Tech looking beyond the record for UTSA game
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz always finds a way to spin the attention off his team and on to the opponent, whether it’s praising their coaches, players or their program in general.
Somehow, he’s managed to do that with a 1-4 Texas-San Antonio team waiting for Saturday’s Conference USA game in the Alamodome.
All Holtz needed to do was flip on the film of UTSA, see that the Roadrunners have lost to three Power Five schools and proceed to throw everything “out the window.”
Figuratively, of course.
“That is something that coach Holtz has already talked to us about. He said do not look at their record,” Tech junior wide receiver Trent Taylor said. “If you just watch the film on them, you will know that they are a team that flies around. They can make plays and they have a bunch of athletes on that team.”
It’s hard to judge exactly what to expect from UTSA. Aside from having the No. 5 rushing offense in C-USA, the Roadrunners rank toward the bottom half of most statistical categories.
However, the numbers are skewed since UTSA played Arizona, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Colorado State during its nonconference slate before getting in the win column in last week’s 25-6 victory over UTEP.
No love lost between Tech and Texas-San Antonio
“They will have our players’ attention,” Holtz said. “When you look at them on film, they are fundamentally sound. Like I said, they may be the best defensive football team we have played. They definitely have the best front four we have played to this point, when you look at them as a whole.
“If we have learned anything early … 2014 means absolutely nothing. We are a completely different football team than we were a year ago.”
Holtz contends UTSA’s front four is a mix of the strength and power of Kansas State’s defensive tackles and the speed and quickness of Florida International’s defensive ends. Both position groups gave Tech trouble, which explains why Holtz is raving about the Roadrunners’ unit and the entire team in general.
“They have some angry players. They play the game angry,” Holtz said. “They play the game violent and physical.”
Another chippy game is expected in this rivalry that Holtz referred to Monday as “brewing." Tech and UTSA have met just three teams with the home team winning all three matchups. Tech last visited San Antonio to end the 2013 season when UTSA came away with a 30-10 win.
As much as Tech wants to avoid the record and trap game notion, UTSA comes in as a 12-point underdog with a backup quarterback.
Starting quarterback Blake Bogenschutz was ruled out earlier this week, paving the way for sophomore Dalton Strum, who has throw just 15 passes in his career.
Regardless of the signal caller, UTSA likes to move fast and averages 74 plays a game.
“The hard part is that you do not know where their pocket is going to be. You do not know where their quarterback is going to be,” Holtz said. “Everything you do, you have to make sure you are fundamentally sound. You cannot draw up a blitz and send five people from one side, because they could be in an unbalanced formation and go fast.”
Tech preparing for matchup with 'Baby Gronk'
With a new quarterback, UTSA will likely lean on the running game even against Tech’s top-ranked run defense in C-USA. The Bulldogs are allowing only 118 rushing yards per game, while Jarveon Williams is fourth in the conference with 100.6 rushing yards per game and is coming off a 28-carry, 133-yard performance against UTEP.
Tech has a pretty good running back, too. Kenneth Dixon will try and get back on track after managing just 59 yards against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Dixon also was ejected for receiving two unsportsmanlike penalties.
Dixon missed practice Wednesday with a new leg injury, but Holtz expects him to play.
“When we had (Barry) Sanders, guys had to swarm around him, tackle him and wrap him up,” UTSA coach Larry Coker said. “If they didn’t, he would make things happen and Kenneth Dixon is the same way.”
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Louisiana Tech (3-2, 1-1) at Texas-San Antonio (1-4, 1-0)
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
At: Alamodome
Radio: 107.5 FM
TV: American Sports Network
Coaches: Skip Holtz, Louisiana Tech (103-85); Larry Coker, UTSA (84-42)
Louisiana Tech wins if: The Bulldogs contain running back Jarveon Williams and tight end David Morgan. UTSA has a first-time starter in Dalton Strum, meaning the Roadrunners will likely rely on the run game. The good news is Tech comes in with the top-ranked run defense in C-USA.
Louisiana Tech loses if: UTSA's record is overlooked. A 4-8 finish in 2014 didn't stop the Roadrunners from pushing the Bulldogs in 2014 as they had to grind out a 27-20 victory. Even though UTSA is young, the Roadrunners have arguably their most talented team since moving to the FBS.