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Texas Tech football: Four scenarios that could derail the 2021 season

By Matthew Conner

Sep 14, 2019; Tucson, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2019; Tucson, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends against offensive lineman Christian Jones #70 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the college football game on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends against offensive lineman Christian Jones #70 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the college football game on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Lack of a pass rush cripples the defense

The Texas Tech football team has been replenished on the defensive side of the ball by some key additions to the secondary.  That coupled with the fact that the linebacking corps returns completely intact is giving Red Raider fans hope that this is the year that the defense will rise up and be more than just a pushover unit.

But in the Big 12, almost no defense can excel without a strong pass rush.  That’s something that we don’t know if Texas Tech has for 2021.

Last year, linebacker Colin Schooler led the team with three sacks.  Meanwhile, none of the returning defensive linemen from a year ago managed more than 1.5 sacks in 2020.

Therefore, it is worth wondering now if the d-line will get after the QB well enough to keep the secondary from being exposed.  That is going to be a key to this season.

Will DE Tyree Wilson take a step forward and become the type of dominant force that his size and talent suggest he should be?  Last year, he had just 1.5 sacks and was only a rotational piece but with the departure of Eli Howard, he will be thrust into a much more important role in 2021.

Can senior DE Nelson Mbanasor return to full health after missing all of last year with an injury?  And if so, is he a good enough player to help the Red Raiders’ pass rush?  So far in his career, he’s not proven so.

In his second year on campus, will returning freshman DE/DT Philip Blidi make the second-year jump that many other players do?  We’ve received glowing reports about his development during fall camp so hopefully, he’s ready to make a substantial contribution after putting up meager stats last season.

Also, it is worth asking how much pressure will Tech try to generate with the linebackers.  That could help partially offset any lack of productivity from the defensive ends and we know that defensive coordinator Keith Patterson loves to bring his backers on the blitz.

But this defensive line can’t get away with being as unproductive in the pass rush as it was in 2020 when Texas Tech was 9th in the Big 12 in sacks.  Because no matter how talented the rest of the defense is, if Tech can’t put pressure on the QB, the defense will be picked apart once again.

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