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

Attack the middle of the offensive line

We just talked about how Texas Tech can struggle with mixed blitz packages conjured up in creative fashion in dropbacks on passing plays. But there is another aspect that Kwiatkowski can take advantage of this weekend. The weakest part of the Texas Tech offensive line lies at the guard positions.

Junior offensive guard Weston Wright has the second-lowest run-blocking grade on the team for Texas Tech this season. Wright even ranks lower than half of the Texas offensive line (among the usual starters this year) in run-blocking grade this year. The 6-foot-6 and 320-pound Wright usually plays along the left side of the line for the Red Raiders and is one of the slower-footed players in the trenches for this group.

While Wright has struggled in run-blocking at times this season for the Red Raiders, it doesn’t compare to the issues that the former Wofford transfer and redshirt senior right guard Josh Burger had at the outset this season.

The good news for Tech is that Burger hasn’t struggled in pass protection as much as usual through three games. But last season, Burger allowed a whopping 24 quarterback pressures on just over 100 snaps on passing plays. This is an area where Kwiatkowski and Sark should identify to attack this offense and blow up some more plays in the backfield.

Senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and senior nose tackle Keondre Coburn are two players that really need to take advantage of the prone offensive line up the middle for Tech. Both Overshown and Coburn have struggled in terms of overall efficiency this fall out of the gates.