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The Red Raiders are 3-0 after taking down three opponents of questionable caliber (SFA, Houston, Florida International), but right now the product in Lubbock looks better than anything we saw from Matt Wells last year. This team’s upside will be determined by the experienced play of a bunch of familiar faces all seemingly completing their 10th year of eligibility (word is that Wes Welker may suit up) along with multiple key transfers who have invigorated the Raider offense (former Duck QB Tyler Shough) and defense (former Wiscy DB Reggie Pearson and about five other guys).
Texas is an unknown quantity. Tech is an unknown quantity. Anyone with absolute certainty about either team has insights that I don’t possess, but let’s dig in on what we do know about the Raiders.
OFFENSE
Tech has been a big play, feast or famine offense so far this year, averaging 7.5 yards per play while running a surprisingly low number of offensive plays. 3 and out or a single 60 yard touchdown has been the pattern so far, but last week they were more consistent against FIU.
QB
Oregon QB Tyler Shough is the guy in Lubbock and last Saturday was a breakout performance for him. Shough threw for 399 and 4 touchdowns, but beyond the box score, it just looked good. He’s a tall, mobile QB (6-5) with a live arm – possessing some of the gross measurables NFL scouts love- but historically his kryptonite has been questionable decision making and slow processing. If he’s throwing against clear pictures and getting the ball out with certainty, Texas will see its first QB of the season that can make every throw and stress every part of the defense.
RB
Tajh Brooks emerged early in the year taking the lion’s share of the job share with Xavier White. Brooks put up back to back 100+ yards games in Tech’s first two contests and showed a facility for big runs despite his squatty thick frame (5-10, 220+). SaRodorick Thompson returned to the lineup last week and should get more play as he gets past a shoulder injury. Thompson has great feet and doesn’t go down easy.
WR/TE
Erik Ezukanma is their best receiver and they ran their entire passing game through him two weeks straight before diversifying to good effect against FIU. EZ goes 6-3, 220, he’s good after the catch and he can run. I think he’s a NFL guy and he’s averaging over 20 yards per catch, having already compiled over 350 yards. Kaylor Geiger and the Raider tight ends showed out last week. The Raider tight ends are worth special mention. Mason Tharp is a legitimate 6’9″ and a huge target in the middle of the field on RPOs. FIU was his breakout – 3 catches, 61 yards, 1 touchdown. Travis Koontz caught 2 touchdowns on six receptions last week and he goes 6-5, 255.
Texas needs to put their attention on Ezukanma and the Raider tight ends, particularly in the red zone.
OL
The Raiders have a big, tall interior OL with a lot of experience. OG Weston Wright and C Dawson Deaton are their best dudes and they’re good at using their 6-6 frames to big brother DL who lack wingspan or play too high. Mercenary hired gun TJ Storment is their starting LT and he is starting at his 3rd program after stops at Colorado State and TCU. I recommend prenups for him in his marital life. The right side of the Raider OL is weaker than the left and middle and Texas needs to exploit that disparity.
Tech likes to spread out a D and then attack the interior downhill behind their two best OL.
DEFENSE
An incredibly experienced and tenured group. 6th year seniors abound. Their numbers are good against outmatched opponents and they’ve brought a ton of negative plays with a downhill attacking style. That’s in line with DC Keith Patterson’s philosophy, but Patterson has also historically run unsound looks that can be exposed in his attempts to play guess chess with an offense. Gotta love that Utah State DC lineage and their love of Battleship defense.
The Texas offense is going to get attacked. Can they match physicality and execute? Did the Texas OL, QB and offensive staff learn something from Arkansas? We’re about to find out.
DL
The front seems a little more rugged than in years past, but we’ll see as the competition level ratchets up. Jaylon Hutchings is the nose and at 6-0, 305 with a low base, he can be hard to root out of there. 6-6, 275 pound DE Tyree Wilson looks the part, but the A&M transfer hasn’t quite put it together yet.
LB
Probably the strength of the Raider D and their physicality is notable on film. 5th and 6th year players abound. Colin Schooler leads them in tackles, Riko Jeffers is a big explosive guy they love to blitz, and Krishon Merriweather is a stout, thick interior linebacker. Michigan State transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle has been impactful as well.
The Raider linebackers are all deeply experienced and like to mix it up and come downhill. Texas should do everything possible to create some 1 on 1 matchups in the passing game and attack their speed and quickness with outside zone. Tech likes to guess. Punish them for it.
Schooler had an industrial accident in a Sephora before his team pic.
DB
Again, multiple 5th and 6th year players and transfers abound. Wiscy transfer Reggie Pearson has been a stabilizing force at their SPUR position and brings Badger reliability and fundamentals. CB DaMarcus Field has over 40 starts in his career. Duke transfer Marquis Waters will be making his 39th career start in Austin. S Eric Monroe transferred from LSU and started last year and he’s also a 6th year player. Finally, the transfer portal is rounded out by Malik Dunlap, who came to Lubbock via NC State.
I’ve never seen a starting defense in FBS that’s 1) older or 2) comprised of more transfers.
Final
Texas Tech has enough star power on offense to score and an unorthodox defense full of mercenaries collecting Medicare that will be looking to turn Casey Thompson over and exploit the chinks in Longhorn pass protection with a variety of DL games and blitzes. If the Longhorn staff doesn’t have enough solutions to isolate and attack Tech athletes in space when DC Keith Patterson gets too cute, then this game will turn into a dogfight.
The Red Raiders are 3-0 after taking down three opponents of questionable caliber (SFA, Houston, Florida International), but right now the product in Lubbock looks better than anything we saw from Matt Wells last year. This team’s upside will be determined by the experienced play of a bunch of familiar faces all seemingly completing their 10th year of eligibility (word is that Wes Welker may suit up) along with multiple key transfers who have invigorated the Raider offense (former Duck QB Tyler Shough) and defense (former Wiscy DB Reggie Pearson and about five other guys).
Texas is an unknown quantity. Tech is an unknown quantity. Anyone with absolute certainty about either team has insights that I don’t possess, but let’s dig in on what we do know about the Raiders.
OFFENSE
Tech has been a big play, feast or famine offense so far this year, averaging 7.5 yards per play while running a surprisingly low number of offensive plays. 3 and out or a single 60 yard touchdown has been the pattern so far, but last week they were more consistent against FIU.
QB
Oregon QB Tyler Shough is the guy in Lubbock and last Saturday was a breakout performance for him. Shough threw for 399 and 4 touchdowns, but beyond the box score, it just looked good. He’s a tall, mobile QB (6-5) with a live arm – possessing some of the gross measurables NFL scouts love- but historically his kryptonite has been questionable decision making and slow processing. If he’s throwing against clear pictures and getting the ball out with certainty, Texas will see its first QB of the season that can make every throw and stress every part of the defense.
RB
Tajh Brooks emerged early in the year taking the lion’s share of the job share with Xavier White. Brooks put up back to back 100+ yards games in Tech’s first two contests and showed a facility for big runs despite his squatty thick frame (5-10, 220+). SaRodorick Thompson returned to the lineup last week and should get more play as he gets past a shoulder injury. Thompson has great feet and doesn’t go down easy.
WR/TE
Erik Ezukanma is their best receiver and they ran their entire passing game through him two weeks straight before diversifying to good effect against FIU. EZ goes 6-3, 220, he’s good after the catch and he can run. I think he’s a NFL guy and he’s averaging over 20 yards per catch, having already compiled over 350 yards. Kaylor Geiger and the Raider tight ends showed out last week. The Raider tight ends are worth special mention. Mason Tharp is a legitimate 6’9″ and a huge target in the middle of the field on RPOs. FIU was his breakout – 3 catches, 61 yards, 1 touchdown. Travis Koontz caught 2 touchdowns on six receptions last week and he goes 6-5, 255.
Texas needs to put their attention on Ezukanma and the Raider tight ends, particularly in the red zone.
OL
The Raiders have a big, tall interior OL with a lot of experience. OG Weston Wright and C Dawson Deaton are their best dudes and they’re good at using their 6-6 frames to big brother DL who lack wingspan or play too high. Mercenary hired gun TJ Storment is their starting LT and he is starting at his 3rd program after stops at Colorado State and TCU. I recommend prenups for him in his marital life. The right side of the Raider OL is weaker than the left and middle and Texas needs to exploit that disparity.
Tech likes to spread out a D and then attack the interior downhill behind their two best OL.
This has been a problem for Texas. And PK needs to address it.
DEFENSE
An incredibly experienced and tenured group. 6th year seniors abound. Their numbers are good against outmatched opponents and they’ve brought a ton of negative plays with a downhill attacking style. That’s in line with DC Keith Patterson’s philosophy, but Patterson has also historically run unsound looks that can be exposed in his attempts to play guess chess with an offense. Gotta love that Utah State DC lineage and their love of Battleship defense.
The Texas offense is going to get attacked. Can they match physicality and execute? Did the Texas OL, QB and offensive staff learn something from Arkansas? We’re about to find out.
DL
The front seems a little more rugged than in years past, but we’ll see as the competition level ratchets up. Jaylon Hutchings is the nose and at 6-0, 305 with a low base, he can be hard to root out of there. 6-6, 275 pound DE Tyree Wilson looks the part, but the A&M transfer hasn’t quite put it together yet.
LB
Probably the strength of the Raider D and their physicality is notable on film. 5th and 6th year players abound. Colin Schooler leads them in tackles, Riko Jeffers is a big explosive guy they love to blitz, and Krishon Merriweather is a stout, thick interior linebacker. Michigan State transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle has been impactful as well.
The Raider linebackers are all deeply experienced and like to mix it up and come downhill. Texas should do everything possible to create some 1 on 1 matchups in the passing game and attack their speed and quickness with outside zone. Tech likes to guess. Punish them for it.
Schooler had an industrial accident in a Sephora before his team pic.
DB
Again, multiple 5th and 6th year players and transfers abound. Wiscy transfer Reggie Pearson has been a stabilizing force at their SPUR position and brings Badger reliability and fundamentals. CB DaMarcus Field has over 40 starts in his career. Duke transfer Marquis Waters will be making his 39th career start in Austin. S Eric Monroe transferred from LSU and started last year and he’s also a 6th year player. Finally, the transfer portal is rounded out by Malik Dunlap, who came to Lubbock via NC State.
I’ve never seen a starting defense in FBS that’s 1) older or 2) comprised of more transfers.
Final
Texas Tech has enough star power on offense to score and an unorthodox defense full of mercenaries collecting Medicare that will be looking to turn Casey Thompson over and exploit the chinks in Longhorn pass protection with a variety of DL games and blitzes. If the Longhorn staff doesn’t have enough solutions to isolate and attack Tech athletes in space when DC Keith Patterson gets too cute, then this game will turn into a dogfight.
