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Texas Tech football: Statistical goals for the 2020 defense

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Defensive end Eli Howard #53 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders battles past right tackle Nick Kaltmayer #77 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half of the college football game on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Defensive end Eli Howard #53 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders battles past right tackle Nick Kaltmayer #77 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half of the college football game on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Wide receiver Andrew Parchment #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks carries the ball down the field after making a catch during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Wide receiver Andrew Parchment #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks carries the ball down the field after making a catch during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Fewer than three 20-yard passes allowed per game

In 2019, the biggest weakness of the Red Raider defense was the deep ball.  In fact, Tech was arguably worse than any team in the nation when it came to preventing long passes.

Surrendering 59 passes of 20 or more yards, Tech was second-to-last in the country.  And when it came to 30-yard passes allowed, no team gave up more than the Red Raiders’ 35.

When you look at the impact of a 20-yard pass play, it is easy to understand why they can flip games.  First of all, allowing a team to travel a fifth of the length of the entire field is going to significantly increase the likelihood that the drive will end in points.

But even if the drive stalls, a 20-yard pass can flip field position and hidden yards like that are often significant factors in close games.

So a great goal for the Red Raiders this year will be to average fewer than three 20-yard or longer passes this season.  That would have been good enough to finish in the top 30 nationally in 2019 and it would have been a decrease of almost three long passes per game.

Cutting last year’s total in half is certainly ambitious, especially given the nature of the Big 12 but this year’s secondary is more experienced, deeper, and more familiar with Patterson’s scheme.  what’s more, the defensive coordinator himself has taken over the responsibility of coaching the safeties after coaching linebackers last fall.

All of those changes should help to decrease the number of deep balls the Red Raiders surrender.  And if this lofty goal is in fact attained, the defense will be one of the most pleasant surprises in the Big 12.

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