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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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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)
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) /

Texas Tech will lead the Big 12 in turnovers gained

Patterson’s defensive philosophy revolves around creating chaos for the offense and taking the ball away.  This year, he has the type of personnel, especially at linebacker, to lead the Big 12 in turnovers gained.

Tech will bring pressure on QBs in waves in 2020 with most of that coming from the linebackers.  That begins with Schooler, who is now playing at the weakside LB instead of at middle LB where he spent the vast majority of his time at Arizona.  Thus, the nation’s active leader in tackles for loss could be a turnover-causing machine as he will be used more as an attacking force rather than a player who stays at home to plug the middle of the defense.

For his career, he’s forced three fumbles, recovered three more, and picked off four passes.  It will be fascinating to see how Patterson deploys such a disruptive force this year and it could lead to a spike in turnovers gained.

Of course, to match last year’s total of 19 takeaways, Tech is going to have to replace the eight interceptions Douglas Coleman managed last year.  His graduation means that someone else in the secondary is going to have to step up.

There is hope that Adrian Frye can be that guy.  After all, he had five picks in 2018 as a redshirt freshman and he’s back at corner this year after a disastrous stint at safety last fall.

What will allow Tech to come after opposing offenses with even more ferocity than last year is the overall depth that Patterson will have at his disposal.  That’s because Tech will be stocked by legitimate Big 12 talent at every position on the two-deep and it has been quite a long time since we’ve been able to say that for the defense. That will allow for a relentlessness that could create a constant state of havoc for offenses as Patterson puts his foot on the gas and attacks at the level that he wants to.  And it’s why the Red Raiders could lead the Big 12 in forced turnovers.

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