DAVID WELLS AND NEW COACHES ALONG WITH ALAN BOWMAN GIVE TEXAS TECH HOPE IN 2019

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Head Coach:  Matt Wells (first year; 44-34 at Utah State, 6 years)

Last year:  5-7

Texas Tech’s Alan Bowman is a very good quarterback and can, with help, lite’em up.  Can first year head coach Matt Wells find those backs and pass catchers to give his quarterback the needed assistance to bring the Red Raiders to the promise land?  Maybe, but it will not be easy.

Wells comes from Utah State where he posted a 44-34 head coach record and was  very successful in his 6th and final year in leading a productive offense in Logan.  Before that, the Utah State offense was a hit and miss group, more miss that hit.  With Tech, he inherits a quarterback that is proven.  Offensive coordinator David Yost comes to Lubbock with Wells and he was the mastermind that turned it around for the Aggies. Yost will assist Bowman in his advancement and that is good for Tech. Wells has a reputation of getting the most out of the quarterbacks and his experience in Missouri (under Pinkel) and Washington State (under Leach) tells me that Bowman will be a high first round draft choice in the future as of Yost.

Offense:  Get somebody to catch the ball and Tech will be in business.  Bowman is better than just good and is capable of leading the country in passing if the machine works correctly, especially in pass protection and receiving.  T. J Vasher and Antoine Wesley lead the thin receiving corps and are good but not great.  Look for Vasher to improve on his 54 catches in 2018.  Ta’Zhawn Henry is the feature back and he is mediocre at best.  Depth again is a problem here. Four starters return on the offensive line, which is suited for pass protection and not the run game. Last year the Red Raiders were 108th in rushing offensive and that was not good.  Look for an excellent pass offense and if the rushing game can come along, a potent one.  I especially like Bowman as I believe him to be the key.  And that key should fit the Tech lock of success.  Offense grade: C+

Defense: Defensive Coordinator Keith Patterson brings a new system to Lubbock.  As many as six defensive backs will be on the field at one time.  Only time will tell if this group can stop the pass let alone the run, and the run on passing situations.  Tech could be in trouble if teams just line up and run over the defensive stoppers. That is a possibility.  There are some good returning players here, but these guys ranked 108th in total defense in 2018.  The pass defense ranked 128th so you can see what Patterson has to look forward to. Improvement is a must but don’t expect a miracle as Oral would say.  The defense returns ten starters and that can be considered good in many places. On the South Plains, not so much.  Defensive grade: D+

Special teams:  Trey Wolf will handle placements and he has shown that he is not very good in spring scrimmage.  The punting by first year player Austin McNamara could be a key and he does have potential.  Otherwise, Tech will be average in special teams.  Special teams grade: D

I have more enthusiasm for Tech than my previous three teams I have already posted on.  But record wise, another crap shoot here.  Bowman is the key and I think he can be the one player in the league that the team will rely on the most.  He is that good and with some help, Tech can win some games that they will be projected to lose.  And games in Lubbock can always be a bitch for the opponents.   With the new systems that the coaches bring, Tech should get better as the season progresses.

Games Tech will win:  Montana State (H); UTEP (H); Kansas (H)

Games Tech  have a shot at winning:  Arizona (A); Oklahoma State (H); Baylor (A); Iowa State (H); West Virginia (A); TCU (H); Kansas State

Games Tech should get drilled:  Oklahoma (A); Texas (A)

Prediction:  5-7 and 3-6 in conference