We can hold off sounding the alarm this week (at least) after the Texas Tech football team got its act together in the second half and stomped Colorado 29-7 to remain undefeated on the season.
Now the Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0)have their open date in the schedule, which comes at an ideal time before the schedule gets harder. With a break in the action, there's a laundry list of things Joey McGuire and his staff have to get figured out.
We wanted to offer our help in sorting through that to-do list. Here's what Texas Tech needs to do before it plays its next game.
What Texas Tech football must improve during open date
Any offensive improvement
We'll keep the main thing simple, but there are layers to this. Texas Tech's offense is a mess right now. It's not one thing or another, it's a mix of everything.
Will Hammond trusts only two
receivers: Kenny Johnson and Terrance Carter Jr. Mack Leftwich, yes, is calling too many runs to counter that, but the offensive line isn't good enough in the run game right now, and Quinten Joyner has been too inconsistent when his number is called.
Faster starts on both sides of the ball
Texas Tech's had a knack for getting down early and responding. As pointed out last week, that's going to cost them against better teams (if not Arizona State, then Arizona or Baylor or Oklahoma State). This goes for both sides of the ball.
Over the last three games, Texas Tech has outscored opponents 68-9 in the second half while the first halves of those games are tied 38-38.
Figure out the pass rush
The defense hasn't been awful, but it's nowhere close to last year's elite level. It was never going to get there, but the dip has been very noticeable. With everything, it starts with the pass rush. It just isn't there right now, and it puts a strain on the rest of the defense.
Find an identity
Through five games this season, it's fair to say we still don't really have a good way to explain the Red Raiders. They're not particularly great at anything but solid enough to be undefeated. What is their calling card? Do they have one? Are they even capable of having one?
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football must focus on these things during open date
