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Texas Tech football: Predictions for the 2020 Red Raider defense

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson shouts at the umpire during the first half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson shouts at the umpire during the first half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson of the Texas Tech Red Raiders oversees warmups as linebackers Tyrique Matthews #32 and Xavier Benson #37 warm up before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson of the Texas Tech Red Raiders oversees warmups as linebackers Tyrique Matthews #32 and Xavier Benson #37 warm up before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

The Texas Tech football program is looking for a rebound from its defense in 2020 so here are some predictions as to what we might see on that side of the ball.

Year two under defensive coordinator Keith Patterson is going to be rather telling. Now that the roster is as deep and talented on his side of the ball as it has been in the better part of a decade, the pressure will be on for the long-time assistant coach to produce a unit that can compliment the offense well enough to yield a winning record.

But might this year’s defense be more than just a compliment to the offense?  After all, there are more proven commodities on that side of the football than there are on offense.

In fact, you could argue that the two best players on the roster reside on that side of the football.  what’s more, both play linebacker.  Seniors Rkio Jeffers and Colin Schooler, the latter a recent transfer from Arizona, have combined for 478 tackles in their careers and will combine to give Tech one of the best linebacking tandems in the Big 12.

You could also make the case that senior defensive end Eli Howard is one of the team’s five best players.  He returns after racking up a career-high 5.0 sacks last year and was named a preseason All-Big 12 selection.

Of course, the talent on that side of the ball has something to prove this fall after a disappointing showing in 2019.

Last year, Tech finished No. 127 nationally in total defense by allowing an average of 480.3 yards per game.  That was third-worst in the nation.  Worse yet, Tech was No. 128 against the pass by allowing over 307 yards per game through the air.

When it came to the most important stat for a defense, points allowed, Tech wasn’t much better.  Ranking 84th nationally, Patterson’s unit surrendered 30.3 points per game.  However, Tech was actually worse than that if you take away the two games against Montana State and UTEP.

Of the 10 games the Red Raiders played against Power 5 teams, they allowed 30 or more points in eight.  That came out to an average of 35.1 p.p.g.

If those numbers don’t improve this year, it will be a massive disappointment and could warrant a change at the defensive coordinator spot.  But most are almost certain that this year’s defense is going to be better.  How much better is the question.  For now, let’s dare to dream big and look at some bold predictions that just might come true for the Red Raider defense in 2020.

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