Texas Tech football: Statistical areas that must improve this fall

Tech has to score more touchdowns in the red zone

When a team loses as many close games as Tech did last fall, it is important to come away with seven points in the red zone as often as possible.  That was an area where Tech struggled last year.

In regard to just overall red zone conversions, the Red Raiders were actually one of the better teams in the country.  Coming away with points on 88.2% of possessions that reached the red zone, Tech ranked tied for 37th nationally.

That was due largely to the success of redshirt kicker Trey Wolff, who made 20 of his 22 (90.9%) of his field-goal attempts, 17 of which came at the end of red zone drives.  But Tech needs to get into the end zone more often in 2020.

Coming away with seven points on only 54.9% of their red zone opportunities, the Red Raiders were just 92nd in the nation.  When you consider that the Red Raiders lost four games by three or fewer points, it’s easy to see the difference that one more red-zone touchdown in those games would have made.

On the 51 Red Raider forays inside the opponent’s 20, Tech found the end zone just 28 times.  But that could change this fall.

If QB Alan Bowman and senior receiver T.J. Vasher can develop a solid rapport, the Red Raiders could improve in 2020.  Bowman is more accurate of a passer than Jett Duffey and being able to fit the football into tight windows or place it accurately is important in the red zone where the field shrinks.

What’s more, the 6-foot-6 Vasher should be one of the best red-zone targets in the nation given his ability to make plays on the ball in the air, something that his high school basketball background has helped him learn to do.  If that duo can get on the same page and become a lethal red-zone combination, we should see more of 2020’s red-zone drives result in seven points instead of three.