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Texas Tech football: Players that the Red Raiders need more from in game two

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 12: Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders walks along the sideline during warmups before the college football game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 12: Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders walks along the sideline during warmups before the college football game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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A member of the Saddle Tramps spirit club fires off guns before the college football game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
A member of the Saddle Tramps spirit club fires off guns before the college football game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on September 12, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

If the Texas Tech football team is going to show progress in game two of the season, these Red Raiders are going to have to give the team more than they did against Houston Baptist.

Coaches like to believe that their team improves the most between the first and second weeks of the season.  This year, Texas Tech fans are desperately hoping that proves to be the case given how hapless and lethargic the Red Raiders appeared to be in the season debut, especially on defense where they allowed 600 yards in Saturday’s 35-33 win over Houston Baptist.

The problem for Tech is that this year week two brings to town the No. 8 team in the nation, Texas, rather than an FCS or Group of 5 opponent.  That means that unless substantial improvement occurs between the first two games of the year, the angst that currently permeates the fan base isn’t likely to subside anytime soon.

If you are an optimist, you might be encouraged by the fact that the Red Raiders have not lost their second game of the season since 2016.  However, only once since then was game two against a power 5 team (Arizona State in 2017).

It will be imperative that Tech make the most of the two weeks of practice between the HBU and the Texas games, especially given that the program has had 75 players test positive for COVID-19 since testing began back in June.  That’s essentially three-quarters of the roster that has missed practice or workout time making every opportunity to improve even more essential.

Tech now has a full game’s worth of video to analyze and learn from and hopefully, the mental mistakes that were all too plentiful last week will decrease significantly.  What’s more, there’s got to be more cohesion between QB Alan Bowman and his receivers, among the offensive line, and within the secondary and that can only come from the experience garnered in week one and the practice repetitions the players will have prior to next weekend, COVID-19 allowing.

So let’s look at the individual players that the Red Raiders need more from in week two.  It will be essential that they step up and perform at a higher level than they did in the season opener if there is to be any hope of an upset of the Longhorns.

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