September 24, 2007
Texas Tech DC resigns following Leach's tongue lashing
Texas Tech DC Lyle Setencich has resigned his position in the wake of a verbal beatdown administered by Red Raiders Head Coach Mike Leach following Saturday's game against Oklahoma State.
"Defensively, the entire first half, we got hit in the mouth and acted like someone took our lunch money, and all we wanted to do is have pouty expressions on our face until somebody dobbed our little tears off and made us [expletive] feel better. Then we go out there and try harder once our mommies told us we were OK. Neither one of those things is acceptable."Leach said Tech has a bunch of "front-runners" on offense and said his defense lacked toughness. He then explained how he plans to fix the problems.
"We start by addressing it and call it what it is. I think perhaps I've candy-coated some of this a little too much in the past," Leach said. "Second of all, as coaches, you put pressure on yourself to improve because ultimately the blame lies there.
"The third thing that you do is anybody who is not on board, you get rid of them. It doesn't matter if it's a player or a coach or somebody in the background or some support staff. If they're not on board, you get rid of them. It's all very simple."
Despite their long-standing personal relationship and his efforts to shield Setencich in years past, Leach asked Setencich to step down.
"Mike told me early this morning that he was going to talk to Lyle today about this,'' Myers said. "Mike did initiate it and felt he needed to talk to Lyle about it, and so that's what transpired. ... I think they just decided that a change needed to be made on defense.''Leach appoined assistant head coach Ruffin McNeill as interim defensive coordinator....
Fans will see the move as long overdue -- fans have been wanting Stencich replaced for years -- and comes as the Red Raiders are ranked #74 in total defense out of 119 teams and #95 against the run.
Texas Tech blog Double T Nation says that Leach picked the right time to make a change, with a non-con game this week Big XII play against Iowa State and that the defense should be a more aggressive unit with an attacking-style under McNeill.
For those of you who wanted a more attacking style of defense, you may get your wish. I thought it was interesting that he mentioned lining up quick, as it seemed to be during the OSU game that there were many instances where the ends where still running around right before an OSU offensive snap. I'm sure that it had something to do with the OSU quick huddle, but it still seemed a little chaotic and unorganized.
It's a bold move. I applaud Leach for making the change right now, while the team can still impact the season rather than watching another year play out. I know a lot of RR fans have said that all Texas Tech needed was a change in the defense during a thread questioning the teams direction earlier this summer.
Will this right the Texas Tech ship? We'll see.
UPDATE
The Wiz has posted the video for all to see.
Comments:
Lennie Collins
posted on September 24, 2007 12:07 PM — 68.93.134.47 — link — abuse?
said:
Hey fellas, should ol' Mikey Leach also take some heat? After all he recruits or oversees the recruiting. When I have watched Texas Tech over the last few seasons that all I hear is about the QUARTERBACKS and RECEIVERS he brings to Texas Tech. He does not have a solid running game or defense. I think the next 2 seasons he should focus on recruiting defensive players and running backs!
Tom Blogical
posted on September 24, 2007 1:07 PM — 24.95.77.153 — link — abuse? said:
gatorhippy (#1):
Surprise! We agree on this coaching change--and it comes _uring the season. I won_er if the Louisville Car_inals Hea_ Coach and _efensive Coor_inator are paying attention...
Ku_os to the Car_s fan that gave me the idea of the missing "_".
ttu air raid said:
posted on September 24, 2007 2:59 PM — 129.118.24.13 — link — abuse?
I am really glad Leach finally figured out that when you have over 700 yards of offense and lose the game, there is something dynamically wrong with our team. I actually had an idea how to make our defense better. In practice all week they should practice recovering onside kicks, so maybe they can recover 1 out of 4, to give our offense a better chance of getting 1,000 yards to win the game, then the rest of the time let the other team march right through them with no pride left at all.
Wreck em Tech
posted on September 24, 2007 7:46 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
Did Leach unknowingly put the bullseye on his own back by removing the one thorn in the fans' eyes? I mean, if the defense gets better... do we end up going back to this summer's post if the Red Raiders don't get over the hump?
RedRaiderRich said:
posted on September 24, 2007 8:15 PM — 69.30.141.119 — link — abuse?
As a Red Raider alumnus and fan, this is the BEST news I've heard in a while! YIPPEE! Many fans were displeased with the job Setencich had been doing and all the excuses he would have. Ruffin McNeil will hopefully get this sinking ship turned around. It seems he is looking to blitz more, which was a foreign concept to Setencich.
Tom Blogical
posted on September 24, 2007 8:22 PM — 24.95.77.153 — link — abuse? said:
Kevin (#7):
I really think the bullseye was already on his back, or he wouldn't have made the move.
Either that or the fans are very patient there and are willing to give the new DC the time to make the changes, the players time to adapt, and allow time for new recruits to be integrated.
With that offense, and if the defense gets a lot better quickly with the new attacking style, then they get over the hump and Leach is off the hook.
Zac said:
posted on September 24, 2007 11:06 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?
I hate to see anyone have to step down under fire. I especially hate it when it involves close relationships where loyalty has a major play. Loyalty is so rare these days.
That having been said, to every season turn, turn, turn. There's a time for a coach to admit, like each of his players, said coach is part of something greater than himself. So, for the good of the team, Setencich finally steps down.
Now, here's the rub. The man has made positive contributions to the game of College Football. I hope Leach and the team have the common decency to send this man off with honor, and not in shame. Just a thought.
Tomcat said:
posted on September 25, 2007 5:11 PM — 69.148.173.234 — link — abuse?
#10 Zac good posts, and yes sometimes change is inevitable and its too bad it wasn't done during the spring instead of after a game.I didnt get a chance to listen to Leach's press conference, however I did see & hear coach Gundy's several times.The message and the points made were valid and coach Gundy's heart was in the right place.
The delivery was a little bit over the top and he did his share of tounge lashing with members of the press.Now with the popularity of college football members of the press and the media have an obligation to the public, the university and the student atheletees to report the facts of a particular issue with clear and acurate data.
Although the coaches demeaner could be compared to Howard Deans, he was defending one of his players which is what a HC is supposed to and I cant blame him for being p-ssed off.
Adios TomcatSpartacus
posted on September 26, 2007 4:24 PM — 71.103.225.30 — link — abuse? said:
They even had a DC? I sure didn't see one anywhere in sight during that Oklahoma State fiasco. I heard that this was the only school in Division I that didn't even field a defensive team. I thought that those were all offensive players just standing around out there on the field while the other team had the ball. This is shocking to me. You mean that TT is finally going to take a stab at playing some defense? That must mean that they might have to even start to recruit some of those kinda guys. WOW! Wonder what this team might be like if they even had a defense? Scary!
Tommie Trojan
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
gatorhippy
said:
posted on September 24, 2007 10:30 AM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?Yeah, good move by Leach...
I think he hung in there loyalty wise as long as he could...
If McNeil can get it turned around in the interim perhaps he'll have a permanent position as the DC...
If not...
As I said over the summer...
It is the perfect position for an up and coming coach looking to make a name for themselves and get positioned for a HC job somewhere...
If said person can get the defense turned around that will allow TT to get a spot in the B12 CG...