BECKLEY —
Texas
Through five games, the Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in total defense, giving up just 210 yards per game, rushing defense (92.6 ypg) and pass defense (117.4 ypg).
“Defensively, they're one of the top teams in the country,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen. “They have given up 200 yards per game, so people haven't moved the ball on them. We were in here trying to figure out creative ways to get first downs. They do a good job against the run, they do a good job against the pass and they create turnovers, and we're going to have to play as good as we have all year offensively.”
Holgorsen's comments may have come partly from respect, but they may have also been a way to keep his team — coming off a big win at Texas and with a showdown with Kansas State looming — motivated on the task at hand.
Texas Tech's defense is certainly better than the one that finished 115th in the nation in total defense a year ago, giving up more than 485 yards per game, but just how much impact new defensive coordinator Art Kaufman, the fourth man to hold his position in as many years, has had is difficult to determine.
It's not as if Texas Tech put up the numbers against Oregon, Baylor and Arizona.
The Red Raiders' first three opponents were Northwestern State, Texas State and New Mexico — three teams from lesser conferences with a combined record of 8-9 so far this season —but they did show a similar effort in a 24-13 win over Iowa State to begin Big 12 play.
Last week's 41-20 loss against Oklahoma, though, may have provided some insight into how the Red Raiders stack up against an elite offense. In its first loss of the season, Texas Tech allowed 380 yards of total offense —259 passing and 121 rushing — as the Sooners found the end zone five times.
The Red Raiders did force a fumble in that game, and the seven turnovers, including four interceptions, that they have forced this season have caught the attention of WVU's Heisman Trophy candidate, quarterback Geno Smith, who hasn't thrown a pick all season.
“They do a great job a making it tough on quarterbacks,” said Smith. “They get a lot of interceptions and turnovers. They really make things complex with the way they react to the ball. They do a great job or reading the quarterback's eyes and reacting to the ball.”
The Red Raiders' success against the pass, Holgorsen said, is due largely to their scheme.
“They're not very tricky,” he explained. “They're very, very sound and are never out of position. They blitz eight percent of the time.
“They're not a gimmick defense — they're a sound, effort defense. They play hard, and their guys are in position. That poses problems when you don't know what they're going to do and that aggravates you from a game plan standpoint. We can come up with a bunch of plays, but it's hard to execute against them.”
While many view the minimal blitz attempts as a positive for the Mountaineers, who struggled a little against constant pressure against Maryland and took a little time to adjust to that strategy at Texas, Holgorsen explained that the lack of a blitz can sometimes make things harder on the offense.
“When you blitz, you are taking chances,” he said. “Blitzing means taking chances, and pressuring means taking chances. You are taking people out of position who help prevent the score if you put the ball in play. By not doing that, they're covering more ground.
“They have more people in coverage, and if you happen to complete the ball, they have more people going to it. They're in position to make plays.”
That's a big reason why safeties Cody Davis and D.J. Johnson are both in the top 25 in the league in tackles, combining for 12 stops per contest
“They play quite a bit of people,” said Holgorsen. “The safeties are the guys that always show up (on tape). No. 12 (Johnson) and No. 16 (Davis) have been around there for a long time. They're both seniors. Those are the two guys on defense that I remember from when I prepared against them three years ago. They're big kids, they come downhill a lot and are the two leading tacklers.”
Holgorsen clearly has respect for the Texas Tech defense, but he's also confident his Mountaineers, who are scoring 52 points and racking up more than 570 yards per game, will have an answer.
“Every defense poses challenges,” he said. “And every defense we scheme to attack.
“It's all about staying on the grind, and if these guys want to win a championship, then they need to do that.”
— E-mail: chuffman@register-herald.com
Today's Sports Front
Texas Tech defense could slow down WVU
- Today's Sports Front
-
-
A dream start, nightmare end
Lightning on the horizon brought Wednesday's final game of the state softball tournament to an end.
The James Monroe Lady Mavericks had felt a shock long before that. -
One step away from Charleston
A trip to Charleston — with a lot more on the agenda than a tour of the capitol building and a shopping spree at Charleston Town Center — will be up for grabs tonight for three area teams that are one win away from punching their ticket to the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Appalachian Power Park.
-
Tanner is Summers County coach
After weeks of controversy, it appears Summers County High School officially has a new football coach.
-
WVU baseball changes up pitching lineup for Big 12 Championship
Randy Mazey’s attention has been on everything but baseball in recent days, as the West Virginia University coach has been out in front of his team’s effort to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma, where his team has been this week preparing for the Big 12 Baseball Championships, which begin today at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.
-
Woodrow downs defending AAA champs
It’s a play that Woodrow Wilson has practiced everyday this season and has rarely had to utilize.
It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton. -
No repeat for Warriors
Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night. -
’Hounds hold off upset bid from Man Hillbillies
Valley’s potent offense never came to life, but the Greyhounds are still alive.
Valley (22-7) — with several players hitting .400 or better this season — could muster just three singles against underdog Man (6-20-1) in one of two Class A Region 3 baseball semifinals Tuesday, but the ’Hounds manufactured two runs in the crucial fifth inning to finally go ahead of the stubborn Hillbillies and escape with a 3-2 victory. -
WVU baseball team helps tornado victims
West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey was having lunch at an Oklahoma City restaurant Monday afternoon, keeping a close watch on the television set.
With every passing minute, the tornado that devastated the Oklahoma town of Moore, was moving closer and closer to his location and its path was being documented by a local television station. At one point, the coach even looked out the window to see if he could see the approaching funnel. -
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Format Changed
In the wake of this week’s devastating storm in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, the Big 12 Conference is postponing the start of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. No. 3 seeded WVU scheduled to take on Kansas at 4 p.m. (Central) on Thursday.
-
Patriots, Warriors meet in anticipated matchup
The matchup many people expected will take place today.
- More Today's Sports Front Headlines
-
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
