The 2017 season opener has arrived for the Texas Tech football team. Here are three keys to victory for the Red Raiders as they face Eastern Washington.
Saturday at 3 pm CST is a moment Texas Tech football fans have been looking forward to since December. The Red Raiders will return to action against perennial FCS powerhouse Eastern Washington.
Unlike most FCS teams, Eastern Washington is capable of upsetting a power 5 team. Thus, the Red Raiders must play a complete game against the Eagles to avoid an embarrassing upset. Let’s take a look at three key areas where the Red Raiders must be solid on Saturday afternoon.
Protect Nick Shimonek
Texas Tech enters 2017 with a young and inexperienced offensive line. The most recent depth chart has no senior offensive lineman starting. What’s more, the unit will feature two sophomores and one true freshman in the starting lineup.
Meanwhile, the Eagles will start three seniors and a junior on the defensive line. Look for the Eagles to try to confuse the revamped Texas Tech offensive front with exotic looks and multiple fronts.
The best shot the Eagles have at stopping the Red Raider offense will be to put consistent pressure on QB Nick Shimonek. However, if Tech can control the line of scrimmage on offense, its talented corps of receivers could have a huge day.
It is no secret that the Texas Tech defense is a question mark meaning the Red Raiders may need to put plenty of points on the scoreboard against an opponent with a talented offense led by one of the most productive quarterbacks in the FCS.
Win The Turnover Battle
It can be argued that winning the turnover battle is a key to every football game. That stat takes on even more significance in David vs. Goliath match-ups.
If the Eagles are to pull off the upset, they will have to outscore the Red Raiders. Therefore, Tech can ill afford to give its opponent extra possessions on Saturday.
Conversely, Texas Tech must finally find a way to create turnovers on defense. Defensive coordinator David Gibbs stakes his reputation on taking the ball away but last season, Tech forced a mere 13 turnovers while giving the ball away 17 times.
That trend must not continue. The best way to keep an underdog at bay is to put it in a hole early so that it does not start to believe an upset is possible.
If Texas Tech can hang on to the football and force two or three turnovers in the first half, the Eagles will be hard-pressed to leave town with a win.
Win In The Red Zone
Make no mistake, Eastern Washington is a lethal offensive team featuring a quarterback that passed for over 5,000 yards in 2016. So to expect the rebuilt Texas Tech defense to shut the Eagles’ offense down would be a stretch.
Therefore, when the Eagles move the ball, Texas Tech must stiffen in the red zone. Keeping the Eagles out of the end zone and forcing them to settle for field goals will be key.
Eastern Washington is a spread passing team that is not equipped to pound the Red Raiders with the ground game. As most Tech fans know, spread offenses can struggle as the near the goal line when the field shrinks.
Tech must play sound assignment defense in the red zone, something that is no guarantee given the fact that as many as 10 defensive players in the two-deep rotation are transfers or redshirts.
On the other side of the ball, Texas Tech should have the advantage when it moves into the red zone. 235-pound running back transfer Desmond Nisby gives Kingsbury’s offense something it hasn’t had in years; a sledge hammer on the ground.
Most are predicting a shootout today so the team that comes away with seven points rather than three in the red zone is likely to be the victor. Texas Tech should have the advantage in the red zone on both sides of the ball give the size and talent advantage of the Red Raider’s roster.
This game is going to be the toughest week one test of the Kingsbury era. However, the 2017 Texas Tech football team has a different feel about it with all of the new faces, especially on defense. Look for a competitive game but in the end Texas Tech will pull away late for a 56-35 win.