Houston 29,Texas Tech 28 - Houston Defeats Texas Tech in a Thriller
By Adam Bendiksen

Game Notes:

On a sweltering night in Houston, the upstart Cougars again pulled off the upset, this time marching 95 yards with six minutes to go, virtually eating the entire clock and securing a one-point victory over the Red Raiders. Both offenses are virtual clones of each other, so it was somewhat surprising that only 57 combined points were scored; either team is capable of putting up 60 themselves. Defense was the key on this evening, as the Cougars opened the game with a turnover (converted for seven) and had a goal-line stand and another key turnover in the fourth quarter to enable them to be in position to win.

College: Houston - Conference: Conference USA

CB - Brandon Brinkley, #21 - 6' 0.0" - 180 - 4.49 - 2010: Good looking football player who has all the attributes desired by NFL scouts. Tall with long arms, and a smooth, graceful athlete. Tremendous hips and body control for a player with his build. Good speed, change of direction and leaping ability. Primarily plays in zone, but can turn and run in man coverage. Very good instincts; reads patterns and makes quick breaks on the ball. Attacks the run and is a willing tackler and good hitter. Forced a fumble, broke up a pass in the endzone and made several big tackles in this contest. GRADE: Very Positive

HB - Bryce Beall, #25 - 5’ 11.0" - 205 - 4.60 - 2012: Consummate one-cut, downhill runner. Runs with good balance and low pad level. Prefers to run inside and attacks would-be tacklers. Has decent vision and a good burst. Not too much wiggle; prefers to run through defenders. Solid receiver but used mainly as an outlet option. Not asked to block much. Physical player who needs to grow into his body. Almost a clone of the Saints’ Mike Bell. GRADE: Somewhat Positive

College: Texas Tech - Conference: Big 12

WR - Edward Britton, #27 - 5' 11.5" - 183 - 4.50 - 2010: Most experienced WR on the roster was an afterthought in this game. Was targeted only once, and the pass was broken up. Has some quicks and will go over the middle. Solid blocker. GRADE: Incomplete

DE - Daniel Howard, #53 - 6' 2.5" - 240 - 4.70 - 2010: Undersized player who will be looked at as an OLB at the next level. Solid athlete who’s strong for his size. Pretty quick off of the ball; had two sacks in this contest. Fundamentally sound; plays with leverage and knows how to use his hands. Solid vs. the run, but overmatched against big tackles and must be on the move to be effective. Plays on special teams. Effort guy who gives it all on every snap. GRADE: Neutral

OT - Marlon Winn, #67 - 6' 5.0" - 329 - 5.30 - 2010: Huge player who appears to have lost weight and seems to be in better shape than last season. Stiff, top-heavy athlete who is susceptible to second moves. Herky-jerky in his movements, but does drop quickly into his pass sets. Plays too high and loses leverage. Can be bullrushed. More of a finesse run blocker despite his size. Uses his hands well and competes hard to overcome his athletic limitations. GRADE: Somewhat Negative

CB - Jamar Wall, #3 - 5' 9.5" - 196 - 4.40 - 2010: Tough, scrappy corner who occasionally gets beaten but recovers well and generally won’t surrender the same pattern twice. Sticks tightly to his man and can close quickly. Not big, but is a tough, willing tackler who generally gets his man down. Gamer who is always around the ball. GRADE: Somewhat Positive

LB - Marlon Williams, #39 - 5' 11.5" - 224 - 4.60 - 2010: Teams leading tackler and playmaker but was basically schemed out of the action in this contest. Houston used a variety of motions to pull him out of the middle zones, than threw to the area he vacated. At his best he is an athletic, “Will” style linebacker who runs to the ball. Not big so he must be kept free of blockers, but has good speed, solid instincts and tackling ability, and should get a look on the next level. GRADE: Incomplete

C - Shawn Byrnes, #51 - 6' 2.8" - 308 - 5.30 - 2010: Overachiever who succeeds with strength and grit. Thickly built with a wide base, and plays with leverage. Mainly a grab&turn guy, but can get some movement in the run game, and often cuts. Not very quick or athletic. Strong against a bullrush, but can be beaten by quickness and double moves. Plays hard. GRADE: Neutral

OG - Brandon Carter, #76 - 6’ 6.0" - 354 - 5.60 - 2010: Absolutely massive man; one of the biggest in all of college football. Surprising athlete for one so large; can run a bit and has quickness in spurts. Stones bullrushers at the point and is nearly impossible to run around in a short area. Mashes and mauls in the run game and grinds until the whistle. Strictly an inside, phone-booth type road grader, but definitely an NFL prospect. GRADE: Positive

Other Players of Note:

Houston boasts some fine young firepower in QB Case Keenum, WR James Cleveland and scat back Charles Sims. Keenum may be undersized, but he has all the requisite skills, including poise, accuracy and grit. Cleveland, a JUCO transfer, is raw but is big and talented, and Sims is small but electrifying. Young DL David Hunter forced two fumbles and has room to grow, as does MLB Marcus McGraw, who made 19 tackles, some of them very timely, including a huge goal-line stop on fourth and one in the fourth quarter. The future looks bright for the Red Raiders, boasting fine young talent on both sides of the ball. The jury is still out on QB Taylor Potts, but RB Baron Batch and WR Detron Lewis appear to be the real deal. MLB Brian Duncan, DT Colby Whitlock and hybrid Bront Bird (safety moved to linebacker who also rushes from a down position), all juniors, head up a young, talented defense that should improve with each game.

Have you heard anything on Brandon Carter's suspension following the Houston game?

I haven't. Leaving in the morning for my father's memorial service in Jersey (lived there for fifty years but passed away/buried in Colorado), so I've been too busy to check up on it. Will look into it next week when I get back.

What did you think of TTU WR #11 Tramain Swindell and #15 Lyle Leong, they seem to be upgrading in terms of deep speed and now they have inked Kadron Boone.

Is Brinkley a Top 100 talent?...i.e. your next great DB find?

Frankly, the whole receiving corps is impressive, but the question is, just how many footballs are there to go around? I was particularly impressed with Adam James, son of Craig, and not just because my first and middle names are Adam & James. He fills the big target role once occupied by Crabtree, and while not in his class, he certainly displays pro potential at a young age.

Based on what I saw in this game, I would have to say yes, but with a tall/long guy like that, I'd really like to see his athletic numbers. Based on film, I would say he has the quickness and agility necessary to play the position, and he's definitely tough. Kind of reminds me of a faster, pre-knee injury Tory James, a second round pick of the Broncos from LSU (1996) who played a number of years in the NFL.

Thanks man. Added at #92.

You still all set to pick me up Sunday, bud?

Donna will be meeting you at the parking lot outside the baggage claim area of the airport at 2:15. Grab your luggage and just step out onto the sidewalk; you'll see Donna in the waiting lot across the road. I'll be here with Dave watching football and hopefully cooking up a bunch of fish (need to catch them tomorrow morning). You and Peggy are certainly invited to eat and watch the Denver-New England game with us.

Travel safe & we'll see you on Sunday.

Sounds good, Adam! We won't stay because we've got to get back and get stuff done before tomorrow. But thanks so much for the offer.