Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Storylines to monitor in the season opener

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Defensive back Damarcus Fields #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tips the ball away from wide receiver Denzel Mims #15 of the Baylor Bears of the Baylor Bears and the pass would be intercepted by defensive back Jah’Shawn Johnson #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (not pictured) during the first half of the game on November 24, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
Defensive back Damarcus Fields #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tips the ball away from wide receiver Denzel Mims #15 of the Baylor Bears of the Baylor Bears and the pass would be intercepted by defensive back Jah’Shawn Johnson #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (not pictured) during the first half of the game on November 24, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Will the o-line and secondary look solid after being remodeled?

There are two position groups that we will be watching closely on Saturday because both the offensive line and the secondary have been rebuilt over the offseason.  How they perform in this season debut will be of critical importance with just one game on the schedule before the start of conference play.

More from Wreck'Em Red

We’ve already touched on the offensive line a bit but we must keep in mind that this is a group that lost three multi-year starters after last season.  In fact, Terrence Steele, Travis Bruffy, and Madison Akamnonu combined to make 125 career starts.  That’s a ton of experience to lose.

The good news is that the middle of the line is rock-solid with center Dawson Deaton and guards Anderson and Weston Wright all returning.  But the bad news is that the all-important tackle positions are a work in progress and that’s less than ideal in a year with only one tune-up game.

Like the backup QBs, the tackles will also be auditioning this weekend and we may see as many as five players get their shot with the first team.  So pay close attention to who subs in and out at tackle and how each performs because there is precious little time for the Red Raiders to get the edges of the line set.

In the secondary, Tech has only one starter returning in the same position as he played last year, corner Zech McPhearson.  The rest of the defensive backfield has been remodeled and we are about to witness its unveiling.

We’ve already touched on Monroe at one safety and he will be joined by senior Thomas Leggett at the other safety spot.  Leggett saw action in 11 games last year and was seventh on the team with 42 tackles but he has to show a better ability to be a pass defender in 2020 than he has thus far in his career.

At corner opposite of McPhearson is going to be sophomore Alex Hogan, who took some lumps as a true freshman last season.  How will he perform after a year of experience and an offseason of physical and mental development?

Adrian Frye has moved from safety back to corner and he will be a factor as will DaMarcus Fields, who will now be primarily used as a slot corner rather than playing on the outside where he did last year.

Related Story. The worst uniforms in Tech history. light

What’s interesting is that this secondary will be tested immediately as HBU is a pass-happy team that threw for nearly 500 yards against North Texas last weekend.  So keep an eye on how Tech’s remodeled defensive backfield looks on Saturday because that could be the key to the entire defense’s success.

Home/Texas Tech Football