Texas Tech football: Four scenarios that could derail the 2021 season
The offensive line doesn’t come together and play well
In 2020, the Texas Tech football team had to navigate life with an ineffective offensive line, and that rendered the offense predictable and bland while factoring in the firing of offensive coordinator David Yost. This year, the Red Raiders figure to have a better group up front but what if that line doesn’t come together or is depleted by injury?
Most of the hope for an improved o-line revolves around the addition of senior transfer T.J. Storment. Playing for new offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie at TCU last fall, he was a second-team All-Big 12 honoree.
He figures to be an upgrade over Ethan Carde, the former JUCO transfer, who started the majority of last season’s games at left tackle. Now healthy after dealing with a nagging back injury last year, Carde figures to be this team’s top backup at both tackle spots, a role he’s more suited for.
Meanwhile, Tech’s other tackle, Caleb Rogers is supposedly a much better player this year after his first full offseason in the strength and conditioning program. After making three starts at left tackle last year, he’s the odds-on favorite to be the starting right tackle this year.
That should help the line because last year’s right tackle was Josh Burger, a transfer from Wofford, a program that played a run-heavy offensive system. Now that he’s moved to right guard, where his skill set and body type are more suited for success, the line could be much better off.
Rounding out the line are Dawson Deaton, the best center in the Big 12, and Weston Wright, a multi-year starter at guard. Thus, Tech fans believe that this year’s line is far more suited to handle the rigors of the Big 12 than last year’s line was.
However, this group looked a bit suspect in this past Saturday’s team scrimmage (though they were without Storment who was held out for precautionary reasons). And if they don’t come together quickly, this season could be another one of having to compensate for the offensive line’s limitations. What’s more, years of poor recruiting have left Tech somewhat thin at o-line meaning that an injury to a starter could be crippling.
So keep an eye on how the o-line looks against Houston because that will be one of the keys to the game and the season. Because it won’t matter how talented the offensive skill players might be if the line can’t hold up its end of the bargain.