Texas Football: 3 weaknesses Sarkisian can exploit vs. Texas Tech

Take advantage of missed tackles along Tech’s defensive front

A theme for the Red Raiders so far this season is playing from behind. Texas Tech has come from behind in each of the three wins thus far. That included what amounted to a goal-line stand win over FCS Stephen F. Austin.

But there are aspects to both Texas and Texas Tech that aren’t so great from the first few weeks of the season. And there’s a lot on the line for both teams heading into the Big 12 opener.

One aspect for the Red Raiders that the Longhorns have to be waiting to pick on for the defensive side of the ball this weekend is the missed tackles. Texas Tech has three defensive linemen with at least two missed tackles apiece, and two linebackers that each have three missed tackles on the season so far.

This is an area that Sark and the Longhorns should really be able to exploit out of the gates. With how slow the Red Raiders have started a lot of games this season, Texas should be able to get off on the right foot with star sophomore running back Bijan Robinson.

Texas looked great on the ground against Rice last weekend, with nearly 430 total rushing yards as a team. Bijan, Roschon Johnson, Keilan Robinson, and Jonathon Brooks were all studs last week. And even though the Texas offense struggled mightily most of the way against Arkansas, Bijan still forced more than five missed tackles.

As a run defense, Texas Tech was actually pretty solid in the first three games. But those three wins were against Houston, FIU, and SFA. None of those three teams boast near the rushing strength that the Longhorns do heading into this game.