Texas Tech football: Players the Red Raiders need more from

Monroe Mills may have played his worst game at Texas Tech against Oregon

After serving as Tech’s right tackle last season, former Oklahoma State transfer Monroe Mills is now playing left tackle.  That change was supposed to make the 2023 offensive line better but Mills is not exactly dominating the competition.

After the entire offensive line was lackluster against Wyoming, the overall effort was marginally better in week two but not good enough.  Mills was part of the problem with three penalties levied against him.

In the second quarter, a holding call wiped out a huge Tahj Brooks run that would have set Tech up at the Oregon 35.  Later in that quarter, Mills was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul that set his team back 15 yards.

Then, in the 4th quarter, he committed a false start on the first play of a drive.  That type of mental miscue can’t happen, especially on a drive in which Tech is trying to regain the lead late in the game.

"“He had some struggles week two,” McGuire said.  “A lot of that was body position, and a lot of that, to me [is] understanding where you’re at, where the play’s going and having better feet coming off the football.  I think he had some good plays but some of the plays he didn’t have really stuck out…”"

The simple fact is that Mills is going to face the opposition’s best pass rusher each week.  If he isn’t up to the task, it will be impossible for this offense to have success.  Hopefully, he will learn from his rough week against Oregon.