Red Raider report card against Iowa State

by admin

Joe Yeager for Inside the Red Raiders

Texas Tech lost at Iowa State by “only” 16 points, but it felt like a true Brooklyn stomping. There was little good that came from this game for the Red Raiders and the report card reflects that fact.

Quarterbacks: D – The only reason the grade here isn’t an F is because Henry Colombi was belatedly inserted into the game and performed admirably. Alan Bowman, who played three-and-a-half feckless quarters, was a complete disaster.

Running Backs: D- — SaRodorick Thompson was no more effective than Bowman, and Xavier White wasn’t a whole lot better. Thompson did a great Gregory Hines impersonation in the backfield, and went east and west when he should have gone downhill. Thompson and White combined for seven receptions for 34 yards. The offensive line didn’t help Thompson and White out one bit.

Receivers: C- — Funny, but once Henry Colombi entered the game, the receivers began to look pretty good! All except for T. J. Vasher who was a total no-show. KeSean Carter was missed. Myles Price and Dalton Rigdon didn’t make much impact in his stead. Ja’Lynn Polk and Erik Ezukanma had solid games. The latter scored Tech’s lone offensive touchdowns. John Holcomb caught a career best three balls, but Travis Koontz must have been hanging out at the water cooler with Vasher.

Offensive Line: D+ — Pass protection was a bit above average, but run blocking was as bad as it gets.

Defensive Line: D- — Iowa State shoved this unit around the field for most of the afternoon. Eli Howard got walled off all too often. Jaylon Hutchings and Tyree Wilson were not factors. Despite the fact that Iowa State attempted 43 passes, Texas Tech did not record a sack and managed only four quarterback hurries. Tony Bradford was the exception. He had perhaps his best game as a Red Raider with eight tackles, one TFL and two quarterback hurries.

Linebackers: F – The strength of Texas Tech’s team was invisible against Iowa State except for when the linebackers were getting burnt in coverage. It was hoped Jacob Morgenstern would be a major help against the Cyclone tight ends, but he was only so-so. Brandon Bouyer-Randle was out of position all afternoon. Riko Jeffers and Krishon Merriweather spent most of the afternoon flat on their backs.

Secondary: D+ – Zech McPhearson and Damarcus Fields played very well. McPhearson returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown and recovered a fumble, which was forced by safety Eric Monroe. Fields was very good in coverage and also in run support. Monroe bounced back from an awful effort at Kansas State by recording 12 stops along with the forced fumble. However, the bottom line is that Brock Purdy completed 74 percent of his passes for 302 yards and Tech didn’t intercept him once. Moreover, the Cyclones aren’t exactly the greatest show on turf.

Special Teams: C+ — The blocked field goal and return for a touchdown should have been a huge play, but was merely a speedbump for the Cyclones. Austin McNamara punted well, but Trey Wolff’s kickoffs were mediocre and penalties wiped out a pair of decent Texas Tech kickoff returns. Kickoff coverage was hardly terrific either.

Coaching: F – Keith Patterson made some adjustments to help his defense at least partially contain ISU’s rushing attack, but that is overwhelmed by the foolish decision to start Alan Bowman and the ludicrous choice to stick with him drive after failed drive. Top that off with running the clock out to close the first half despite desperately needing a score and some momentum, and the coaching staff shamed itself. Again.

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