By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The date of Oct. 29, 2022 has been marked on the Baylor calendar decked with nostalgia but offset by the determination to win.
Baylor and head coach Dave Aranda travel to the South Plains to take on old friend, former BU associate head coach and new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders.
The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at AT&T Jones Stadium (ESPN2). A look the Red Raiders followed by out Q&A with Justin Apodaca of our Texas Tech Rivals affiliate, RedRaiderSports.com
Opponent: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Head Coach: Joey McGuire (1st year)
2022 Record: 4-3, 2-2
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 40-39-1
Returning Starters: 5 offense, 5 defense
Key Returners: QB Tyler Shough, WR Myles Price, RB SaRodorick Thompson, RB Tajh Brooks, DL Tyree Wilson, S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, LB/S Reggie Pearson
Common Denominator:
• Texas Tech Inside linebackers coach Josh Bookbinder served as the quality control coach for the Bears for the last three seasons also served as a student assistant from 2007-08 before joining the Red Raiders. He is the grandson of legendary Baylor head coach Grant Teaff.
• Tech tight ends coach Josh Cochran served as the quality control coach at Baylor in 2019 after two seasons as the offensive line graduate assistant (2017-18).
• Texas Tech’s head strength coach Lance Barlow served as the senior associate director of athletics performance at Baylor in 2021.
• Quintin Jordan, the director of football operations at Texas Tech, spent the last four years at Baylor, including time as the associate director of student-athlete development in 2018, director of football administration in 2019, and as director of football operations under Aranda in 2020.
• Director of Player Personnel at Texas Tech, James Blanchard, served as the director of recruiting at Baylor in 2019 and 2020 and as the assistant athletics director for scouting in 2021.
• Texas Tech’s director of scouting, Brian Nance, spent three years on the Baylor staff as assistant director of football operations in 2019 and the previous two seasons as associate director of player personnel. He played at Baylor from 2014-17, where he saw action in 38 games with 10 starts on the defensive line, totaling 33 tackles, 8.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2017.
• Baylor Assistant AD for Football Scouting, Aaron Hunt, was an All-American and All-Big 12 defensive lineman at Texas Tech (1999-2002). Hunt set the Texas Tech and Big 12 record with 34 career sacks. He joined the Baylor staff in January 2021 as a recruiting and personnel assistant.
Offensive Formation: Multiple
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
About Texas Tech on Offense: While starting QB Tyler Shough is making his way back from a shoulder injury, freshman Behren Morton has run the offense with an impressive start. He’s thrown for 886 yards and is expected to make his third consecutive start. Donovan Smith should see some time. He’s thrown for more than 1,500 yards. The running game isn’t that effective averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. Veteran SaRodorick Thompson leads the way at 369 yards. Tahj Brooks has 322. This is offense is basically 4-to-1 pass to run. There are seven different receivers who have caught at least 17 passes. Xavier White (409, 13.2 3 TD) and Jerand Bradley (359, 13.3, 3 TD) are the biggest targets. The offensive line has surrendered 24 sacks. But consider that Tech has run 372 passing plays vs. 254 running plays. However, Tech QBs have thrown 10 INTs including two which have been Pick6s.
About Texas Tech on Defense: This isn’t the same Tech where the offense is explosive, but the defensive is implosive. The Red Raiders are third in the Big 12 in total defense at 354 yards and second in pass defense at 219 yards. Tech has done a decent job getting after the QB with 16 sacks and has created 10 turnovers with five FR and five INT. Senior LB Krishon Merriweather leads the team with 56 tackles. However, Texas A&M LB transfer Tyree Wilson has settled in and leads the team with six sacks. Wisconsin DB transfer Reggie Pearson has a pair of INT and brings a ball-hawking mentality. UCLA DB transfer Rayshad Williams has seven PBUs.
About Texas Tech on Special Teams: Nothing special in the kick and punt returns. White is the primary kick returner. The Red Raiders have used several in punt returns. Austin McNamara is having a very good punting season at 44 yards per effort including seven that have traveled 50+ yards. Trey Wolff is the No. 1 kicker. He hasn’t missed a PAT and is 10-13 on field goals and is a respectable 4-7 on attempts between 40-51 yards. He does have 51-yarder to his credit.
Bottom Line: Tech is a better defensive team. Offensively, the Red Raiders can move it, but like Baylor they have a turnover problem at -3 in the turnover ratio. Because they are a better defensive team, they won’t surrender yards as easily.
Q&A with Red Raider Sports.com Justin Apodaca
SicEmSports: Joey McGuire has tried to keep this game with Baylor on an even keel. But given his history with BU, what do you think this game means to him?
JA: As you mentioned, McGuire wanted to keep this storyline buried, but I'm fairly certain that it will be a big deal to him. He has mentioned his relationship with Coach Aranda multiple times this season and how his time at Baylor revitalized his career. The players know it too, as Matt Keeler, the RT who filled in for the injured Monroe Mills, spoke about the situation saying that all of the guys in the locker room want to show out for McGuire.
SicEmSports: Give an overall synopsis of McGuire's first year. Has it been about what everyone expected? Beyond? Less than?
JA: McGuire has exceeded expectations for this roster for a lot of people here. The Red Raiders identity under McGuire has been to be extremely hard working and competitive and it has shown on the field with multiple comebacks from multiple scores this season. This Texas Tech team never quits and it's made folks happy around Lubbock.
SicEmSports: Behren Morton has slid in nicely at QB with a pair of 300+ games, what's helped the transition and is the starting job his? I assume he starts Saturday.
JA: Morton wasn't outright named the starter as McGuire said that the returning Tyler Shough will compete with Morton for the job this week. Shough is coming off a shoulder injury that occured against Murray State on opening night. However, I personally believe they roll with Morton who has moved the offense exceptionally using his great arm talent and his ability to move with tempo.
SicEmSports: What's been notable about Tech's defense?
JA: The biggest key for the Tech defense has been Tyree Wilson off the edge. The likely first round pick has been key in stopping the run and getting in the backfield. Another key to the defense has been the secondary's development. With the likes of Malik Dunlap, Rayshad Williams, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, & Marquis Waters the Red Raiders have drastically improved over the top and have played much better than the stats portray. The only struggle at times for the defense has been tackling in open space.
SicEmSports: In Tech's wins, what's been the common denominators?
JA: Limiting turnovers on offense has been the biggest key. In their three losses, the Red Raiders have turned the ball over nine times, which isn't a winning formula. Donovan Smith really struggled with turnovers while in at quarterback and was a big part of the struggles in Raleigh. Since the implementation of Morton, the offense has opened up while the Tech defense has been consistent this season, other than their worst performance of the season against Kansas State in Manhattan.
SicEmSports: For Tech to win, what will it have to do?
JA: The Red Raiders will have to win the turnover battle while keeping the running back room for the Bears in check. I believe Tech will try to make Shapen beat them in the air this weekend. On offense, the key starts with Behren Morton, in my opinion. Morton needs to get the start to avoid the uncertainty of the returning Tyler Shough. The Red Raiders are getting back one of their best receivers in Myles Price this weekend and I expect more of the same from the Tech offense pace-wise if Morton is the quarterback. If Tech can continue their momentum after the stomping of West Virginia, they should be in good shape.
Publisher
The date of Oct. 29, 2022 has been marked on the Baylor calendar decked with nostalgia but offset by the determination to win.
Baylor and head coach Dave Aranda travel to the South Plains to take on old friend, former BU associate head coach and new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders.
The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at AT&T Jones Stadium (ESPN2). A look the Red Raiders followed by out Q&A with Justin Apodaca of our Texas Tech Rivals affiliate, RedRaiderSports.com
Opponent: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Head Coach: Joey McGuire (1st year)
2022 Record: 4-3, 2-2
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 40-39-1
Returning Starters: 5 offense, 5 defense
Key Returners: QB Tyler Shough, WR Myles Price, RB SaRodorick Thompson, RB Tajh Brooks, DL Tyree Wilson, S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, LB/S Reggie Pearson
Common Denominator:
• Texas Tech Inside linebackers coach Josh Bookbinder served as the quality control coach for the Bears for the last three seasons also served as a student assistant from 2007-08 before joining the Red Raiders. He is the grandson of legendary Baylor head coach Grant Teaff.
• Tech tight ends coach Josh Cochran served as the quality control coach at Baylor in 2019 after two seasons as the offensive line graduate assistant (2017-18).
• Texas Tech’s head strength coach Lance Barlow served as the senior associate director of athletics performance at Baylor in 2021.
• Quintin Jordan, the director of football operations at Texas Tech, spent the last four years at Baylor, including time as the associate director of student-athlete development in 2018, director of football administration in 2019, and as director of football operations under Aranda in 2020.
• Director of Player Personnel at Texas Tech, James Blanchard, served as the director of recruiting at Baylor in 2019 and 2020 and as the assistant athletics director for scouting in 2021.
• Texas Tech’s director of scouting, Brian Nance, spent three years on the Baylor staff as assistant director of football operations in 2019 and the previous two seasons as associate director of player personnel. He played at Baylor from 2014-17, where he saw action in 38 games with 10 starts on the defensive line, totaling 33 tackles, 8.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2017.
• Baylor Assistant AD for Football Scouting, Aaron Hunt, was an All-American and All-Big 12 defensive lineman at Texas Tech (1999-2002). Hunt set the Texas Tech and Big 12 record with 34 career sacks. He joined the Baylor staff in January 2021 as a recruiting and personnel assistant.
Offensive Formation: Multiple
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
About Texas Tech on Offense: While starting QB Tyler Shough is making his way back from a shoulder injury, freshman Behren Morton has run the offense with an impressive start. He’s thrown for 886 yards and is expected to make his third consecutive start. Donovan Smith should see some time. He’s thrown for more than 1,500 yards. The running game isn’t that effective averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. Veteran SaRodorick Thompson leads the way at 369 yards. Tahj Brooks has 322. This is offense is basically 4-to-1 pass to run. There are seven different receivers who have caught at least 17 passes. Xavier White (409, 13.2 3 TD) and Jerand Bradley (359, 13.3, 3 TD) are the biggest targets. The offensive line has surrendered 24 sacks. But consider that Tech has run 372 passing plays vs. 254 running plays. However, Tech QBs have thrown 10 INTs including two which have been Pick6s.
About Texas Tech on Defense: This isn’t the same Tech where the offense is explosive, but the defensive is implosive. The Red Raiders are third in the Big 12 in total defense at 354 yards and second in pass defense at 219 yards. Tech has done a decent job getting after the QB with 16 sacks and has created 10 turnovers with five FR and five INT. Senior LB Krishon Merriweather leads the team with 56 tackles. However, Texas A&M LB transfer Tyree Wilson has settled in and leads the team with six sacks. Wisconsin DB transfer Reggie Pearson has a pair of INT and brings a ball-hawking mentality. UCLA DB transfer Rayshad Williams has seven PBUs.
About Texas Tech on Special Teams: Nothing special in the kick and punt returns. White is the primary kick returner. The Red Raiders have used several in punt returns. Austin McNamara is having a very good punting season at 44 yards per effort including seven that have traveled 50+ yards. Trey Wolff is the No. 1 kicker. He hasn’t missed a PAT and is 10-13 on field goals and is a respectable 4-7 on attempts between 40-51 yards. He does have 51-yarder to his credit.
Bottom Line: Tech is a better defensive team. Offensively, the Red Raiders can move it, but like Baylor they have a turnover problem at -3 in the turnover ratio. Because they are a better defensive team, they won’t surrender yards as easily.
Q&A with Red Raider Sports.com Justin Apodaca
SicEmSports: Joey McGuire has tried to keep this game with Baylor on an even keel. But given his history with BU, what do you think this game means to him?
JA: As you mentioned, McGuire wanted to keep this storyline buried, but I'm fairly certain that it will be a big deal to him. He has mentioned his relationship with Coach Aranda multiple times this season and how his time at Baylor revitalized his career. The players know it too, as Matt Keeler, the RT who filled in for the injured Monroe Mills, spoke about the situation saying that all of the guys in the locker room want to show out for McGuire.
SicEmSports: Give an overall synopsis of McGuire's first year. Has it been about what everyone expected? Beyond? Less than?
JA: McGuire has exceeded expectations for this roster for a lot of people here. The Red Raiders identity under McGuire has been to be extremely hard working and competitive and it has shown on the field with multiple comebacks from multiple scores this season. This Texas Tech team never quits and it's made folks happy around Lubbock.
SicEmSports: Behren Morton has slid in nicely at QB with a pair of 300+ games, what's helped the transition and is the starting job his? I assume he starts Saturday.
JA: Morton wasn't outright named the starter as McGuire said that the returning Tyler Shough will compete with Morton for the job this week. Shough is coming off a shoulder injury that occured against Murray State on opening night. However, I personally believe they roll with Morton who has moved the offense exceptionally using his great arm talent and his ability to move with tempo.
SicEmSports: What's been notable about Tech's defense?
JA: The biggest key for the Tech defense has been Tyree Wilson off the edge. The likely first round pick has been key in stopping the run and getting in the backfield. Another key to the defense has been the secondary's development. With the likes of Malik Dunlap, Rayshad Williams, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, & Marquis Waters the Red Raiders have drastically improved over the top and have played much better than the stats portray. The only struggle at times for the defense has been tackling in open space.
SicEmSports: In Tech's wins, what's been the common denominators?
JA: Limiting turnovers on offense has been the biggest key. In their three losses, the Red Raiders have turned the ball over nine times, which isn't a winning formula. Donovan Smith really struggled with turnovers while in at quarterback and was a big part of the struggles in Raleigh. Since the implementation of Morton, the offense has opened up while the Tech defense has been consistent this season, other than their worst performance of the season against Kansas State in Manhattan.
SicEmSports: For Tech to win, what will it have to do?
JA: The Red Raiders will have to win the turnover battle while keeping the running back room for the Bears in check. I believe Tech will try to make Shapen beat them in the air this weekend. On offense, the key starts with Behren Morton, in my opinion. Morton needs to get the start to avoid the uncertainty of the returning Tyler Shough. The Red Raiders are getting back one of their best receivers in Myles Price this weekend and I expect more of the same from the Tech offense pace-wise if Morton is the quarterback. If Tech can continue their momentum after the stomping of West Virginia, they should be in good shape.
