Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Streaks that need to end in 2022

By Matthew Conner

Oct 9, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the field before the game agains the Texas Christian Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the field before the game agains the Texas Christian Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Sep 18, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Tyler Shough (12) throws a pass against the Florida International Panthers in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Tyler Shough (12) throws a pass against the Florida International Panthers in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Five seasons without a 4,000-yard passer

There was once a time when Texas Tech quarterbacks fell out of bed and threw for 4,000 yards.  In fact, from 2002-2008, every Red Raider starting QB topped that mark through the air.

But in the post-Pat Mahomes era (2017-present), the Red Raiders have yet to have a 4,000-yard passer.  That’s a streak that needs to end this season, especially given the hype surrounding new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley.

Regarded as one of the brightest offensive minds in the nation, Kittley guided Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe to a 5,967-yard, 62-TD season in 2021.  Both of those numbers broke NCAA records.

Will this year’s starting QB come close to matching those heights?  Probably not.

Kittley has promised that the ground game will be a bigger component of his offense in Lubbock as it should be given the one-two combo of Tahj Brooks and Sarodorick Thompson that the Red Raiders feature in the backfield.  Also, the defenses in the Big 12 are quite a bit tougher than the defenses that WKU faces in Conference-USA.

Still, Tech should expect 4,000 yards out of this year’s QB1…so long as he stays healthy.  In three of the past four seasons, Tech’s week-one starting QB has missed multiple games due to injury.

Perhaps therein lies the real significance behind the 4,000-yard mark.  It is an arbitrary number but one that if reached by a Tech QB this year would likely signify a full season of health from the starter.  That’s something that this program desperately needs.

Home/Texas Tech Football