Texas Tech
Texas Tech

Texas Tech Team Report

Updated: April 26, 2012 03:02 EST

With a veteran quarterback and its top receivers returning, along with the return from injuries of the top two running backs, Texas Tech doesn't figure to have many questions on offense going into the 2012 season.

Defense?

That's another story.

The Red Raiders frittered away some early successes that included a victory over Oklahoma in Norman and went on a five-game skid at the end of the 2011 campaign that cost them a bowl bid. They finished 5-7 overall, 2-7 in the Big 12.

A bad defense was a major reason.

Some new faces -- the most notable one linebacker Will Smith, a transfer from Riverside Junior College -- plus an old one in a new place give reason for some hope.

Leon Mackey, who arrived heralded as a key to an improved pass rush a year ago, is now at tackle instead of defensive end. He sustained an early injury in 2011 and never really got it cranked up, recording no sacks in eight games.

He told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal he is looking forward to playing in his new spot.

"Anything new is a challenge, but it's fun, though, because it challenges you," he said. "It challenges your heart, challenges your mind to see what you're willing to do differently for the betterment of the team."

New defensive coordinator Art Kaufman had praise for Smith as well as DEs Branden Jackson and Dartwan Bush, among others, as spring drills wound up.

Meanwhile on offense, quarterback Seth Doege returns for his senior season after passing for more than 4,000 yards in 2011 with 1,987 of that going to Eric Ward, Alex Torres, and Darrin Moore. It would have been more, but Torres and Moore both missed time to injuries.

Veteran running backs Eric Stephens (565 yards rushing in five games) and DeAndre Washington (366) are returning from knee injuries.

The Raiders also return three veterans up front in LaAdrian Waddle, Deveric Gallington, and Terry McDaniel.

--Fred Tate, who worked with new defensive coordinator Art Kaufman at Southern Mississippi, is Tech's new defensive line coach. Tate spent the last two years coaching safeties at Marshall but coached the D-line in stops at Chattanooga and Southern Mississippi. Tate replaces Terry Price, who left in late February to go to Texas A&M.

--Coach Tommy Tuberville found himself the target of a lawsuit filed in late February accusing him and a partner of defrauding seven plaintiffs of $1.7 million. The suit was filed in Montgomery, Ala. The Huntsville (Ala.) Times said Tuberville and his company's co-founder, John David Stroud, are accused of mixing their clients' assets with their own, failing to file tax returns, falsifying client statements and fund performance reports, and generally disregarding "customary practices and procedures followed in the hedge fund and security investments industry."

KEY QUESTIONS: Texas Tech's No. 1 defense looked stronger in the spring, but the Red Raiders have a long, long way to go from last year when they ranked No. 114 of 120 FBS teams in total defense.

SPRING MOVERS:

QB Michael Brewer -- A redshirt freshman, Brewer finished off drills with a 21-of-28 passing day in the spring game in solidifying his role as starter Seth Doege's backup. The redshirt freshman generally was working with the second-unit offense against the No. 2 defense in the final scrimmage.

WR Derek Edwards -- A redshirt freshman, Edwards took advantage of the time injured Eric Ward was on the sidelines to impress coaches in the spring. He had three catches for 46 yards in the spring game.

DE Branden Jackson -- Jackson had one of the bigger hits of the spring game and earned plaudits from his coaches for his steady play in the spring.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "My goal when we kick off against Texas State is to have 100 percent confidence in Michael Brewer. If something happened to Seth Doege, Michael Brewer comes in and we don't change anything. We're not there yet, but today was a good step in that direction." -- Offensive coordinator Neal Brown, in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal after the spring game, on Tech's quarterback situation.

2012 OUTLOOK: Texas Tech had a disappointing wrap-up to the 2011 season, losing the last five games after upsetting Oklahoma to move to 5-2 on the year. The chances of getting back to a bowl game depends on the play of the defense, which was porous even by Big 12 standards. The early schedule is friendly enough (Northwestern State, Texas State and New Mexico) for the Raiders to building up some momentum before moving into Big 12 play.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Seth Doege returns for his senior season after passing for 4,004 years in 2011 in his first year as a full-time starter. The offensive line is an experienced group, and Doege will have his top three targets returning in Eric Ward (84 catches, 800 yards), Alex Torres (51-616), and Darrin Moore (47-571). Tech is hoping that veteran RBs Eric Stephens and DeAndre Washington, both recovering from knee injuries, will be ready to go in the fall.

SCOUT THE DEFENSE: Nine starters are back on this unit (same as the offense), but that may not be all good news. The Red Raiders gave up over 39 points a game in 2011. But newcomer LB Will Smith has given some extra life to the unit after taking over in the middle, and DT Delvon Simmons and DE Dartwan Bush picked up two sacks each in the spring game. Johnson looks to be a key contributor as the season goes on.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: P Ryan Erxleben averaged 41.7 yards per attempt as a freshman last year. Newcomer Ryan Bustin nailed down the No. 1 job for PATs and field goals. The Red Raiders had only 15 punt returns all of last year. Ben McRoy averaged 25 yards per return running back kickoffs.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

RB SaDale Foster -- Foster led all rushers in the spring game, which pitted the first and second offenses against the Nos. 1 and 2 defenses in controlled conditions. The junior college transfer (Riverside, Calif.) had 70 yards on just nine carries.

PK Ryan Bustin -- Bustin, a sophomore who sat out last year after transferring from Kilgore College (Texas), had a strong spring in assuming the No. 1 kicking job. He missed from 52 yards but was good from 26, 42, and 49 yards in the spring game.

LB Will Smith -- The junior college transfer (Riverside, Calif.) capped off a strong spring showing with six tackles and an interception in the spring game. Ben McRoy is the leading returner on kickoffs, and Austin Zouzalik likely will handle punt returns again.

ROSTER REPORT:

--RB Ronnie Daniels, who was suspended twice as a freshman last year, was dismissed from the team after the spring game. No specific reason was given, but a school spokesman said Daniels would not be reinstated.

--TE Jace Amaro and RB Kenny Williams, both sophomores, are in limbo after being arrested and charged with felony counts of using an unauthorized credit/debit card. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that coach Tommy Tuberville was taking a "wait-and-see" approach regarding further disciplinary action after holding them out of the spring game.

--DT Leon Mackey was moved from end, where his season was shortened to eight games because of injury, to the defensive interior.

--LB Cqulin Hubert was dismissed from the team for a "violation of team rules." He had 38 tackles in 2011.