Texas Tech football: What Red Raiders must do to beat Houston

Finally, the 2021 Texas Tech football season has arrived.  And today, Tech will open with a stiff challenge that comes in the form of the Houston Cougars.

This is the 97th season of Texas Tech football.  But it feels like we’ve been repeating the same mantra for at least the last decade….maybe this will be the year it finally starts to turn back around.

It’s been since 2015 that this program has finished with a winning record and it’s been since 2009 that Tech had a winning mark in conference play.  And along the way, this program has fallen from being arguably the third-best in the Big 12 to being better than only Kansas in the minds of most people.

But will the 2021 season be that year?  We are about to find out and it starts with tonight’s matchup with Houston.  If Tech can figure out a way to pull this one out, Matt Wells’ team will likely head into Big 12 play at 3-0, halfway to the six wins needed to earn bowl eligibility, given that the next two opponents on the schedule, Stephen F. Austin and Florida International, don’t figure to really pose much of a threat.

So let’s take a look at what Tech has to do in order to beat the Cougars.

Exploit the size advantage

We often talk about a team’s height advantage when discussing a basketball matchup but tonight, Tech will have a height edge in this football game in an area where that can truly tip the scales.  The Red Raiders’ outside receivers and tight ends should have a size edge over a smallish Houston defensive backfield and that has to be something Tech exploits.

Outside of 5-foot-10 Troy transfer Kaylon Geiger, every Texas Tech outside receiver and tight end on the two-deep of the depth chart is listed at 6-foot-4 or taller.  Meanwhile, only one defensive back listed on the Houston depth chart is taller than 6-foot.  That should make life easier for new starting QB Tyler Shough.

This is where offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie needs to justify the excitement that accompanied his return to the South Plains.  He must scheme up a way to isolate these large Tech receivers in one-on-one situations to allow this size advantage to come into play.

Most importantly, Tech’s size could be a factor in the red zone.  That’s an area where Tech was severely lacking last season and it has to have been an area of emphasis during the offseason and fall camp.

So look for players like 6-foot-4 Erik Ezukanma, and 6-foot-9 tight end Mason Tharpe to try to bully the smaller Houston defensive backs.  But also, don’t overlook the advantage Tech should have on the line of scrimmage.

No Houston player on the defensive side of the ball is listed at over 295-pounds.  What’s more, one of their starting defensive ends and their starting “bandit” are listed at below 250 pounds.

Meanwhile, every starting Red Raider offensive lineman is at least 305 pounds.  That’s why many are expecting Tech’s ground game to be particularly effective this evening as well.

Tech has the bigger athletes in this matchup and that needs to prove to be a factor as the night unfolds in Houston.  If the Red Raiders can physically impose their will on the smaller Cougars, this should be a positive outcome for the good guys.