With the letdown of a 4-8 2014 season, a return to winning ways is a must for the scarlet and black and Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury knows that fact all too well.

Of course, the high-flying offense always puts up absurd numbers be it at home or on the road, but what really seems to be the question mark (and has been for years) is the defense.

After being torched by both the air attack of teams like Baylor and TCU and the ground game from the likes of Arkansas and Oklahoma, change was something not only inevitable but drastically needed.

David Gibbs was hired from Houston, along with assistant Zac Spavital, in an effort to force more turnovers and create an overall air of confidence. Speedy play and ball-hungry antics are the David Gibbs way, and both are something a flat-footed, lifeless defense hanging over from last year certainly could use.

Recruiting helps, too. The latest big man on campus is Breiden Fehoko, a freak athlete from Hawaii with the intangibles that could've landed him on the defensive lines in Tuscaloosa or Tallahassee. Four-star Safety Jamile Johnson Jr. also joins the Red Raider secondary and could be dangerous teamed up with budding stars in Nigel Bethel II and Tevin Madison.

The key, in my opinion at least, will be how the linebacking corps shakes out this season. Linebacking has been a weak link in the chain for many years, yet there's certainly potential with players like Micah Awe and the real deal Pete Robertson.

Gibbs' defense will need to be a fast, ferocious one and I think it will be, but maybe not right off the bat. Be patient with this unit; I'm sure they'll be impressive in the stages of late October and November.

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John Weast/Getty Images Sport
John Weast/Getty Images Sport
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Flipping over to the side that sells the tickets and draws the fans, the offense is the crux of everything that is Texas Tech football.

With a more utilized running game with steady-handed, sweet-footed backs DeAndre Washington, Justin Stockton and newcomer Corey Dauphine, we could see another year with a solid ground game.

Yeah, there's a question mark on offense too: the most important position of them all.

So, with Patrick Mahomes coming in and lighting it up with a loose arm and elusive legs, you'd think he'd win the starting job without hassle. Yet, Kingsbury seems to be fielding all possibilities, keeping both Davis Webb and Iowa transfer Nic Shimonek in the running. Kingsbury has expressed interest in all of the candidates, but the consensus from the majority of anyone who watched the game against Baylor in Arlington last year points to Mahomes as the future for the offense.

Many don't want to see the discombobulation of the offense that happened under Webb's watch last year, plus the offense seemed to remain in tempo and firing on all cylinders with #5 in control. Time will tell who really gets the grand prize of the keys to the offense, but I think Mahomes is the fit that makes the most sense.

So, where does this team go this year and how do things unravel over the next few months? I think it truly depends on the game in Fayetteville. After being embarrassed last year in the Jones, Tech has a chance to return the favor at Razorback Stadium. That first true test of will and strength, I think, will determine how the rest of this season rolls along. If the team puts up a good fight and shows they can compete against a viable, solid SEC team, you should see that all-important air of confidence on their side heading into conference play. If the team does the opposite and gets rolled over, it could get ugly, and quick.

Overall, I think the Red Raiders do return to a winning record this year, though not outstanding. A 7-5 record should be a fair assessment, with wins over Sam Houston, UTEP, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and yes, Baylor. I think TCU will just be too much to handle, along with Arkansas, and the attrition of the road will hinder the Red Raiders in places like Norman and Morgantown.

Here's to a great 2015 season, Red Raiders. Guns Up!

 

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