Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big 12
Another year, through different quarterbacks and even different head coaches, the story at Texas Tech has always been the same: throw, throw, throw and when you have short yardage and need to pound for a yard or two, throw some more. Mike Leach and Kliff Kingsbury started this renaissance, followed by quarterbacks BJ Simons, Cody Hodges, and Graham Harrell. Then Taylor Potts took over behind center and Tommy Tuberville took over on the sidelines. Nevertheless, the throw and throw some more philosophy stayed. It did not always result in success, especially if you don’t count such things as a trip to the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl as successful seasons. But Texas Tech has an identity, sticks to it, and is an exciting football team for their troubles.
2012 Record: 7-5, 4-5
Coach: Tommy Tuberville
Coach Bowl Record: 7-3
Big Wins: 10/13 West Virginia (49-14), 10/20 at TCU (56-53)
Bad Losses: 11/3 Texas (22-31), 11/24 Baylor (45-52)
Strengths:
Taylor Potts gave way to Seth Doege in 2011. That season, Doege threw for just over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. Tech finished seventh in the nation in passing offense. In Potts’ last year at quarterback, the Red Raiders also finished seventh in the nation in passing. Now in 2012, Doege’s second stint as starter, he has approached 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns and Texas Tech has one of the very best passing offenses in the country. Aided by some high scoring shootouts and overtime thrillers, Doege is accumulating 328 yards per game through the air. Although the running game has not done much, it compliments the Raiders’ pass attack enough to give them high marks in total offense and scoring offense as well. The funny thing about this year’s team though, is that their pass defense rating is great, even though they have gotten their doors blown off in a number of games this season. Despite losses by upwards of three touchdowns to Oklahoma, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, Texas Tech has one of the top two dozen pass defenses in the country and the very best unit in the Big 12. Go figure.
Weaknesses:
A team with a bunch of blowout losses but a good pass defense (at least according to the numbers) must be doing a number of other things wrong on that side of the ball. Texas Tech gets almost no backfield pressure on defense. They have tallied very few tackles for loss and rank horribly in sacks on the year. Along with a subpar rush defense, it is a wonder that the passing defense is able to stay with opponents at all. In addition, the Red Raiders have given up more turnovers than they’ve forced on the season, a mark of a below average team. Combined with weak special teams units on punting and kickoff returns, it is no surprise Texas Tech allowed 32 points per game this season and finished in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 conference. Throwing, throwing and throwing some more can only take you so far. If Tommy Tuberville wants to keep his job past this season, he needs to stop following in Mike Leach’s footsteps. No more forceful actions against people on his team or staff and perhaps, scrap the all-pass attack as well and gain some balance.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Kenny Williams, RB, 779 yards
Passing: Seth Doege, QB, 3,934 yards
Receiving: Eric Ward, WR, 974 yards
Tackles: Cody Davis, S, 91
Sacks: Dartwan Bush, DE, 5.0; Kerry Hyder, DT, 5.0
Interceptions: Cody Davis, S, 3
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 139.50 (86th in nation, 10th in conference)
Passing Offense: 361.92 (2, 1)
Total Offense: 501.42 (12, 5)
Scoring Offense: 37.75 (18, 6)
Rushing Defense: 171.42 (76, 6)
Pass Defense: 195.83 (23, 2)
Total Defense: 367.25 (39, 2)
Scoring Defense: 31.83 (91, 7)
Turnover Margin: -1.00 (106, 10)
Sacks: 1.25 (106, 7)
Sacks Allowed: 1.50 (36, 6)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2010 TicketCity Bowl Northwestern (45-38)
2009 Alamo Bowl Michigan State (41-31)
2008 Cotton Bowl Mississippi (34-47)
2007 Gator Bowl Virginia (31-28)
2006 Insight Bowl Minnesota (44-41)
*all team stats through 11/24
