Stuff I Noticed: Utah
What a beautifully ugly game that was, for about three quarters, at least. We couldn’t get a snap count right, had QB/RB mesh misfires, linemen pulling into each other, penalties, turnovers… and honestly, I don’t care. Watching Texas Tech stroll into someone else’s house, a team that historically wins on grit, toughness, and forcing opponents to bend, and flat-out outclass a favorite? That felt so good I’ve barely been able to function since Saturday.
1) QB Play
Let’s just get this out of the way early: I’m already annoyed that two weeks that should be filled with celebration and optimism are instead going to be swallowed up by quarterback conjecture. We’ve lived in that space for so long, and honestly, it’s exhausting. I generally believe these things work themselves out, though I also get the counterpoint, that letting it “work out” can come with season-derailing mistakes along the way.
Here’s where I’m at: I think we have two good starting quarterbacks. One reportedly brings the intangibles you can’t measure but coaches swear by. The other has a higher ceiling and adds a real boost to the run game equation. Which one is “more important”? Honestly, that’s probably a matter of preference.
What’s not up for debate is this, Behren Morton has to improve his ball placement. I caught heat in the non-conference for being nit-picky on this, but Saturday proved the point, poor placement cost us two turnovers. Both throws missed short and inside; both needed to be longer toward the sideline. Clean those up and we’re talking about a blowout turning into a flat-out embarrassment.
To be fair, Morton also made some plays extending under pressure for key first downs. And Hammond wasn’t perfect either, he left a smash concept throw to Virgil inside, though he got away with it thanks to the height on the ball and Virgil’s athleticism. But then you see this next clip, and it’s exactly how you want a fade thrown, only Caleb Douglas had a shot.
Zoom out for a second: one thing that really jumps out in all three clips is how miserable we must be to defend through the air. Motions, formations, route combos, every snap is stress. And unlike past Tech teams, there’s no weak link you can cheat off. Every skill guy can win, and if you’re not fully dialed in across from them, you’re about to get eaten alive.
Finally, the chart below lays it out. It’s not really about dunking on Morton, it’s about highlighting how exceptional Hammond was, and more importantly, showing what I want out of the QB spot every week regardless of who’s back there: quick processing, pushing the ball downfield, and throwing with accuracy so our skill talent can do the rest.
| Completion % | Big Time Throws | Average Depth of Target | First Downs | NFL Passer Rating | % of aimed passes thrown on target | NFL Passer Rating when Under Pressure | NFL Passer Rating when Kept Clean | |
| Morton | 63.2% | 0 | 5.6 | 5 | 46.3 | 72.2% | 44.6 | 52.1 |
| Hammond | 81.3% | 4 | 11.9 | 8 | 150.3 | 93.8% | 118.8 | 144.9 |
2) Front 7
Now to the fun stuff. Last week, I said I was nervous about this matchup because Utah’s offensive scheme is tailor-made to neutralize what our front seven does best. I still believe that’s true… which makes Saturday all the more impressive.
The front was disciplined, tough, controlled, punishing, and opportunistic. Utah’s whole deal is about frustrating you into mistakes. They force you to read and react, deal with down blocks, take on pullers, punish over-aggressive pass rushes, and stay disciplined in your rush lanes, all while layering on endless motions and eye candy. And to top it off, you’re trying to corral one of the toughest quarterbacks in the country to actually sack.
And yet… the front seven flat-out strangled Utah’s offense. Two good drives all game, one in each half, and that was it. The numbers from Game on Paper are borderline comical:
That is hilariously bad. And honestly, it’s almost insulting to the defense to say this, but it felt like they shut Utah down without even breaking a sweat. It looked easy.
Check out the clips below. Watch them a few times and focus on different players each time, you’ll see just how dialed in everyone was. If David Bailey crashed inside, a linebacker was already there to cut off Dampier’s escape lane. Every motion was tracked. Every receiver accounted for. Every run fit filled. No over-pursuit, no busts, no freebies.
This was the definition of a “Do Your Job” performance, and it made a scheme designed to stress you out look completely ordinary. Shiel Wood Masterclass.
3) Offensive Line
With the penalties and miscues, this was far from a perfect day for the offensive line. Case in point…
Two guys pulling into each other while no one gets blocked is… not what you want. But that’s also what made their fourth-quarter performance so impressive.
You can see the shift in the Success Rate chart from CollegeFootballData. (Success Rate – Measures play efficiency. A play is considered successful if it: Gains 100% of yards needed on 3rd/4th down. Results in a touchdown. Gains ≥50% of yards needed on 1st down. Gains ≥70% of yards needed on 2nd down)
When it mattered, the O Line delivered. And that’s the part that’s sticking with people nationally. I’ve heard the same phrase over and over: “Tech went into Utah and out-Utah’d Utah.” Translation: Tech broke Utah’s will. The offensive line leaned on a very good front for three quarters, and in the fourth, the dam finally broke.
Take Hammond’s long run as the example. There’s nothing exotic in the design, it’s just blocked beautifully. Dickey, Carter, and Wilson all get to the second level quickly and effectively, and suddenly a routine run becomes a unstoppable. I was kind of surprised how many times Leftwich ran Hammond, but you can’t not take 5 yards every time they are offered.
And while people can nitpick the run game, the pass protection continues to be borderline elite. Against Utah’s front, just like the week prior against Oregon State, Tech allowed only 10 pressures and one sack. That’s consistency, something this unit has lacked for YEARS. Well, positive consistency, at least.
Look back at the opening drive, two third-and-longs, two Utah blitzes, zero panic. The first play needed time to develop, and Morton got it. On the second, the line held up long enough for him to reach his final read. No whiffs, no miscommunications, no flags, just clean, technically sound football against one of the toughest defensive fronts in the country.
The name of the game? Resilience. This line may not be flawless, but when the moment came, they imposed their will.
What an incredibly fun Saturday, man. I’ve been doing these since 2020, and I’m not sure I’ve ever looked forward to writing one more than this week’s. Here’s to many more Saturdays just like it. Long may it continue!
