “We have to stay consistent the entire game.
They’re going to make plays but we need to make more big
plays than they do.”

While the goal of the defense is to shut down every play, Shelby
said Texas Tech would probably have big plays during the game.
hello there & you too