Texas Tech football: Things haven’t changed for Red Raider defense
The Texas Tech football season got off to the worst start imaginable in a 47-27 loss to Ole Miss in Houston that saw the Rebels have their way with the Red Raider defense.
For the first time since 2002, the Texas Tech football dropped its season opener. Now, a team that entered the day with more question marks than answers finds itself reeling following a 47-27 loss to Ole Miss that saw the Red Raiders dominated in every aspect of the game.
What is most concerning as far as the big picture perspective goes is that Texas Tech leaves Houston without an identity after its supposedly strong veteran defense was the fire hydrant upon with the Ole Miss offense repeatedly hiked its hind leg all afternoon.
On the second play from scrimmage, Ole Miss took a 7-0 lead on a 58-yard D.K. Metcalf touchdown reception. Texas tech defensive back Damarcus Fields fell flat on his face on the play leaving Metcalf wide open on a play that would come to symbolize the day for David Gibbs’ defense.
Ole Miss did whatever it wanted to the Red Raider defense racking up 546 yards of total offense. Each of the Rebels’ four offensive touchdowns was an explosive play covering at least 34 yards.
Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta’amu had touchdown passes of 58 and 34 yards while running back Scottie Phillips had touchdown runs of 39 and 65 yards. It was a sobering performance for David Gibbs’ defense after the Texas Tech defensive coordinator spent all offseason telling anyone who would listen that “things have changed” for his defense.
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But after one game, it appears very little has changed. Last year, Tech was one of the worst teams in the country when it came to allowing big plays. That problem has evidently not been fixed as Ole Miss had 12 explosive plays on the afternoon.
Tech also doesn’t seem to have changed when it comes to its inability to put pressure on the quarterback. After finishing the season last in the Big 12 with just 18 sacks in 2017, Tech managed to get to Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta’amu just twice on the day and never in critical moments.
If there was any way the Texas Tech defense changed, it appears to be a negative change. Last year, Texas Tech improved by over 40 yards per game against the run ranking No. 62 in the nation.
Against the Rebels, Tech was repeatedly gouged on the ground allowing Scottie Philips to run for 204 yards and two scores on just 16 carries. If anything was shocking, it would be the ease with which Phillips ran through the Red Raider defense as he averaged 12.8 yards per carry.
It must be noted that the Red Raider secondary was depleted with all-Big 12 safety Jah’Shawn Johnson missing the game with a shoulder injury and starting corner Des Smith ejected in the first half for targeting.
With presumed starting corner Octavious Morgan already lost for the season due to a preseason knee injury, the Red Raider secondary was ill-equipped to handle the Ole Miss receiving corps, which is the best in the nation. But excuses don’t lessen the sting of reality.
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And the reality is that a Texas Tech defense that was expected to be the best 806 defense in a decade was obliterated by the first elite offense it saw making many wonder if the rhetoric we heard all offseason from the corner of 4th and University was nothing but false bravado. After one game, it’s hard to see how anything has changed at all.