No Trolling...just a friendly guide to your opponent, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and how the Red Raiders match up!
Thank you Red Raiders fans for coming to this fanpost! Let me start this off by first saying that I really like the direction you guys are going. You guys will be Big 12 contenders VERY SOON...just be patient! I also wanted to tell you that I have no intentions of trolling or rude comments against Texas Tech. This is just to give you guys a perceptive...as I have seen the Hogs in practices this week and film on Texas Tech. Hope you guys enjoy and good luck to you guys! It will be a great game! Note that stars are out of 5
Offense
Quarterbacks- Texas Tech ***** Arkansas ***
Wow...that guy can throw. Patrick Mahomes is like the Johnny Manziel of the Big 12 based on what I have seen on the film. Gunslinger, Runner and Ball Protector...the perfect QB for Texas Tech's Air Raid Offense. Pat may very well be the reason that Texas Tech has improved drastically when it comes to the consistency of the offense. If Pat can handle the tough road environment, TTU will score over 40 points. Brandon Allen is the man that can never do enough and probably never will as far as us Hog fans are concerned. He has improved from his SO, JR, to now his Senior year, throwing for more than 700 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. The problem? He has not proven himself to be the guy that can lead this team to a victory in a close game. If this game comes down to crunch time, look to see if BA finally can give the Hogs a close win.
Advantage: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Receivers/Tight Ends- Texas Tech *** Arkansas ***
The receivers for TTU are great...fast, agile, and have great hand-eye coordination. Easily a 4 star if not for the GLARING issues on dropped footballs. That is something they have to limit against the Hogs in order to win on the road. In general the tight ends for Tech are OKAY. They protect well on both passing and running, but I do see a few issues such as footwork and eyes. Overall I really like Jakeem Grant (fast little dude!) and Devin Lauderdale...some guys that the Hogs really need to watch! On the Hogs side, watch out for TE Hunter Henry. Seriously, this guy is going to be a first round tight end. Jeremy Sprinkle, is another TE that has been described as a failed science experiment that feeds on the contact he receives. But, the WR position is not the Hogs forte. However, look for newcomer JoJo Robinson and Drew Morgan as BA's (Brandon Allen's) favorite WR targets with the key loss of Keon Hatcher.
Advantage: Push
Running Backs- Texas Tech *** Arkansas ****
So I look over the stats and see that there is a RB on Texas Tech by the name of DeAndre Washington who has carried the ball 25 times for 212 yards for a 8.5 YD average. HOLY CRAP! If he was on any other offense that was not Air Raid, producing those numbers would make him a star. Other than that, Pat is the leading rusher...but DeAndre gets 3 stars on his own. That guy can play. On the Hogs side...we are feeling the loss of Johnathon Williams. However Alex Collins (32-181-2TDs) was sick with a viral infection last week and was generally a non factor against Toledo. He is healthy now. Kody Walker is the short range guy. He bounces off people and can put a little bit of a hurt on you while gaining the hardest looking 3 yards ever. TTU will really need to prepare to tackle him. Overall, both teams have a star running back, but Arkansas gets a slight advantage with a good short range guy.
Advantage: Arkansas Razorbacks
Offensive Line- Texas Tech *** Arkansas ***
Its not great but it will do. That describes Texas Tech's O-Line. I like how they can protect Pat long enough to get those deep balls, but I don't like it when they allow a defender to get through and your star QB risks a big hit...thankfully Pat has the legs to get out of there. Pass Protection is very good...run protection is meh to me. But, again Texas Tech has a good enough o-line to win football games. Arkansas was a 5 star o-line to me at the beginning of the year. Then it fell to 4 stars after UTEP...and now 3 stars. Why? The pass protection is the best in the SEC...no sacks for BA and usually plenty of time to throw. But run blocking? HORRENDOUS. Run blocking is needed for the Hogs identity, and they have not gotten that done for the first 2 games of the year. For the Hogs to win, they need to run the ball...and the O-line better be ready because Texas Tech has nothing to lose.
Advantage: Push
Overall Offense Grades:
Texas Tech is improved from my 3 star offense grade last year. Improved QB...Good Wide Outs...and a Decent O-Line gives the Red Raiders a 4 star grade. Texas Tech Offense ****
Arkansas has a much better pass game...tight ends that are compared to the monstrous Hulk...and a good running back. Will the O-Line help those RBs? We will see. Arkansas Offense ***
Overall Offensive Advantage: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Defense
Defensive Line- Texas Tech ** Arkansas ***
Texas Tech is does not have a very good defense. Think about this: The D-Line is at the front of a play. At least one D-Line men should be in the top 5 in tackles. Gary Moore has 5 tackles to lead all DLs...10th on the team. That is not encouraging facing a running team like Arkansas. Him and others on the Defensive Line need to step up...and step up big. Someone on the Defensive Line needs at least 5 tackles with 1 or 2 for loss for TTU to have a chance. Otherwise the defense is going to be gashed. Sacks are also going to have to go up for TTU to force punts and score some more. Arkansas faces similar problems with lack of sacks, but Jeremiah Ledbetter has 14 total tackles including a sack and 3 tackles for loss. He like havok...watch out for him. DeMarcus Hodge also enjoys tackles for loss with 3. But the sack totals are really low...and in order to keep up with Tech have to get at least 2 or 3. Overall, if this D-Line gets on a role it becomes difficult to stop them. If they don't, the Hogs won't win many games.
Advantage: Arkansas Razorbacks
Secondary- Texas Tech ** Arkansas ***
The secondary for Texas Tech will probably not have to face a lot of passing against the Hogs, but if they do, it may not be pretty. Granted, they only allowed 187 yards against UTEP, but allowing 320 yards to an FCS team is not encouraging. A positive is that they do force a INT a game, but stopping the pass itself and tackling is an issue that has to be resolved against Arkansas. For Arkansas, they haven't forced one INT, but have gotten its fair share of extremely close calls. A glaring issue is the middle passing...where it seems like no one wants to cover. They need to have that problem resolved in order to win. The good news is that the Hogs don't allow big time passes and recover very quickly, especially in the red zone where the Hogs have gotten plenty of nice pass break ups and stops. This needs to continue to keep TTU from having big plays for scores!
Advantage: Arkansas Razorbacks
Linebackers- Texas Tech *** Arkansas ***
Micah Awe has me in Awe as the leading tackler for Texas Tech with 17. The SR linebacker also is joined by newcomer Dakota Allen with 13 tackles. Both need big games to stop the run from getting big plays. Tech also needs to get the two to have more tackles for loss...both only have 1. Getting 4 or more combined will really be a big help. Pete Robinson has the only sack at the linebacker position, and getting some more will stop some Hog drives. For Arkansas, Brooks Ellis and Josh Williams have gone beast mode with a combined 28 tackles in 2 games. Brooks also has excellent hands and can snag plenty of INTs if given the chance. As with Tech, both need to get more involved in getting into the backfield as they only have one each. Overall both teams have a nice linebacker core that needs to be active for both to have a chance.
Advantage: Push
Special Teams- Texas Tech *** Arkansas ****
Tech impresses with Kickoff Returns, but nothing else on the special teams impresses. Little ole' Grant has returned a kickoff return for a TD, but Cameron Batson hasn't been impressive on punt returns. Punt defense has been good, but the Kickoff defense may allow a TD this year. Place Kicking is troubling...not because the kickers haven't been bad...they are both perfect, but that there isn't one kicker that has pulled away. What if it comes down to a FG for the win more than 40 yards? Will the wrong kicker be picked? Place kicking isn't necessarily bad, but it should be a worry when you don't know who may have won the game for you. For Arkansas kickoff returns are OKAY, but Punt returns have been very good. A punt return for a TD happened last week against Toledo (it was called back...most agree it was a bad call). Kickoff and punt coverage are really good for the hogs, but kickoff coverage can sometimes allow one or two bigger returns. Place kicking has improved since last year, but a kick of 40+ yards again may worry a Hog fan. Slight advantage for the Hogs based on the nature of the Special Teams Defense.
Advantage: Arkansas Razorbacks
Overall Defense Grades:
Texas Tech is a bend don't break defense that really needs to force some turnovers in order to win. Watch the Hogs first drive to see what kind of day they have...if the Hogs start finding big holes, it will be a long night for the TTU Defense. Texas Tech Defense **
Arkansas has the talent on Defense to do great things, but will it get some stops and turnovers to really point the game in the Hogs favor? 2 turnovers forced and the Hogs chance of winning will go way up. Arkansas Defense ****
Overall Defensive Advantage: Arkansas Razorbacks
Key Intangibles (mostly based on late in the year in 2014 to today because of teams not having road or home games)
Home Crowd- Texas Tech Road Performance ** Arkansas Razorbacks Home Crowd ****
Emotions- Will Texas Tech show up like they have nothing to lose? Will Arkansas show up flat or motivated after a bad loss?
Big key to a blowout win for either team- Texas Tech must force turnovers, keep the crowd in check, control the game with a fast tempo, and stop Arkansas from scoring on at least 3 drives. Arkansas must force turnovers, control the game with a slower tempo by running, and not allow more than 2 big TD passes.
There it is Tech fans! Hopefully now you have a more in-depth look at how the Hogs line up against your Red Raiders. Feel free to vote on the poll below! Have a wonderful day and good luck to you guys! Here is my score prediction before you vote (with alternative mascots!)
Texas Tech Red Raiders 38
Arkansas Razorbacks 48
Leave comments down below! Want this to be a nice blog to speak thanks or your mind! Win or loss, Texas Tech is almost there guys! Keep up the faith and it will break...maybe even this year! Hell of a team you have. GO HOGS!
