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Texas Tech football: Why Matt Wells is optimistic in 2020 Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Fans pose for a photo with the Will Rogers and Soapsuds statue 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: Fans pose for a photo with the Will Rogers and Soapsuds statue 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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TUCSON, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Khalil Tate #14 of the Arizona Wildcats fumbles the football as linebackers Riko Jeffers #6 and Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders recover during the first half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Khalil Tate #14 of the Arizona Wildcats fumbles the football as linebackers Riko Jeffers #6 and Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders recover during the first half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Optimism in the 2020 team

Though the bulk of the Texas Tech football fanbase is rather pessimistic about the state of the program and how good this year’s team could be, Wells has no choice to be optimistic as the head coach.  And when talking about why he’s confident that his team will be better this season, he continually used the phrase “competitive depth”.

"“We have better competitive depth,” Wells said.  “I think we look better, to be honest with you…a lot of the returning guys…did a great job during the quarantine.  First of all, in the off-season, I thought January February was really good. “But our lines look bigger.  We got more competitive depth at DB.  We’ve got more depth at o-line and I mean competitive depth; guys in the mix at running back and receiver. All four freshman receivers in two days have not disappointed one bit.  They’ve put themselves in that conversation; all four receivers three outside and one inside.  John Holcomb, the freshman tight end, Tahj Brooks the freshman RB, those guys are really good players.  I’m really excited about them.  It’s only day two but that the kind of things that make me excited to coach this team if given the opportunity.”"

Depth has been this team’s greatest flaw for several years now.  It’s why the second half of the season almost always spells trouble for the win-loss record and we saw last year’s team struggle mightily as players became banged up.

For, instance, against TCU, SaRodorick Thompson played every snap of the game as he was the only healthy scholarship RB the Red Raiders had available.  Meanwhile, the defensive line could not find two full flights of players that the coaches trusted to play meaningful snaps.  Thus, starters such as Broderick Washington and Eli Howard had to play upwards of 50 snaps some weeks.

This year, if Wells is correct and his team is indeed deeper across the board, especially at RB and along the line of scrimmage, it will be a huge boost for Tech’s chances of being competitive, especially with only ten games on the schedule.

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