Texas Tech football: Three Oklahoma offensive weapons to know
This week, the Texas Tech football team has the daunting task of trying to slow down the Oklahoma offense. Here are three Sooner weapons Red Raider fans need to know.
Through three games, the 2019 Texas Tech football team has been carried by a surprising defense. But the nation’s No. 32 defense is about to face the most difficult task of the season Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma.
That’s because the Sooners are once again one of the best offensive teams in the country. Head coach Lincoln Riley has again built an offense that is both powerful and explosive at virtually every position.
OU ranks No. 1 in the nation in total offense by averaging 676.7 yards per game. But what may surprise some is that the Sooners are as dangerous on the ground as they are in the air.
Rushing for an average of 324.2 yards per game, OU sits an No. 2 overall in the NCAA. Their passing offense is no slouch though checking in at No. 7 in the nation at 352.3 yards per game. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see Riley’s team sit at No. 2 overall in points per game at 55.7.
Most college football fans know the stars for the crimson and cream. Especially this year’s grad transfer QB du jour.
QB Jalen Hurts, who played his first three years at Alabama, is sitting near the top of all Heisman Trophy lists after a dominant start to the season. Though many (myself included) questioned whether he was strong enough of a passer to lead a Big 12 offense, he’s been deadly with his arm.
The 6-foot-2, 219-pounder is completing an insane 80.3% of his passes thus far. However, it must be noted that he’s thrown the ball just 61 times. By comparison, Alan Bowman has already attempted 153 passes.
Also making Hurts’ life easier is the fact that his elite receiving corps is ofen running wide open behind helpless secondaries that simply can’t keep up with the Sooners’ team speed. With 880 passing yards on the season and nine touchdowns, Hurts is averaging an unreal 14.4 yards per attempt proving just how much of a big-play offense the Sooners have.
Just like other recent OU QBs, Hurts is also lethal when he takes off and runs. He leads the team with 373 yards on 38 carries to go along with four touchdowns. That already surpasses the rushing output of any player on the 2018 Red Raider roster.
Tech fans are also more than familiar with Hurts’ favorite target, CeeDee Lamb. Though he is currently second on the team in receptions (9), yards (229), and touchdowns (3), he’s the unquestioned top receiver in the OU offense and is likely headed for a high selection in next year’s NFL Draft.
Another OU star that Red Raider fans are all-too acquainted with is running back Trey Sermon, who ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s 51-46 Sooner victory in Lubbock. This year, he’s not been asked to shoulder too much of a load but he’s averaging 7.3 yards per carry on his way to 198 yards and one score.
But this is a frighteningly deep Sooner offense with fantastic players that may be a bit under the radar because of the three stars that grab most of the headlines. So let’s take a look at three OU offensive weapons that might receive less of a billing but who may prove to be huge factors this weekend.