Texas Tech Football: Defense must cut down on big plays

The Texas Tech defense must show improvement when it comes to cutting down big plays which it allowed far too liberally in 2017.

Despite the praise being heaped on the job David Gibbs has done as defensive coordinator, it is still hard for Texas Tech football fans to feel comfortable about heading into a season in which it appears the team will have to rely on its defense rather than on a prolific offense.  That is because for the overwhelming majority of the seasons in the “Air Raid” Era, the goal on defense has been to have just enough of a pulse to luck into two or three stops a game  while the offense racks up video game caliber numbers.

But with the prospect of taking the field behind an offense that has more questions surrounding it than the Kennedy assassination means Gibbs’ defense might have to carry the 2018 Red Raiders, especially through the early portions of the schedule as Kliff Kingsbury works out an uncertain QB situation.

That is asking quite a bit from a defense that finished 2017 ranked just No.104 in the nation in total defense and No.122 overall against the pass.  And one stat will be critical to monitor as 2018 unfolds for it will help show whether or not Gibbs’ defense has taken the next step towards being a top Big 12 unit.

Last season, Texas Tech was one of the worst defenses in the nation when it came to giving up big plays.  Tech allowed 72 plays of at least 20 yards, the 116th most  allowed by any defense in the nation and the most given up by a Big 12 team.

Extrapolating the numbers out further, Tech gave up 21 plays of 30 yards, ten 40 yard-plays, four 50 yard-plays and one 60-yard play.  Looking deeper, 50 of those big plays came in the passing game.

And fittingly, it was one of those passing plays, a 26-yard touchdowns pass, that cost Texas Tech it’s bowl game last year as USF scored to take the lead with just :16 to play.  Take a closer look at that play because several problems that were present all season are easily seen on the final defensive snap of the 2017 season.

First, notice how at the snap, the Texas Tech defense is not set.  Pay attention to No. 13, Kolin Hill who looks confused about where to line up only getting set an instant before the snap.  His confusion results in his lining up almost four yards off the line of scrimmage despite the fact that he is assigned to be a pass rusher on the play.

Last year, Tech ranked just 109th in the nation in team sacks with 18.   The lack of a pass rush was a huge factor in allowing big plays and confusion and improper alignment such as this certainly attributed to the anemic pass rush.

More from Wreck'Em Red

• Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
• Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
• Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
• Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
• Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

Next, watch the poor technique of the defensive backs, focusing on No. 23 DaMarcus Fields, who is beat for the touchdown.  Playing off the ball, all of the Tech DB’s give the receivers a free release.

Then, Fields makes an even more egregious mistake by focusing his eyes on the quarterback, not the receiver.  Watch as Fields’ head is trained on the QB causing him to lose contact with the man he is assigned to cover.

The route that beats fields is nothing more than a “go” route where the receiver runs straight down field and looks for the ball.  It is a staple of backyard and sandlot football games across the nation but should not beat a Big 12 defense with such ease.

Fields should have kept his eyes on the receiver until later in the route when he had closed the gap.  Defensive backs are taught to turn for the ball only once they see the receiver put his hands up to make a catch but Fields, a redshirt freshman last year, did not do as taught and it cost him.

This year, Fields will likely be asked to be Tech’s top cover corner as he was effective last year against some of the better receivers on the schedule.  Hopefully, his technique and understanding of the position will have improved over the offseason matching his athleticism and competitiveness.

Now, with Texas Tech’s other expected starting corner, Octavious Morgan, out for the season, Fields will be even more important this fall.  But in fairness, all of the Texas Tech defensive backs were beat, and beat badly, at times last year.

Playing the pass is one of the toughest jobs asked of a defensive player.  Still, it can be done far more effectively than the Red Raider DB’s showed last year.

We should find out immediately if the Texas Tech secondary has improved under new defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and new safeties coach Brett Dewhurst.  The season opener against Ole Miss which boasts a projected 1st round NFL Draft pick A.J. Brown and two dangerous weapons DaMarkus Lodge and DK Metcalf at receiver will be one of the toughest tests Gibbs’ defense figures to face this year.

If the Red Raiders can keep the Rebel passing attack from ripping off big plays, Tech will have a great shot at winning the opener.  Furthermore, we will then have reason to believe that this huge flaw in the defense has been addressed making 2018’s defense far more formidable.