TCU
Horned Frogs
Preview 2007
By
Pete Fiutak
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2007 TCU Offense Preview |
2007 TCU Defense Preview
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2007 TCU Depth Chart
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2006 CFN TCU
Preview
Everyone likes the Boise State story. Good program, funny field,
wild play-calling, lots of wins. The Broncos have set the standard
for the non-BCS programs and what they can do. Now it’s TCU’s turn
in the spotlight.
Had the current BCS entry rules been in place from the start, TCU
would’ve been in a big-money game in 2000 and 2005, and might have
been more highly regarded by now. Like Boise State, the Horned Frogs
made a splash by beating Oklahoma, but they didn’t get nearly the
credit they deserved for the win in Norman two years ago, probably
because they flopped the following week against SMU. This year, with
an early date at Texas, there’s a chance to prove, once and for all,
that they deserve more attention. More importantly, there’s a chance
for Gary Patterson’s team to finally get into the national spotlight
with a BCS appearance. This team is that good.
Head coach: Gary Patterson
7th year: 54-20
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 26, Def. 21, ST 4
Lettermen Lost: 22 |
Ten
Best TCU Players
1.
DE Tommy Blake, Sr.
2. DE Chase Ortiz, Sr.
3. LB Jason Phillips, Jr.
4. RB Aaron Brown, Jr.
5. OG Matt Lindner, Sr.
6. S/KR Brian Bonner, Sr.
7. PK Chris Manfredini, Sr.
8. LB David Hawthorne, Sr.
9. CB Nick Sanders, Soph.
10. C Blake Schlueter, Jr. |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 11-1 |
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Sept. 1 |
Baylor |
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Sept. 8 |
at
Texas |
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Sept. 13 |
at Air Force |
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Sept. 22 |
SMU |
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Sept. 29 |
Colorado State |
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Oct.
6 |
at Wyoming |
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Oct.
13 |
at Stanford |
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Oct.
18 |
Utah |
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Nov.
3 |
New Mexico |
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Nov.
8 |
at BYU |
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Nov.
17 |
UNLV |
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Nov.
24 |
at San Diego St |
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2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction:
9-3
2006 Record: 11-2
Preview
2006 predicted wins |
| 9/2 |
at Baylor
W 17-7 |
| 9/9 |
UC Davis
W 46-13 |
| 9/16 |
Texas Tech W 12-3 |
|
9/28 |
BYU
L 31-17 |
| 10/5 |
at Utah L 20-7 |
| 10/21 |
at Army
W 31-17 |
| 10/28 |
Wyoming
W 26-3 |
| 11/4 |
at UNLV
W 25-10 |
| 11/11 |
at New Mexico
W 27-21 |
| 11/18 |
San Diego State
W 52-0 |
| 11/25 |
at Colorado St W 45-14 |
| 12/2 |
Air Force
W 38-14 |
| 12/19 |
Poinsettia Bowl
Northern Illinois W 37-7 |
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With
nine starters returning from the nation’s number two defense, and 21 of
the 24 players on the defensive two-deep, to go along with a loaded
backfield of offensive talent, TCU has the potential to be everyone’s
mid-major darling from day one.
Of course, while everyone around the program will be focusing on the
Texas game, there’s still a matter of the Mountain West race. After
ripping through the league for the 2005 title, the Horned Frogs blew
their chance to repeat with back-to-back losses against BYU and Utah for
an 0-2 conference start. The rest of the season was a breeze, as TCU won
eight straight, capped off by a dominant performance over Northern
Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl to set the tone for 2007.
Set the expectations high. Demand a Mountain West title and a game
against the big boys on national TV. Hope for a stunning upset in
Austin. After so many years of production, its TCU’s turn.
What to watch for on offense: A dominant running game. The TCU
coaches love a nice balance, but the talent and experience, at least
early on, is at running back. Aaron Brown is due for a huge season, and
top recruits Jamarion Cavness and Joseph Banyard are good enough to see
the field right away. Throw in quarterback Marcus Jackson’s running
ability, and TCU will be tempted to run, run and run some more.
What to watch for on defense: Total, utter dominance. Patterson’s
teams have almost always had strong defenses, but this one should be
special. It’s asking a lot to improve on a defense that allowed just
12.3 points and 235 yards per game, but this group could be good enough
to do it.
Getting into the backfield on a regular basis won’t be a problem with
the return of end Chase Ortiz and should-be-in-the-NFL star Tommy Blake.
There’s speed, athleticism, depth and loads and loads of experience.
The team will be far better if … there’s more boom on the punts.
The lousy TCU punting average is by design, sort of, trying to pin teams
deep and going for placement more than anything else, but it would be
nice if there were a few bombs here and there. Bryan Courtney was good
at putting it inside the 20, and now Derek Wash has to do the same while
cranking up the net yardage total by a few clicks.
The Schedule: If the Horned Frogs really are as good as expected,
the schedule works out well enough for a tremendous record and a shot at
the BCS. The early part of the season will be all about the trip to
Texas, with a chance to make a huge national splash. Home dates with
Baylor and SMU and a trip to Stanford make up a not-that-bad rest of the
non-conference slate. In league play, Utah has to come to Fort Worth,
but a trip to BYU will likely make-or-break TCU’s title hopes. Any team
that thinks it’s good enough to win the Mountain West title should be
able to get by road games at Air Force, Wyoming and San Diego State
without breaking a sweat.
Best Offensive Player:
Junior RB
Aaron Brown. TCU has mostly been a running back-by-committee team, but
Brown might be too good to not get the ball in his hands 20+ times a
game. Despite sharing the workload, and only getting more than 15
carries once last season, he was still named second-team All-Mountain
West after rushing for 801 yards and nine touchdowns. This year, 1,000
yards and double-digit touchdowns might be a lock.
Best Defensive Player:
Senior DE
Tommy Blake. Ortiz and Blake potentially could form the nation’s most
productive pass-rushing duo. Blake flirted with the idea of turning pro,
but the 6-3, 250-pound all-star is back and should be in the running for
All-America and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors if he
plays like he did over his first few seasons.
Key player to a
successful season:
Redshirt freshman QB
Andy Dalton. Last season, all senior Jeff Ballard did was step in for the
heralded Tye Gunn, win more than 90% of his starts with a good
combination of skills, and demonstrate a knack for coming up with the
big play against the weaker teams, ending those games before they even
started. While Marcus Jackson is similar in size, a better runner, and a decent
passer, with an 11-of-13, 148-yard, two touchdown day in the
season-opening win over Baylor, Andy Dalton took over the job this fall. With several new receivers to work with,
he'll have to be efficient right off the bat.
The season will be a
success if
... TCU goes 11-1. The BCS is sort of out of the team’s control if
there’s a loss, but that doesn’t mean things can’t get extremely
interesting. It’s asking a bit too much to win at Texas, even though the
Horned Frogs have more than enough experience to pull off the upset.
Even if there’s not a big-money game at the end of the year, a second
Mountain West title in three seasons is more than just a decent
achievement.
Key game:
Nov. 8 at BYU. While
the early date with Texas will get all the attention, everything this
fantastic team might be able to accomplish will likely go down the drain
if it can’t win in Provo. While this might not be the BYU team of last
season, the showdown is late enough in the year for all the new starters
to have jelled. It’s not a stretch to say this game will be for the
Mountain West title.
2006 Fun Stats:
- Scoring after three quarters: TCU 334; Opponents 98
- Sacks: TCU 36 for 267 yards; Opponents 15 for 82 yards
- Penalties: TCU 93 for 788 yards; Opponents 56 for 491 yards
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