Texas Tech football: How Red Raiders can attack the ISU defense

Win 1-on-1 in space

Last year, many Red Raider fans were upset with the game plan that offensive coordinator David Yost utilized against the Cyclones.  Specifically, they pointed to the fact that Tech ran over a dozen bubble screens on the day with none really leading to big plays.

But the theory of the bubble screen against he 3-3-5 is solid.  That’s because the edge of the defense is where it is easiest to find 1-on-1 matchups with an ISU defender.  Thus, the thought is that getting the ball to the edge of the defense quickly is going to neutralize the cloud zone schematic advantage of sending waves of tacklers to the football.

Now, the key for the offense when facing this type of defense is to make the initial defender miss.  If you can do that, you can potentially get headed north and south before the cavalry arrives.  That’s what last year’s Red Raider receivers did not do well.

For example, wide receiver R.J. Turner caught 11 passes in that game but he averaged just 6.9 yards per catch.  As a team, the Red Raiders managed just 5.9 yards per completion.

Much of that was because the Red Raiders didn’t have many players last year who were capable of making tacklers miss in space.  Again, we look to Carter and Price as the most likely options to do that this year.

But also, expect wide receivers T.J. Vasher and Erik Ezukanma to still have their share of wide receiver screens and they have to make more of those opportunities.  If Tech can make the initial defender miss, it will be a great sign for the offense but that always proves tough given how well-coached the Cyclones always seem to be under Campbell and Heacock.