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How Texas Tech football shut down Cam Skattebo, Arizona State run game
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- How Texas Tech football shut down Cam Skattebo, Arizona State run game
Turns out the formula for shutting down Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo involves having your friends do a little cosplay in practice.
The Texas Tech football team dedicated plenty of attention to keeping Skattebo in check throughout the week of practice. To simulate Skattebo's 5-foot-11, 215-pound running style, the Red Raiders employed both running back Adam Hill (6-1, 215) and linebacker Wesley Smith (5-10, 220) to play the role of the Sun Devil back on the scout team.
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"He was knocking the heck out of some people in practice," Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said of Smith.
Hill and Smith — who McGuire referred to as the Midland Meatball — did an adequate job in preparing the Tech defense for Skattebo, limiting him to just 60 yards on 18 attempts (3.3 yards per carry) in a 30-22 victory on Saturday in Jones AT&T Stadium.
"(Smith) gave us the best look we could have possibly had," Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez said. "I think he gave us a little tougher look just because he likes us. So he wants to hit us. He doesn't really ever play offense so he had a good time running the ball.
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"That being said, I think Skattebo did a really good job at running behind his pads. He was everything we talked about he would be, but I think that look from Wes definitely shouldn't go unnoticed."
Scout team played one role in Skattebo having a light day. Another factor was the defense Tech played against Arizona State.
"Played an odd front," ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said. "Played an odd front, weak overhang. They veered, shed a block late, backers jumped behind the zone. We weren't pressing hard enough and you're a wide-zone team and you don't press runs, you don't get the double team to the backer. And because we weren't getting the double team to the backer, they were able to fold back to all of our runs and that happened over and over and over again."
Sep 21, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Isaac Smith (17) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.
Skattebo — whose longest run of the day was for nine yards — said Texas Tech (3-1, 1-0) set the tone early by controlling the line of scrimmage. His first two carries went for a combined two yards. By the time the Sun Devils could try to get any momentum with their featured offensive weapon, they were down 14-0 and had to look for other ways of moving the ball.
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On the season, the Red Raiders have surrendered a total of 406 yards to running backs on 111 attempts, which equates to a 3.6 yards per carry average, which would rank in the top 50 nationally.
The Red Raiders also had to account for the running ability of quarterback Sam Leavitt. After giving up 197 yards rushing to Washington State's John Mateer in the Week 2 loss, Tech could ill afford letting another QB run wild on them with so much attention being paid to Skattebo.
That also proved successful. Texas Tech was able to keep Leavitt in the pocket for most of the game. The few run plays Leavitt did have didn't break the bank. His longest sprint was for 11 yards and Leavitt finished with 25 yards on nine carries.
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"It was huge," Rodriguez said the comparison of Mateer and Leavitt. "They are very similar in the way they run. Both quick, really athletic guys. I think we had a better game plan. We were ready for that type of stuff. Our rush lanes were better. We kind of made him have to step up and then flush, that type of stuff, and then kind of rallied to the ball.
"I think a couple of weeks ago we weren't finishing plays and so being able to track inside out and then guys keeping their leverage really helped us."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football holds Arizona State's Cam Skattebo in check
