2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Preview

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are thinking bowl game this season after narrowly missing the postseason in 2007 when a lopsided loss at Nevada left the team with a 5–7 record — and a bad taste in its mouth. If second-year coach Derek Dooley can find a quarterback, his Bulldogs have a chance for a season to remember this fall.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Bulldogs

The Tech football program has been encumbered with an inordinate number of BCS money games over the past few years, which kept them from getting off to a quick start. They were often beaten up by the time the WAC season rolled around and fell out of contention quickly. That changes this season when six home games dot a schedule that should allow Derek Dooley’s Dawgs to be competitive throughout the campaign. Although BCS foe Mississippi State is first up on the docket, the Bulldogs get the “other” Bulldogs at home. BCS Bowl contender Kansas looms on the schedule, but Tech should be competitive in the remainder of its games. The key will be finding a quarterback who can manage the game without giving it away. There are enough playmakers on offense that whoever mans the controls should just get them the ball and get out of the way. The Bulldogs could have one of their best-ever defensive units, if they can stay healthy and find some quality depth at linebacker and in the secondary. The unit seems to have bought into the scheme of defensive coordinator Tommy Spangler. Special teams can make or break a team, and the Bulldogs have the WAC’s best punter, along with some gamebreakers in that unit.

For the first time in several seasons, the schedule is relatively favorable, with six home games. Sure, there are the obligatory BCS games against Mississippi State and Kansas, but the Bulldogs get the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Ruston — the first time an SEC team has visited Joe Aillet Stadium. Tech’s other non-conference contests are winnable, against Southeastern Louisiana and Army.

“It does look favorable until you realize that four of the first five opponents played in bowl games, including one of them in a BCS game last season,” Dooley says. “We’d better be ready to strap it on. It can give you a lot to think about.”

Dooley is big on the intangibles that can make a difference in a team winning and losing, and he will continue to work in the fall on branding his team.

“What I mean by that is, what does the person playing across from you think about you? If an opponent thinks he has the edge on you based on how much effort you put into it, you are fighting an uphill battle,” Dooley says.

After competing in a league that has sent teams to a BCS game for the past two seasons, Dooley feels he has a better handle on what to expect out of WAC opponents. “There’s always tinkering that goes on, but we do have a better feel for how to beat them. We found out that there are a lot of good coaches and good players in our league,” Dooley says “We were competitive in seven of our eight league games last year. But the last one (Nevada) was disappointing.”

The Bulldogs aren’t likely to be the third consecutive WAC team to reach a BCS Bowl game, but the talent level continues to improve under Dooley. “We have to continue to improve our talent level to win more games. Last year, we won the five games we were favored in and lost the seven games we weren’t favored in. We need to be favored in more games and win a couple of the games we aren’t supposed to win,” Dooley says.

One move that Tech fans will be watching closely is the performance of the football team after Dooley accepted the athletic director’s position during the offseason. The former attorney insists that he can manage both jobs efficiently, but there are a lot of doubters around Ruston.

Quarterbacks

The Bulldogs must replace two-year starter Zac Champion, and there were two candidates, Auburn transfer Steve Ensminger and Ross Jenkins, following spring training. Neither sophomore has any measurable experience in live game action. But Dooley picked up Taylor Bennett, who started at Georgia Tech last season, at the end of April. Since Bennett graduated from Georgia Tech and is entering a masters program at Tech, he will be eligible this fall. How quickly Bennett picks up the offense will determine whether he’s a backup or a major player. “Obviously, we’re concerned about quarterback,” Dooley says.

Running backs

The run game should be solid behind senior Patrick Jackson, who rushed for 950 yards at a 4.7-yard per clip last season. An elusive runner with the power of a fullback, Jackson sat out the spring with a slight injury but is expected to be at full strength when fall drills kick off. Last year, Jackson topped the 100-yard mark three times, including twice in league play — a 101-yard game vs. Utah State and a 155-yard effort vs. Idaho. He also rushed for 98 yards in a 45–44 overtime loss against Hawaii. Behind Jackson are juniors Daniel Porter and William Griffin, who combined for nearly 800 yards last season. Each of the trio offers something different in the lineup, so all three will get plenty of touches.

Receivers

Speedster Phillip Livas was electric last season as a true freshman and is the only true standout returning to a questionable receiving corps. The freshman averaged 18.0 yards per reception. In a late-season win over San Jose State, he had 129 yards receiving on only four catches. Philip Beck is a possession receiver who has shown a knack for getting open. Beyond those two, the Bulldogs are very thin at the position, unless one of the freshmen steps up. Tight ends Anthony Harrison, Dennis Morris and Dustin Mitchell will give the Bulldogs’ quarterback some big targets to hit. Morris has displayed a propensity to lose the ball on big hits, but his breakaway speed makes him a threat to score on every catch.

Offensive linemen

Three of the five starters return, so the protection will be solid with Rob McGill, Jared Miles and Lon Roberts leading the way. Depth continues to be a problem in this area for Dooley’s staff, which hoped to ink four linemen in their recruiting class but could find only three. David Accardo and Cudahy Harmon are capable starters; the Bulldogs will be fine, as long as they stay healthy. “I’m concerned about the depth big-time (in the offensive line),” Dooley says. “The numbers up front aren’t what we would like them to be.”

Defensive linemen

Dooley has made beefing up this position the focus of his first two recruiting classes, and the effort appears to be paying off with more depth and athleticism than the Bulldogs have enjoyed in a while. The middle will be anchored by beefy D’Anthony Smith and Mason Hitt, while star signees Kwame Jordan and Eric Harper, along with sophomore Randy Grigsby, are expected to get pressure off the ends. Jordan had 17.5 sacks in only seven games as a junior college standout. Jared Parten and Breon Jackson will add depth but aren’t as stout as the starters. Getting pressure on the quarterback has been a focus of this team throughout the offseason. “D’Anthony Smith has been outstanding and has the ability to be an impact player in our conference,” Dooley says. “We have to find someone who can pressure off the edge, and two of our new guys, Jordan and Harper, have shown the ability to do that.”

Linebackers

This is the biggest question mark on the Tech defense, with the loss of Mark Dillard, Chris Pugh and Marquis McBeath. One of the WAC’s best run stoppers, Quin Harris, who racked up 101 tackles last season, returns for his senior campaign, while Brannon Jackson expects to return to form in the middle after sitting out last season with an injury. Harris has displayed a unique ability to show up wherever the ball is and could be playing in the NFL after graduation. Jay Dudley could be a surprise standout after a quality spring, while Brian White, Kiamni Washington and Jonathan Zeno will need to step up their play.

Defensive backs

Not a lot of depth here, but the starters are as good as it gets in the WAC. Senior Weldon Brown will hold down one corner after starting all 12 games and tying with a team-high four interceptions. Both Antonio Baker and Deon Young return at safety, with Baker leading the team in tackles last season (118). Both are big-time hitters who love to come up full bore to stop the run game. Tarence Calais, Josh Victorian and Adrian Linwood are youngsters who could give solid performances.

Specialists

All-WAC punter Chris Keagle (41.3 average) combines with kicker Brad Oestriecher to give the Bulldogs a solid one-two punch on special teams. Livas and Brown, who averaged 26.4 and 25.4 yards per kickoff return respectively, and Beck (second in the WAC at 17.4 yards per punt return) make this group a bright spot for the Bulldogs.

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