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Texas Tech football: Areas of disappointment thus far in 2019

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Head coach Matt Wells of Texas Tech walks onto the field during a timeout in 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: Head coach Matt Wells of Texas Tech walks onto the field during a timeout in 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) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The defense is also failing to get to the QB

The other way Keith Patterson has told us that his defense will be effective is by getting to the QB.  Unfortunately, that too has not proven to be the case this year.

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So far, Tech has only registered six sacks, tied for seventh in the Big 12.  That’s exactly where last year’s defense finished by getting home 2.3 times per week.

We were promised a defense that is aggressive and will bring chaos from all over the field.  Through three games, the aggression has been noticeable but it has not yielded results.

Some have pointed to the fact that the opponents have not thrown the ball much at all this year, not even Arizona.  The most passes Tech has had to defend in any game in 2019 was the 24 Montana State threw in week one.

While that is a fair point, we can all likely agree that the defense should come up with more than four sacks in 43 passes against two teams as overmatched as Montana State and UTEP.  On the other hand, bringing down Khalil Tate of Arizona is tough given how mobile he is.

But that excuse will not work moving forward when Tech will see a bevy of athletic QBs over the next month.  OU’s Jalen Hurts, OSU’s Spencer Sanders, Baylor’s Charlie Brewer, and Iowa State’s Brock Purdy are all elusive in the pocket and will be as difficult as Tate to bring down.

Tech simply has to get to the passer more often.  Eli Howard came into the year with the most career sacks on the team but he’s yet to get his first in 2019.  Meanwhile, the “Raider” position that is supposed to be a prime pass rush spot (manned primarily by Tyrique Matthews and Xavier Benson)  has provided no sacks.

dark. Next. Where Red Raiders have surprised to this point

As a Texas Tech pessimist and a Keith Patterson skeptic, it’s hard for me to look at Tech’s lack of takeaways and sacks and feel confident about the ability of this defense to continue to play as well as it has.  Against the only capable offense it has faced this year (Arizona), Tech allowed 499 yards.  If the sacks and takeaways don’t pick up, I shudder to think what OU or OSU might be able to do against Patterson’s squad.

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