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Texas Tech football: How no spring ball could negatively impact Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is wrapped up by defensive tackle Raequan Williams #99 of the Michigan State Spartans and linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle #26  (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is wrapped up by defensive tackle Raequan Williams #99 of the Michigan State Spartans and linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle #26  (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Transfers will have less time to learn the system and develop physically

Once again this fall, the Red Raiders will be relying heavily on incoming transfers to play critical roles.  Many of those are already on campus and were planning on using the spring as a time to get acclimated to the Texas Tech system while also ramping up their physical conditioning.

We recently got word from Matt Wells on the development of players such as JUCO DE Devin Drew and JUCO LB Krishon Merriweather and Michigan State grad transfer LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, who are all expected to be starters or key contributors.  Without the usual number of spring practices, those players will have far less time to learn their new systems, which could hinder them when the season begins.

That’s most critical for Merriweather, who is expected to be the replacement for Jordyn Brooks, last year’s second-team All-American middle linebacker.  It is of the utmost importance that a team’s middle linebacker knows the defensive system as if it is second nature because he is often responsible for directing the front seven so one has to wonder if Merriweather can do that without spring practices and scrimmages.

Texas Tech defensive coordinator Keith Patterson runs an unusual scheme that often morphs between fronts and asks players to fulfill quite a few different roles depending on the situation.  That would make it essential for Merriweather to have every last minute of practice and film time that he can get as he prepares for a starting role this fall.

What’s more, JUCO players like Merriweather and Drew are often behind other players at the FBS level when it comes to their bodies.  Coming from the JUCO ranks where nutrition and weight training programs are suspect at best so the spring and summer are essential periods of time in the physical development of JUCO players and that could be cut short this year.

There’s also the possibility that Matt Wells will look to bring in some grad transfers this summer and if the current sports shutdown runs deep into the summer, it could also hurt their ability to get ready to play this fall.  Needless to say, this is far from an ideal situation for players around the nation who are trying to work their way into new systems at new schools.  And for a team counting on as many transfers at key positions as Tech likely will be, that’s especially problematic.

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