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Can Texas Tech End Any Of These Streaks In 2018?

By Matthew Conner

NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 28: The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot Raider Red performs during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 49-27. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 28: The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot Raider Red performs during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 49-27. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

Seven-Consecutive Seasons Ranked No. 92 or Worse In Penalties Per Game

Texas Tech’s unofficial third color might as well be yellow because annually, the Red Raiders are one of the most penalized teams in the nation.  Starting in 2011, Tech has finished no better than No. 92 in the nation in penalties per game (achieving that in 2015).

The Red Raiders have averaged 116 penalties per season in the past seven seasons with 2014’s 126 being the most in a year.  Over that span, Tech has committed on average 7.8 infractions per game.

Many theories abound as to why Tech has been so highly penalized.  Some believe that it is a matter of poor coaching but the fact that this streak spans the Tuberville and Kingsbury tenures would suggest that the problem goes beyond coaching. (Even in the Leach years, Tech was one of the more highly-penalized teams in the nation.)

Others believe that Tech’s style of play contributes to the penalty problem.  Tech’s up-tempo passing game leads to games with more plays than the average game.  The Red Raiders are annually in the top-five of most plays run per game and with more plays come more opportunities for penalties.

Still another theory holds that the mediocre talent on the roster has led to more penalties.  Players that are a step slow or that continually find themselves out of place feel like they must commit a penalty to cut corners.

But whatever the reason, Tech would benefit greatly in 2018 by cutting down on its penalties.  With an offense that is going to rely on a new starting QB and three new receivers, Kingsbury’s team may not be able to overcome situations in which it is facing extended down-and-distance situations following penalties.

Reducing penalties will also help the Red Raiders have more success against soft zone defenses which they are likely to see plenty of again this year.  In 2010, Texas Tech ranked No. 60 in the country with just 6.0 penalties per game and if they could repeat that type of performance this year, there will be less frustration on the sidelines and within the fan base.

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