 "Photo: Ruben Castillo")
Call it crazy, but don't be surprised if defenses start loading the box and playing the run against Texas Tech's offense.
Maybe that won't actually happen, but coach Mike Leach's set of ground troops complement his vaunted Air Raid offense much better than in season's past.
Junior guard Brandon Carter said just when he was getting used to Tech running the ball only under desperate measures, this powerful and quick backfield burst onto the scene.
"Since I've been here, really my freshman, sophomore year, run blocking really wasn't a thing for us," he said. "It was just kind of a third and short, second and short kind of deal that if we needed it we would do it. It was never really a first down and 10 decision to make. Now the fact that we can do that is a huge credit to everybody."
Under Leach, who is known for his potent passing attack, Tech has averaged more than 100 yards rushing only twice, in 2003 and 2005.
In three games this season, the Red Raiders have averaged 135.7 yards on the ground and already have a surprising nine rushing touchdowns - five of those came against Eastern Washington on Aug. 30.
At this rate, Tech could have more than 36 rushing touchdowns by season's end - Leach's offense has never eclipsed more than 25 touchdowns in a season and has reached 20 only twice.
All of this comes after Tech averaged a school-record low 59.3 rushing yards per game in 2007.
Carter said the determination to shed tackle after tackle shown by Batch and Woods is something he is not used to seeing. Specifically, Carter cited a moment toward the end of the game against SMU when Woods was carrying the ball inside the Mustangs' 10-yard line. Woods was hit three yards deep in the backfield, but he side-stepped several tacklers before being brought down a the 1-yard line.
"There was a couple times where I'd make my block, and I'd look up and our running back would get hit by two people, and he'd just keep moving to get five, 10 yards extra," Carter said. "I think they have a different mentality this year. In the past, I could see them get hit and go down to the ground, but I never saw them do that this week. I never saw them stop their feet."
Batch said at one point during Saturday's 43-7 blowout of SMU, he and Woods seemed to feed off each other's big plays that came one after another on the ground and in the air, combining for 301 of the team's total 693 yards.
Leach said none of this surprises him, mostly because of the tight competition that has continued to sharpen his running backs' skills since spring practices.
"You almost see them imitating each others' strong qualities," Leach said. "I mean, Baron is looking more and more like Shannon blocking. Shannon is looking more and more like Baron carrying the ball, so I think it really has brought out their best qualities and features."
Batch polishes his blocking every week, Leach said, adding that Batch's struggles stem from too much intensity.
"Baron's intensity is not his problem, but over (intensity is)," Leach said. "He might overshoot a guy or hit the wrong guy really, really hard type of deal."
However, there is no running game without the offensive line, which repeatedly opened up gaping holes Woods and Batch busted through for huge gains on Saturday.
"They've gotten to where they play together real well," Leach said of a massive offensive line that weighs a combined 1,900 pounds. "They've gotten to be a group that plays decisively with one another. Offensive line is the ultimate group where you need five guys being on the same page with one another."
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