The Texas Tech Red Raiders football program suffered last season, and the need for change was evident. In late October, head coach Matt Wells was fired and first-year offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie took the reigns for the rest of the season.
The program finished 7-6 and defeated Mississippi State convincingly 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl. Although the season ended on a strong note with Bolan’s win, Cumby finished 2-4, including a victory in the Independence Bowl.
The Red Raiders hit the reset button for 2022 and hired longtime successful high school coach Joey McGuire to lead the program. McGuire had been Baylor’s position coach since 2017 and was widely considered the right hire for the job.
But with no real coaching experience at the college level as a coordinator or head coach, the season could go a number of ways for Texas Tech this coming season.
On the bright side, Tech appears to have talent at quarterback and running back, and new offensive coordinator Zach Keightley is one of the best offensive minds in college football.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Tyree Wilson could be set for a break, and the secondary could be deeper than it has been in some time. McGuire’s relationships with Texas high school coaches benefited him during the recruiting process at Tech.
If the team can stay healthy, especially at the skill positions, the Red Raiders have a chance to compete in the Big 12 in McGuire’s first season.
If everything clicks offensively and defensively, things could look good for McGuire and the Red Raiders.
But what if things don’t go according to plan? As mentioned, McGuire has zero coaching experience at the college level. A first-time coach can struggle like the Big 12 Conference. And many of those recruited for 2022 are not his.
While the Red Raiders have some talent at the skill positions, there are position groups that need help.
The offensive line needs to play above its potential and the linebackers need to be better than last season. While there is much to be excited about in Lubbock this season, there are still many questions.
Those question marks, coupled with a difficult schedule, could spell trouble for McGuire early on. There are plenty of instances where this team has won fewer than five games, and that doesn’t count as an improvement over last season.
What is the truth? That remains to be seen, but it’s probably somewhere between bad and good. The Red Raiders will have some bright moments while suffering through one or two embarrassing losses.
That is to be expected with a first year head coach.
But given time, McGuire could be the right guy to bring Tech back to relevance in the Big 12.
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