All season, talk about the Texas Tech football team has centered around quarterback Graham Harrell and receiver Michael Crabtree.
But in this weekend’s OU-Texas Tech matchup, it may actually be the Texas Tech defense that becomes the key to the game’s outcome.
The Red Raiders have historically been a weak defensive team, which has led to their long history of missed opportunities in the Big 12.
This year, however, they are currently allowing only 107.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the nation — one place above OU.
“They are very sound and disciplined in how they play, disciplined in their structure and they aren’t much on giving you a bunch of different wrinkles,” said head coach Bob Stoops. “They do what they do, and they do it well. They do a very good job of playing fundamental good football.”
That discipline has allowed Tech to keep players from getting behind the defense for long gains.
“They don’t give up many big plays; they keep everything in front of them,” sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford said. “They’re very disciplined and I think they’re a very good defense.”
A lot of that discipline comes from a more mature group of players who understand Tech’s defensive system.
“They are more experienced, and they were able to stop us some last year too,” said senior wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.
Iglesias also noted that the Tech defense has shown marked improvement.
“I think the thing that is different about them is that they are more physical,” Iglesias said. “They react to the ball faster and come at you more. We have to bring the game to them.”
The Red Raiders’ newfound physicality might be most evident from their red zone production.
Twenty-one percent of the time opponents have reached the Tech 20-yard line, they have failed to score.
That is seven of 33 attempts opposing teams’ offenses have wound up empty-handed after reaching the red zone.
Meanwhile, Tech’s offense has scored on 88 percent of its red zone attempts.
“We know that they have a very good red zone defense and a lot of teams have been able to move the ball on them, but when they got to the red zone, they failed to score any points,” Bradford said.
Bradford also said he and the rest of the offense realize they can’t assume anything once they get deep in Tech territory.
“We know that once we get down there, even if we’ve been controlling the ball and the pocket, we need to put points on the board,” Bradford said.
Once OU enters the red zone, it will be a battle of strength against strength, as the Sooners have been sensational in the red zone so far this year.
On top of reaching the red zone 112 times — nearly 50 more times than Tech — the Sooners have finished 95 percent of those drives with scores, 100 of which have been touchdowns.
So, how should the Sooners attack one of the best red zone defenses they’ve seen all year?
“We know we have to run the ball and take care of the ball,” said sophomore running back DeMarco Murray. “It all starts with the offensive line. They just have to continue to create holes and protect Sam.”
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dbh 3 years, 6 months ago
Hey I really enjoyed this excellent story on the DEFENSE perspective of the big football game.
This sooner vs red raider matchup in my opinion is the BEST ever. Power and strength vs strength and power and hard hittin pad jarring football.
Sooner nation is very blessed to have the entire country watching closely what happens is this offense vs. defense football contest. I hope the sooners win this one after last years heartbreaker in Lubbock. THE KEY is to protect Sam Bradford and the OU SOONERS can score more points and prevail with a HUGH VICTORY and BCS point improvement.
BOOMER SOONER DBH!!!