Texas Tech football: Players to watch against UTEP

DE Eli Howard

Tonight, the Red Raiders need junior DE Eli Howard to be much more of a difference-maker than he was last week. Despite being one of the three most proven players in Tech’s front seven (along with Brooks and Washington), Howard had just a single tackle against the Bobcats.

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In the 3-3-5 scheme, he has had to move from the nine technique which lines up on the outside edge of the offensive tackle to a five technique that lines up on the outside shoulder of the guard. That places a greater physical burden on the 275-pound Howard who is not a natural five technique.

Still, the overachiever has to figure out how to be a pass rusher at the level he’s shown in his last two years. With nine career sacks, the San Angelo native and former transfer from North Texas is the roster’s most accomplished pass rusher and the only DE on the roster with more than one career sack.

As a team, Tech registered only one sack in week one but that was due in large part to Montana State’s plan of keeping the ball on the ground. After all, MSU threw the ball just 24 times.

Likewise, UTEP attempted only 20 passes in its season-opening win over Houston Baptist so there may not be too many sacks to go around. But that doesn’t mean Howard can’t make his presence felt.

Keep an eye on how often we see No. 53 in the UTEP backfield. He is a player with an incredible motor and a knack for knifing between blockers and he can cause havoc simply by rerouting the running back’s path or pushing a blocker into the backfield.

We didn’t see that from him last week. But if the 2019 defense is going to hold its own as the stakes increase this year, that’s the Eli Howard we need to see on a consistent basis.