Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson knows exactly what he’s up against. For years, defense at Texas Tech has been an afterthought, or even a laughingstock. A few years ago, Tech posted the second-worst yardage defense in the history of college football.

To shift the tide, Patterson quickly came into Lubbock with three pillars on defense: play with an attacking men- tality, teach sound fundamentals and build mental toughness. Simply competing isn’t good enough; Tech wants to get stops.

“I think it was completely different system, going from more of a pro style system to more of an attacking-style system, you get taught different techniques,” Patterson said. “Anytime you take over a defense, you try to change the mindset no matter what.”

Patterson will have help in the box, as three major playmakers are back. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is a bonafide leader on defense. The senior posted 84 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and six quarterback hurries for the Red Raiders last season but will have to produce without

NFL draft pick Dakota Allen. Eli Howard and Broderick Washington are back and expect Riko Jeffers and Nelson Mbanasor to play bigger roles.

Tech has been fielding a bend-don’t-break defense for the last several years, but Patterson wants to fight and try to shut teams down. During the spring, that was emphasized on the back end. Patterson is far more open to leaving defensive backs on an island and pressuring receivers off the block.

“You gotta challenge,” Patterson said. “In today’s football, if you give wide receivers free releases, I just like getting up and challenging guys with vertical releases and getting off the line of scrimmage and trying to keep our numbers right in the run and pass game.”

It takes a strong group of defensive backs to do that, but the building blocks are there. Cornerback Adrian Frye showed great potential as a freshman. Desmon Smith, Justus Parker and Damarcus Fields have also flashed brilliance. Penn State cornerback transfer Zechariah McPhearson and Cal safety Evan Rambo will add to the rotation right away.

The defense was heading in a positive direction before the new staff came in, but Matt Wells takes pride in being a balanced program. Expect to see that become a priority in the early days of the Wells era.