2018 Texas Tech Offense Preview

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Expectations were modest for Texas Tech’s offense a year ago when Pat Mahomes left and Nic Shimonek replaced him. But the Red Raiders only dropped 13 places in offensive yards per play, from No. 20 to No. 33.

So maybe the Red Raiders have youth at quarterback this year — the entire roster has just 48 career pass attempts — but underestimate this group of unknowns at your own risk. 

“There’s no one on this offense that’s an established player,” Texas Tech tackle Travis Bruffy said. “But we have people who have as much talent as anyone who’s been here the whole time I’ve been here. I know the kind of players they can be. And I can’t wait to see who they become.”

Sophomore Jett Duffey, junior McLane Carter and freshman Alan Bowman will compete for the job in preseason camp.

“You see flashes of greatness from all three of them,” Bruffy said.

They’ll have a wealth of young targets to throw to, led by 6-6, 190-pound T.J. Vasher and junior Quan Shorts. Running backs Tre King and Da’Leon Ward lead that group. King led the team in rushing a year ago and Ward did it as a freshman in 2016 before missing all of last year with academic issues and a knee injury.

But the strength of the unit lies up front with an offensive line that grew up in 2017 and returns all five starters for this season. Guard Jack Anderson emerged as one of the Big 12’s best offensive linemen as a true freshman.

“With a young quarterback, keeping him comfortable and letting him play his game is a huge factor,” Bruffy said. “If we’re letting people run by us, you could have Aaron Rodgers back there and we wouldn’t win games.”

With so much youth and turnover elsewhere on the depth chart, Bruffy, Anderson and the rest of the offensive line are excited to shoulder the load.

“(Kingsbury is) as good a quarterbacks coach as there is in football, period,” defensive coordinator David Gibbs said. “Pro and college. And he’s also a really good playcaller, which has been proven over time. This spring, they were searching for an identity.

“And I think they found one.”

 

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