Our series previewing Texas Tech’s 2017 season continues with game two against Arizona State on September 16 after an oddly-timed bye in week two (September 9).
Last year, the Red Raiders traveled to Tempe to take on Arizona State. There was some good and some bad for Tech. The good; they scored 55 points on the road against a Power 5 opponent. The bad; they gave up 68 points, including an NCAA record eight touchdowns to Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage.
It was a fitting prequel to the rest of Texas Tech’s season, as they ultimately finished with the nation’s top offense as well as its worst defense. While Eastern Washington is no push over, the Arizona State game provides Tech with a benchmark against a similar Power 5 program and could offer some insight as to how good Tech will be in 2017.
After starting 5-1 in 2016, the Sun Devils lost six straight to finish at a disappointing 5-7 and missed out on a bowl game. Texas Tech also wound up 5-7 and was similarly disappointed as expectations were higher going into the year.
This is the only Power 5 non-conference game for both teams, so we should see two squads that are motivated to prove something early in the season. The winner should feel pretty optimistic about improving on last year’s results.
One has to imagine that Arizona State will try to run the ball early and often against Texas Tech. To say that such a strategy worked last year is an understatement, and it makes sense that the Sun Devils will test Tech to see if their defensive front has improved since last season. Coupled with their success running the ball last year is the fact that Arizona State has a quarterback battle going into fall camp between last year’s starter Manny Wilkins and Alabama transfer Blake Barnett. If the QB position is still somewhat unresolved or unproven, ASU could rely even more heavily on the run.
The number one factor in determining the outcome of this game will be Arizona State’s running game against Texas Tech’s front seven.
For fans in Lubbock, there is reason for some optimism. Last season, Jordyn Brooks was a true freshman playing in his second ever collegiate game when Arizona State ran all over the Red Raider defense. Now he enters his second year as a starter and holds the honor of being a Freshman All-American from 2016. The linebacker position should be further improved by the return of Dakota Allen, who was the second leading tackler for Tech in 2015 before spending 2016 at East Mississippi Community College.
Furthermore, the defensive line should be improved from last year. Broderick Washington showed a ton of promise as a freshman at defensive tackle and will be a starter in 2017. Coaches have raved all offseason about Eli Howard, who is projected to start at defensive end after sitting out in 2016 due to NCAA transfer rules.
This game will be a critical measuring stick for Texas Tech and it should answer a question that may hold the key for the Red Raiders in 2017: has the defense, specifically the run defense, improved in a meaningful way from 2016? This question has been asked each year during head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s tenure. If the answer is finally “yes,” Tech may exceed all expectations in 2017. For me, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Arizona State 49, Texas Tech 34
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