Let’s take a look under the hood regarding Tech's Defense and big plays in Big 12 play. 

In three games, the Tech defense has allowed the opposing offense to gain 10 yards or more 36 times. 

That means that approximately every 6.5 snaps an opposing offense gains 10 yards or more in a single play.   Drilling down even further, of those 36 plays 6 of them went for touchdowns.   

That sounds like a lot. 

So just how good have the opposing offenses been? 

Based on Yards Per Game UT ranks 75th, ISU ranks 94th, and Baylor 15th.

So how did Tech’s defense rate against each opponent?

Tech allowed both UT and ISU to gain 10 yards or more 9 times (18 times between the two games).  UT did not score on any of their plays, but ISU scored four times.   Baylor, who is ranked 15th in YPG, gained 10 yards or more a whopping 18 times, yet only two those went for touchdowns. 

So can we pinpoint the problem?

It seems to me that not person or group of people is to blame.  There have been problems with alignment, experience, play calling, and talent. 

What does this mean for the balance of the season?

Unless the defense finds a way to tighten up, we can expect OSU (ranked 5th in offense), A&M (ranked 6th), Missouri (ranked 31st), and OU (ranked 41st) to put up similar numbers to Baylor which means that Tech will have to score on 50% or more of their possessions and not have any bone headed special teams play to keep these games close.  (Tech scored 7 times in 13 possessions against Baylor.)

If we allow CU (ranked 81st) to score four times on big plays as ISU did (ranked 94th), then we will be in another dog fight. 

Here’s to the defense bearing down, the offense maintaining its effectiveness, and the special teams becoming, um, special.