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'Look at us now': A pushover on defense no more, Texas Tech is establishing a new identity in Big 12 play
By Ben Baby, Staff Writer Contact Ben Babyon Twitter
Ben_Baby
FORT WORTH -- Texas Tech's final defensive snap against TCU last week was unusual, but also a bit fitting.
TCU sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson searched every angle of the field, looking for one yard to extend the drive and the Horned Frogs' comeback hopes. But after running from one sideline to the other, the situation escaped his hands. The ball slipped out of Robinson's grasp and was secured by Tech freshman Adrian Frye.
It took a while, but the Red Raiders finally made the stop.
The play was a microcosm of their defensive progress this season. After success eluded Tech during the beginning of the season, the Red Raiders have allowed 20 points or fewer in two of their last three games.
Junior linebacker Jordyn Brooks said early in the year, the team was aware of its historically bad defenses and questions surrounding the unit. Now, Tech is finding its identity.
"I think these last three games, we've shown that we're one of the best defenses in this conference right now," Brooks said last Thursday.
Technically, Tech's defense is still statistically one of the worst in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are next to last in defensive yards per play and seventh in points allowed.
But when Brooks made that claim, it was on the heels of a game won with defense and as a member of a unit playing with a ton of confidence stemming from recent results.
In its first two games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, Tech allowed 7.8 yards per play. But in the last three games, that number dropped to 6.1.
Even in Tech's lone blemish during that stretch, a 42-34 loss to West Virginia, the Red Raiders allowed just 14 points over the final three quarters.
Since entering Big 12 play, Tech (4-2, 2-1 conference) has shown a knack of making good halftime adjustments. During those games, the Red Raiders have outscored opponents 55-14 in the second half and have not allowed any points in the third quarter.
Those numbers are a testament to the improvements defensive coordinator David Gibbs has made in four years in Lubbock.
"I was always impressed with how he stuck to his guns through a couple of really, really rough years," Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "He had a vision and wanted to recruit to it and wanted to develop to it."
The year before Gibbs arrived, TCU scored 82 points against the Red Raiders. Tech faced a much different version of the Horned Frogs last week, but it was still a notable defensive performance.
Two years ago, Tech was last among 128 FBS teams in scoring defense, total defense and 126th in yards allowed per play.
Sophomore defensive end Eli Howard said the coaching staff had good schemes last season, when the Red Raiders moved up the rankings but were still in the triple digits.
But the young squad failed to execute at times. This season, Howard said the Red Raiders wanted to reciprocate the support Gibbs showed them in recent years.
"To a certain degree, we try to have his back every game and every play," Howard said.
The numbers show Tech still has a lot of work left if it wants to be considered the best in the Big 12. But over the last few weeks, the Red Raiders have made key stops at crucial points in games. Kingsbury said that attribute belongs to teams who have won the conference title in recent years.
With No. 7 Texas and No. 9 Oklahoma still on the schedule this season, Tech will have more opportunities to prove its defensive improvement. But it's certainly not the same unit senior linebacker Kolin Hill saw when he transferred from Notre Dame.
"I knew going into it they weren't the best defense, but definitely, it was something we were going to work toward through the years," Hill said. "Look at us now."
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/co...as-tech-establishing-new-identity-big-12-play
'Look at us now': A pushover on defense no more, Texas Tech is establishing a new identity in Big 12 play
By Ben Baby, Staff Writer Contact Ben Babyon Twitter
Ben_BabyFORT WORTH -- Texas Tech's final defensive snap against TCU last week was unusual, but also a bit fitting.
TCU sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson searched every angle of the field, looking for one yard to extend the drive and the Horned Frogs' comeback hopes. But after running from one sideline to the other, the situation escaped his hands. The ball slipped out of Robinson's grasp and was secured by Tech freshman Adrian Frye.
It took a while, but the Red Raiders finally made the stop.
The play was a microcosm of their defensive progress this season. After success eluded Tech during the beginning of the season, the Red Raiders have allowed 20 points or fewer in two of their last three games.
Junior linebacker Jordyn Brooks said early in the year, the team was aware of its historically bad defenses and questions surrounding the unit. Now, Tech is finding its identity.
"I think these last three games, we've shown that we're one of the best defenses in this conference right now," Brooks said last Thursday.
Technically, Tech's defense is still statistically one of the worst in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are next to last in defensive yards per play and seventh in points allowed.
But when Brooks made that claim, it was on the heels of a game won with defense and as a member of a unit playing with a ton of confidence stemming from recent results.
In its first two games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, Tech allowed 7.8 yards per play. But in the last three games, that number dropped to 6.1.
Even in Tech's lone blemish during that stretch, a 42-34 loss to West Virginia, the Red Raiders allowed just 14 points over the final three quarters.
Since entering Big 12 play, Tech (4-2, 2-1 conference) has shown a knack of making good halftime adjustments. During those games, the Red Raiders have outscored opponents 55-14 in the second half and have not allowed any points in the third quarter.
Those numbers are a testament to the improvements defensive coordinator David Gibbs has made in four years in Lubbock.
"I was always impressed with how he stuck to his guns through a couple of really, really rough years," Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "He had a vision and wanted to recruit to it and wanted to develop to it."
The year before Gibbs arrived, TCU scored 82 points against the Red Raiders. Tech faced a much different version of the Horned Frogs last week, but it was still a notable defensive performance.
Two years ago, Tech was last among 128 FBS teams in scoring defense, total defense and 126th in yards allowed per play.
Sophomore defensive end Eli Howard said the coaching staff had good schemes last season, when the Red Raiders moved up the rankings but were still in the triple digits.
But the young squad failed to execute at times. This season, Howard said the Red Raiders wanted to reciprocate the support Gibbs showed them in recent years.
"To a certain degree, we try to have his back every game and every play," Howard said.
The numbers show Tech still has a lot of work left if it wants to be considered the best in the Big 12. But over the last few weeks, the Red Raiders have made key stops at crucial points in games. Kingsbury said that attribute belongs to teams who have won the conference title in recent years.
With No. 7 Texas and No. 9 Oklahoma still on the schedule this season, Tech will have more opportunities to prove its defensive improvement. But it's certainly not the same unit senior linebacker Kolin Hill saw when he transferred from Notre Dame.
"I knew going into it they weren't the best defense, but definitely, it was something we were going to work toward through the years," Hill said. "Look at us now."
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/co...as-tech-establishing-new-identity-big-12-play
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