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Texas Tech football: Matt Wells banking on experienced coaches to fix defense

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Running back Ta'Zhawn Henry #26 and head coach Matt Wells of Texas Tech stand in the tunnel before 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: Running back Ta'Zhawn Henry #26 and head coach Matt Wells of Texas Tech stand in the tunnel before 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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Kevin Cosgrove arrives from LSU to coach linebackers

Coaches don’t come with much more experience than new linebackers coach Kevin Cosgrove who has 39 years in the NCAA coaching game.  He spent last fall at LSU as a defensive analyst for the National Champions and now he’s ready to try to resurrect the Red Raider defense.

"According to TexasTech.com, “He has coached in 19 bowl games during his illustrious career and has mentored 50-plus players who have gone on to NFL careers as well as 16 All-Americans, four NFL first-round draft picks, a No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection and a Jim Thorpe Award winner.”"

For 22 years, Cosgrove was a defensive coordinator.  That includes stints at Wisconsin (1995-03), Nebraska (2004-07) and Minnesota (2009-10) as well as Southeast Missouri State (1988), Akron (2011) and, New Mexico (2014-18).

He’s developed a reputation as one of the top developers of linebackers in the game.  While at Wisconsin, he had three of his linebackers lead the Big 10 in tackles.

It will be important for him to work his magic on the Red Raider LBs this year as Tech deals with the departure of 2019 All-American Jordyn Brooks.  Can Cosgrove, who takes over LB coaching duties from Patterson, turn senior Riko Jeffers into an all-conference performer to follow in the steps of Brooks and Dakota Allen?  Can he help Michigan State transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle settle in and become a capable replacement for Books?  Will his presence help young players Xavier Benson and Tyrique Matthews take significant steps forward after both showed some promising signs a season ago?

Linebackers are at the heart of the Keith Patterson scheme.  That’s where so much of his versatility comes from as he asks his LBs to do a little bit of everything.  In fact, Brooks and Jeffers each had three sacks a year ago to finish second on the team behind Eli Howard, who had five.  If that group can be as or even more disruptive this fall, the defense could be noticeably improved.

For years, Texas Tech seemed to be as weak at the linebacker spot as it was anywhere on the roster.  But in the last handful of years, that spot on the field has become the backbone of the defense as the talent that has come into the program has risen dramatically with Brooks, Allen, and Jeffers. Now, Wells is banking on one of the most respected linebackers coaches in the nation to keep that trend going and help solidify the defense in 2020.

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