Texas Tech football: Statistical goals for the 2020 defense

At least 7.5 TFL per game

Can a defense that ranked No. 32 nationally with 6.67 tackles per loss in 2019 to ranked No. 32 in the NCAA actually take things to another level?  Why not try?

This year, Tech should strive for 7.5 TFLs per game in year-two of the Patterson era.  That would have been good enough to rank No. 15 overall a season ago and it would mean that this defense is starting to resemble the type of unit that its coordinator envisions.

This is also where Schooler could be a huge addition.  He is the nation’s active leader in career TFLs with 46.  To put that in perspective, that’s 14 more than Jordyn Brooks had in his recently-completed four-year run with the Red Raiders.

Schooler has never had fewer than 11 stops for loss in any season of his career.  And in 2018, he had a career-high 21.5.

That’s why we are dreaming about what he can be in Patterson’s system.  After all, look at the difference that the scheme made for Brooks last year.

In 2018, the standout LB racked up a respectable 6.5 TFLs.  But last fall, he more than tripled that total by getting to 20 on the season to lead the Big 12.   Keep in mind, that total came in just 11 games as he missed the season finale at Texas.

In addition to Schooler, new additions like Brandon Randle and Jacob Morgenstern could help boost Tech’s TFL total.  So though Brooks can’t be replaced by just one player, his productivity can be made up for by the collective LB group, which is the deepest and most talented to come through Lubbock in the last two decades.

That’s why 7.5 TFLs is not out of the question.  Patterson now feels like his players better understand his full system and that likely means he will turn his linebackers loose to create havoc.  So don’t be surprised to see our Red Raiders among the nation’s leaders in the category.