Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Tyree Wilson, Caleb Rogers, others that must step up vs. NC State

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 09: Running back SaRodorick Thompson #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is lifted in the air by offensive lineman Caleb Rogers #76 during the second half of the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 09: Running back SaRodorick Thompson #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is lifted in the air by offensive lineman Caleb Rogers #76 during the second half of the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: Offensive lineman Caleb Rogers #76 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders walks on the field before the college football game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 24, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: Offensive lineman Caleb Rogers #76 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders walks on the field before the college football game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 24, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Tackle Caleb Rogers can’t be much worse than he was against Houston

It might sound harsh but it’s the truth; left tackle Caleb Rogers can’t play any worse against NC State than he did against Houston unless he simply lays down and plays dead on the field this week.  Of course, Tech needs him to be much better than what he showed in week two though.

Dominated all day by Parish, Tech’s veteran left tackle looked completely inept last Saturday.  It didn’t matter if it was a bull rush, a swim move, or a speed rush, whatever Parish tried, Rogers had no answer.  It was the worst showing of his solid Red Raider career and one he’s got to learn from.

Fortunately, Rogers is better than what we saw a week ago.  He is a multi-year starter and has been through the Big 12 wars more than a few times while equipping himself well.

So this weekend, look for him to have a rebound game against the Pack.  If he does, it will do wonders for Smith and the rest of the offense.

I would also suggest that Tech game-plan in a way to protect Rogers and the rest of this suspect offensive line though.  That means shorter throws, more screens, and more of a running game than we saw against Houston.

For the year, NC State has only one sack as a team.  What’s more, it came on a corner blitz.  That means that no NC State defensive lineman has gotten to the QB yet.

However, last season, State ranked tied for 35th in the nation by averaging 2.75 sacks per game.  And in 12 games, they racked up 33 total.

This is largely the same defense that NC State ran out last year but two of their top three players in terms of sacks from 2021, Vi Jones and Daniel Joseph, are gone.  So can Tech’s questionable offensive line keep what has been an underwhelming NC State defensive front from dominating this game?  It will start with Rogers on the left side and if he plays like the player we’ve come to know him to be and not the player that we saw against Houston, Tech should have a much better day in the trenches this week.

Home/Texas Tech Football