Texas Tech football: The Red Raiders must neutralize these Baylor Bears this weekend

WR Monaray Baldwin will test the middle of Texas Tech’s defense

Speaking of speed, Tech will have to keep a lid on Monaray Baldwin, one of the fastest wide receivers in the Big 12.  The junior has reached a speed of around 22 MPH in a game before and he is the big-play threat in Baylor’s passing game.

Last year, he led Baylor with 33 catches and 565 yards to go along with four TDs.  This year, he’s averaging a whopping 23.2 yards per reception, though he has only 12 catches thus far, likely due to the poor QB play Baylor received in Shapen’s absence.

All three of his career 100-yard games have come against Big 12 teams.  That includes last weekend’s 7-catch, 150-yard performance against UCF that saw him find the endzone once.

In that game, Baldwin made a living over the middle of the field and that should concern Red Raider fans.  That’s because Tech’s linebackers and safeties have struggled in pass coverage between the hashes this year.

Much of that has come when freshmen such as Ben Roberts and Miquel Dingle have manned the LB spots.  Also, some of last week’s coverage breakdowns against Houston occurred when starting safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson was sidelined with a back injury forcing freshman Chapman Lewis into action.

The thought is that Taylor-Demerson’s return coupled with the return of starting middle linebacker, Jesiah Pierre (who missed last week’s game as well) will help solidify this part of Tech’s defense.  Still, expect Baldwin to try to make some hay over the middle against Tech until the Red Raiders are able to prove that they have corrected the issues that Houston was able to exploit in the middle of the field last weekend.

What’s tough about Baldwin is that Baylor uses him in a number of ways.  He lines up in the backfield from time to time as well as playing outside and in the slot as a receiver.

Certainly, Tech must keep tabs on Baldwin at all times on Saturday.  If he gets loose, he could be a game-breaker.  He missed last year’s game in Lubbock so the Red Raiders have not had to deal with him yet.  How they defend him this year will be one of the keys to this game.