The staff discusses Saturday’s Battle for the Saddle
The TCU Defense is coming off its best FBS game of the season, holding Utah to 267 total yards and just 2.6 yards per rush. The next challenge is the Big 12’s top scoring offense, featuring RB Tahj Brooks, who ranks third nationally in rush yards per game. Did the Frogs turn a corner or will it be a return to poor form Saturday?
- Anthony: Two things can be true; the defense may be improved, but I won’t be surprised if the rush stats look ugly this week. Tahj Brooks is real and he is spectacular. Even in Texas Tech losses he produces at an elite level and has been doing it for years. He’s averaged 5.0 yards per carry in his two previous games vs. the Frogs. Brooks is going to get his, you have to live with that. For the TCU defense to find success Saturday, it’ll need to shut down everything else – don’t let Micah Hudson get loose, don’t let Behren Morton get comfortable in the pocket, and get off the field on third downs. It sets up similarly to the UCF game, which TCU dominated for a half before the offense stopped working and eventually the dam broke. It’ll be a challenge to not eventually break against this offense, but at least the Utah game showed TCU is capable of sufficiently slowing a top flight RB to suggest it’s possible.
- Austin: It’ll likely return to poor form, especially facing the Red Raiders’ offense. The Utes looked to be in complete disarray with Isaac Wilson at quarterback. While TCU did some things very well, Texas Tech is on a different level offensively than Utah. The Red Raiders average nearly 100 more yards and 14 more points than the Utes. I hope I’m proved wrong, but this game will be a testament to how good this TCU defense is following several poor showings.
- Drew: I think TCU did take a step forward on Saturday but could struggle against the Texas Tech rushing attack because the Red Raiders are so balanced on offense. The Frogs were able to load the box and be focused on stopping the run against Utah without having to worry about getting burnt in pass coverage. Utah has struggled through the air this season and the TCU secondary could play heavier towards the run as a result. TCU did execute very well against Utah but they will not have the same luxury of playing a one dimensional team this Saturday. Texas Tech and Behren Morton are more than capable of moving the ball through the air and I think the balanced offense from Texas Tech could give the TCU defense issues.
- Russ: I think the chances are greater that TCU’s defense returns to the poor form we’ve seen for most of the season. Although the Horned Frogs deserve credit for containing Micah Bernard, who ran for only 55 yards for the Utah offense, TCU was facing a true freshman quarterback in Isaac Wilson and offense whose coordinator literally just resigned a few days ago. Texas Tech is in a whole different league in terms of offense and the Horned Frogs will certainly have their hands full if they’re unable to generate sacks.
- Wyatt: I do not think the TCU defense will play as well as they did last Saturday night against Utah. Under Isaac Wilson, Utah’s offense was very one-dimensional, and they were not scared to get beat over the top (even though it happened once). However, I do think the defense will look better than they did earlier in the year. I do not see an immediate switch from bad to good, but I think there will be improvement.
TCU ranks 131st nationally in both offensive fumbles (14) and fumbles lost (9), while the defense has only forced six fumbles, recovering just one. Do you see this as falling on the wrong side of “fumble luck” or result of scheme or execution?
- Anthony: The fumbles resulting from a blindside shot on a sack can be somewhat forgiven, even those resulting from extending a play fighting for extra yardage come with some understanding despite the frustration those cause. But the continued failure on the QB-RB exchange, particularly when inside the five yard line, are devastating failures of scheme & execution. Defenses aren’t scared of Hoover’s legs – he has negative-13 rush yards this season – they aren’t biting on the zone read stuff; if you want to run the ball, just run the ball. The offense does not have to make it so hard on itself. Do less. On the defensive side, it looks much more like the ball just not bouncing the right way. Sure, you’d love to be forcing more loose balls, but the ones they have seem to unfortunately have an offensive lineman ready to pounce or it pops right back to the ball carrier. This will regress towards the mean eventually – look for the Frogs to get a fumble recovery on Saturday.
- Austin: There’s some of both. Josh Hoover has lost five of the nine fumbles which isn’t all too uncommon for a quarterback. Nevertheless, there’s room for improvement when assessing Hoover’s ball security. Alternatively, when looking at some of the best teams in college football—Iowa State, Georgia, Penn State, etc.—none of the aforementioned schools have lost more than a fumble this season. There’s certainly discipline involved, which the Horned Frogs have failed to show this season consistently.
- Drew: I think the fumbles on offense are largely a result of poor execution at the mesh point of handoffs. Josh Hoover and the running backs need to be on the same page more consistently to limit turnovers. Some of this is scheme related with RPOs adding a decision making element to simple handoffs, but TCU still needs to have better ball handling. The lack of fumbles recovered on defense are mostly fumble luck but TCU also needs to have better awareness of when the ball is loose.
- Russ: The fumbles I’ve seen on offense have largely been due to poor ball security. For some reason, Josh Hoover looks extremely uncomfortable handing the ball off and there have been multiple lost fumbles simply because of bad exchanges between quarterback and running back. Defensively, TCU hasn’t been able to generate many turnovers this year, which again falls under poor execution rather than bad luck.
- Wyatt: I think it is a mix of both. The defense has gotten somewhat unlucky when it comes to turnovers this season. However, I do think Josh Hoover has not been taking good care of the football when it is in his hands.
The Horned Frogs got creative in trying to generate yardage in the run game vs. Utah, using several different backs and formations, including QB Hauss Hejny and WR Savion Williams with designed runs. What will be TCU’s most effective run game solution going forward?
- Anthony: The TCU run game continues to confound. The Frogs are throwing every idea at the wall and nothing is really sticking. I am against pulling the starting QB when the offense is rolling and outside of very specific situations or expect the replacement to execute multiple plays in the drive. The frequent and late substitutions continue to burn the Frogs while also throwing off the rhythm of offense. That said, it seems the former QB might be the best of the RB group; officially listed as a co-starter at RB on this week’s depth chart, Trent Battle brings a boost to the backfield. It’s a small sample size, coming off his first game after missing the first part of the season with injury, but his 5.6 yards per carry against the Utah defense is very strong and encouraging for an improved output for the entire unit going forward; even the hint of a dangerous run game will open things up for the offense.
- Austin: The Horned Frogs possess a decent collection of runners. It’d be better to ride the hot hand than force-feed one back like TCU has done at times this season. If Cam Cook’s continuously breaking runs—keep him in the game. If Cook fails to capitalize on extra yardage, substitute Jeremy Payne or Trent Battle for a series. Using Savion Williams worked well, but Hauss Hejny sure felt like a gimmick.
- Drew: I think the key to getting the running game going moving forward will be adding physical running backs into the fold to provide a different running style for defenses to deal with. Cam Cook and Jeremy Payne are not scat backs by any means, but are not power backs by trade. Giving Trent Battle more carries as a more downhill, power running style running back a balance to the look that Cook and Payne give defenses should give a boost to the TCU running game. I don’t think the Savion Williams wildcat snaps will be as high as they were against Utah, but giving him a few carries a game could add some spark to the rushing attack as well.
- Russ: Who wants the job? No one seems to be able to take the reigns for the Horned Frogs right now. Veteran backs Trey Sanders and Dominique Johnson have been complete busts, while Cam Cook is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry and Jeremy Payne didn’t see a single carry after leading the team in rushing against Kansas two weeks ago. Hauss Hejny has been ineffective in his limited snaps and Trent Battle looked good in his return, but he hasn’t been a featured back at any point in his career at TCU. I still want to see more of the true freshman Jeremy Payne and I think we’ll continue to see Savion Williams as well. Ideally, Payne and Battle split carries, while Cook operates as a third-down/pass catching back.
- Wyatt: I think Tech will come prepared for the Savion and ‘wild frog’ on Saturday. That being said, I think the TCU offense should give Trent Battle and Jeremey Payne more carries. The two backs have both looked good in their limited amount of playing time. At this point in the season, I either want to see Hauss more involved trying to get him the ball, or just preserve his redshirt. I don’t know how I feel about Hauss potentially wasting eligibility for 2 plays a game.
Offensive MVP vs. Texas Tech
- Anthony: It’s Josh Hoover; this one is a pure smash spot for the TCU QB. He ranks as a top-5 passer in the nation and the Red Raiders defense ranks 132nd nationally in pass yards allowed per game. This game could become a shootout with the dynamic offense TTU will bring to Fort Worth, and the Horned Frogs gun slinger will need to come out firing to deliver a TCU victory. Would also like to see his first turnover-free game since Week 3.
- Austin: Josh Hoover. The Red Raiders are the worst against the pass in the Big 12. Texas Tech allowed Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson to throw five touchdowns a week ago. It’s possible Hoover tosses four-plus touchdowns and goes for over 400 yards.
- Drew: Josh Hoover. Texas Tech ranks second to last in the FBS in passing yards allowed per game and it feels like Hoover is due for a big game. Tech also struggles to get pressure on the quarterback and Hoover has been surgical when given a clean pocket.
- Russ: Eric McAlister. He’s totaled 50 or more receiving yards in five straight games and is a big play waiting to happen, averaging 21.1 yards per reception this season. I think Josh Hoover finds him throughout this game and he goes for over 100 yards and at least one score.
- Wyatt: Jack Bech. Hoover struggled to connect with Bech last week against Utah. I think Bech follows that up with a monster game and reminds people why he has been the number 1 option this year.
Defensive MVP vs. Texas Tech
- Anthony: Devean Deal. When the edge rusher is turned all the way up, the TCU defense can become a frightening force. Deal is coming off a tremendous game in Salt Lake City, but the Red Raiders offense poses a much tougher challenge. TCU needs Deal to again create havoc – hassling Morton and funneling Brooks to the waiting swarm of defenders.
- Austin: Jamel Johnson. The Red Raiders can move the ball on the ground and through the air. Safety is a natural choice when defending a well-rounded offense is on the horizon. Johnson will be tasked with helping in the box to slow down Tahj Brooks and helping deep in the middle of the field.
- Drew: Abe Camara. Camara has been a very solid run defender from his safety spot all season and he will be key to slowing down Tahj Brooks on Saturday.
- Russ: Bud Clark. The senior safety finally snagged his first interception of the season against Utah and he’ll have more opportunities for turnovers against a high-volume Texas Tech offense. Clark will need his best game of the season if TCU hopes to slow the Red Raiders down.
- Wyatt: ‘Scud’ James. LaMareon has been solid at Cornerback this season. I expect him to play very well against the Texas Tech Offense.
Final Score
- Anthony: TCU 34, Texas Tech 30
- Austin: TCU 42, Texas Tech 34
- Drew: TCU 35, Texas Tech 31
- Russ: TCU 38, Texas Tech 35
- Wyatt: TCU 31, Texas Tech 28