Coming off a new contract for head coach Kliff Kingsbury, and a huge win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Holiday Bowl, the 2014 season was poised to be a good one for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Unfortunately for Tech, this season has turned into a rebuilding year, as the program recovers from the losses of co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie to TCU, Baker Mayfield (transferred to Oklahoma), and a favorite offensive target, tight end Jace Amaro (drafted by New York Jets in 2014 NFL Draft), just to name a few.
Without question, the narrative surrounding Texas Tech this season, has been that of a team loaded with talent, but lacks discipline and commits penalties, and has shot itself in the foot where turnovers and defensive efficiency are concerned.
After beating Kansas, Kingsbury was asked what the most disappointing part of this season has been.
“The penalties, I think, just how that continues to either move the other team forward or move us back in key situations. That number is pretty astounding when you look at a season total. It’s hard to win any games doing that every week,” he said.
It was the lowest penalized game this season for the Red Raiders, who held itself to four penalties for 22-yards. However, coming into yesterday’s game in Lubbock, the Red Raiders led the nation in penalties, averaging 11 for 102-yards.
After the conclusion of the first quarter against TCU, the Horned Frogs led 24-17, and the game was shaping up for a shootout. But in the second quarter, the issues started mounting for the Red Raiders, setting up a record-setting day for TCU.
It took :74 seconds for both teams to score to open the game up, but TCU was given a gift when Red Raiders’ DB Keenon Ward was called for defensive pass interference, followed by TCU running back Aaron Green’s 64-yard touchdown run.
Davis Webb measured up nicely early in the game, throwing for 230 yards in the first quarter, and two touchdown passes. Webb turned over the football three times, including two fumbles and an interception by TCU’s Chris Hackett in the first quarter. TCU converted those turnovers into 13 of their whopping 82 points. Webb was injured in the third quarter, and his backup, Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Sam Carter.
Following Mahomes’ interception, Hackett and Texas Tech sophomore wide receiver D.J. Polite-Bray were ejected for exchanging punches, and will serve suspensions.
Aside from the laundry on the field, TCU gutted Texas Tech, 82-27, as TCU quarterback and Heisman contender Trevone Boykin completed a signature, winning performance to escalate his name in the race. Boykin accounted for a school record seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
After Boykin threw his seventh touchdown pass, he was replaced in the fourth quarter by Texas A&M transfer, quarterback Matt Joeckel, who drove the Horned Frogs down near the goal line. Joeckel got banged up, limped off the field, and was replaced by third string quarterback and freshman Zach Allen. Allen came in, and handed the ball right off to Trevorris Johnson for TCU’s eighth touchdown on the night — a 25-yard run that helped set a school record of 785 total yards, and the most points scored in the FBS this season.
The mistakes that plague Texas Tech are greater than Webb, who is ranked fourth in the nation in touchdown passes. A major statistic that contributes to the overall problem is that opponents have scored on 36 percent of all drives, making Texas Tech’s defense the worst of all Power 5 schools. Another baffling issue was Tech’s inability to commit to the run game, that held DeAndre Washington to just 13 carries for 77-yards after having back-to-back 100-yard games against Kansas, and West Virginia.
Texas Tech is now 3-5 and 1-4 in-conference, off to its worst start since finishing 4-7 back in 1990 under head coach Spike Dykes.
The Texas Longhorns (2-3 in Big 12 play) are in the same conundrum following its 23-0 shutout loss today to Kansas State, and Nov. 1 in Lubbock, Texas should be an interesting matchup.
*Section Photo credit to John Weast, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports
