Five burning questions for the Texas Tech offense heading into 2024

Texas Tech football fans of the generation that started following the program in the 2000s have come to view it as our birthright to watch teams that have elite offenses. However, in recent years, especially since the end of the Pat Mahomes era, Tech has fielded some pedestrian offensive units, at least by this program's standards.

Since 2017, the first year after Mahomes departed, the program has not finished in the top 10 nationally in total offense. What's more, in the last four seasons, Tech's average offensive finish nationally has been 45th.

Last year, due mainly to QB injuries, Tech finished just 64th in the country in yards per game. What's more, the normally pass-happy Red Raiders were just 63rd nationally in passing offense.

It might still feel like elite offense is the calling card of this program but the reality is that the Red Raiders have plenty to prove on that side of the ball. Here are five burning questions the 2024 offense must answer this fall.

Is the revamped offensive line going to be better?

There is no bigger issue that has prevented the Red Raider offense from being elite than the play of the offensive line. Last year, that unit was decent when it came to run blocking but it struggled mightily in pass protection as Tech ranked just ninth in the conference in sacks allowed per game at 1.8 despite the fact that the Red Raiders ran the ball more than they threw it.

This year, Tech has completely shuffled the deck at that position group as only one starter from last year, Caleb Rogers, is set to return. What's more, he isn't likely to even play the same position that he did in 2023.

However, just because the line has new pieces doesn't exactly mean that it will be better. Sheridan Wilson, the projected starter at center, and Ty Buchanan, the projected starter at right tackle, will be first-time starters at the college level.

Meanwhile, Tech is counting on a transfer from a Group of 5 Conference program, Vinny Sciury, (who played at Toledo last season) to be an upgrade at left guard. Additionally, we still don't know if former JUCO recruit Dalton Merryman or Middle Tennessee State transfer Sterling Porcher will be the man at the critical left tackle spot.

The point is that none of these players were blue-chip prospects and none have been all-conference players at the Power-4 level. Thus, we can't just assume that new faces will bring improvement. Until we see positive results on the field, we will be left to wonder just how much better this year's O-line will be.

Will Tahj Brooks get some help?

One thing we do know for sure is that Tech will feature one of the best running backs in the country, Tahj Brooks. However, it is fair to wonder if he will have to carry the rushing load by himself again this season.

Last year, Brooks carried the ball 290 times. That was 238 more carries than anyone else on the team recieved.

The simple fact is that Brooks doesn't need to have that type of workload again this year. But is anyone else on the roster ready to help take the load off of his shoulders?

Junior backup, Cam'Ron Valdez, has only 76 career carries. What's more, though he played in 10 games in 2023, he received only 52 rushing attempts.

Meanwhile, the other option behind Brooks appears to be true freshman Cam Dickey. Though he is physically ready to compete in the Big 12, is he mentally ready to handle all the duties that a running back must master including pass protection?

Brooks proved last year that he can be a true workhorse. However, asking him to be that again this year feels like playing with fire. That's why Texas Tech fans are wondering if anyone else on the roster is ready to help him bear the burden of the ground game.

Can the wide receivers be game-breakers?

Last season, Tech's wide receivers were pedestrian at best. Tech's leading receiver, Xavier White, had only 556 yards.

What's more, no receiver on the roster was a game-breaker. Mostly a collection of possession receivers, that group had no player who caught more than two passes average more than 14.3 yards per catch.

This year, Tech is counting on newcomers such as transfers Josh Kelly and Caleb Douglas and true freshman Micah Hudson to be big-play threats when they get the ball. What's more, the hope is that returnees like Coy Eakin and Drae McCray can be more consistent options and provide the team with big plays.

We must also keep in mind that a healthy Behren Morton at QB will help the offense be more explosive in the passing game. Now that his shoulder is healed, he should be able to push the ball down the field more effectively and that could help the Red Raider passing attack be more lethal as well. Regardless, more is going to be needed from the players Morton will be throwing to this year.

Will the tight ends finally be big contributors?

That has been a ton of talk about the talent that the Red Raiders have in the tight end room this year. However, that has been said of that position group for several years now and yet, we haven't seen the tight ends be much of a factor statistically.

Now, it must be noted that the recent struggles of the offensive line have forced the tight ends to help in the pass-blocking aspect of the game more than anyone would have liked. That's one reason why OC Zach Kittley hasn't been able to unleash his tight ends down the field.

This year, the hope is that the line will be better equipped to handle its business without extra help. That's because Tech has some athletic tight ends that need to be part of the passing game as receivers, not as blockers.

Arizona State transfer Jalin Conyers, Elon transfer Johncarlos Miller, and Mason Tharp are all large, athletic targets who can be dominant in the passing game. Thus, 2024 needs to be the year that Tech finally gets something of significance from the tight ends.

Is Behren Morton ready to be elite?

We all know the questions about Behren Morton's health. But even if he stays on the field at 100% for a full season, do we know that he is ready to be an elite QB in the Big 12?

The simple truth is that we just don't know what Morton will be as a QB. He has started only 12 games in his Red Raider career. What's more, he has not been at full health for any of those games.

In 2022, he suffered a high ankle sprain in his first career start at Oklahoma State. Then, last year, he sprained his throwing shoulder in his first meaningful action of the year, the game at West Virginia when he had to replace the injured Tyler Shough.

So what does a healthy Behren Morton look like? Will he be as dynamic and creative as we assume given his natural talent? Or, will be be reckless and and turnover-prone as he tries to do too much?

Hopefully, the former scenario will be what we get rather than the latter. But what an unleashed and healthy Morton really looks like is yet to be seen.