Texas Tech football: Statistical goals to aim for against the Longhorns

14 quarterback pressures

There’s no question that the pass rush has to be better this week than it was against HBU.  With only eight QB pressures in week one (due in large part to the Huskies’ scheme, which called for the ball to be delivered quickly), Tech couldn’t impact the passer and that allowed the secondary to be exposed.

Ealier this week, defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said that he did not blitz very much in week one because he felt that doing so still wouldn’t have been effective given how fast Houston Baptist QB Bailey Zappe got rid of the football.

But this week, expect the Red Raiders to be more liberal with the pressure they bring to try to disrupt the Longhorn passing game.  If that is effective, the Red Raiders should get at least 14 QB pressures.

Last weekend, the Longhorns threw the ball 41 times.  If they do something similar this weekend, 14 pressures would mean that Ehlinger was under duress on approximately a third of his drop-backs and that would be a great sign for Tech.

Sometimes, we focus too heavily on sacks.  That’s a stat that is often misleading.  After all, Tech did get to Zappe three times in week one and that still wasn’t enough to slow the HBU aerial assault.

What is actually a more important stat to monitor is QB pressures because keeping the passer from getting comfortable and finding his rhythm is just as effective at halting drives as sacking him is.  So on Saturday, look to see how often the Red Raider pass rush can get in Ehlinger’s face.  If they can do so with frequency, things could be rather intriguing as the day progresses.