Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: What we still don’t know about the Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Running back Armand Shyne #5 of Texas Tech runs with the ball while being pursued by safety Justin Prince #21 of UTEP during the second half of the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Running back Armand Shyne #5 of Texas Tech runs with the ball while being pursued by safety Justin Prince #21 of UTEP during the second half of the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Does Tech have the receivers to dominate in the passing game?

Let’s not take it for granted that the other aspect of the offense, the passing game, is simply guaranteed to produce this year.  Though we all have come to believe that in Lubbock having elite receivers is our birthright, this year’s group of pass-catchers has yet to prove capable of dominating legitimate competition.

More from Wreck'Em Red

Thus far, the two most consistent have been junior T.J. Vasher and sophomore Dalton Rigdon.  Vasher leads the team with 150  yards and two touchdowns from the outside while Rigdon has 128 yards and a score from the slot.

Xavier White had a great first week with 107 yards and a TD but against UTEP, he was held to just one catch for seven yards.  His fellow inside receiver, McLane Mannix has been solid in the slot as well with six receptions for 59 yards and a TD.

But aside from Vasher, we have not seen any of the receivers on this roster take over a game for the Red Raiders.  Mannix had five 100-yard games at Nevada from 2017-18 but until he has that type of impact in scarlet and black, he will remain a bit of a question mark.

Against UTEP, Tech’s receivers struggled to consistently win one-on-one matchups against a Miner defense that played quite a bit of man coverage.  In years past, Tech has feasted on man coverage but in week two, the Red Raiders passed for just 264 yards.

Next. Players that helped themselves in week two. dark

This week, the Raiders must exploit a shaky Arizona defense.  The Wildcats are No. 126 in the nation against the pass giving up 404 yards per game through the air. That means there should be opportunities for Alan Bowman and his receivers to put up big numbers but whether anyone other than Vasher can prove to be a game-breaker is still yet to be seen.

Home/Texas Tech Football