Texas Tech football: 3 Reasons Kingsbury will not be fired

The 2018 football team is improved in all three phases of the game

Despite the fact that many of the frustrations from seasons past have jumped up again this year, there is no denying that the Red Raiders are a better football team in 2018.  Prior to the season, Hocutt said that he had to see progress from Kingsbury this year, and many assumed that meant an improved overall record.

But Hocutt did not specify what his definition of progress is.  So it is conceivable that he could find enough success in the micro to justify staying the course despite no noticeable progress in the macro.

Certainly, this year’s defense is the best of the Kingsbury era.  After fielding defenses that finished next-to-last and last in the nation in total defense in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Kingsbury and defensive coordinator David Gibbs seem to have built a respectable unit to compliment the Red Raider offense.

The numbers are not overly impressive for the defense, ranking just 111th in the nation.  But this year’s defense is more physical and talented than any in recent memory.    Tech has held three Big 12 opponents under 20 points and kept the West Virginia offense off the scoreboard in the second half.  What’s more, Gibbs will return seven starters next year and compliment that with some promising young players that should be able to sustain the progress on that side of the ball.

On offense, Texas Tech has taken a huge step forward despite having to start three different quarterbacks.  The Red Raiders have the No. 7 offense in the nation in terms of yards and the No. 9 scoring offense.

Tech is scoring seven more points per game that last year and racking up 54.8 more yards per game in 2018.  Considering that the offense has been led by two quarterbacks in Alan Bowman and Jett Duffey who entered the season with no career starts in college, that is quite a testament to the work Kingsbury has done in coaching the most important position group on the roster.

Finally, the special teams are also vastly improved.  After a disastrous 2017 that saw the kicking game cost the team two wins, Texas Tech is the only team in the Big 12 to have both its kicker and its punter be named finalists for national awards.

Certainly, if Kingsbury gets to seven regular season wins, he will have solid evidence of improvement.  However, even if he just matches last year’s six wins, one can see how Hocutt would be able to look at this year’s team and find signs of progress.