Texas Tech football: 3 matchups to watch Saturday vs. UT

UT defensive ends vs. the Tech offensive tackles

This game will be the first real test for the rebuilt Texas Tech offensive line which features two new starting tackles.  On the week-two depth chart, both Josh Berger and Ethan Carde are still listed as the starters as they were for the opener so expect them to get the first shot at proving capable of handling the Texas pass rush.

In that Houston Baptist game, the pass protection was more than solid as QB Alan Bowman was not sacked and was only pressured three times.  But of course, the opposition on Saturday will be much more formidable.

Texas’ best pass rusher is Joseph Ossai, a 6-foot-4, 253-pound defensive end who played outside LB last year.  For his career, he’s racked up six sacks with all but one of those coming last season.

He came into 2020 off of a dominant showing in the Alamo Bowl.  Facing Utah, Ossai was credited with nine tackles and three sacks in a game where he was simply asked to hunt the QB and not worry about the other aspects of playing linebacker.

Now that UT has moved to a 4-man defensive line, he’s no longer being utilized as anything but a disruptive force off the edge.  And he will be a tremendous test for the Red Raider tackles.

Texas’ entire defensive scheme is predicated on getting pressure with their front four so that the other seven Horns can focus on playing coverage.  But if Tech can neutralize the UT defensive ends, it will mean that either Bowman has plenty of time to find open receivers or that the Longhorns will have to bring extra pressure, either of which scenario would suit the Red Raiders just fine.

So keep an eye on what happens along the edge of the offensive front.  It will be imperative that the Tech offensive line gives Bowman a clean pocket to throw from if there is any hope of the Red Raiders keeping pace with Texas on the scoreboard.