Texas Tech football: Statistical goals for the 2020 offense

General view of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scoreboard after the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on September 17, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-45. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)

For the Texas Tech football team to reach its full potential, hitting these statistical goals would be rather helpful.

Last year, the Texas Tech offense was a bit of an enigma.  On the one hand, it was a rather proficient unit statistically but on the other, when it counted most, David Yost’s unit always seemed to come up short.

The numbers Tech put up were adequate on the surface.  For instance, the passing offense was 7th nationally with 324.7 yards per game.  Meanwhile, the scoring offense was almost in the top third nationally at No. 53 (30.5 points per game).

But time and again, Tech didn’t manage to come up with the plays that were needed when the game was on the line.  That’s why the Red Raiders lost four games by three or fewer points.

Though the Baylor game was completely botched by the officials in the first overtime period, Tech still could have kept the game alive and pulled out a win had the offense not stalled out in the second OT period.

Against Kansas, Tech had the ball with under five minutes to play and the game tied at 34-34.  But instead of putting together a game-winning drive, Tech went 3-and-out and gave the ball back to the Jayhawks, who would then win the game with a FG as time expired.

Trailing TCU 33-31 in the final minutes, Tech fumbled the ball on the first play of their final drive to seal the loss.  Meanwhile, against Kansas State, a Jett Duffey INT in the fourth quarter proved to be deadly in a 30-27 defeat.

But Red Raider fans are expecting a huge step forward in the second year under Yost’s guidance.  And if what he did in year-two at Utah State was any indication, those expectations are warranted.

In 2018, the Utah State offense put up 487.4 yards per game, which was an increase of 106.6 yards per game over what it amassed in Yosts’ first season in Logan.  Also in 2018, the USU offense put up 45.4 points per game, second-most in America.

Certainly, Texas Tech football fans would love to see that type of success in Yost’s second season in Lubbock.  But for that to happen, Tech is going to have to take some massive steps forward this fall.  So let’s look at some statistical goals the Red Raiders should strive for to help ensure that the offense takes its performance to a new level in 2020.