To this point in the season, Texas Tech’s defense is historically bad

I’ve seen quite a few of them Texas Tech Over the years, the Red Raiders have played football over the years, and in this century in particular, the Red Raiders have experienced many miserable defensive games. As a result, I have become jaded. So when I see a Texas Tech defense that is actually good enough to lick an offense out of sick kittens, I get a little giddy. And maybe that’s why I had a benevolent attitude towards the occupational health and safety coordinator Tim DeRuyter did it in his first two seasons in Lubbock. Many years of watching Texas Tech’s terrible defense lowered my standards to the point that a merely subpar defense felt like stepping into the warm sun after years in a cold, damp cave.

But now, undoubtedly belatedly, I feel the familiar tingle of hoarfrost on the back of my neck again. Texas Tech’s 2024 defense, which I honestly expected to perform quite well, has suffered dramatic declines. But what I didn’t realize until after the Red Raiders’ humiliating homecoming loss Baylor Last night showed how far the defense had sunk. As mentioned, Texas Tech’s defense wasn’t a bargain in 2022 and 2023, but there’s hardly a worse defense in the college game right now.

Just look at the current rankings in several key statistical categories and consider that there are 133 Division One college programs: third-down defense, No. 80; fourth-down defense, No. 90; Overtaking spaces allowed, No. 132; Rushing yards allowed, No. 92; Goal Defense, No. 124; pass defense efficiency, No. 105; Sacks, No. 129; Tackles for Loss, No. 114; Total defense, No. 128.

To be fair, the defense has done a reasonably good job with turnovers, but that might be the one area where they threaten to even rise above mediocrity. The rest of this ranking speaks for itself. There are simply no two ways about it; Texas Tech’s defense is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

However, Texas Tech fans who aren’t wet behind the ears might imagine they’ve seen an even worse defense with the Scarlet in Black. I’m talking, of course, about the 2003 defense, coordinated by Lyle Setencich, that established the program’s gold standard for total helplessness. For example, with consecutive losses Oklahoma State And Missourithis defense allowed Cowboy running back Tatum Bell to rush for 238 yards and 8.5 yards per carry, and Tiger quarterback Brad “Superman” or was it “Michael Jordan”? Smith rushed for 291 yards and 15.3 yards per carry, leaving another 139 yards to a schlub named Zack Abron. After the debacle in ColumbiaTexas Tech statistically had the best offense and worst defense in the country. This may have been a first in college football.

Every Red Raider who watched that defense was scarred for life, even if the offense was a softener that softened those scars somewhat.

I never thought I would see another Texas Tech defense this bad. But lo and behold, when you look at the stats for the 2003 defense and compare them to the 2024 defense, a pretty troubling presence emerges from the miasma of history and facts. I compared the numbers for 11 key statistical metrics and in eight of them the 2003 defense was actually better than the current state of the 2024 defense. Only in rushing yards per play allowed, yards per pass attempt allowed and third-down defense The 2024 unit surpasses the putrid 2003 squad. In terms of points allowed per game, yards allowed per rushing attempt, passing yards allowed per game, yards allowed per game, total yards allowed per game, the Fourth-down defense, sacks per game, and red zone touchdown percentage, the 2003 defense actually outperformed the current defense at that point in the season.

One way to defend DeRuyter and his defense is to point out Dylan Spencer’s injuries. Joseph Adedire and a few defensive backs as well as the overall youthfulness of the defense. However, most defenses suffer a crucial injury here and there. There is no difference between being beaten up.

And there is another concern. In 2003, Lyle Setencich was in his first season as Texas Tech’s defensive coordinator, and this fact undoubtedly prevented his firing at the end of the season. Tim DeRuyter, on the other hand, is in his third season. Assuming he “brings his own guys into the system,” one would expect his defense to improve. Instead, his 2024 defense is shaky.

There are still a few games left this season. Maybe DeRuyter can turn things around and finish the season strong. On the other hand, in 2007, after Setencich’s defense allowed three Oklahoma State fullbacks to rush for over 100 yards, Mike Leach sent away his defensive coordinator and replaced him with Ruffin McNeill. It’s a difficult business that these trainers have chosen, and job security is not one of their requirements. I dare say the pressure is on DeRuyter at this point, and if we have a complete defensive fiasco in Fort Worth this weekend…