Texas Tech football defense breakdown: What's known, what's to be determined
Tim DeRuyter has given Texas Tech football followers reason to feel confident in his work as defensive coordinator.
The Red Raiders' points-per-game yield has decreased three years in a row, and to a 14-season low of 26.0 points per game allowed last year. That figure and the 29.15 points per game the Red Raiders gave up in 2022 mark the first time Tech's yielded fewer than 30 points per game in back-to-back seasons since 2008 and 2009, when the opponent averages were 26.85 and 23.23, respectively.
Not coincidentally, the 2008 and 2009 teams went a combined 20-6. If the Red Raiders are going to get back to that level, as they hope to this season with a favorable schedule, they need to continue the positive trend on defense.
Is that doable? The 2024 season will be DeRuyter's third with the Red Raiders after he came in from Oregon. He has his work cut out for him, trying to seamlessly move on with a defense that lost six multi-year starters, including three in the secondary and two at defensive tackle.
Let's take a closer look, position-by-position.
More: Texas Tech football offense breakdown: What's known, what's to be determined
More: Texas Tech football season starts Aug. 31. What's the status of agreement with adidas?
Defensive line
Projected starters: DE Isaac Smith, Jr.; NT Quincy Ledet, Sr.; DT Dooda Banks, Jr.; DE Joseph Adedire, Jr.
Primary depth: DE Charles Esters, Jr.; DE Amier Washington, Jr.; NT Jayden Cofield, Fr.; NT James Hansen, Sr.; DT De'Braylon Carroll, Sr.; DT Trevon McAlpine, So.; DE Harvey Dyson, So.
In a nutshell: The Red Raiders are replacing full-time starters Myles Cole, Tony Bradford and Jaylon Hutchings and a part-time starter in Steve Linton. Bradford and Hutchings were longtime anchors at defensive tackle. The situation is perhaps not as foreboding as it sounds. The position groups of edge players especially and tackles to some extent are brimming with players who showed promise as underclassmen and now are stepping into bigger roles.
To be determined: Who's in the rotation and how deep does it go? Coaches have said they have seven playable defensive tackles. File that in the category of believe it when you see it. None of the seven is a proven power-conference difference maker. Ledet, Carroll and Hansen all transferred from Group of Five programs. Can they be more than rotation types? Edge players Smith, Adedire, Esters, Dyson and Washington all flashed potential as young players. Will one emerge as a force? From a tactical standpoint, coaches want to play more games — deploy twists, stunts, loops — to generate pressure in the middle that was lacking last year. How apparent will that be, and how much will it help?
Related: Texas Tech football's Isaac Smith eager to make up for lost time
Related: What's next for Texas Tech football's Amier Washington after breakout bowl game?
Linebackers
Projected starters: Field ILB Ben Roberts, So.; Boundary ILB Jacob Rodriguez, Jr.
Primary depth: Field ILB John Curry, Fr.; Boundary ILB Bryce Ramirez, Sr.; ILB Justin Horne, Fr.; ILB Wesley Smith, So.; ILB Trent Low, Jr.; ILB Mike Dingle, Fr.
In a nutshell: In Roberts and Rodriguez, Tech might have one of the best inside linebacker tandems in the conference. The depth is not bad either with Ramirez a seasoned veteran and Curry emerging less than two years after he signed.
To be determined: A foot injury in the opener cost Rodriguez eight games last season. He showed up, however, in the games he did play and was voted most outstanding defensive player of the Independence Bowl. It's not out of the question to think he can play at an all-Big 12 level, but that remains to be seen. Roberts registered 104 tackles last season, but for as productive as he and Rodriguez were, the position group produced only 1 1/2 sacks. After rewatching every game last season, McGuire decided the Red Raiders lack effective pass rushers at those spots and might be better served not asking them to blitz.
Related: The question Texas Tech football staff asked itself about Ben Roberts, Jacob Rodriguez
Related: Texas Tech football gets tips on tackling from across the pond
Defensive backs
Projected starters: CB Bralyn Lux, Sr.; Star S A.J. McCarty, Jr.; FS Chapman Lewis, So.; Boundary S Julien (C.J.) Baskerville, Sr.; CB Maurion Horn, So.
Primary depth: CB Jalon Peoples, So.; S Brenden Jordan, So.; FS Jordan Sanford, So.; FS Joseph Plunk, Sr.; Boundary S Javeon Wilcox, Fr.; S-CB Devynn Cromwell, Sr.
In a nutshell: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Malik Dunlap, Rayshad Williams and Tyler Owens made 103 college starts, most of them as Red Raiders, and finished their eligibility last year. The upshot: The Red Raiders' secondary is transitioning from a group of mostly fifth- and sixth-year seniors to a unit with more than a little youth and inexperience. They'll look to Lux and Baskerville to lead.
To be determined: Lux is the acknowledged No. 1 corner for the first time. He will measure up to the other team's top receiver every week, as Joey McGuire has said is the plan. McCarty, Lewis and Horn are all talented — and all first-time starters. Maybe it'll work out, but it's a set of circumstances fraught with potential for breakdowns.
Related: How Bralyn Lux approaches his last season as Texas Tech football No. 1 cornerback
Related: Brenden Jordan, A.J. McCarty battle for Texas Tech football safety spot in spring ball
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football defense analysis: What's known, what's unsettled
