Texas Tech’s Mack Leftwich grades offense, preps for Arizona State
Texas Tech offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich offered an honest breakdown of his unit after the Kansas game. He graded each position group, praised leadership from the offensive line, and discussed quarterback depth. Looking ahead, he previewed the Arizona State defense, calling it one of the toughest challenges yet.
Leftwich offensive grades and leadership
Leftwich joked that he had not used a grading scale since teaching geometry, but he did not hold back:
- Offensive line: “Start of the year, maybe a C-plus. This past game, a B-plus. I’ll be a strict grader, but they’ve improved.”
- Running backs: “Playing well, A-minus.”
- Receivers: “Not a ton of stats, but effort was great. Key blocks downfield. B to B-plus.”
- Tight ends: “Doing a good job, both JC and TC. Grade is a B.”
- Quarterbacks: “I’ll be hard here. C-plus. They need to play better, and I have to coach them better.”
He also highlighted center Sheridan Wilson as the anchor of the offensive line. “Anytime you’ve got a center who communicates and anchors the line, it helps,” he said. Wilson’s extra work with quarterback Behren Morton has improved consistency against complex defensive fronts.
Texas Tech quarterbacks and run Game
With Morton’s health in question, Leftwich said both Will and Mitch are ready. “Both can run the offense exactly how it’s meant to be run,” he explained. Will’s second-half performance against Kansas showed progress: “We stayed ahead of the chains. He played more comfortable and looked good.”
The biggest adjustment comes in the run game. When Kansas slowed Tech down in the second quarter, patience paid off. “It’s easy to abandon the run after a few short gains,” Leftwich admitted. But the offensive line made corrections, opening holes that created explosive plays in the second half.
Leftwich on skill positions and unselfishness
The running back duo of J’koby Williams and Cam Dickey continues to shine, giving Texas Tech a balanced and explosive ground attack. Even while limited, J’koby embraced his role from the sidelines and celebrated Cam’s breakout runs. “The best thing is their unselfishness,” Leftwich said. Cam added a new dimension with his speed, hitting 22 miles per hour on a long touchdown run — the fastest mark on the team this season.
That team-first mentality has spread throughout the offense. Wide receivers, who normally thrive on touches and yardage, embraced their role as blockers against Kansas. Leftwich recalled one of his favorite moments from the game. “We threw for like 130 yards, which is uncharacteristic for us,” he said. “Most of the time, receivers would be upset after a game like that. But when I went over to them, Caleb Douglas told me, ‘Coach, look at the scoreboard. I’m fired up right now. We just won 42–17.’”
For Leftwich, that moment summed up the attitude of this unit. It showed a group more invested in team success than personal stats. “I think that’s a testament to the kind of kids we have and their unselfishness,” he explained. “You’ve got a real shot when guys care more about winning than their numbers.”
Tech offense prepping for Arizona State
Arizona State circled this matchup after last season’s loss, but Leftwich made it clear that Texas Tech’s approach will not change.
“Every game is the biggest because it’s the next,” he said. “Our 1-0 approach matters. They’re the reigning Big 12 champs, and this is another chance to prove ourselves.”
Leftwich described Arizona State’s defense as extremely sound and well-prepared. “I’ve got a lot of respect for their coordinator. I played them last year when I was at Texas State and felt like they did a good job. They run a defense they know inside and out. They’re not overly complex on first and second down, but they know their run fits, their coverage responsibilities, and they rarely give up big plays. There’s not a lot of miscommunication,” he explained.
That structure and discipline, Leftwich added, will create another significant challenge for Texas Tech’s offense.
Final thoughts
Mack Leftwich’s offense is growing into form. Grading position groups keeps players accountable, while quarterback depth and run-game balance provide options. Arizona State’s defense presents another test, but Tech’s leadership, patience, and unselfish attitude give the Red Raiders confidence moving forward.
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