By Cameron Brock
KTXT Sports Staff
Bob Davie is back in college football and back with a Texas Tech rival.
For those who do not keep up with assistants and coordinators, Davie was the linebackers coach turned defensive coordinator for Texas A&M from 1989-1994.
College students today might not remember the “Wrecking Crew” when the Aggies had arguably the best defense in the country.
As a brilliant defensive mind, Davie likes to keep his defense off the field and end the game quickly. The best offensive style to implement that strategy is the triple option.
“Yeah, it’s different because it’s assignment football,” Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville said about the option. “It slows you down. On the snap of the ball, you’re not attacking the line of scrimmage much. You’ve got to work more lateral, depending on what the guy in front of you does.”
For the most production out of the triple option, a mobile quarterback that is not afraid to take a few hits for the team is best suited.
The quarterback on the Lobos depth chart that best suits the option attack is true freshman Cole Gautsche.
Gautsche is currently the Lobos leading rusher with 123 yards and two touchdowns, all of this just nine months after leading Cleveland High School to the 5A New Mexico State Championship.
“When you’re an option style, you’re running, you’re this,” Davie said during a Tuesday news conference, “you’re asking a lot – physically you’re asking him to do a lot.”
This will mark the third-straight game the Red Raiders have faced a team that runs the option, which is a good test for the new-look Art Kaufman defense.
Last year, Tech was the worst team in the nation in rush defense.
The Nevada Wolfpack nearly pulled off an upset using the triple option and several Big 12 Conference teams pounded the ball past the Red Raider defense on their way to a victory.
So far the Red Raiders have stood their ground in 2012 against the run, allowing only 142 yards during the span of two games, which is an improvement from 2011 in which in the first two games opponents rushed for 434 yards.
The Lobos currently rank 123rd in passing yards per game, so Tech should know what is coming at them. The question is, can the Red Raiders stop it and Gautsche along with it.
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