Advertisement
football Edit

Takeaways: Defense aiming to slow down K-State rushing attack

Texas Tech DL Eli Howard, DB Desmon Smith and DL Broderick Washington met with the media on Tuesday to speak about the upcoming challenge they have against Kansas State on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Here is what they had to say about the Wildcats led by coach Bill Snyder.

Washington said the scheme on defense going into Saturday doesn’t change much, even if the Wildcats like to utilize three different QBs at times.

The biggest thing, he said, is stopping those guys from running the ball and filling their gaps and assignments.

Last week, the Red Raiders gave up 336 rushing yards to Oklahoma. The biggest takeaway from the loss was how high the Red Raider defense has to climb to reach their goal.

“As a group we’ve gotten better, but there’s still a lot of things we need to work on and improve if we want to get to where we want to be,” Washington said.

The biggest frustration to Washington is the amount of work the team has put in and coming up short the past few weeks.

Washington said the main thing they have to do is play a complete game more than halfway through the schedule.

Smith mentioned that he just likes to help his team when it matters, but improvement is needed. The first step is in the film room.

Smith said studying for K-State that he wouldn’t be surprised if Snyder comes out slinging the ball since they do rely on the run so much.

His first assignment is the pass play, but added that he has learned to expect anything from his time in the Big 12.

“You know I really play pass first,” Smith said. “I’m a DB so my first read is pass, but if the QB decides to get out and scramble and bounce it to the outside then I trust in myself and my teammates that we can go out and make that tackle.”

For Howard, it’s been a journey to get to where he’s at. He missed last season because of NCAA transfer rules after arriving at Texas Tech from North Texas in the spring of 2016.

Howard has since molded into a team player. He shared his thoughts on how the team wants to bounce back for their veteran leaders.

“We really just want to send our seniors off right,” Howard said. “They’ve been here. They’ve been through a long process. Ultimately, we think we can finish the year off with four wins. We think we can win them all. We want to start by getting the win back at the Jones against Kansas State this weekend.”

Howard said his technique and hands have improved through the help of defensive line coach Terrance Jamison.

The light that turned on for Howard is the adjustment to the game

“I haven’t played a game in a few years,” Howard said. “Just able to get the speed and the flow of the game, you know. It’s fun like it’s just so incredible to play in the Jones in front of so many great fans and stuff. The speed of the game was something I had lacked because I haven’t played in a whole lot of games but now that I’m kinda getting used to the speed I feel like I’m able to get going.”

The year off for Howard led him to mature mentally and grow physically, but the main outcome for the young edge setter was the realization he had of how much he loves football.

Howard said the light was hard to see at the end of the tunnel when you’re on scout team and just lifting weights. However, he had help from one teammate and friend help him through his time – that being Washington.

“There’s a lot of people I could say that has helped me along this way but a person I like to work with is Broderick Washington,” Howards said. “He really brings a very certain type of intensity. He’s always working. He’s always wondering how he can get better.”

Howard said his technique was new to him, but one of the most uncomfortable things he has to deal with is a cast on his hand.

He said he’s played with it for about four-five games, but that it’s coming off following the Kansas State game.

“I feel like it limits me, but overall my hands have gotten a little bit better,” Howard said. “We have a lot of great offensive lineman up here so every day I’m able to perfect my craft. Iron sharpens iron so it’s really fun going up against some of those guys.”

One o-lineman in particular he said he’s seen come through is freshman guard Jack Anderson.

Howard said Anderson is maturing game-by-game.

“He’s maturing. I feel like game-by-game he’s improving,” Howard said. “He needs those constant reps as a freshman and even for myself as a person who hasn’t played a whole lot this season. You just want more reps, more reps so you can just protect your craft and I feel like that’s what he’s doing.”

Advertisement