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Texas Tech football: DC Keith Patterson has had very Tech-like defenses

By Matthew Conner

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson of the Arizona State Sun Devils runs drills prior to the game against the California Golden Bears at Sun Devil Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils won 51-41. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson of the Arizona State Sun Devils runs drills prior to the game against the California Golden Bears at Sun Devil Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils won 51-41. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Arizona State 2016: Patterson’s defense is second-worst in the country

Texas Tech football fans might want to turn away right now.  That’s because when we look at the last defense Keith Patterson coordinated at a Power 5 school, in this case, Arizona State, painful memories of our own defensive nightmares could be triggered.

While we were mired in Tech’s defensive woes in 2016 as the Red Raider defense finished last in the nation overall, fans in Tempe understood our pain.  That’s because Patterson’s Sun Devil defense finished the year second-to-last defensively ahead of only the Red Raiders.

In a 5-7 season for head coach Todd Graham, ASU allowed a stunning 520.5 yards per game.  That season, all but two opponents put up at least 400 yards of offense with seven surpassing 500 yards and three erupting for 600.

As you might expect, ASU’s scoring defense was also one of the worst in the country that season.  Giving up 39.8 points per game, the Sun Devils ranked 124th out of 128 teams.  Eight times, an opponent scored at least 40 points in a game including five of the last six teams on the schedule as ASU lost its final half-dozen games.

After an embarrassing loss season-ending loss to in-state rival Arizona in which the Wildcats ran for 511 yards, Patterson was demoted to linebackers coach.  He was replaced by former Baylor DC Phil Bennett, who Texas Tech fans know is certainly not the second coming of Vince Lombardi.

Prior to this demotion, Patterson was absolutely thrown under the bus by ASU athletic director Ray Anderson.  After seeing ASU give up 357.4 yards per game through the air and 163.1 yards per game, Anderson made a public call for change.

"“I think Todd [Gramah] will continue to evaluate his program and make the appropriate adjustments — very frankly particularly on the defensive side,” Anderson said when it was announced that his head coach would return in 2017. “It’s no secret to anybody.”"

Early in 2016, Texas Tech fans got a chance to see Patterson’s defense in action when Tech took on the Sun Devils in Tempe.  Though ASU won the game 68-55, the Red Raiders amassed 612 yards of offense as Pat Mahomes threw for 540 yards and five touchdowns while running for another.

Had it not been for a completely inept David Gibbs defense that night, Tech would have had more than enough offense to beat ASU.  What’s more, only Gibbs’ defense in 2016 kept Patterson’s from being the absolute worst in the nation.

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