Texas Tech Football: 10 Things Red Raiders Need to Know Vs. Oklahoma St.
If Baylor (who ranks second in the nation in total passing yards) wasn’t enough to send a chill down your spine, next up the Red Raiders face No. 20 Oklahoma State (who ranks fourth in total passing yards).
But wait, statistically it gets even worse; when you calculate passing yards gained per game Baylor drops to No. 7 with 312.7ypg (three slots below Texas Tech at 333.2ypg) and Oklahoma State jumps to number two with a whopping 362ypg.
That’s the kind of stuff that will keep your stomach churning all night long . . .
However, mind boggling stats gained with the ball flying magnificently through the air aren’t the full story of the 2010 match-up of Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State.
Though the ultimate victor in Saturday afternoon’s clash will no doubt have been successful throwing and catching the outcome will be effected by a wide array of other components.
The following slideshow attempts to identify a mere 10 of the myriad of things even the most casual of Texas Tech enthusiasts should know as the Red Raiders Nation prepares itself for game day in Lubbock.
1. The Overall Series
1 of 10
The series began in 1935, Texas Tech leads overall 21-13-3 (61 percent) and is a stunning 13-2-3 (81 percent) vs. the Cowboys in Lubbock.
The last time Oklahoma State upended the Red Raiders in Lubbock was 66 years ago in 1944 when the Cowboys beat Tech 14-7.
2. Injuries/Suspensions
2 of 10
There will be some key personnel missing for both squads in this contest; following is a brief breakdown of notable players that are not playing or questionable.
Texas Tech
Scott Smith DE: Smith has been suspended for the remainder of the season. A transfer from Butler Community College in Kansas Smith accounted for 14 tackles (four for a loss), three sacks and one interception.
Oklahoma State
Josh Cooper WR: Cooper suffered a head in injury in last weeks’ game vs. La-Lafayette; he has been able to practice but his status is “unsure” for Saturday in Lubbock. Cooper is the Cowboys No. 2 receiver amassing 259 yards on 22 catches for one touchdown.
Hubert Anyiam WR: Anyiam has a sprained ankle and is not expected to play this Saturday. He has accounted for eight catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns.
Michael Harrison WR: Harrison is out for one game and possibly more after undergoing surgery for a fractured finger. He has racked up 71 yards on six catches and scored two touchdowns.
3. Texas Tech’s 2010 “Body of Work”
3 of 10
A quick glance at what the Red Raiders have done and who they have done it against.
(1). Tech’s national ranking by category thus far:
- 4th in Passing Yardage
- 103rd in Rushing Yardage
- 17th in Points Scored
- 98th in Points Allowed
- 101st in Passing Yards Allowed
- 29th in Rushing Yards Allowed
(2). Tech’s five opponents thus far (SMU, New Mexico, Texas, Iowa State and Baylor):
- Have a combined record of 14-15 in 2010.
- Went 33-31 combined in 2009.
- Average to rank 55th in Passing Yardage
- Average to rank 75th in Rushing Yardage
- Average to rank 71st in Points Scored
- Average to rank 69th in Points Allowed
- Average to rank 80th in Passing Yards Allowed
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
4. Oklahoma State’s 2010 “Body of Work”
4 of 10
Now, a brief look at what the Cowboys have done and who they have faced:
(1). OSU’s national ranking by category thus far:
- 2nd in Passing Yardage
- 51st in Rushing Yardage
- 2nd in Points Scored
- 87th in Points Allowed
- 118th in Passing Yards Allowed
- 21st in Rushing Yards Allowed
(2). OSU’s five opponents thus far (Washington St., Troy, Tulsa, Texas A&M and Louisiana Lafayette):
- Have a combined record of 12-15 in 2010.
- Went 27-35 combined in 2009.
- Average to rank 24th in Passing Yardage
- Average to rank 68th in Rushing Yardage
- Average to rank 50th in Points Scored
- Average to rank 88th in Points Allowed
- Average to rank 96th in Passing Yards Allowed
5. Turnovers
5 of 10
Texas Tech
Tech has fumbled the ball 13 times and ultimately lost six of these balls.
QB Taylor Potts is 161-243 with four interceptions and 17 touchdowns. Only 1.6 percent of his attempts have been thrown for picks.
Oklahoma State
OSU has fumbled the 10 times but lost only four of these drops.
QB Brandon Weeden is 131-190 with six interceptions and 18 touchdowns. Three percent of his attempts have been thrown for picks.
6. Special Teams
6 of 10
Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s special teams have come far short of being “special”. There is not much you can say about back to back on-side kickoff attempts that are returned by the other team for touchdowns or how over a three game period that you were 2-1 vs. opponents’ fake punt attempts.
Perhaps even more blood curdling is that Tech is 3-7 in field goal attempts. Donnie Carona is 0-2 this season with both attempts being beyond 40 yards (one beyond 50 yards).
Matt Williams is 3-5 and perfect inside 40 yards but 0-2 in the 40 yard range.
Oklahoma State
OSU’s kicker Dan Bailey is 11-11 in booting field goals and is a whopping 4-4 in kicks in the 40 yard range.
The Cowboys have struggled in kick returns and have allowed opponents an average of 35.7 yards on kick returns.
7. The Passing Game/Defending The Pass
7 of 10
Ultimately this game will more than likely come down to (1). Mistakes and (2). Who can finally stop the other teams’ air attack?
If both offenses click (and the Cowboys have been more consistent throughout 2010) it will come down to defending the pass.
Offensively Speaking
Oklahoma State has gained an average of 362 yards through the air against five opponents who average to rank 96th against the pass.
Texas Tech has gained an average of 333 yards passing vs. five opponents who average to rank 80th against the air attack.
Statistical Advantage: Texas Tech
Defensively Speaking
Oklahoma State ranks a dismal 118th in defending the pass, but they have faced teams that averaged 24th in passing yards gained in 2010.
Texas Tech ranks 101st against the pass and have faced opponents that average together to rank 55th in passing yards gained.
Statistical Advantage: OSU by a nose
But, don’t forget that three of the Cowboys receivers are questionable (one is out for sure) for Saturday’s game.
Sacks
The Red Raider defense has scored 15 sacks in five games while the “O” line has allowed only nine by opposing defenses.
The Cowboy “D” has accounted for 14 sacks in its five contests and their offensive line has allowed only seven sacks.
8. The Running Game
8 of 10
Both these teams are going to attempt to run the ball. Tech has run the ball 146 times for 514 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Cowboys have run the ball 177 times for 821 yards and ten touchdowns.
Though Tech has two solid backs in Batch and Stephens who combine for 485 yards and six touchdowns OSU has Kendall Hunter who has amassed 700 yards and nine touchdowns in five games.
Defensively speaking Tech ranks 29th against the run and OSU ranks 21st vs. opponents’ ground game.
Frighteningly, Tech allowed a season high 251 yards rushing in its loss to Iowa State. Tech will absolutely have to shut down Hunter to win this game.
9. “Guns Up!” is a Tech Thing
9 of 10
Texas has “Hook ‘Em” horns combined with an appropriate hand sign, the Baylor Bears “Sic ‘Em” in a claw like fashion, A&M “Gigs” ‘Em (I won’t comment on that one) and even Houston has that weird three finger sign that looks almost “spock-ish”.
The Red Raider Nation has “Guns Up”. We configure our hands in a gun like fashion, and we mean it.
We greet each other with “Guns Up” we get our “Guns Up” and our children join the “Guns Up” Club (because that’s just good parenting).
“Guns Up” is attributed to L. Glenn Dippel a Texas Tech alumnus who, in 1961, was living in Austin and wanting something to counter the “Hook ‘em” sign with.
Well done Mr. Dippel, well done.
But, why is it that whenever Oklahoma State is playing football and the camera pans the stands that Cowboy fans are using the same hand configuration as our sacred “Guns Up”?
I assume it is because of “Pistol Pete”, Cowboys, etc.
Regardless, in the astute words of my in-laws, “That ain’t right!”
The best way to shut down OSU’s unlawful use of our “gun” is not to repeal the second amendment. Instead, it is to shut down their offense, plunder their defense and WRECK ‘EM on Saturday afternoon.
Guns Up!
10. The Bottom Line
10 of 10
This is a match-up between two top ranked offensive teams. It is a story of who can stop who (not who will shut down who) and the tale of who can make the least mistakes along the way.
Tech’s offense will have to click consistently and the defense will have to wrap up, tackle and not allow the big plays they have in the past several weeks.
Texas Tech also has to cease and desist when it comes to bizarre, unreal errors. Blown on-side kick attempts resulting in opposing scores, muffed punts, bad snaps, unnecessary personal fouls, dropped passes that are delivered “right on the number”, etc. do more than baffle fans; they lose football games.
Texas Tech has allowed 52 points in the 4th quarter of play; that’s roughly a third of the total points the Red Raiders have given up this season. The Tech “D” will have to play a full 60 minutes to win this game.
Alternatively, OSU has allowed almost half of the points scored against them in the second quarter. This means that Tech can’t wait around to get the offense fired up.
Oklahoma State may be the best team that the Red Raiders have faced yet this season, but Texas Tech has to be considered among the top two teams that the Cowboys have faced in 2010.
The Cowboys survived the Aggies in Week 5, but that game was in Stillwater, not in Lubbock at the Jones.
As far as personal preparations go; I have removed all breakable items from my immediate viewing area in case someone calls an on-side kick.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
