Texas Tech walked out of Lubbock with a 28-26 win over then-No. 22 Houston, and that part is hard to argue with. But even in a victory that counted as a marquee one, the Red Raiders left plenty on the table offensively.
The numbers say Tech moved the ball well enough. The Red Raiders piled up 425 yards and averaged 7.08 yards per play against one of the better defenses in the Big 12. The problem is that “good” is not the same thing as dangerous, and this offense is going to need more danger if it wants to keep pace with what lies ahead.
A big piece of that answer is simple: get the ball to J'Koby Williams and Terrance Cater Jr. more often.
Against Houston, the two best playmakers on the roster combined for only 12 touches. Williams got seven of them.
Together, they produced 110 yards, which works out to 9.1 yards per play. In other words, when Texas Tech fed either one of them, the offense was almost picking up a first down every snap.
That kind of efficiency isn’t a one-game fluke, either. This season, Tech has averaged 6.8 yards per play when Williams or Carter touches the ball. That’s the kind of number that should make the Red Raiders want to build more of the offense around those two as often as possible.
It’s especially important because this year’s team doesn’t look like last year’s version, when Tech was among the top five teams nationally in plays of 20 yards or more. The explosive element hasn’t been as consistent this fall, and that makes Williams and Carter even more valuable. They may be the best matchup problems Texas Tech has, so the path forward feels pretty clear: lean on them.
The way they fit into the offense only strengthens that argument. Williams is a running back, Carter is a tight end, and both give quarterback Will Hammond relatively straightforward ways to get the ball out.
Hand it to Williams. Work Carter in the flats or over the middle.
Those are cleaner, higher-percentage options than forcing the ball outside the numbers or deeper downfield to the receivers.
So why did they only get 12 touches between them against Houston? There are a few reasons.
Texas Tech simply didn’t run a ton of plays. Houston controlled the ball for 33:42, while the Red Raiders had it for 26:18, and that cut into the number of chances available for everyone on offense.
Carter also may not have been close to full strength. He was a game-time decision and spent the week in a walking boot, so it’s fair to think he wasn’t operating at his normal level.
Even then, he had a chance to change the game when he dropped a third-down pass on Tech’s second drive. If he makes that catch, there’s a strong chance it turns into a touchdown, or at the very least a major gain with only one defender in the area.
Then there was the way the game played out late. Texas Tech became more comfortable leaning on Cam Dickey, a bigger and more physical back than Williams, as the Red Raiders tried to protect the lead and drain the clock over the final three drives. Dickey finished with ten carries in that stretch, while Williams got just two.
Still, Williams was effective every time he got the ball. He averaged 8.9 yards per rush against Houston, which makes it harder to understand why he didn’t touch the ball until 1:13 remained in the first quarter, even though Tech had already run four plays before that point.
The next game against Sam Houston may not demand much from the Red Raider offense, and Carter’s status is worth watching after he was seen limping off the field following Houston’s failed onside kick at the end of Friday’s game. But once Big 12 play picks back up, Texas Tech has to find a way to feature its two best offensive weapons much more consistently.
They’re both game-changers. This offense needs more of that if it wants to look like a championship-caliber unit.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Just Made An O-Line Change Fans Have Wanted
A day after Texas Tech found a little more life on the ground against Houston, the Red Raiders made a move fans had been calling for along the offensive line. Cash Cleveland has been named the starting left guard, taking over for Hunter Zambrano after his impactful showing helped steady a rushing attack that had been underperforming for much of the season.
For a team still looking to establish more balance on offense, the switch carries obvious weight heading into the matchup with Sam Houston. The hope in Lubbock is that Clevelands promotion gives the front five a better rhythm and helps the Red Raiders build on what they started to show last week, even if the real test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Faces A Tough Terrance Carter Jr. Decision This Week
Terrance Carter Jr. is back in the conversation for Texas Tech just as the schedule starts to get more serious. The tight end made his season debut against Houston after missing the opening stretch with a foot injury, and his track record in past years has made him an important piece whenever hes available. Now the Red Raiders are trying to balance what he can give them against the risk of pushing him too soon.
For Week 4 against Sam Houston State, Carter is listed as a game-time decision, which leaves the staff with a familiar late-week dilemma. Texas Tech has to decide whether to use him now or protect him for the Big 12 games ahead, where his health could matter far more than a single nonconference matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Just Sent A Message Fans Have Been Waiting For
Texas Techs climb in the AP poll gave the Red Raiders another sign that the buzz around this start is becoming harder to ignore. After taking down No. 22 Houston 28-26 in their Big 12 opener, Joey McGuires team moved up two spots to No. 11, while Houston fell three places to No. 25. It was the kind of result that carries more weight in September than a simple conference win, because it came against a ranked opponent and on a stage where early momentum can shape the rest of the league race.
McGuire pointed to the groups resilience and to key contributions across the roster as reasons Texas Tech held on in a tight finish. For the Red Raiders, the ranking bump is nice, but the bigger takeaway is what it says about where this team stands now: they can take a punch, answer back and leave a ranked opponent with a loss in a game that mattered. The challenge, as always, is turning that kind of performance into something they can keep stacking. [Read more 🡒]