Leftwich ready to coach in first game as Tech OC

First-year Texas Tech offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich is ready to coach from the opposite sideline when he takes the field Saturday. It’s been a decade since he was UTEP’s quarterback- the Miners came to Lubbock in 2015 and were trounced, 69-20.

The Red Raiders aim to put up a similar score when Arkansas Pine-Bluff walks in this weekend. Leftwich has his unit prepared and he has a specific point of emphasis for the game at hand.

“Execution, for sure,” Leftwich said in the weekly coaches press conference Monday. “We want to play fast, but like I’ve said before, I never want to sacrifice execution for our tempo. I think we’ll be able to do both, just because that’s the way we’ve been training for the last six-to-seven months. Be able to put our foot on the gas and go. Like coach (McGuire) has harped on all week, we want to play clean. Our communication, pre-snap alignments, talking from the quarterback to the receiver, everybody. We don’t want to go out there and have a bunch of penalties and guys getting cut loose up front because we’re not communicating.”

Praise for Ponton continues rising

Head coach Joey McGuire revealed the Red Raiders’ week one depth chart Monday. Much of it came as expected– the offensive line is as Clay McGuire said it would be a week ago. Jacob Ponton will take starting reps at right tackle against the Golden Lions.

Ponton took advantage of the reps he received with Hunter Zambrano on the mend and he will be a tough out even when Zambrano is at full strength.

“I think he had a great fall camp,” Leftwich said of Ponton. “I think he gets tested everyday against some of the best edge rushers in the country. His athleticism, his length, his upside moving forward is huge. I think that kid has all the talent in the world. We’re going to look up here in a couple of weeks and be like ‘Man, this kid’s grown a lot and he’s a bona fide starting right tackle that you feel really good about.’ I just think he has the talent that you want to be a starting tackle in this league. Has all the traits, he’s done a great job just trying to refine his skill set.”

Leftwich ready to coach new tier of player

The former Texas State OC admitted Monday that he doesn’t expect his playcalling philosophy to change even with the injury to Quinten Joyner. He’s never “had the luxury of having three really good backs.”

It’s a dramatic shift for Leftwich in his first power conference gig. He is ready to coach a new tier of player.

“As a coach, anytime that you can add talented players, that makes my job a lot easier,” Leftwich said when asked about players such as Terrance Carter, Howard Sampson, Will Jados and Reggie Virgil. “I haven’t been coaching long, but I’ve found out the better players you have, usually the play calls work a little bit better. It’s my job to, now that we have all those talented guys, find out what their skill set, what they do best. I think we’ve done that over the course of spring and fall camp. Then be able to utilize those guys on Saturdays to maximize what those guys are good at. I like having those guys on my side of the ball for sure.”