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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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JaMycal Hasty #6 of the Baylor Bears dives into the end zone past Douglas Coleman III #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders to score the game-winning touchdown in overtime on October 12, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
JaMycal Hasty #6 of the Baylor Bears dives into the end zone past Douglas Coleman III #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders to score the game-winning touchdown in overtime on October 12, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Allow TD on fewer than 50% of Red Zone opportunities

Often, life in the Big 12 boils down to what happens inside the 20-yard line.  That was where the Tech offense struggled in 2019 but interestingly, it was where the Red Raider defense was particularly strong.

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Allowing a TD only 54.7% of the time an opponent entered the red zone, Patterson’s unit ranked No. 33 nationally.  But this year, imagine what a difference it could make if the Red Raiders can drop that number below 50%.  For what it’s worth, that would have been top 15 nationally a season ago.

Interestingly, 50% is what the top team in the Big 12, Baylor, ranked in that category.  And to understand just how much that helped the surprisingly good Bear defense, we have to look no further than Tech’s trip to Waco.

On six red-zone drives, Tech managed just 23 points, including just two TDs.  That meant that Tech left 19 points on the board that day in a 33-30 2OT loss.

This year, Tech needs to continue to be strong inside the 20.  That’s when Patterson needs his defense to be at its best and if there are fewer big passing plays, as is our hope, there could be more red-zone possessions for Tech to defend.

light. Related Story. Best seasons by a Red Raider QB

While Patterson and his predecessor David Gibbs couldn’t be more different when it comes to philosophy, both talked profusely about the red zone being the most important area of emphasis for their defense.  And if Tech can be among the best in the nation in that category, we could see the close games finally start to fall the way of the good guys in 2020.

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