When Eric Russell joined the Texas Tech coaching staff last spring, he noticed while doing his homework on Big 12 Conference opponents that Oklahoma State was at or near the top in many special-teams categories the last few years.

Saturday’s matchup between Tech and No. 17 Oklahoma State offers a good measuring stick for how well the Red Raiders’ special teams have
adapted to Russell’s schemes.

“They’re very athletic and they do some different things,’’ Russell said over the weekend, “so I think it’s going to be a heck of a challenge and I’m anxious to see how we physically match up and schematically match up with them. There’s no doubt these next few (games), every week something can change on one of those plays.’’

Texas Tech's Jacoby Franks (8) University of Kansas Daymond Patterson (15) at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas Saturday Oct. 31, 2009. (John A. Bowersmith/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Tech might be catching OSU at a good time, at least from the standpoint of the coverage units. Tech special teams are coming off one of their best games of the season in a 42-21 victory over Kansas.

The Jayhawks started possessions inside their 20-yard line after five of Tech’s seven punts and inside their 25 after all seven Tech kickoffs.

Also, Tech’s Ryan Hale successfully ran a fake punt, Gerry Acevedo recovered a muffed punt and Austin Zouzalik gave several tacklers the slip on a 26-yard punt return.

“Like I told the players,’’ Russell said, “it was a good game, but to get all excited about it … You’ve got to understand that’s what expectations need to be. We want this to be an every-week thing where we kind of control and dominate field position.’’

Oklahoma State ranks 14th in the nation in net punting, and senior defensive back Perrish Cox leads active major-college players with four career kickoff-return touchdowns. Star receiver Dez Bryant made opponents hold their breath when they punted to him, but the NCAA has suspended Bryant for the season.

After a midseason slump, kickoff specialist Donnie Carona got back on track the last two games, and Tech’s punt coverage has been airtight since Ryan Erxleben took over in the third game of the season. Of Erxleben’s 30 punts, 10 have been fair caught, and he’s put 15 inside the 20 with only two touchbacks. Return men are averaging less than 4 yards per return on the ones they’ve run back.

Against Kansas, safety Julius Howard, receiver Jacoby Franks and running back Harrison Jeffers made a tackle apiece right after punt-return men caught the ball.

“We tell (Erxleben), if you give us a high enough punt, we’ll cover it,’’ said Howard, who plays on all of Tech’s special teams. “You give us a high enough punt, we’ll get off the blocks, and then whatever gunners we put out there are the best gunners on the field.’’

Tech coach Mike Leach said special teams passed muster against Kansas.

“We’ve got to improve on it and get better at it and build on it,’’ Leach said, “but I thought it was a good effort.’’

Russell didn’t have the special teams where he wanted them after spring practice. There was no clearcut choice at punter, and a lot of windy days made it difficult for him to get a read on return men.

Asked if he thought the players had grasped his schemes as second nature at some point during the season, Russell said, “Yeah, some of them. But at the same time, we’ve moved so many guys around that it’s still been hard for some guys to get into a routine, because they’ve been in different places week to week. Some of it’s just trying to find the right spot for them. Some of it’s been due to an injury or two.

“I think on tape they’ve seen opportunities that we’ve missed and opportunities that we’ve capitalized on. You keep preaching the same thing and coaching the same thing and relying on fundamentals, and sooner or later it’s going to start to sink in.’’

Acevedo’s recovery of a muffed punt at the Kansas 19 set up Tech’s last touchdown in the Halloween afternoon game. Russell said that was an example of the punt team overcoming some adversity since on that play Acevedo was lined up at right tackle, which is not his normal position. The first three choices at that spot were unavailable, so Acevedo switched from his usual position.

“We had to roll through a bunch of guys, because we had guys going down,’’ Russell said. “What I was pleased about was guys jumping in there that maybe hadn’t had as many reps in practice and showing up and making plays. About every kick, it was somebody different.’’

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