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Texas Tech football: Red Raiders must slow the run, value the ball vs. WVU

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 09: Quarterback Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders throws a pass before 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: Quarterback Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders throws a pass before 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) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders passes the ball before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders passes the ball before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Texas Tech must protect the passer

The Red Raiders are one of the worst teams in the nation when it comes to sacks allowed.  Giving up 3.8 per game, they rank just 127th out of 131 teams in the FBS.

So the Mountaineers likely believe that their best shot at slowing down the Red Raider passing attack will be to harass the Red Raider passer, presumably Behren Morton.  After all, the defensive line is West Virginia’s strength.

Dante Stills is a player that Tech fans are likely familiar with.  The defensive lineman leads WVU with 2.5 sacks on the year and he will be a player that the Mountaineers try to move around the line and create mismatches with.

Though he is listed as a defensive tackle, look for him to line up over Tech’s struggling left tackle, Caleb Rogers, quite a bit this afternoon.  So expect Tech to send a tight end to help double-team Stills whenever possible.

The good news for Tech though is that Behren Morton showed last time out, in his first career start nonetheless, that he is able to get the ball out decisively and quickly.  That will be a huge asset to the Red Raiders this afternoon in helping protect the offensive line.

If Morton can get rid of the ball on time and accurately, Tech’s passing attack will likely be too much for WVU to handle.  But if the Mountaineers can apply consistent pressure, it could be a long afternoon for the Red Raider offense.

Prediction

In this game, Tech has the greater margin for error given its elite passing attack.  Meanwhile, the Mountaineers are one of the worst teams in the nation against the pass.  That’s a recipe for a Tech win as Tech brings home a 42-28 win.

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