Texas Tech had prominent pass rushers last year when Brandon Williams and McKinner Dixon bagged more than their share of quarterbacks.

Texas Tech linebacker Bront Bird sacks New Mexico quarterback Donovan Porterie, left, during the second half Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech defeated the University of New Mexico 48-28. Saturday, October 03, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

This season, with less star power, the Red Raiders are on pace to exceed last year’s sack total of 34, which was an eight-season high. Tech ranks in the top 20 nationally in sacks and tackles for losses.

“It’s guys finishing plays and us wanting to attack,’’ defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said Tuesday. “We want to make sure we’re attacking on defense. I think that tells us (statistically) we are attacking. We have to keep that up.’’

Tech’s average of 2.8 sacks per game — a little ahead of last year’s 2.62 — is tied for 17th in the nation. Its average of 7.6 tackles behind the line — higher than last year’s 4.85 — is tied for 15th in the country.

A group effort has been required. When Williams left early for the NFL draft and Dixon was lost to academics, the Tech defense had to make up for more than 20 sacks from two players.

Defensive end Daniel Howard has been a week-in, week-out terror with five sacks, but mostly the Red Raiders have dialed up a little more pressure from a lot of players. Fourteen players have at least one tackle behind the line, including seven players with at least three.

Bront Bird, who has been used about as much at defensive end as strong-side linebacker, traces the progression to McNeill’s promotion to defensive coordinator two years ago.

“His big word is ‘attack,’ ’’ Bird said. “Quit worrying about thinking so much; just go out there and attack. Our D-line has been playing great so far. They’re athletic and they attack people. That takes offensive linemen off-guard, or running backs off-guard. That’s where a lot of the tackles for loss come from.’’

McNeill has tried some new wrinkles to get to the passer. In Saturday’s 48-28 win over New Mexico, freshman nickel back Will Ford got two quarteraback pressures from blitzing out of the slot.

“People probably don’t notice,’’ McNeill said, “but we do blitz more than we have, because they understand the package better and we’re getting better at fundamentals.’’

McNeill said he didn’t have any numbers to document the increased blitzing.
“I don’t really keep up with that. I just know I’m calling it,’’ he said. “Situation dictates that. Time of the game dictates that. And the guys are able to handle it better.’’

Despite Tech’s lofty ranking in tackles for loss, no individual has skewed the rating by himself. Bird, weak-side linebacker Marlon Williams and Howard have five apiece, which has them tied for 100th in tackles for loss per game. But defensive linemen Richard Jones and Colby Whitlock, middle linebacker Brian Duncan and cornerback LaRon Moore all have three or more tackles apiece behind the line.

“That’s when you know we’re blitzing different people,’’ McNeill said. “It’s not just one guy. We have different guys coming. We’re trying to make sure we get different guys involved, and also different guys are making and finishing plays.’’

The Raiders have some atonement to attend to, however. In last week’s 48-28 win over New Mexico, Lobos quarterback Donovan Porterie — though sacked three times — passed for 316 yards. And running back A.J. Butler rushed for 102 yards, the first 100-yard performance by an opponent this season.

Bird said the defense probably had more missed tackles than in any other game this season, and said there’s no excuse for it since the Raiders “start every practice with tons of tackling drills.’’

“We watched the film, and we weren’t satisfied at all with the way we tackled that game,’’ Bird said. “Coach Ruff says there’s a statistic that on average, after every missed tackle, there’s at least three yards gained. If cut down half the missed tackles we had that game, it cuts down on a lot of that yardage.’’