Hold opponents to 35% or less on 3rd down
No defense is worth a darn if it can’t get off the field on 3rd down. In fact, an inability to do so can deplete and deflate the morale of an entire football team.
Last year, the Red Raiders managed to be one of the worst teams in the Big 12 in that regard. That has to change in 2021.
Tech managed to allow opposing offenses to convert on 41.4% of their 3rd down opportunities, the Red Raiders ranked 9th in the conference. That was good for just 76th in the nation.
In fact, four of Tech’s opponents last season were able to convert at over a 45% rate on third down. What’s more, three of those converted at least half of their opportunities.
But this Red Raider defense should be better in that regard. At least that’s what we are being led to believe. Tech has a veteran defense loaded with returning talent especially at the linebacking corps and in the secondary and those two units are often the key to coming up with third-down stops.
Therefore, can we expect Tech to be at around the 35% mark when it comes to the opponent’s success? That seems like a reasonable number.
In 2020, that would have been good enough to rank No. 5 in the league. For context, Oklahoma State led the way in the Big 12 at 26.5%.
So keep an eye on what happens this year on third down and check how Tech fares as a defense after every game. That’s because it’s an area where Patterson’s unit must be better and one of the most critical components of the game of football.