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Texas Tech football: Goals for this year’s defensive to strive for

By Matthew Conner

Sep 26, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive coordinator Keith Patterson on the sidelines in the second half in the game against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive coordinator Keith Patterson on the sidelines in the second half in the game against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 26: Linebacker Colin Schooler #17 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after sacking quarterback Sam Ehlinger #11 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: Linebacker Colin Schooler #17 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after sacking quarterback Sam Ehlinger #11 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) /

Register 25 sacks

If you have been paying close attention over the few days and weeks as we approach the Texas Tech football season, you will know that I’m a bit concerned about this team’s ability to rush the passer.  Thus, my hope is that Tech manages to get around 25 sacks this fall.

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That is not all that lofty of a goal as it would be just over two per game.  So if this team is as good defensively as many are predicting, that’s a number it should actually surpass.

To put that number in context, we have to look back at the last full season that was played, 2019.  That year, Baylor led the Big 12 a whopping 43 sacks while Tech was seventh with 24.

The question though is whether or not the Red Raiders have enough pass rushers to pull that off.  After all, no player on the roster had more than 3.5 a year ago.

This year, expect Tech’s sacks to be evenly distributed across the roster.  That’s because Patterson will come at offenses with a variety of blitzes and stunts to utilize all the talented athletes he has at his disposal.

It will be interesting to see if Tech relies more heavily on the linebacking corps than most teams do to generate pressure.  That’s because a player like Riko Jeffers or one such as Colin Schooler can cause trouble in the backfield.

But however Patterson goes about it, he must figure out how to make opposing QBs uncomfortable.  So if Tech gets anywhere north of 25 sacks this year, we should be safe in assuming that this year’s defense is going to be better than it has been in several years.

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