Eli Howard will have two sacks
Texas Tech needs to get its pass rush going tonight and that begins with junior DE Eli Howard. The San Angelo native has seven career sacks but is yet to get home this season.
Some of that is due to the scant number of passes Tech faced in the first two weeks and some may be due to his adjustment to the new defensive scheme, which has him playing further inside than last year.
However, a player like Arizona QB Khalil Tate is the type that might be more prone to being sacked by Howard than a typical pocket passer. Given his incredible athleticism, Tate will spend plenty of time throwing from outside the pocket, either by design or as he scrambles.
That’s when a player with a relentless motor, like Howard, is at his best. During his career, he’s become known for his diving ankle tackles behind the line and that could be what we see tonight.
On the season, the Wildcats have surrendered just three sacks. Meanwhile, Tech has recorded just two.
But the Red Raider defense is supposed to be predicated on getting to the QB so let’s see what that looks like against the first opponent on this year’s schedule that will not treat the forward pass like a punishment.
In games where the offenses go up and down the field, sacks and picks often turn the tide. Tech has the better offensive line so Bowman should remain upright for most of the night. If the Red Raiders can beat the Zona o-line and cause havoc in the backfield, life will be much more difficult on Tate. Look for Howard to lead the way with a pair of sacks, his first two-sack game as a collegiate.