Texas Tech Football: 5 Fixes Matt Wells’ must make in first season

1. Texas Tech needs massive improvements defensively 

The quickest path to an improved 2019 is to make steadfast improvements on the defensive side of the ball. Regardless of all the other things that Texas Tech needs to do, they’ll still find themselves struggling to make a bowl game unless they can field a competent defense.

The Red Raiders ranked 104th in the nation in 2018 in opposing yards per play, giving up over six yards per snap.

Improvement will be tough without star LB Dakota Allen who has exhausted his eligibility. He was the main impetus for the slight improvement Tech saw over the last couple of years. Replacing his leadership and play-making ability in the middle of the defense will be tough.

There’s some returning talent, however, particularly on the defensive line led by rising junior Eli Howard. There should be schematic improvements as well, with Wells bringing more focused attention to the defensive side of the ball than the previous regime.

Wells brought his defensive coordinator Keith Patterson with him to Lubbock, and they teamed together last year to field the nation’s 30th best defense in opposing yards per play.

The improvements won’t be night and day for Tech because more talent will be needed for the Red Raiders to field an above-average defensive unit. But Wells and Patterson will in the very least have the players in position to make more plays in 2019, and the mental errors that plagued the team over the last few seasons should evaporate.

A slightly improved defense, reduced mental errors, and a healthy Alan Bowman could lead Texas Tech to an improved season that sees them finish with their first winning season since 2015.