Through The Smoke: Diving Into Defense Numbers

First in the Big 12 and tied with Alabama for third nationally in scoring defense

Granted, the Red Raiders face much tougher tests from here on out starting with this weekend's game at Arizona, but it's hard not to be impressed by the numbers Tech's defense has put up in two games under defensive coordinator Keith Patterson. The defense has allowed just 13 points through two weeks, its best total since 1998. It nearly had its first shutout of an FBS team since 2005 before a UTEP field goal with 5:32 remaining snuck through the uprights.

Second nationally in third-down defense

You don't force that many three-and-outs without the ability to get off the field on third downs, and Texas Tech's opponents have only turned four of 31 third-down attempts into first downs. It's 12.9 success rate ranks second nationally behind only Big 12 peer Kansas State, which has only allowed one third down conversion in 17 chances this year.

Three-and-outs from the defense on 15-of-27 drives

While the Red Raiders haven't been able to create a turnover quite yet, part of that may be due to the fact that they've shut down their opponents' drives rather quickly. Only seven of Montana State's drives lasted longer than three plays. A week later, only five of UTEP's drives resulted in a first down. Thus, the Red Raiders are facing only 58.5 plays per game from its opponent, while averaging 86.5 plays themselves.

Four quick stats from Saturday against UTEP

The three points allowed was the fewest against an FBS team since 2006.
UTEP's 2.3 yards per play was the lowest clip for an FBS opponent dating back to 2000.
UTEP's 131 yards of total offense represented the second-fewest allowed against an FBS opponent dating back to 2000.
UTEP's 54 passing yards marked the fewest for an opponent since 2012 against Kansas.

Brooks ranks fifth among Power-5 tackling leaders

The senior linebacker has been all over the field for the Red Raiders, totaling 11 tackles in each of the first two games. He currently ranks 11^th nationally and second in the Big 12 for tackles per game. He has twice as many tackles already as any other Red Raider this year.

Sixth Sense "It's like they know the play before it's even ran."

The Tech front lived in the UTEP backfield last Saturday, led by Broderick Washington (3 tackles, sack, 2 QB hurries) and Jordyn Brooks (11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 QB hurries). Defensive back Douglas Coleman commented on Monday that the front has been so dominant that they haven't given the secondary any chances to make tackles. Here's a look at the numbers last week against UTEP.

1^st Quarter: 10-of-16 UTEP plays went for a loss or no gain. UTEP was 3-of-7 passing.
2^nd Quarter: 4-of-13 plays went for a loss or no gain. UTEP was 1-of-5 passing.
3^rd Quarter: 7-of-15 plays went for a loss or no gain. 1-of-5 passing
4^th Quarter: 3-of-14 plays went for a loss or no gain. UTEP was 2-of-2 passing.
Totals: 24 of UTEP's 58 plays went for a loss or no gain. That's 41%.

Seventh nationally in Passing Defense at 108.0 YPG

Texas Tech held UTEP to 7-of-19 passing on Saturday for 54 yards. The seven completions mark the lowest since allowing TCU to complete 6-of-17 passes in Lubbock in 2017. Montana State, meanwhile, completed just 50 percent of its passes on 24 attempts. The 44.2 completion percentage ranks as the best through two games since 2011 and the third-best by a Tech defense dating back to 2000. "Lock down" is a good way to put it. Between the 5:10 mark in the first quarter and 10:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, Tech caused incompletions on 10 of UTEP's 12 pass attempts.

Texas Tech flagged only eight times in first two games combined

Texas Tech has been flagged only four times in each of the first two games, the second-fewest for the Red Raiders to open a season since 2000 and the fewest since 2011. Tech enters this weekend ranked 18^th in the FBS for fewest penalties after closing the 2018 season at 110^th in the national rankings. The Red Raiders also rank 28^th in the FBS for fewest penalty yards per game (39.5).

Ninth nationally in total defense

The Red Raiders are giving up just 210.0 yards per game to opposing offenses, a mark that ranks second in the Big 12 and fifth among Power-5 teams. As noted above, UTEP's 131 yards of offense were the second-fewest Tech has allowed to an FBS school dating back to 2000. Breaking down the performance even further, Tech allowed just 53 yards of offense in the first half and 81 through three quarters. It wasn't until a 25-yard pass with 10:40 remaining that UTEP was able to eclipse 100 yards of total offense and make its only red zone appearance.

Red Raiders with five or more tackles: 10

While Brooks has been a force with 22 tackles, a swarm of defenders have been in on the action as well with 10 Red Raiders who have recorded five tackles or more in the first two games. Among those are four players, two redshirt freshmen in Xavier Benson and Jaylon Hutchings and two transfers in Adam Beck and Evan Rambo.

Texas Tech University Athletics

Through The Smoke: Diving Into Defense Numbers

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