Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Red Raiders will beat the Cyclones if…

By Matthew Conner

WACO, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: SaRodorick Thompson #28 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears on October 12, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS - OCTOBER 12: SaRodorick Thompson #28 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears on October 12, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

…the wide receivers continue to be big-play threats

To best make the ISU defense uncomfortable, a team needs to make it cover as much of the field as possible.  Usually, when teams discuss making a defense cover the entire field, they are talking about sideline to sideline.

But today, Tech needs to make the Cyclones cover the deep ball early and often.  In fact, on the vast majority of the snaps (even on running plays), the Red Raiders need to have a receiver or two challenging the safeties deep.

If Yost can get some of the ISU defensive backs to worry about the deep passes, natural holes will open up in the middle of the field for Jett Duffey.  That’s where he could find McLane Mannix or Donta Thompson but only if the defense is stretched to the max vertically.

So it will be imperative that the Red Raider outside receivers play as well today as they have in the last two games, which we discussed in detail Friday.  Guys like T.J. Vasher, R.J. Turner, Erik Ezukanma, and Kesean Carter have to make big plays down the field in order to soften up the 8-man coverage.

Last year, Antoine Wesley did just that with 8 catches for 119 yards and a TD in Ames as Tech put up 31 points.  What’s more, Vasher was a factor as well with five catches for 66  yards.

But in the two years prior, the best a Red Raider outside receiver managed against the Cyclones was the six catches for 48 yards Dylan Cantrell had in 2017.  And in neither 2016 or 2017 did the Red Raiders receive a TD from an outside receiver.

So keep an eye on how frequently Tech is able to test ISU deep.  This is an area where Dalton Rigdon could also be useful from the slot.

Even if Tech fails to connect on every deep ball, there needs to be enough pressure put on the Cyclone secondary to make them fear being burned deep and start back-tracking at the snap.  Facing a secondary that has been injury-riddled in recent weeks, the Red Raider outside receivers need to make their presence known early and often today.

Home/Texas Tech Football