Shiel Wood, Tech defense look forward to challenge against Arizona State
Shiel Wood and the Texas Tech defense were dominant Saturday night against the Jayhawks, taking down Kansas 42-17. The Red Raiders will look to continue that performance into this week’s matchup against Arizona State in Tempe. The Tech defense picked up 30 pressures, and a school-record 9 sacks against the Jayhawks. Both David Bailey, and Romello Height graded in at 95.1 and 94.8 per PFF, respectively. The local media were able to catch up with Shiel Wood to discuss Saturday’s win vs Kansas, and this week’s matchup against Arizona State.
Grading The Defense
Obviously from a PFF perspective the Red Raiders are grading out extremely well. But Shiel Wood gave his comments on where he thinks his defense stands currently heading into game 7.
“I don’t know that we’re not a finished product. There’s a lot of stuff that we need to do to get better, but I would say we’re doing pretty good.”
“I think we still get better in our rush lane integrity. There’s some times where we lose our leverage, near eye, near ear on the quarterback. That’s something that we can do better. I think that we can finish a little bit better and more aggressively at times.”
“I think there’s some times where maybe could have had some sacks if we do a little bit better job ripping and reaching, or if we do a little bit better job countering the level and depth of the quarterback, just to name a few things. And then I think sometimes, you know, we maybe get misaligned a little bit in some fronts with that”
Kansas’ 2nd Quarter Success
After Texas Tech jumped out to a 21-0 start, it looked the Red Raiders were going to roll the Jayhawks. Ultimately they did, but not how viewers and fans expected. Kansas was able to get back into this one with two touchdown drives, and a 55-yard field goal to close out the first half at 21-17. Those two touchdowns from KU seemingly happened due to broken coverage, Shiel Wood talks the scheme they were playing when the Jayhawks had their success.
“We screwed up some stuff that I think allowed them to have some success. We busted a couple of coverages, and also had some other things with some pressures, just missed assignments, which are always going to happen in games. We’re trying to do our best to eliminate those each week. And on their success that they had, we had some screw ups.”
“We had a couple of there was a there was a pressure that we didn’t run correctly, that could have led to a negative play, I believe. And then we just had a couple of coverage busts, you know, and look, it’s like I told our guys, our guys are working hard to know what to do.”
“The other team that we’re playing whoever that is, they got schemes, they got coaches, they got players. They’re trying to win, just like we are. And so there’s never going to be, you can never cover every formation, alignment play specifically to every look. It’s impossible to do. So you have to have rules. You have to play rules. And we just had a little bit of breakdown in a couple of instances from a cover standpoint, that hurt us.”
Unsung Heroes?
The Red Raiders have had a ton of big names defensively stand out nationally, especially from the highly touted front 7. But who’s been an unsung hero of the defensive, and help catapult the Red Raiders in defensive rankings as one of the best in the nation?
“AJ Holmes is an unsung hero, stepping up with Skyler Gill-Howard going out. I thought AJ had a great game. Wasn’t surprised by that. That’s the level that he’s been playing at when he’s been in the games, and that’s the level that he practices at on a daily basis.”
“I think his development has been great. I think Skylers had a lot to do with that as well, in terms of just being a great peer for him, two of those guys, as far as understanding assignment, what they need to do, the technique they need to play. So he would be, I think, a guy that comes to mind”
Chapman Lewis’ Return
The Red Raiders have been missing Chapman Lewis since the end of last season, and he is expected to make his return to the field Saturday for Texas Tech. But where could he end up playing on the field?
“We’ve got him working in practice right now at strong safety a little bit. This is his first week back. I haven’t seen him have a chance to do anything since I’ve been here. I know he’s played a lot. I’ve seen him on tape from last year prior to his injury. We’re excited to get him back, getting rolling, and then we’ll just kind of see practice and feel the way through that.”
Ben Roberts’ Impact
Ben Roberts has been an huge impact guy for the Red Raiders throughout the season. The LB has picked up 32 total tackles and forced a huge fumble in Salt Lake City against Utah. Roberts will look to continue his high level play into Tempe.
“I think Ben has played at a really high level. He’s doing a great job understanding what to do and how to do it. He’s playing hard, running to the ball, and been very pleased with Ben”
Arizona State’s High Level Offense
I believe this will be the Red Raiders toughest, or second toughest game remaining on the regular season schedule. Arizona State has a 1st round worthy pick in wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. This could also be a return game for quarterback Sam Leavitt who missed the Sun Devils’ last game vs Utah. Leavitt is currently day-to-day per Kenny Dillingham. For Texas Tech to become the king of the conference, you have to take down the current king.
“Each week in this league, there’s challenges in terms of scheme and personnel. This week’s no different. We’re excited to compete against a really good offense. Is really well coached. Got a great quarterback. Their offensive line is doing a great job. They’ve got the backup quarterback, Jeff Sims that came in against Utah, I thought he looked really good.”
“They’ve got Tyson on the perimeter, target him a ton. He’s a really good receiver. And their tight ends do a nice job. I think they’re very well coached. So, you know, it’s a great challenge for us. And our guys are eager to get to work this week, coming back on Tuesday’s practice tomorrow and get ready to go. You know, play a really good game, and really good opponent on the road.”
Leadership Step Up?
The Red Raiders lost one of their most vocal players in Skyler Gill-Howard due to injury against Kansas. Gill-Howard is one of the key guys in the Tech defense, but who stepped up when he went down and brought the team together to rally?
“I don’t know if one individual stood out. I just think there was a collective resolve with our group to respond, you know, and they did a great job of doing that.”
Shiel Wood was also asked how he gets the guys back on track after losing such a key piece of the defense, and how they went about it after losing SGH in the 1st quarter.
“I try to encourage the guys on the sideline, even back in the huddle. Hey, he’s gonna be okay, guys, just keep a positive outlook on it. So I think that’s what you try to do a little bit. It’s yes, we are upset when somebody gets injured and hope that he’s gonna be back as soon as we can get him back.”
“But it’s a part of the game. You just have to go to the next play. And the best way to kind of honor a teammate that maybe gets a bump or bruise has to come out, is being able to step up and do a great job with defending the next play that’s coming up next.”
Player-led Efforts
In the postgame press conference EDGE Romello Height mentioned that Shiel Wood didn’t do many adjustments at the half directly, but allowed the players to prepare themselves for the 2nd half.
“Great question. We’re a player led team, so our guys take ownership and everything that we’re doing, and when you’re a player led team that’s the best type of team to be.”
Short Passing Game Success?
Kansas’ was able to hit some short passing game completions, most notably in that 17-point 2nd quarter effort. The Red Raiders were then able to handle the Jayhawk offense with ease the rest of the way. Shiel Wood doesn’t seem to be too fazed, or concerned with the short passing game.
“Not bothered by them at all.”
Great Defensive Success
The Texas Tech defense has been dominant against in-conference competition to say the least. Only allowing 38 points so far through three games, including two of those games on the road. The Red Raider defense was also able to set a new program-record in single-game sacks against Kansas with nine.
“We’ve had some success. Everybody’s aware of that. I’m aware of that the thing that we focus on is being the best that we can be. And I look at as an example in the game the other day, I look at some of the drives they were able to have and some of the success that they were able to have. I’m not taking anything away from our opponents, but at the same time, on some of the successful plays they had, we had some things that we didn’t do very well.”
“I’ve got to coach better, and we’ve got to execute better. So those are the things I think we focus on the most, just being the very best that we can be. We’re not going to be perfect. We’re not going to coach perfect. They’re not going to play perfect. And that’s one of the reasons that we emphasize being the brand, the toughest, hardest working, most competitive, running to the ball, playing harder than anybody else in the country. When you do those things you make up for some of the mistakes that you have at times.”
Circled Matchup For The Sun Devils?
Texas Tech was able to handle Arizona State at home last season 30-22 prior to Coach Wood’s arrival. The Sun Devils will seek revenge against the Red Raiders Saturday night in Tempe.
“The game that we have circled every week on our calendar is the game that we’re getting ready to play each week. That’s our mindset, process driven. We want to be the very best that we can be each and every week, and this Saturday is no different.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities Partnership
Texas Tech has partnered with Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities to support families who have a child receiving medical care. Each sack by the Red Raiders donates money to the cause. Shiel Wood speaks on what it means to support fans and families off the field.
“Really cool. I’m aware of that Coach McGuire shared that with the staff. I think that’s awesome. And you know, the more sacks, the merrier, for a lot of reasons.”
Raleek Brown & Sam Leavitt
Running back Raleek Brown and quarterback Sam Leavitt have been key pieces to the Arizona State offense thus far this season. Leavitt is again considered day-to-day, but could have a big impact Saturday if the quarterback does indeed start for the Sun Devils.
On RB Raleek Brown;
“I think he’s a really good player. Used to play receiver, from what I understand earlier in his career. And you know he’s, he’s a guy that catches the ball really well out of the backfield. He’s elusive. He’s got a different gear that he can he can get to on the perimeter, does a nice job in the tackle box as well. So he’s a guy that will have to handle in the run game and then also be aware of him getting out of backfield catch passes.”
On QB Sam Leavitt;
“Carefully. He’s similar to some of the other quarterbacks that we played this year in that regard, but I think he he really is a guy that will push the ball down the field when he scrambles, he will scramble and still throw the football, but man, he’s a tough competitor. He’s excited to get the opportunity to scramble and get yards with his legs. I love how he plays, and watch him play.”
“Got a lot of respect for him. So, you know, you just have to do a great job, you know. And they’ll run some design quarterback run game with him as well. So, you know, again, similar to some of the other quarterbacks we played this year, so got to do a great job on design quarterback runs and then passing game. Just be aware that he can create with his legs. And so we’ve got to do a great job with our rush lanes, and then when he scrambles, we’ve got to be able to plaster to the routes and then do a great job of running to the ball.”
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