Fresh off a statement win over Houston, Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood addressed the media for the first time ahead of the Kansas game. Confident but clear-eyed, Wood praised leadership within his defense while stressing that improvement remains critical. "We've got a lot of things that we need to get better at," Wood said, setting the tone for another Big 12 battle at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Wood singled out linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, known as "J-Rod," as a driving force. "He does a great job just being consistent every day," Wood said. "His work ethic, his outstanding attention to detail, the way he carries himself... and his ability to make plays, I think all those things go into it."

The coordinator also praised AJ Holmes and Jayden Cofield. "Those two guys in the interior are doing a great job," he added. Their performance has allowed Tech to rotate with confidence while keeping pressure on opponents.

Even after the Houston win, Wood refused to settle. "We need to coach better. We need to play better," he explained. "Our leverage needs to be better. Our assignment. We're still at times a little off."

He warned against complacency. "Sometimes it's easy to become complacent when you're having success, when you win ball games," Wood said. "But we've got to continue to understand there's a lot of things we can do better."

The Red Raiders' pressure rattled Houston and has been a theme all season. "There's no substitute for being able to get that pressure, make a quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket," Wood said.

That pressure led to turnovers against quarterbacks who rarely made mistakes before facing Tech. "It's still early in the year," Wood said. "As you play more games, things show up, good and bad."

Wood praised Kansas' offensive line. "They are tough and physical in the run game and do a great job in pass protection," he noted. He emphasized preparation for the Jayhawks' constant shifts and misdirection. "The best defenses do a great job communicating before the ball snap and after," he said.

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels also earned respect. "He really is a dual-threat guy, and he'll make us pay if we're not disciplined," Wood said. He called Kansas' receivers the deepest group Tech has faced this season.

Wood expressed excitement about returning home after multiple road games. "I think our crowd has been phenomenal," he said. "I know it's another sold-out game. I'm really excited about their ability to fire our guys up."

He believes the fans will impact Kansas' offense. "Their ability to impact the game when Kansas' offense is on the field, just in terms of the ground noise... it's pretty cool to think about," Wood added.

Now with Texas Tech being nationally ranked 10th overall, the defense looks to continue building on its success. As the Red Raiders shift focus from their emotional win in Houston to a pivotal matchup with Kansas, defensive coordinator Shiel Wood's message remains steady: growth must continue. He stressed that the defense must stay sharp and prepare for Kansas' deceptive pre-snap schemes. "I'm just excited for the next opportunity we have to continue to grow," Wood said. Saturday night at Jones AT&T Stadium will reveal whether the Red Raiders' defense can sustain its momentum from Houston and deliver another defining Big 12 performance.