Bailey plays best game of short Texas Tech career
Transfer EDGE David Bailey played the best game of his short Texas Tech career Saturday against Houston. He’s the Red Raiders’ most eligible NFL prospect and he proved again against the Cougars why he could wind up being a first round pick come April. Still, Bailey was quick to praise the guys around him for his success.
“They’re great. And again, just kind of piggyback off what he (Jacob Rodriguez) says, it makes it so much easier when you got a great interior D-line,” Bailey said. “And then obviously Mello (Height) bro, he had a hell of a game with amazing pressures. He was just right there, so with him on the other side. Obviously great inside linebacker core, and then DB core, just makes it so much easier to do my job, play fast and get after the quarterback.”
Bailey plays best game of season against former Red Raider
All eyes were on the matchup between Tech’s touted defensive line and the makeshift front for Houston. Part of this trench group for the Cougars was former Red Raider Dalton Merryman. Bailey bullied Merryman and the rest of the Houston offensive line to the tune of two sacks, three tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble. Lined up against Merryman, Bailey felt he and Romello Height had a leg up even not having suited up with the offensive tackle last year.
“We had lots of younger cats that went against him,” Bailey said. “So I was actually watching Ansel’s (Nedore) pass rush. Cheta’s (Ofili) pass rush against him. They had a couple one-on-ones against him last year. So yeah, we did have a little bit deeper scout than usual on the tackle so that helped a lot.”
Defense finds success in on-the-fly adjustments for Chriss-Gremillion
Bailey’s totals might not impress the statwatchers around the nation but those who tuned in saw the domination he displayed. Tech’s defensive line harassed Houston QB Connor Weigman. The repeated beating led to Weigman exiting the game. With Zeon Chriss-Gremillion at QB, not much changed for the Red Raiders. It was a different face in the backfield with a different skillset, but Bailey kept a similar demeanor.
“I don’t really think I’m switching the mindset too much,” Bailey said. “It’s obviously a different quarterback, different play style, so I’m a little bit more aware that he was a bit more mobile than the first guy. I just keep my approach the same, and then again, just making sure we’re trusting that everybody else is going to do their job. Then just keep it up. Just keep the approach the same. Aware of his talents and his skills, but yeah, everything else the same.”
