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Texas Tech football: What we want to see vs. Houston Baptist

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Jones AT&T Stadium is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Linebacker Riko Jeffers #6 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tackles running back Alex Barnes #34 of the Kansas State Wildcats during they first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Linebacker Riko Jeffers #6 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tackles running back Alex Barnes #34 of the Kansas State Wildcats during they first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

Dominating linebackers

We’ve heard all offseason about how this is the best linebacking corp Texas Tech has had in the “Air Raid” era.  Now it’s time to see that talk turn into action.

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Seeing how defensive coordinator Keith Patterson deploys his insanely deep group of LBs is what many fans are looking forward too most tonight.  And to feel great about where this defense is, we need to see those LBs dominate the game by spending all night in the HBU backfield.

Patterson’s scheme is designed to free up his linebackers to make plays.  He uses that position group as his biggest weapons and this year, he’s supposed to have a ton of artillery to fire.

Most importantly will be whether or not the linebackers can be part of the pass rush.  While one might not expect too heavy a dose of blitzes tonight in order to keep some surprises in the bag for the Longhorns in two weeks, let’s see how Patterson’s linebackers help support the pass defense by getting after the passer.

Also, it will be fun to see how the addition of newcomers like Arizona transfer Colin Schooler, JUCO All-American Krishon Merriweather, Michigan State transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle, and Duke transfer Jacob Morgenstern help free up senior Riko Jeffers to make even more plays than he did last year when he was second on the team with 76 tackles.

Related Story. The all-decade linebackers. light

The best defenses in the game of football are centered around outstanding linebacker play and that’s the group that needs to lead the way for Tech this fall.  So let’s keep an eye on them tonight and see just how Patterson chooses to use the deepest collection talent pool at that position that he’s ever had.

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