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Texas Tech Football: Discipline will be critical in Big 12 play

By VF Castro

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 23: The Texas Tech Red Raiders special teams defense celebrates a Houston Cougars fumble on a punt return in the fourth quarter at TDECU Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Texas Tech Red Raiders won 27 to 24. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 23: The Texas Tech Red Raiders special teams defense celebrates a Houston Cougars fumble on a punt return in the fourth quarter at TDECU Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Texas Tech Red Raiders won 27 to 24. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
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Texas Tech Football starts the season at 3-0 following its recent victory at Houston, however, discipline seems to be its biggest concern moving forward.

Texas Tech Football has managed to accomplish what many thought would never happen in the Kingsbury era: Establish a defense. Under third-year defensive coordinator David Gibbs, the recipe for success appears to be in a fine-tuning phase, and as a result, the Red Raiders are starting the season 3-0 after defeating three quality teams.

With the good comes the bad, and while the defense ranks second in the nation in turnover margin with nine turnovers, the offenses inability to capitalize off five turnovers against Houston could be problematic moving forward.

Headed into Saturday’s game, Houston boasted one of the strongest defenses in the nation. Led by defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Texas Tech knew it was going to have its hands full. We can criticize Texas Tech for its offense stalling out, but at the same time, remember that Houston ranks in the Top 10 nationally for teams holding offenses to under 25 points-per-game in the last four seasons.

Up until last Saturday, Houston ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 9.5 points-per-game. While Texas Tech only managed to score 27 points off 521 total yards of offense, it was against an imposing defense, which might actually say more about the durability of Tech’s offensive line, than anything.

Regardless, teams don’t win style points by letting off the gas, or sympathizing when they’re ahead. Instead, they find ways to get into the endzone on every play, regardless of public perception.

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It’s unknown just how potent the Big 12 defenses will become in the weeks moving forward, and Texas Tech can’t control that. What it can control, however, are meaningless penalties that could cost wins in close contests.

In 2016, five of Texas Tech’s losses were decided by 10 points or less, including Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas. Tech averaged 62 penalty yards-per-game in 2016, and lack of discipline contributed to wins and losses, but with just three games in, Tech has the opportunity to clean things up before heading into conference play on Saturday.

As it stands, Texas Tech is still one of the most penalized teams in the country, coming in at No. 116 nationally. Tech has been flagged for 32 penalties for 304 yards, and the only team that’s worse than Tech in the Big 12 is Baylor.

Several of those penalties have been on false starts, but with a gritty road schedule, Tech has to learn how to contain emotions, and maintain focus in hostile environments. Those are fundamental issues, but highly tangible among a team that’s finally developed a culture by trusting the process, and each other.

Next: Texas Tech Football: Game Balls For Week 3

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is 17-0 when his defense gives up less than 30 points-per-game. Against Oklahoma State this Saturday, the penalty issue must be resolved; the defense must continue to dominate; and Texas Tech Football has to return to its showcase offensive onslaught if they want to continue making waves as a true contender.

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