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Texas Tech football: 5 questions Red Raider offense must answer in 2023

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley of the Texas Tech Red Raiders claps during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 22, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley of the Texas Tech Red Raiders claps during the second half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 22, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Cam’Ron Valdez #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders rushes ahead of AJ Finley #21 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at NRG Stadium on December 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Cam’Ron Valdez #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders rushes ahead of AJ Finley #21 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at NRG Stadium on December 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Has Tech added enough speed to the offense?

Another issue the Texas Tech football team’s offense struggled with last season was a lack of speed.  While teams like TCU, Oklahoma, Texas, and even Baylor and Kansas State had players capable of taking the ball to the house in an instant, Tech lacked that component to the offense.

When it came to plays of 50 yards or more, Tech had only 3 a season ago.  That put the Red Raiders at No. 110 in the nation.  What’s more, Tech failed to have even one rush of at least 40 yards.

While players like the recently graduated running back SaRodorick Thompson and his running back partner Tahj Brooks (who returns this season as the starter) were durable, dependable, and productive, both were far too similar as players.  Both have (or had) enough wiggle to make defenders miss in tight spaces but neither displayed any breakaway speed in 2022.

The same might be said for Tech’s receiving corps last year.  Jerand Bradley and Loic Fouonji, the two starting outside receivers who return this year, are big players who use their physicality to make plays, not their speed.  However, we must remember that Fouonji played most of last season injured and now that he’s healthy, he did haul in a long TD pass in the Tech spring game where he ran right past a defensive back for the score.

Meanwhile, inside receiver Myles Price is shifty more than he is fast.  Then again, he too was hampered by injuries last year keeping him from putting his best foot forward as well.

Regardless, the coaching staff knew that speed had to be added to the equation this year so Austin Peay transfer Drae McRay was brought into the fold.  He will unquestionably be this team’s fastest player in 2023 and his big-play potential must be maximized.

At the FCS level, McRay averaged 14.6 yards per catch and now he will be asked to take the top off of opposing defenses for Tech.  Similarly, being asked to bring explosiveness to the attack on the ground will be redshirt sophomore running back Cam’Ron Valdez who will get the majority of the carries Thompson leaves available with his departure.

Last season, he had Tech’s longest run (38 yards) and he averaged 9.3 yards per attempt on 18 rushes.  Now, can he be counted on to bring some speed to the Red Raider backfield on a more consistent basis?  What’s more, will the insertions of McRay and Valdez into the gameplan be enough to bring big plays back to Kittley’s offense?  That will be a huge question that must be answered this season.

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