Texas Tech football has a quarterback problem, and head coach Joey McGuire isn't pretending otherwise.

Following the Red Raiders' 37-24 loss to Cincinnati, McGuire acknowledged that quarterback Will Hammond's inconsistent play has become a serious concern.

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Even more troubling, the coach admitted he mishandled the opportunity to get backup Tommy Castellanos involved when the offense desperately needed a spark.

For a Texas Tech team still chasing a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff berth, those admissions couldn't come at a more uncomfortable time.

Hammond has completed 139 of 205 passes for 1,561 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions through seven games.

His 67.8 percent completion rate looks respectable, but the overall production hasn't matched expectations.

Against Cincinnati, Hammond threw for 227 yards without a touchdown and was intercepted once as Texas Tech suffered its first loss of the season.

McGuire described his quarterback's performance as a "roller coaster" during his weekly media availability.

The head coach also acknowledged that the coaching staff must consider whether it's asking Hammond to handle too much responsibility within offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich's system.

"We as coaches have to do a really good job of if we're putting too much on him, to find a way to simplify it," McGuire said.

But that explanation raises an uncomfortable question.

Why has it taken seven games and a damaging conference loss for Texas Tech to seriously reconsider how it's using its quarterback?

Perhaps even more concerning was McGuire's admission about Castellanos.

The backup had previously been incorporated into the offense in specialized packages, including against Arizona State. However, he never entered Saturday's loss at Cincinnati.

"That was a total failure by my part," McGuire acknowledged, referring to his decision not to give Castellanos an opportunity.

It's an unusually candid admission from a coach whose team entered the Cincinnati game undefeated.

Now, No. 13 Texas Tech faces another significant challenge when No. 22 Arizona visits Lubbock on Saturday.

The Wildcats enter at 6-1 behind quarterback Noah Fifita, whose offense averages 310.9 passing yards per game.

Arizona's defense is equally concerning, producing 3.29 sacks per contest while limiting opponents to touchdowns on just half their red-zone possessions.

Those numbers don't suggest an easy afternoon for Hammond.

Texas Tech has frequently leaned on its rushing attack to compensate for inconsistent quarterback production, but that approach becomes increasingly difficult against quality opponents.

McGuire doesn't necessarily need to bench Hammond to solve the problem.

He does, however, need a more effective plan for helping his starter succeed while finding meaningful opportunities for Castellanos.

At 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, Texas Tech still controls much of its postseason future.

But another offensive performance like the one in Cincinnati could change that quickly.

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The Red Raiders don't need perfect quarterback play to beat Arizona.

They need something they haven't consistently received this season: dependable quarterback play when the game is on the line.

Source: Yahoo Sports