Texas vs Texas Tech: 10 keys to the game

We pass through Lubbock quite a bit. I know, and understand the jokes about the place, but it’s a fun part of the drive for me.

[Get ONE MONTH of Inside Texas Plus for $1!]

After Sweetwater, which is after Abilene, we pass through Snyder, Texas. Here I think about how far Sonny Cumbie has come. From Snyder High School, to walk-on Texas Tech quarterback, to starter, to successful coordinator, and now the head coach of Louisiana Tech after two stints at his alma mater.

I always chuckle as I pass by signs for Floydada and Fluvanna. Those would have been great names for Cumbie’s kids, I think to myself.

After Snyder, it’s Post. It’s a quaint little town we’ve slept in a handful of times. One time we made the mistake of needing a motel room during the Post Stampede.

We whip around the outside of Lubbock on whatever loop that is before heading up through Littlefield. By now you know Waylon Jennings is playing.

Muleshoe is just beyond Littlefield. After I get passed the smell, my thoughts are occupied by Lincoln Riley. How did a guy from here choose Los Angeles over Norman? Or maybe it’s because he’s from here?

I love this part of Texas. It’s what I thought all of Texas was like when my family moved from Southern California decades ago.

I’m glad we didn’t move to one of those towns, though. Then I’d be writing about Texas Tech.

1. The road test is personified by dealing with crowd noise

Four games into the season and Texas is hitting the road for the first time to play in front of a fan base that hates the school more with each passing year. First the hate stems from general dominance, then for leaving the conference, then for Tech falsely thinking it would get an enduring home and home rivalry with Texas, then for headhunting Chris Beard away, and finally, for landing Quinn Ewers after Tech’s overtures.

We saw lack of focus in the early going last week. It’s going to be much more difficult to focus in Jones AT&T Stadium as Tech fans let the hate flow through them.

2. Jump out to a quick start

Ideally Tech fans will be trying to eat Batman symbols into their tortillas by the second quarter. Or cutting out the middle to represent their score. For that to happen, Texas will have to come out of the gates hot. That goes for Sark and his play calling, too. If he pokes and prods his way into feeling the game, that’s fine, he’s exceptional at it, but they’ll be dealing with the crowd until the offensive barrage arrives, if it does. 

3. O-line displacing defenders

Texas Tech has a solid defensive line, buoyed by Edge Tyree Wilson. But overall, Texas should have the advantage in the run game — Tech run defense stats be damned.

Texas started to find its run blocking footing last week on its way to 298 rushing yards, but was that due to playing UTSA, great efforts from Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, or improved line-play? 

Today we’ll find out if it was improved line-play. 

4. Find space and yards after the catch

We know Sark loves the run game backstopped by deep shots, but shorter throws to the flat and over the middle will force Tech’s average athletes to chase guys like Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and Ja’Tavion Sanders along with the running backs.

That will be tough to slow down for a Tech defense worried about Sark’s preferences. 

5. Christian Jones or Kelvin Banks vs Tyree Wilson

Wilson is a reminder of what kind of advantage it is to have NFL size specs. His length and ability to use it gives him a direct advantage over most offensive lineman he’ll face. He also plays with good leverage at his size, and as you know, the trenches are a game of leverage. When it comes to size specs, though, both Christian Jones and Kelvin Banks are what the NFL is looking for at tackle. Further, Jones is a good run blocker and much improved as a pass protector. Despite being a true freshman, Banks is already good in pass protection. Wilson doesn’t win with speed, he wins with leverage, power, length, and mobility. These are the sorts of ways Jones and Banks operate, too. 

How much help the Texas offensive tackles require, if any, will be something to occupy your focus. Will UT use Andrej Karic to help sap Wilson’s will? Will they need to?

Today is a good chance for Jones to boost his draft profile after a very good start to the season.

6. Press the D-line vs O-line advantage

Tech’s offensive line is not good at pass protection or run blocking. A good day from Texas’ Edges and interior could send this game spiraling out of control like the airplane Waylon Jennings almost found himself on, especially as the Tech QB sends the ball spiraling in the direction of Texas defenders.

The biggest Edge pass rushing advantage in this game could go to Barryn Sorrell, rather than Wilson. That would be an interesting development and something worth watching. 

7. No coverage busts

Tech will go five-wide a fair amount today. That means we’ll see Texas deploying dime looks for the first time. Will that add an extra layer of confusion? On Thursday, Sark mentioned the defense was thinking through the new install too much on Monday and Tuesday before playing faster on Wednesday and Thursday.

I think the DB’s will have a good day, but they’ll be mixing coverages and disguises quite a bit. Hopefully they do so without confusing themselves.

Fortunately for the defense, it will be quiet when the offense has the ball for the first time this season.

8. This is an ILB run game

Sa’Rodrick Thompson has a bit of wiggle and quickness to him, but at this stage in his career his best trait is how hard he runs. Tahj Brooks has always been a power back with good feet and some quickness. He looks bigger than last year and power is also his best trait.

This might not be the worst game for DeMarvion Overshown to miss a half of football and give way to Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey. This is also a great chance for Jaylan Ford to build off his 15 tackle outburst last week.

Those two need to bring hat and wrap up.

9. Turnovers – if not now, when?

Both Tech quarterbacks are talented throwers but they’re a long way away from being good quarterbacks. Ball security is their primary issue and they don’t always have to be under duress to make a bad decision. Donovan Smith has thrown two pick-sixes this season. Those aren’t aberrations either; he has seven total interceptions on the young season.

We would not be shocked to see more of Behren Morton today. He is talented and likely a better fit for this offense.

This is a game Texas could, maybe even should, win due to turnover margin.

10. Deep ball – if not not now, when?

Texas could really benefit from another deep threat emerging to pair with Xavier Worthy, but for now it’s up to Worthy and the starting quarterback to connect. It is likely Tech will have to devote numbers to the run game leaving Worthy and his strong speed advantage on the outside against Tech’s oversized corners.

Today I’ll be watching with a group of IT readers in Washington D. C. If the deep ball connects between the quarterback and Worthy I will be buying a round to celebrate (the death of a most annoying narrative).

**

Another narrative I’d love to see end: Weird things happen in Lubbock. Singular events have an outsized affect on our psyche. Don’t get me wrong, 2008 will always sting, and that was a weird thing, but Texas hasn’t lost in Jones Stadium since that night.

The weirdest thing that could happen for Texas today is for the team to not show up or take care of the football. That is unlikely.