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Texas Tech football: What we will see today as Red Raiders face WVU

By Matthew Conner

Oct 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) hurdles West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Davis Mallinger (27) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) hurdles West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Davis Mallinger (27) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Tech’s quarterback Tyler Shough (12) runs for a touchdown against Tartleton State in a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech’s quarterback Tyler Shough (12) runs for a touchdown against Tartleton State in a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium. /

Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough will respond with a solid showing

After three suspect performances this year, it is time for Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough to give this team the type of play that is expected of a super-senior who has NFL aspirations.  If this game is going to be a bare-knuckle brawl, that might just be the type of battle that will bring out the best in the Red Raider signal caller.

Look for Shough to have his best game thus far in 2023.  First of all, as we’ve already touched on this week, the WVU secondary has been so bad this year that the defensive coaching staff publically called out that position group after the second week of the season.  Thus, there is an opportunity for Shough to have a big day through the air.

Second, Shough seems to thrive in gritty, rugged games where physicality is demanded of him.  Last year’s win at Iowa State might be a preview of what we see today in terms of Shough’s style of play.  That night in Ames, Shough only ran for 33 yards on 14 carries but when the Red Raiders were trying to ice the game in the 4th quarter, it was the power QB run that Kittley went to over and over to keep the ball away from the Cyclones.

McGuire and Kittley have recently said that Shough seems to play better when he takes a few hits in the run game.  They believe that he likes the contact and that initiating blows to the defense somehow calms him down.

Well, there should be chances for plenty of contact today, and calm is what Tech needs from its QB1.  That’s because this year, something has been off when it comes to Shough’s play.

He isn’t seeing the field well and his lack of pocket awareness has been a detriment.  Of course, his five turnovers on the season have also been huge reasons why this team is just 1-2 and that’s why the fans and the media have been openly questioning whether he should keep his job.

Shough is supposed to be mentally tough enough to handle that type of scrutiny.  He is a grown man who has been referred to as a “pro” by his head coach.

If that’s true, he should be clutch enough to respond with a solid showing today.  Shough is supposed to be a better QB than any of his counterparts on the WVU roster.  Today, he is going to show that and calm the noise surrounding his recent play.

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