… This is just me guessing, but I bet you won’t see Terence Steele isn’t until the Arizona game. We’ll see. It doesn’t hurt that Travis Bruffy played so well on Saturday. If Bruffy can sustain his play, don’t be surprised if Steele comes back at right tackle and not left. I bet you’ll see Lonzell Gilmore miss again this week but, like Steele, he could be back for Arizona. I expect to see Tony Bradford this week against UTEP. I’m not sure when we’ll see Bailey Smith, Myler Royals, Quincy Addison or Jonathan Garibay, but none are dealing with anything too serious. As Matt Wells has said, if someone is out for the season or a lengthy period, he’d tell everyone. None of the players mentioned above qualify for that. Seth Collins continues to recover from his collarbone injury and could return in mid-October, but that’s just me guessing.
… Nick McCann (foot/ankle), Jack Anderson (unsure of injury), Thomas Leggett (unsure of injury) and Sarodrick Thompson (shoulder) all left the game early Saturday. I don’t think any of them were dealing with anything too serious.
… You can expect to see the following true freshmen this season: Tony Bradford, Tyrique Matthews, Dadrion Taylor, Trey Cleveland, Chux Nwabuko, Austin McNamara and Luke Rizzo. The staff has really high hopes for Bradford, and some there feel like he’s the next Broderick Washington. Cleveland is essentially competing with Caden Leggett for that third outside receiver spot.
… This staff very clearly doesn’t believe in playing guys just to play them. They want continuity first and foremost. While they get into some depth with their regular rotations, they didn’t get into those third-team players until late on Saturday as Matt Wells wasn’t going to take any chances.
… Yes, Jackson Tyner is the back up quarterback. Simply put, he’s been more consistent in camp. While Jett Duffey has more upside, he can’t quit turning it over in practices which remains a problem for him. Could that change? Sure, but that’s how it is right now and it’s hard for scout-teamers to pass up anyone once the season starts.
… The Red Raiders committed just four penalties on Saturday and three of those came from upperclassmen Jordyn Brooks, Madison Akamnonu and Travis Bruffy. The fourth was a delay of game on a punt late in the game. It is very clear to me this team will be much improved in this category. Are they days of having 10 or 11 penalties in a game over with? I can’t say for sure, but Texas Tech appears headed in the right direction.
… UTEP will roll in here with two former Red Raiders assistants on staff in Matt Wallerstedt and Joe Robsinon. Last week, three former Texas Tech GA-types on the Houston Baptist staff almost beat the Miners. Zach Kittley is the HBU OC/QB’s coach, Jared Kaster coaches the HBU OL and Tyler Schovanec (President Lawrence Schovanec’s son) coaches the team’s special teams. If not for a missed 23-yard field goal and a missed PAT, HBU wins.
… UTEP coach Dana Dimel coached under Bill Snyder for nearly 30 years, so you can expect to see plenty of Kansas State-type sets from the Miners on offense, especially when running their quarterback. They also use a traditional fullback, which might be the only time Texas Tech sees that this season unless Kansas or Kansas State uses one.
… I’m pretty sure Texas Tech’s offense was in 11 personnel 100-percent of the time on Saturday. In talking to Armand Shyne, the Red Raiders didn’t use any two-back sets and haven’t really practiced that, either. Speaking of Shyne, he is a pleasure to be around - all smiles and thrilled to be here. His 69-yard run on Saturday was the longest of his career and he’s ready for whatever opportunities David Yost and DeAndre Smith give him as things get going here.
… Right now, expect to see Donta Thompson and Travis Koontz get the bulk of the reps at tight end with a chance of Tyler Carr getting some as well. Thompson had 60 snaps Saturday, Koontz was in there for 31 plays and Carr had four.
… People are starting to realize this, but Keith Patterson is a fascinating guy to visit with and he certainly knows defense. My favorite thing about him is that his idol is former Texas Tech defensive coordinator John Goodner, who coached under Spike Dykes for several years in the mid-1990s. Patterson thought a lot of Goodner because of the job Goodner held and because they were both from small towns in Oklahoma. So, when Patterson got here, Goodner was all he could think about. Patterson feels like it’s an honor to be in that chair based on how good this program was defensively under Goodner.
…. Staying with Patterson, I’ve heard him talk in various settings enough to pick up on the fact that he is well-studied on what has gone on in the Big 12 over the last several years. He knows 70-percent of tackles made in conference games are made in space and it has changed the way he coaches. The Red Raiders coach closing space and to limit yards after contact, with the goal being to limit yards after contact to two yards or less. The days of head into the chest and drive are long gone when it comes to tackling. This doesn’t tell the whole story, but yards after the catch (different than contact) on Saturday were 254 for the Red Raiders and just 36 for the Bobcats.
… Patterson’s goal going into each game is nine or more TFLs. His defense averaged 7.5 per game last year at Utah State. Patterson calls himself a pressure guy and that won’t wane. It’s just who he is and, so far, his players are eating it up.
… I think it had more to do with how Montana State played them, but I expected a few more shots downfield by Alan Bowman and company. I keep going back to that Utah State stat from last year about the Aggies scoring 29 touchdowns in a minute or less, second only to Alabama. Watching Shyne’s lengthy run and Xavier White running down the seam certainly made me think about the big play potential in this offense.
… The football program will host two official visitors this weekend, and one of them is committed to another Power Five program. Also, don’t be surprised to see Chris Beard bring in someone this weekend, too. Like he did with Kliff Kingsbury, Beard is using Wells to help him recruit. Micah Peavy spent some time with Wells at Beard’s request and you’ll see Wells start to reciprocate this and soon.
… Texas Tech’s depth chart isn’t set in stone in several spots, mainly due to various ailments. I think coaches didn’t know the availability of some guys a week out from the season and they had to make a decision on certain spots. Xavier Benson not starting was a prime example of this. Things will remain fluid as guys get back, so don’t view the current depth chart as being locked in.
… Beard and assistant Brian Burg reached out to me on Saturday night and they both commented to me how impressed they were with the organization on the Red Raider sideline. That might not seem like much to some, but it certainly made an impression on those two. They specifically mentioned how in tune every defensive player was when Patterson was talking to them.
… Anytime you see an opposing player go down with a cramp or a possible fake injury, you’ll see everyone on the Texas Tech sideline start tapping their head or helmet. They’ll start yelling, “Tap’em out!” Bowman alluded to this after the game on Saturday and I witnessed it several times on Saturday. That’s clearly a tone Wells and his staff are trying to set.
… It’s crazy to me that this program appears to have done so well with the grad transfers they added. Zech McPhearson is the team’s best corner, Evan Rambo is a stud and Ja’Marcus Ingram may be starting at safety in the next two weeks. The best part? They will all be back here next year.
…The temperature on the turf Saturday before the game was hovering around 150 degrees. It was a little warm. I’m all about a 7 p.m. kickoff this weekend. Bring it on.
… Nick McCann (foot/ankle), Jack Anderson (unsure of injury), Thomas Leggett (unsure of injury) and Sarodrick Thompson (shoulder) all left the game early Saturday. I don’t think any of them were dealing with anything too serious.
… You can expect to see the following true freshmen this season: Tony Bradford, Tyrique Matthews, Dadrion Taylor, Trey Cleveland, Chux Nwabuko, Austin McNamara and Luke Rizzo. The staff has really high hopes for Bradford, and some there feel like he’s the next Broderick Washington. Cleveland is essentially competing with Caden Leggett for that third outside receiver spot.
… This staff very clearly doesn’t believe in playing guys just to play them. They want continuity first and foremost. While they get into some depth with their regular rotations, they didn’t get into those third-team players until late on Saturday as Matt Wells wasn’t going to take any chances.
… Yes, Jackson Tyner is the back up quarterback. Simply put, he’s been more consistent in camp. While Jett Duffey has more upside, he can’t quit turning it over in practices which remains a problem for him. Could that change? Sure, but that’s how it is right now and it’s hard for scout-teamers to pass up anyone once the season starts.
… The Red Raiders committed just four penalties on Saturday and three of those came from upperclassmen Jordyn Brooks, Madison Akamnonu and Travis Bruffy. The fourth was a delay of game on a punt late in the game. It is very clear to me this team will be much improved in this category. Are they days of having 10 or 11 penalties in a game over with? I can’t say for sure, but Texas Tech appears headed in the right direction.
… UTEP will roll in here with two former Red Raiders assistants on staff in Matt Wallerstedt and Joe Robsinon. Last week, three former Texas Tech GA-types on the Houston Baptist staff almost beat the Miners. Zach Kittley is the HBU OC/QB’s coach, Jared Kaster coaches the HBU OL and Tyler Schovanec (President Lawrence Schovanec’s son) coaches the team’s special teams. If not for a missed 23-yard field goal and a missed PAT, HBU wins.
… UTEP coach Dana Dimel coached under Bill Snyder for nearly 30 years, so you can expect to see plenty of Kansas State-type sets from the Miners on offense, especially when running their quarterback. They also use a traditional fullback, which might be the only time Texas Tech sees that this season unless Kansas or Kansas State uses one.
… I’m pretty sure Texas Tech’s offense was in 11 personnel 100-percent of the time on Saturday. In talking to Armand Shyne, the Red Raiders didn’t use any two-back sets and haven’t really practiced that, either. Speaking of Shyne, he is a pleasure to be around - all smiles and thrilled to be here. His 69-yard run on Saturday was the longest of his career and he’s ready for whatever opportunities David Yost and DeAndre Smith give him as things get going here.
… Right now, expect to see Donta Thompson and Travis Koontz get the bulk of the reps at tight end with a chance of Tyler Carr getting some as well. Thompson had 60 snaps Saturday, Koontz was in there for 31 plays and Carr had four.
… People are starting to realize this, but Keith Patterson is a fascinating guy to visit with and he certainly knows defense. My favorite thing about him is that his idol is former Texas Tech defensive coordinator John Goodner, who coached under Spike Dykes for several years in the mid-1990s. Patterson thought a lot of Goodner because of the job Goodner held and because they were both from small towns in Oklahoma. So, when Patterson got here, Goodner was all he could think about. Patterson feels like it’s an honor to be in that chair based on how good this program was defensively under Goodner.
…. Staying with Patterson, I’ve heard him talk in various settings enough to pick up on the fact that he is well-studied on what has gone on in the Big 12 over the last several years. He knows 70-percent of tackles made in conference games are made in space and it has changed the way he coaches. The Red Raiders coach closing space and to limit yards after contact, with the goal being to limit yards after contact to two yards or less. The days of head into the chest and drive are long gone when it comes to tackling. This doesn’t tell the whole story, but yards after the catch (different than contact) on Saturday were 254 for the Red Raiders and just 36 for the Bobcats.
… Patterson’s goal going into each game is nine or more TFLs. His defense averaged 7.5 per game last year at Utah State. Patterson calls himself a pressure guy and that won’t wane. It’s just who he is and, so far, his players are eating it up.
… I think it had more to do with how Montana State played them, but I expected a few more shots downfield by Alan Bowman and company. I keep going back to that Utah State stat from last year about the Aggies scoring 29 touchdowns in a minute or less, second only to Alabama. Watching Shyne’s lengthy run and Xavier White running down the seam certainly made me think about the big play potential in this offense.
… The football program will host two official visitors this weekend, and one of them is committed to another Power Five program. Also, don’t be surprised to see Chris Beard bring in someone this weekend, too. Like he did with Kliff Kingsbury, Beard is using Wells to help him recruit. Micah Peavy spent some time with Wells at Beard’s request and you’ll see Wells start to reciprocate this and soon.
… Texas Tech’s depth chart isn’t set in stone in several spots, mainly due to various ailments. I think coaches didn’t know the availability of some guys a week out from the season and they had to make a decision on certain spots. Xavier Benson not starting was a prime example of this. Things will remain fluid as guys get back, so don’t view the current depth chart as being locked in.
… Beard and assistant Brian Burg reached out to me on Saturday night and they both commented to me how impressed they were with the organization on the Red Raider sideline. That might not seem like much to some, but it certainly made an impression on those two. They specifically mentioned how in tune every defensive player was when Patterson was talking to them.
… Anytime you see an opposing player go down with a cramp or a possible fake injury, you’ll see everyone on the Texas Tech sideline start tapping their head or helmet. They’ll start yelling, “Tap’em out!” Bowman alluded to this after the game on Saturday and I witnessed it several times on Saturday. That’s clearly a tone Wells and his staff are trying to set.
… It’s crazy to me that this program appears to have done so well with the grad transfers they added. Zech McPhearson is the team’s best corner, Evan Rambo is a stud and Ja’Marcus Ingram may be starting at safety in the next two weeks. The best part? They will all be back here next year.
…The temperature on the turf Saturday before the game was hovering around 150 degrees. It was a little warm. I’m all about a 7 p.m. kickoff this weekend. Bring it on.
