Texas Tech football: Areas that Red Raiders failed to solidify in 2019

The 2019 secondary was a disaster after being thought to be a strength entering the year

Looking at the roster this summer, there appeared to be more quality options in the secondary than at any position.  But in 2019, Tech’s defensive backs were an embarrassment.

The Red Raiders finished the season128th nationally against the pass for the second-straight year (though some of that falls at the feet of the pass rush) and gave up twenty more yards per game (307) this fall than a season ago.

The lone bright spot was the play of Douglas Coleman who finished the year with eight interceptions to wrap up his career.  But Adrian Frye, who like Coleman moved from corner to safety this offseason, was a disaster both in coverage and when it came to tackling (though some of the latter was due to a broken hand that required him to wear a cast for much of the year).

Meanwhile, Penn State transfer Zech McPhearson was adequate but did not play as well as many Red Raider fans had hoped.  Much of those expectations were born of his impressive offer list out of high school and 4-star ranking when he signed with the Nittany Lions as well as the hype he generated in fall camp.  But he did not pick off a single pass this year and proved to be no difference-maker on a defense desperate for one to join linebacker Jordyn Brooks and Coleman.

Remember when the addition of Utah State grad transfer safety Ja’Marcus Ingram was supposed to be a big development?  The junior managed just 22 tackles and one interception after joining the program in August.

Meanwhile, freshmen like Alex Hogan and Dadrion Taylor were forced into action before they were ready and though both battled, there were exposed at times.  That was in part due to the injury that essentially cost senior corner Des Smith the final seven games.

Now, Tech is in almost the exact same position this offseason as it was last year when the second-worst pass defense in the nation had to replace two senior safeties.  Tech again has to replace one productive senior safety and has huge problems at the other while also not knowing if any corner on the roster is capable of making plays.  In a rebuild, it’s never good when the same problems arise every offseason but that’s where the Red Raider secondary is.