Learn from the Weekly Match-up: #11 Texas Tech vs. Houston

Oct 04, 2025 3:28 pm

Coach -

This week we feature a big game from the Big XII...

The CoachesClinic Weekly Match-up

Houston (4-0) vs. #11 Texas Tech (4-0)

Two undefeated teams collide in a battle that could reshape the Big 12 race.

Willie Fritz’s Cougars have thrived under his disciplined approach, while Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders enter with one of the nation’s most complete defenses.

It’s a matchup of detail-driven programs, both built from the ground up on teaching.

Willie Fritz – Practicing to Win Situations

Video: Situational Masters

Fritz is relentless about cycling through real game scenarios in practice. From two-minute drills to fourth-down calls and even hashmark work, Houston’s players see pressure moments over and over before Saturday.

🔑 Takeaways:

Build a calendar for situational football—don’t try to do it all daily, but rotate consistently.

Treat two-minute as a weekly must. Run it with scouts, with OL/DL only, and with clock management built in.

Don’t ignore hashmark football—rep calls from left, right, and middle so players are comfortable everywhere.

Track and teach fourth downs and two-point plays as core situations, not gimmicks.

💡 Use It: Add one “situational period” to every practice week. Even five minutes of focused work (e.g., 2-minute or hashmark play calls) pays off in close games.

Texas Tech – Fundamentals That Build Defense

Video: Slant Drills

The Red Raiders’ defensive dominance isn’t about one superstar. It’s the product of daily drill work, highlighted by the slant drill taught by DL coach Zarnell Fitch.

🔑 Teaching Points from the Slant Drill:

Feet first: stance and step efficiency drive the rep.

First step wins: eliminate wasted movement, go vertical.

Eyes up, pads down: strike low, redirect with vision.

Reps on reps: high-rotation, constant correction, no wasted movements.

💡 Use It: In your next DL period, video the first step of each rep. Correct footwork before moving on. As Fitch says, “I work from the feet up. My eyes start at the feet, because that tells me everything I need to know.”

Takeaway

Houston’s situational discipline meets Texas Tech’s defensive fundamentals in a matchup of unbeatens. Beyond the final score, both teams show the same truth: games are won by how you practice.

Enjoy the games today!

Coach Grabowski & the Coaches Clinic Team