Texas Tech football: Red Raiders that can help salvage 2023 season

Texas Tech needs Jacob Rodriguez to be disruptive on defense

Speaking of players returning to action against TCU, starting middle linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez is finally set to suit up again.  That’s great news for a Texas Tech defense that is lacking disruptive playmakers.

This defense is proving to be solid in terms of points allowed.  Giving up just 25.4 per game, Tech ranks a respectable 66th nationally.

However, during a time when the offense could have used a boost in the form of a short field, the Red Raider defense has been unable to deliver.  Tech hasn’t taken the ball away from an opponent in the last two games, a time period during which the Red Raiders have given the ball away eight times.

Not being able to generate takeaways was also a problem in the loss to Oregon when Tech lost the turnover battle 4-0.  However, that was the first game of the year that Rodriguez was unable to play.

Spraining his foot in the first quarter of the season opener at Wyoming, the Wichita Falls native has missed the last seven games.  But in the brief time he has been on the field this year, it was easy to see what he can bring to the table.

In only four series against Wyoming, Rodriguez made two tackles and was credited with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, both of which came on the same play.  Unfortunately, that was also the play he was injured on.

Now, he will return to pair with senior Jesiah Pierre and redshirt freshman Ben Roberts to hopefully give the Red Raiders some excellent linebacking play.  However, McGuire has hinted that Rodriguez’s snaps may be limited against TCU as the team carefully works him back into the mix.

Rodriguez is one of the most instinctual and active linebackers on the roster and he seems to be the type of player who makes things happen.  If he can help bring takeaways back to the Tech defense, it would do wonders for a team that needs its solid defense to start to be a game-changing unit.