Injured tackle a big concern for Texas Tech
Le’Raven Clark made one of the most memorable plays of last Saturday, crashing in for a two-point conversion early in Texas Tech’s eventual 30-20 win over Kansas.
But not long after that memorable score, the Red Raiders’ 6-foot-6-inch, 308-pound All-Big 12 left tackle went to the sideline with an injury that could keep him out of Saturday’s game at Oklahoma.
If Clark is unable to play or limited, that could make a big difference in the pressure the Sooners’ defense is able to put on sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Clark suffered an injury to his right leg when another player rolled up on it early in last week’s game.
“He kind of shores up that offensive line,” Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “We lean on him a lot. We single him up a lot. We can slide that way and do things of that nature. It was just a common expectation for everybody on our offense, quarterback included, running backs, knowing that he’s in there and he’ll get the job done.”
Kingsbury said earlier this week that he wasn’t sure about Clark’s status for Saturday’s game.
“We’ll get him out there and see how he feels,” the coach said.
Without Clark against the Jayhawks, who have struggled as much as any team in the country this season, Texas Tech had a hard time protecting Mahomes.
The Red Raiders had given up just two sacks total in their first six games, but Kansas got to Mahomes five times.
“I’m not sure,” Kingsbury said when asked if he knew how many times Mahomes was pressured against Kansas. “It was a lot, though. I know that.”
Mahomes hurt the Sooners last season in a 42-30 OU win in Lubbock. He finished with 393 yards and four touchdowns through the air, and though he had only 12 rushing yards, he kept several plays alive with his feet long enough to find a receiver downfield.
“He hurt us bad last year getting out of the pocket,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. “They had several big plays on us from him scrambling around and finding people late — five, six seconds into the route.”
If Clark can’t go, Texas Tech will probably insert redshirt freshman Robert Castaneda on the right side and move Baylen Brown from right to left. And that’s it as far as depth at tackle for the Red Raiders. Offensive coordinator Eric Morris said this week that calling on a true freshman who is expected to redshirt would be the next option.
Castaneda and Brown both struggled to slow down Jayhawks defensive end Ben Goodman.
That would seem to be a good sign for Charles Tapper, Eric Striker and Devante Bond. They have combined for 15 tackles for loss and 6½ sacks this season.
“When you lose somebody like that, the guys that come in, there has to be that time where they can’t bounce back,” Red Raiders center Jared Kaster said. “It just has to keep moving. The train has to keep rolling.”