Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: 3 statistical successes Red Raiders need to repeat in 2020

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 10: A general view of of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones on October 10, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 66-31. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 10: A general view of of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones on October 10, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 66-31. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Brennan Eagles #13 of the Texas Longhorns gives a stiff arm to Adam Beck #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Brennan Eagles #13 of the Texas Longhorns gives a stiff arm to Adam Beck #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Tackles for loss

In both tackles for loss handed out and prevented, the Red Raiders were excellent in 2019.  That needs to be the case again this fall.

More from Wreck'Em Red

On defense, Tech was No. 31 nationally and No. 3 in the conference with 6.7 stops per game behind the line of scrimmage.  That was by design as first-year defensive coordinator Keith Patterson prioritizes getting into the opposing backfield.

But the problem was that not enough of those stops were sacks.  Tech ranked just 72nd overall and 7th in the Big 12 with 2.0 sacks per game.  That was one reason why the defense was ranked second-to-last nationally against the pass.

Flipping to the offense, Tech was also excellent when preventing tackles per loss.  At 4.8 per game, the Red Raiders sat 21st in the country and 2nd in the league.

This is an area to watch in 2020 though because the Red Raiders will be replacing both starting tackles from last year.  Relying on multi-year starters Travis Bruffy and Terrence Steele was a huge luxury last year and with both of them gone, it is fair to wonder if the sack total will increase.

Tech was excellent in that regard as well, giving up just 1.5 sacks per game a year ago.  That was good for No. 25 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12.

Related Story. The top Red Raiders of the Big 12 era. light

In 2020, more categories need to look like these three.  But also, Tech has to make sure not to regress in these areas.  If they do not and they improve in other crucial components of the game, five or more wins could become a reality.

Home/Texas Tech Football