The inside linebackers, led by Ben Roberts and Jacob Rodriguez, are the on short list of position groups inspiring the most confidence on the Texas Tech football team going into the 2024 season. Roberts earned freshman all-America recognition after making 107 tackles last season, and Rodriguez was voted the most outstanding defensive player of the Independence Bowl.

Is there room for improvement? You bet.

They left something to be desired as pass rushers. So did all the inside linebackers. From that position last season, the Red Raiders got one-half sack apiece from three players.

"They weren't super happy about it," Roberts said last week, "but it's a hard thing to get a sack, and this year it's one of our focuses, becoming better pass rushers. Yeah, we're going to be good pass droppers (into coverage), but the biggest thing for me and Jacob right now is becoming better pass rushers."

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Vigorous debate came from Texas Tech football staff's February review

In February, the Tech coaching staff rewatched every game from the 2023 season. Joey McGuire said the purpose was to identify what the Red Raiders do well, what they don't do well — as a team and as individual players — and course correct accordingly during the spring and summer.

They sparked "some heated arguments," McGuire said, and came to many conclusions. Regarding the inside linebackers, they asked themselves a question: Should they work on Roberts and Rodriguez developing pass-rush techniques? Or should they not ask them to do something they're not cut out to do?

"We had 1.5 sacks from the inside linebacker position," McGuire said. "OK, they're not good pass rushers. So either we're going to have to bring one more — instead of bringing four, bring five or six. Now that puts pressure on the secondary. Awesome. Or don't rush the linebackers."

McGuire said coaches have "comfort calls." You have confidence in them. You know where the personnel are going to be.

"We have a call called Giants that's a big pressure with the linebackers," McGuire said. "(Defensive coordinator Tim) DeRuyter really likes that call. It's a good run call, but he also likes it against the pass. So I said, 'If that's the case, then in practice we're going to have to change how we're practicing, to help the linebackers be more effective in pass rush, or don't call it as much as what you do.' "

Roberts was a high-school safety who filled out considerably to his current 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. Rodriguez spent much of his football life as a skill-position player, including quarterback in high school, and now is 6-1 and 230.

Asked if they're more comfortable dropping into coverage, then redirecting to the ball, McGuire said, "No doubt. They feel more comfortable. Now, I think they came a long way in the spring. But they feel more comfortable dropping and then redirecting."

"I love coverage," Roberts said, "because it's what makes most sense in my head. When it comes to rushing the passer, that's a whole new thing to me. Last year was really the first year I've ever done it. So hopefully this year we can be better at it."

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How Texas Tech football went about refining pass-rush moves from its inside linebackers

While McGuire was on staff at Baylor, Bears linebacker Terrel Bernard racked up 16.5 sacks, all but one coming in his last three seasons. Bernard received first- or second-team all-Big 12 recognition each of those three seasons, then became a third-round draft choice and a starter for the Buffalo Bills.

McGuire said Bernard was a natural pass rusher. He thinks Tech linebacker Mike Dingle can be, too. It's also a strong suit for linebacker Bryce Ramirez, who's played on the edge in the past.

McGuire's not given up on the rest of the group developing the skills needed to get to the quarterback.

Tech devoted time this spring, McGuire said, to one-on-one pass-rush drills that pitted linebackers against running backs, the pass protectors they often encounter.

"You only have so much time to practice," McGuire said, "and the linebackers have a lot on their plate. How can we get extra reps? ... It's not good enough to just say, 'Hey, this call, they're going to come free. The call's going to make them come free.' Well, if you're playing a good offensive line, the call's not going to make them come free. What's going to make them come free is their technique in rushing the passer."

Roberts has been made well aware. And so he works at it.

"It's just working the same thing over and over," he said. "First steps. I know there's going to be a big emphasis on it in our indies (individual drills) or just through walkthroughs, making sure you're doing every little thing — you're getting your chop, your rip, your reach in walkthrough. Even though there's nobody you're going against, you're just working those movements."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football rethinks approach for Ben Roberts, Jacob Rodriguez