Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

Can the Texas Tech pass rush become more impactful?

To win games in the Big 12, teams must impact the opposing passer.  There’s reason for questioning whether this Texas Tech team can do that with any regularity.

So far, Tech has managed just two sacks per game, good for only 9th in the conference.  However, half of the six sacks this team has on the season came against Tarleton.

Against Oregon, Tech got only one sack and that is concerning because that’s the caliber of team that the Red Raiders will face in Big 12 play.  On the other hand, maybe a better showing from a key pass rusher this past weekend will be the start of something positive.

Leading the team with two sacks against the Texans, defensive end Myles Cole finally made the type of impact that fans and coaches alike have been waiting for him to make.  Hopefully, that will carry into conference play.

Tech also needs outside LB Steve Linton and defensive end Joseph Adedire to get fully healthy as both are dealing with nagging injuries that have impacted their effectiveness.  Is it realistic to expect them to heal during the rigors of conference play, though?  That’s usually when players tend to suffer more ailments rather than returning to health.

The Red Raiders need someone to become a consistent pass rush force though.  It is too bad that promising redshirt sophomore Isaac Smith is out for the year after he showed promise at the end of last season when All-Big 12 DE Tyree Wilson was lost with a foot injury.

Against Tarleton, true freshman, Dylan Spencer made his Red Raider debut and he flashed with a pair of tackles.  However, it is tough to expect him to be an instant pass-rush menace in his first year as a collegiate despite the fact that he was a 4-star recruit in the class of 2023.

If the pass rush is going to improve, it is going to be the veterans who will have to take their game to the next level.  However, what we’ve seen from this year’s defensive line isn’t all that encouraging in that area.