Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: What we need to see over the final two games

By Matthew Conner

Nov 14, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells leads the team to the field before the game against the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells leads the team to the field before the game against the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Sep 7, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive coordinator Keith Patterson checks the bench during the game against the Texas El Paso Miners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive coordinator Keith Patterson checks the bench during the game against the Texas El Paso Miners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Continued defensive improvement

I’m conflicted about the Red Raider defense in 2020.  That’s because it remains one of the worst statistical units in the country but somehow, it is giving this team an opportunity to compete on a weekly basis.

First the negative.  Tech still ranks just no. 101 in the nation in total defense, no. 108 in pass defense, and no. 114 in scoring defense.  Those are not the type of numbers that should warrant Keith Patterson keeping his job, at least on the surface.  To put that into perspective that last number in perspective, last year’s defense gave up 30.3 points per contest, 84th in the nation.

But even I, one of Patterson’s greatest detractors, can admit that his side of the ball has been more competitive this season.  That’s in part a testament to the coaching staff’s ability to integrate new pieces like safety Eric Monroe, LB Colin Schooler, LB Krishon Merriweather, and DE Tyree Wilson into the mix.

As for the results on the field, if we take two games out of the equation, a different picture of this defense emerges.  In both the Texas and the Oklahoma games, the Red Raider defense was absolutely torched as the team gave up an average of 62.5 points in those losses.  Take those games out of the mix and Tech has allowed 29.8 points per game, which is more than acceptable in the Big 12.

Also, we must keep in mind that the scoring defense numbers are inflated by special teams blunders (such as the punt block TD the Longhorns scored) or turnovers that either result in points (like Baylor’s pick-six on Saturday) or which put the defense in an awful position (as was the case with the three turnovers Tech committed against OU.)

What we’ve seen from Patterson this year is a willingness to stop putting his defensive backs on an island as he’s played far more zone coverage and been more judicious with his blitzes.  That’s given the defense a fighting shot most games and that’s what we want to continue to see over the final two games.

We all know that Kansas isn’t likely to test Patterson and his defense but Oklahoma State certainly will.  The Cowboys rank fifth in the Big 12 in total offense and feature the trio of QB Spencer Sanders, RB Chuba Hubbard, and WR Tylan Wallace, all of whom can take over a game.

If Tech can keep that offensive attack from going wild, it will be a great sign that Patterson’s defense is growing under his guidance and that we should feel cautiously optimistic about where that side of the ball is headed.  That would certainly be a huge change for Red Raider fans as we head into the offense.

Home/Texas Tech Football