Red Raiders Better Early
August 06, 2000 | Football
Aug. 6, 2000
LUBBOCK, Texas - First-year Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach called Sunday afternoon's 2?-hour practice a "typical third practice" and pronounced the morning session the better of the two as the Red Raiders went through a two-a-day schedule for the first time since training camp opened.
"We weren't as sharp this afternoon. We had a couple of guys go soft on us," Leach said following the afternoon drills. "It was a typical third practice when fatigue starts to set in a little bit and you start feeling sorry for yourself.
"Now if you ask me did we get better catching the ball? Yes. Did we get better running routes? Yes," Leach said. "Could we execute better. Yes we can. Overall, we still had more good than bad."
Both Sunday workouts lasted about 2?-hours as the Red Raiders worked in shoulder pads and helmets. Both drills featured work on position group fundamentals, inside drills, as well as pass skeleton and protection and team periods.
A heavy emphasis in both practices was special teams. Music from Mission Impossible and the Rolling Stones blared from the sound system at the practice fields as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Manny Matsakis instructed the "Special Forces" via a wireless headset microphone.
Leach noted the work of several players, including receivers Jamall Broussard, Tim Baker, Cole Roberts, Derek Dorris and Darrell Jones. He also liked the work of quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, defensive back Derrick Briggs and defensive tackle Kris Kocurek.
Associate head coach and defensive coordinator Greg McMackin was pleased with the effort from the defensive side of the ball, saying that the players seemed to be picking up the system and having fun. One of the defensive highlights of the practice was an interception by defensive tackle Robert Wyatt.
Missing from Sunday drills was student manager Jeff Jones, who had successful surgery Saturday evening to re-attach the tip of his right index finger. Jones severed the digit while attempting to move a piece of practice equipment.
With team medical personnel escorting him from the field for treatment, Jones was still trying to get the equipment in place for the drill, prompting Leach to label him as probably the toughest member of the Tech football program.