TCU
Horned Frogs
Preview 2009 - Offense
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2009 CFN TCU Preview |
2009 TCU Offense
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2009 TCU Defense |
2009 TCU Depth
Chart
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2008 TCU Preview |
2007 TCU Preview |
2006 CFN TCU
Preview
What you need to know:
The TCU offense put up yards and points finishing 21st in the nation
scoring and 12th in yards, but it wasn’t under a whole bunch of pressure
to produce with a defense that wasn’t going to allow more than two
touchdowns a game. Offensive coordinator Mike Schultz left for Illinois
and now it’ll be up to running back coach Jarrett Anderson and
quarterback coach Justin Fuente to handle the job of keeping things
moving. It shouldn’t be a problem with a strong line, led by
tackle Marshall Newhouse, paving the way for a decent, but
undistinguished stable of backs. Andy Dalton is more than just a
serviceable quarterback, and he could explode with a deep and
talented receiving corps to work with.
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Returning
Leaders
Passing: Andy Dalton
182-307, 2,242 yds, 11 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Joseph Turner
146 carries, 577 yds, 11 TD
Receiving: Jimmy Young
59 catches, 988 yds, 5 TD
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Star of the offense:
Senior OT Marshall Newhouse
Player who has to step up and become a star: Junior C Jake
Kirkpatrick
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore WR Antoine Hicks
Best pro prospect: Newhouse
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Newhouse, 2) WR Jimmy Young, 3)
QB Andy Dalton
Strength of the offense: Offensive line, Receivers
Weakness of the offense:
Lack of a No. 1 running back, passing game in big games
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter:
Veteran Andy Dalton has been
one of the program’s better statistical passing quarterbacks, but more
than anything else he’s been a winner. The 6-3, 215-pound junior already
has 19 wins under his belt and is coming off a nice, efficient year
completing 59% of his passes for 2,242 yards and 11 touchdowns with five
picks. A good runner, he tore off 432 yards and eight touchdowns.
Careful with the ball, he knows his place on the team. It’s his job to
not screw up and let the defense win, and he can do that. He’ll never be
a dynamic passer, he has a mid-level arm, but he makes things happen.
Projected Top Reserves: With Marcus Jackson moving to the
secondary, it’ll be up to Yogi
Gallegos to step in and become a good backup. Considering Andy
Dalton gets banged around, this is a key position and Gallegos should be
ready. While the redshirt freshman is only 6-1 and 192 pounds, he's a
great passer with a live arm and just enough mobility to take off from
time to time. He’s a spark-plug who could inject energy into the attack
from time to time.
Freshman Casey Pachall is a 6-5, 194-pound playmaker who got to school early
and could eventually become a dangerous all-around quarterback. While
the idea is to redshirt him, the top prospect might be too good to keep
off the field if something happens to Dalton. He threw 31 touchdown
passes as a high school senior and ran for 512 more showing off his
excellent speed to go along with his size. If he can bulk up just a
little bit, he’ll be one to keep an eye on down the road.
Watch Out For ... Dalton to set the school record for
completions. He holds the mark after completing 222 throws as a
freshman, and after completing 182 last season, he should break his
record.
Strength: A good pecking order. Dalton is the established
starter, Gallegos will be worked in slowly, and Pachall is waiting in
the wings and will be given time to develop. In an emergence, Marcus
Jackson could quickly move over from his safety spot.
Weakness: Backup experience. Dalton is a runner who isn’t afraid
to get hit, and he’s almost certain to miss some playing time. The key
to the season could be the play of Gallegos.
Outlook: The TCU passing game is along for the ride. The
idea is to take advantage of the weak secondaries, which it did against
Wyoming last year, and not screw up against the good ones. Keep the
chains moving, make the big play here and there, and let the defense win
games. Andy Dalton can do that, and he’ll have a big game or two, while
Yogi Gallegos is a promising No. 2 who’s ready to see the field.
Rating: 6.5
Running Backs
Projected Starters:
While he missed time this off-season recovering from a knee injury and
will have to work his way up the depth chart again,
Joseph Turner should be the
team’s top scorer and best rushing threat. A 6-1, 225-pound power back,
the junior led the team with 577 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, ten
of those scores came in the first eight games of the year as he battled
through injuries. He came back to rip off 83 yards and a score against
Boise State. A load of a back with good quickness, he hasn’t had to be a
workhorse for any length of time. He’ll most likely be a part of a
rotation once he’s back.
Stepping in at fullback will be
Luke Shivers, a 6-0, 220-pound sophomore who ran two times for six
yards and two touchdowns in his limited work. The former linebacker has
bulked up to become more of a blocker, and he’ll also be used a bit as a
tight end. He caught a pass for five yards last season.
Projected Top Reserves: Until Joseph Turner is ready,
Ryan Christian will step in
as the main rushing option. Extremely versatile, the 5-11, 180-pound
senior was second on the team with 30 catches for 321 yards while
running for 386 yards and four scores. Along with his receiving skills,
the former H-Back is a tough runner for his size with a nice burst.
He’ll also see work on special teams after averaging 22.3 yards per
kickoff return.
5-11, 231-pound senior Chris Smith can be used a bit as a
fullback and can be a big tailback. He hasn’t done too much running the
ball, he only had 72 yards on 12 carries, but he’s a good blocker who’ll
step in when a blocker is needed and he’ll be important in pass
protection.
Sophomore Jai Cavness is overdue to come up with some big plays.
While he’s only 5-8 and 175 pounds, he’s one of the team’s fastest
players and can be used as a receiver as well as a runner. He only ran
for 134 yards as a redshirt freshman, but he scored twice in garbage
time. He stepped up his role a bit as the season went on and will step
in for a change-of-pace.
Redshirt freshman Edward Wesley
is a small, tough back, and while he’s not expected to see much time
in the rotation, he’ll be a part of the ground game next year. While
he’s only 5-9 and 185 pounds, the star of the scout team runs with good
toughness and he’ll take a beating.
Watch Out For ... a steady rotation. The running game
finished 12th in the nation even though there no back gained
more than 577 yards. Having a running quarterback helped, but it’s the
rotation that’s the key to the success.
Strength: Options. There could be five running backs that see
time carrying the mail. There might not be a go-to, superstar No. 1
option to carry the load, but there are several options from the very
quick to the very powerful and everything in between.
Weakness: A star back. Aaron Brown was supposed to be it last
year but he was always hurt. It didn’t seem to matter much for the
production of the attack. Joseph Turner could be a top back, but he’s
injured. Ryan Christian will be fine in bursts, but he’s not a special
runner. There needs to be a crunch-time runner who can take the game
over.
Outlook: The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
There might not be any stars, but the ground game should be extremely
effective again after running for 2,863 yards and 39 scores.
Quarterbacks accounted for over 800 yards and 12 scores, but the
rotation of backs should keep everyone fresh and keep the offense
moving. Eight players ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowns last
year, and it could be more of the same with five backs worth of seeing
playing time and a potential goal line star in fullback Luke Shivers.
Rating: 7
Receivers
Projected Starters:
Junior Jimmy Young had a breakout season with a team-leading 59 catches for
988 yards and five touchdowns averaging 16.7 yards per grab. The 6-1,
200-pound speedster is a home-run hitter who’s been consistent since he
became a big part of the rotation. While 226 of his yards and three
scores came against Wyoming, he caught four balls or more in every game
but two. He’ll work on the outside X position to stretch the field.
Bart Johnson was a good spot
starter who caught a pass in every game but two. While he didn’t
explode, his 52-yard grab against Utah was his one highlight, he showed
enough to get more passes his way at the H. At 6-1 and 190 pounds, the
junior has the height, and he has just enough athleticism to bust off a
big play or two.
Working at the Z position, and as the No. 2 man on the Y, will be 6-2,
193-pound sophomore Antoine Hicks,
a good-looking riser who came on at the end of his freshman season and
finished with seven catches for 69 yards. He was also used as a runner
with six carries against Wyoming and UNLV in back-to-back weeks. A
strong special teamer with a great burst, he’ll end up doing more for
the offense this year.
Junior Jeremy Kerley, the
one-time superstar recruit,
has been part of the show since day one of his freshman year, used a bit
as a runner and a passer along with his receiving duties. While he
caught 11 passes for 95 yards, his real worth has been as an all-star
punt returner averaging 13.9 yards per try. At 5-10 and 192 pounds, he’s
solidly built after three years in the weight room. He’ll never be a
polished receiver, but he’ll make plays in a variety of ways.
Trying to take over for Shae Reagan at tight end will be
Evan Frosch, a big 6-4, 260-pound junior who caught ten passes for
67 yards and two scores. The former linebacker is a tough blocker who’s
growing into a decent receiver and will get the ball more his way. He’s
not Reagan as far as overall talent, but there won’t be a huge drop-off.
Projected Top Reserves: 6-0, 180-pound junior
Curtis Clay became a decent
backup making nine catches for 98 yards in his limited work. He spread
out his grabs a catch in eight games highlighted by a 22-yard play in
the win over Air Force. While he’s not a blazer, he’s a tough target at
the Z behind Antoine Hicks.
At 6-4 and 197 pounds,
sophomore Jonathan Jones has
the size and the toughness to be a matchup problem, and he has the raw
speed to get deep at the X. He only caught two passes for 18 yards, but
one of them came for a touchdown against Stephen F. Austin.
6-3, 253-pound sophomore Logan
Brock saw time in every game last season but didn’t make a catch. A
blocker and special teamer so far, he has the receiving skills to be
used in the offense in two tight end sets and playing behind Evan
Frosch.
Watch Out For ... more Kerley. With his quickness in the
open field and his deep speed, there’s no reason he should be an
afterthought in the passing game. He’ll get the ball a bit as a runner,
and now he’ll get more passes his way at the Y.
Strength: Talent. Young is an all-star in the making, Hicks is a
good-looking sophomore, and Kerley and Johnson are juniors who’ll grow
into bigger roles. The corps will be even better next year when everyone
is back.
Weakness: A sure-thing tight end. This is nitpicking. Frosch
should be fine with the increased role, but Shea Reagan was a reliable
all-around playmaker who was vital to the passing attack.
Outlook: The young prospects of last year are all grown up
and should form one of the league’s best corps. Only one key player,
Walter Bryant, is gone, while Jimmy Young leads a fast, still-rising
group that should get better and better as the year goes on and should
be truly special next year. There’s speed, quickness, and experience to
get excited about. Stretching the field won’t be a problem.
Rating: 7
Offensive Linemen
Projected Starters:
Three starters return to the great line with
Marshall Newhouse the star of
the show after earning All-Mountain West honors on the left side. The
6-3, 317-pound senior tackle is a dominant all-around blocker who has
been a part of the blocking mix from the start with 26 straight starts.
He’s the one the offense runs behind on key plays and he’s a strong pass
blocker who moves extremely well for his size. He's the cousin of former
Dallas Cowboy, Robert Newhouse, and former Baylor star receiver, Reggie
Newhouse.
Returning to his spot at left guard is
Kyle Dooley, a 6-3, 310-pound
sophomore who stepped in halfway through the season and was strong for
four games before getting knocked out for the year. The former walk-on
isn’t special, but he’s a hard-working, strong run blocker who benefits
from playing next to Newhouse.
Taking over at center in place of Blake Schlueter will be
Jake Kirkpatrick, a 6-3, 305-pound junior who spent last year as an
understudy. Mostly a special teamer so far, he’s big and has good
potential. However, he’s not expected to be Schlueter and will mostly be
used for his run blocking.
6-5, 350-pound junior Marcus
Cannon is a massive right tackle who has strength and upside. A
starter in 11 games last year, he was a dominant run blocker who blasted
away for big yards around the right side and was surprisingly nimble for
his size. While he’s going to have problems against the speed rushers,
if he gets his hands on the defender, it’s over. An honorable-mention
all-star, now he’ll be in the mix for bigger honors after a breakout
performance against Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Junior Josh Vernon is a 6-2,
295-pound veteran who was battled for the left guard job last year and
spent the season as a key part of the rotation. A top recruit a few
years ago, he has the skills to grow into the right guard job and he
should be one of the surprises now that he gets a full-time role.
Projected Top Reserves: While
Nic Richmond isn’t going to push out Marshall Newhouse from the left
tackle job, the 6-8, 322-pound senior is a good veteran who can see time
on either side. He started every game at right tackle two years ago, but
he was pushed aside by Marcus Cannon. Not all that athletic, he uses his
long arms and his big frame to keep defenders at bay.
Zach Roth, a former JUCO All-American, was one of last year’s top
recruits and will be a part of the right guard rotation. At 6-5 and 310
pounds, he’s big, tough, and ready to make an impact. He was supposed to
be a big part of the line last year but ended up redshirting. He has the
build of a tackle and the toughness to eventually shine at guard.
Watch Out For ... Cannon. He might be too big, he has
gotten bigger since last year, and he might look like he belongs at
guard, he’s a burgeoning all-star at right tackle. He’s a massive run
blocker who’ll blow over everything in his path.
Strength: Physical play. This is a big, tough group that beats
up defensive lines. With good veterans, a nice mix of talents, and the
right combination, this should be a strong line even with two key
starters gone.
Weakness: Developed depth. The starting five should be a brick
wall, but there could be problems if there’s a slew of key injuries. The
backups will need to work their way into the rotation and will need to
show they can handle the work in a tight group.
Outlook: The line was one of the keys to the Mountain West
season paving the way for a strong running game and doing a great job in
pass protection. This year’s line will be strong on the outside with
Marshall Newhouse and Marcus Cannon certain to earn all-star honors,
while the interior will be fine. It’s not a special group of guards, and
center Blake Schlueter will be missed, but the inside won’t be a
weakness.
Rating: 7.5
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