The Horned Frogs’ defense stymied the Utes, allowing only 7 points.
27, 0*, 35, 66, 27, 30. No, those aren’t Powerball numbers. Those are the point totals TCU has allowed in its previous six games. The asterisk is included because the Horned Frogs held FCS Long Island, who are currently 1-7, to zero points. To make matters worse, all but one FBS school scored a point total higher than their current season average against TCU. It’s been evident, the Horned Frogs have struggled to defend. However, a matchup against the Utah Utes in week eight may have reversed course.
TCU held Utah to seven points and only 267 total yards—the best defensive performance of the season sans Long Island. Utah failed to effectively move the ball and looked abysmal on third downs. The Utes converted on just 2-of-15 third-down attempts and went 0-of-2 on fourth. Furthermore, Utah averaged 6.0 yards per pass and a paltry 2.6 yards per rush. The Horned Frogs haven’t put on a defensive clinic as such in a long time. The last time TCU held an FBS school to single-digits was in 2018.
Among TCU’s individual defensive performances, cornerback LaMareon James led the Horned Frogs in tackles, Bud Clark picked off Isaac Wilson to register his first interception of the season, and Devean Deal provided a team-high two sacks. Deal’s pair of sacks made up half of TCU’s four on the night. Marcel Brooks and Kaleb Elarms-Orr made up the other half.
Devean Deal’s breakthrough is here
While recording four sacks is promising, Deal’s two sacks are even more encouraging. TCU had been decent on the pass-rush front this season (10 sacks before Utah), but only one Horned Frog had accumulated more than two sacks prior to Saturday’s contest. The Frogs are in need of a top-flight edge rusher. In 2022, the Horned Frogs rostered two players who recorded 7.5 or more sacks. Coincidentally, this same stat occurred during TCU’s last double-digit win season—2017. A strong pass rush leads to wins. Pressuring the quarterback allows for less reliance on the backend, it’s a snowball effect.
If Deal can continue to get to the quarterback, the defense will be that much better. Sure, it doesn’t completely fall on the Tulane transfer’s shoulders to record sacks, but a singular standout edge-rusher requires the opposing offense’s attention. Coming into the season, Deal was expected to be one of the Horned Frogs’ better pass rushers. However, it took some time for Deal to get going. He notched half a sack in week one before going sack-less for four straight contests. Deal stepped up in Cooper McDonald’s (2.5 sacks) absence to elevate a reeling defense.
The linebacking core impresses once again
The pass rush got after Wilson, yet the run defense made the biggest difference. After regularly getting gashed earlier in the season, the Horned Frogs held the Utes to 68 rushing yards on 26 carries. Before Saturday night’s affair, the Horned Frogs had allowed 150 or more yards for four straight games. TCU held its own against one of the better-rushing attacks in the conference. Micah Bernard, who had rushed for 90 or more yards in five straight games was stymied and taken out of the game. The senior running back rushed for 55 yards on only 13 attempts.
The Horned Frogs linebackers combined to record 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. Furthermore, those stats exclude Deal’s contributions who could easily be considered part of the linebacking unit. Johnny Hodges, Namdi Obiazor, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, and Marcel Brooks all possess game-wreaking qualities. While too much talent may sometimes saturate a unit, the linebackers have a different feel. Despite the defensive line failing to maintain the line of scrimmage for much of the season, the second line has played fundamentally sound.
Is Bud Clark in for a second-half resurgence?
He was supposed to be one of TCU’s best defenders on the season. Following two straight impressive seasons, one of which included an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, Bud Clark began the season slowly. Prior to this season, Clark had recorded five interceptions in 2022 and 3 last year. This year, Clark failed to record an interception in each of TCU’s first five contests. This past Saturday’s game in Utah was the first occurrence where Clark picked off an opposing quarterback.
TCU had only intercepted three passes before the game against the Utes. In general, the TCU defense failed to turn over its opponents. If Clark can get back to his ball-hawking ways, less pressure will subsequently be put on the offense. Instead of hoping for a punt or ceding points, the Horned Frogs offense will be put in a better position to succeed by an opportunistic defense led by Clark.