NCAA Football Preview - Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

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08/22/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - 2006 SEASON IN REVIEW: With so much promise heading into the 2006 season, Louisiana Tech's campaign felt like it ended long before it ever had a chance to start when defensive coordinator Randy Bates jumped ship in Ruston and headed to Northwestern to fill a vacancy. Head coach Jack Bicknell was left to scramble for a replacement, which may have left him less time to focus on the overall outlook of Louisiana Tech as it headed into yet another tough season that listed three of the first five opponents as nationally-ranked programs. In front of more than 85,000 fans, the Bulldogs opened at Nebraska and were handed a 49-10 beating. Following an extra week to prepare, the team then slipped by Nicholls State in the home opener, 31-21, but from then on, there was very little to get excited about. Four straight setbacks to Texas A&M, Clemson, Boise State and even Idaho at home had the once-proud Western Athletic Conference member scratching its collective head. For a moment, it seemed as Bicknell had rallied the troops with wins over Utah State and North Texas, but after that came setbacks to both Hawaii and Nevada that saw the Bulldogs being outscored by a combined 103-17. Add to that back-to-back losses to Fresno State and New Mexico State to close out the regular season and the squad was a mere 3-10 overall and tied for eighth in the WAC standings at 1-7. Needless to say, just days after the end of the season is was announced that Bicknell had been fired, despite having signed a contract extension that was to take him through the 2008 season. Derek Dooley, who had ties to the state after working with Nick Saban at LSU for several years, was chosen as the replacement and named the 31st head coach in LaTech history a few days before Christmas. Dooley, one of the youngest head coaches at the college level at just 38 years of age, has a long road ahead as he tries to dig Louisiana Tech out of the national cellar after the team ranked dead last in scoring defense with 41.7 ppg allowed in 2006. Giving up 483.2 ypg meant the Bulldogs were last in the country in that category as well.

2007 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Now a senior with the Bulldogs, quarterback Zac Champion is going to be expected to take on even more responsibility and that of a leader. Champion played like anything but a season ago as he averaged just 189.7 ypg and accounted for just 14 TDs passes, compared to 18 interceptions. Although he had just 25 catches over the course of 12 games for the Bulldogs, wideout Josh Wheeler is the lone returning starter at the position, but at least he can build upon his team-high four touchdown receptions. Heading into the season junior Shane Womack and sophomore Brian Jackson are also listed as starters out on the wings for the Bulldogs, despite combining for a total of just six receptions in 2006. While the wide receivers and the tight end spot (Anthony Harrison, one catch for 13 yards a year ago) are huge question marks for the offense, LaTech does seem to have a wealth of talent at the running back position, which may or may not alleviate some of the stress from Champion. Of the unit's 13 rushing touchdowns a season ago, seven of those were recorded by Patrick Jackson who carried the ball 170 times for 854 yards. Coming out of the backfield Jackson was also a reliable safety valve as he grabbed 22 passes for another 181 yards for the group. With an average of close to six yards per attempt, sophomore Daniel Porter showed he could give Jackson a break and the offense would not have to compromise in the least. The offensive line has juniors and seniors manning all the spots except one, that being the center spot where one of two redshirt freshmen (Lon Roberts or Greg Greathouse) should be making the starts from week to week. Clearly, the chemistry between Champion and his center man is critical, which is why the offense may well sputter in the early going this season.

DEFENSE: The defense shows as many as 10 returning starters from a year ago and while they should be older and wiser, the group still has a lot of growing to do after playing so poorly in 2006. There really is no other way to describe the performance of the defense a season ago other than disappointing. One of three returning starters at the linebacker position, junior Quin Harris led the squad with 95 stops a year ago, but only six of those came behind the line of scrimmage. Seniors Marquis McBeath and Brannon Jackson will complement Harris, although Jackson was a little banged up during summer practices. Seniors Chris Pugh, Josh Muse and Ben McGilton are all lining up on the defensive line once again, with McGilton being the best of the bunch after making 5.5 TFLs on a mere 25 stops last year. With just eight sacks as a team, Louisiana Tech was by far the worst in the conference in that department, but at least Pugh showed a little leadership in the pits with three and a half of those stops on the opposing quarterback. McGilton and Pugh may actually be competing against each other for the starting right end position, which means coach Dooley may well give redshirt freshman Randy Grigsby a shot at the left end spot. Senior strong safety Mark Dillard (58 tackles) will be the most important player in the last line of defense for the Bulldogs, although sophomore free safety Antonio Baker is already well beyond his years after placing fourth on the team with 68 tackles. Oddly enough, senior left corner Shalamar Walker, the leader with three interceptions in 2006, may be backing up Tony Moss now at the position, which means that could be the strongest spot on the unit.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Patrick Jackson will again be called upon to return kicks for the Bulldogs, after the all-conference performer averaged better than 24 yards per attempt and scored a TD as a return man. Jackson's touchdown return of 100 yards against Fresno State not only tied a school record but also accounted for the first such return since 1989 for the program. Considering how weak the defense was for LaTech in 2006, there were very few punts for the team to field, and yet there is still a question as to who that punt returner will be in 2007. Moss has the most experience of the bunch, even though his two attempts resulted in minus-14 yards total. Walker and Philip Beck might also get a chance to bring back some kicks depending on the situation. As for the Bulldogs doing the actual kicking, senior Danny Horwedel has the placekicking spot wrapped up yet again, while Chris Keagle lines up to be the returning punter. Keagle has plenty of experience for the Bulldogs after being connected with 66 kicks for an average of 38.4 yards per try a year ago.

OUTLOOK: There's nothing easy about the impending schedule for the Bulldogs, even the meeting with Central Arkansas to kick off the campaign may not be an easy win for the group. After that the squad doesn't catch a single break with Hawaii coming into Ruston to kick off the WAC slate on September 8th. Non- conference battles are set for California and Ole Miss, both on the road, so while LaTech might be getting a chance to do some sightseeing, there's a good chance it will be watching the rest of the league from the cellar yet again. Dooley will have his honeymoon period with the Bulldogs, but it won't last that long if the team doesn't put up a significant number of wins.