After dealing with a rash of injuries, and five of the team’s current top receivers not being available during the spring, Texas Tech football’s Mack Leftwich and Justin Johnson are in agreement.
Their jobs are a whole lot easier with everybody at their disposal.
Projected starters Reggie Virgil, Coy Eakin and Caleb Douglas missed almost all of spring camp with different injuries. Each was released in time for the start of preseason camp a few weeks ago. But their absences made Leftwich’s job installing the offensive coordinator’s new scheme a bit tricky. Johnson, Tech’s receivers coach, also had his work cut out for him with a much younger, more inexperienced group.
While Virgil began preseason camp in a yellow no-contact jersey, he’s since been given the all-clear. Now, Leftwich and Johnson are seeing the full extent of talent they have on their hands.
“That’s been one of the biggest differences for sure for this fall camp, even the way we finished out spring, is just the depth of that position,” Leftwich said. “The guys we’re counting on, they’ve kind of proven themselves to be those guys, and I’m really encouraged by that.”
On top of the injuries to Virgil, Eakin and Douglas, Texas Tech also didn’t have Micah Hudson or Roy Alexander during the spring. Each transferred in during the offseason with different levels of adjustment.
For Alexander, the Incarnate Word transfer, it’s been about making an impression coming up from the FCS level. That hasn’t been a problem as coaches have raved about the super-senior’s abilities throughout camp.
Hudson’s situation is a bit different. Spending last season with the Red Raiders, the former five-star recruit transferred to Texas A&M in December before coming back to Lubbock in the spring. Not only did Hudson miss out on the crucial first few months learning Leftwich’s offense, he dealt with an injury through the first few practices and has been working his way back to form.
“He’s good,” Johnson said of Hudson. “He’s picking it up. He’s in there. He’s involved. I think that’s the same for all of the guys. He’s in the mix, picking it up, working his tail off. I’m very happy with where he’s at right now.”
In his breakdown of a projected depth chart before camp, head coach Joey McGuire listed Hudson as the backup to Virgil at X receiver. During practice viewing periods with the media present, Hudson has been bouncing between second- and third-string reps during drills, trading off with Tyson Turner depending on the day.
Leftwich has also come away impressed by Tech’s cash of freshmen receivers, namely guys like Leyton Stone and Tristian Gentry. Stone has shown off his length and toughness while Gentry has displayed a quick first step, speed and acrobatic catches in practices.
“Those guys do have unique skillsets I think could help us down the line,” Leftwich said of the freshmen. “We’ve got pretty good depth in that room right now. You would like to redshirt those guys if you can, but if you need them to play, I think those guys are capable of playing this year.”
Texas Tech receivers to utilize more option routes in passing games
One of the wrinkles to Leftwich’s passing scheme is the implementation of option routes, where receivers have two or three different choices on pass plays depending on how they’re covered by defensive backs.
Eakin spoke highly of this concept after the first scrimmage, and his fellow projected starter, Douglas, sees the benefits as well.
“Just knowing we’re not locked in on routes,” Douglas said. “Whatever we see, we can play off of it.”
Pulling off options routes in the passing game requires trust and connection between receiver and quarterback Behren Morton. Coaches also have to figure out who to give that ultimate freedom to and who needs to earn it a bit more.
“The biggest thing within the decision making is not confusing the quarterback,” Johnson said. “Just tell those guys play fast and be very decisive.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: What kind of options does Texas Tech football have in receivers to use, routes to run?
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
