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Texas Tech football team has bigger problems than the QB position

By Matthew Conner

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Jett Duffey #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders throws under pressure from defensive lineman Marquise Overton #97 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 55-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Jett Duffey #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders throws under pressure from defensive lineman Marquise Overton #97 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 55-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

None of the receivers are proving to be explosive

Even before Bowman went down, it was fair to question where the explosiveness of the wide receivers has gone in this offense.   What used to be a given for the Red Raiders is now a huge concern.

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Thus far, Tech is averaging just 10.1 yards per reception.  Last year, the average was 11.7.  That is a significant difference over the course of an entire season.

The only consistent receiver on the roster, T.J. Vasher has seen his yards per reception climb slightly from 12.7 to 13.1.  But the rest of the receivers have disappeared against Power 5 teams with one exception.

Against Arizona, McLane Mannix had a huge 66-yard catch and run in the third quarter to set up Tech’s second TD of the game.  That and Vasher’s remarkable 39-yard diving catch in the first quarter of that game have been the only big plays the receivers have made in the last two weeks despite playing suspect defenses.

Outside of those two receptions, the offense has had just two passes of over 20 yards in the last two weeks.  OU’s Hurts had five such passes in the first half alone on Saturday and two of those went for over 70  yards.

It’s a shame that 2018’s leading receiver Antoine Wesley left school early for the NFL Draft after last year only to go undrafted.  Though he is currently drawing a paycheck as a member of the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad, another huge year at Tech would have certainly done his draft stock some good and goodness knows it would be a blessing to this year’s offense.

Next. Angry overreactions to Tech's loss to OU. dark

Spare us the talk about the Bowman injury impacting the receivers.  Last year, Wesley hauled in the third-most yards in a single-season for a Red Raider (1,410) despite playing with three different starting QBs.  Until another receiver this year proves capable of being that guy for the Red Raiders, this offense will be lacking the punch we’ve been accustomed to seeing in the last two decades.

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