Photo Courtesy: Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns will look to continue their winning ways with the return of Quinn Ewers at quarterback against the TCU Horned Frogs. Today, watch our Devon Messinger and Dylan DeRaud discuss what makes the Horned Frogs who they are in the YouTube video above.
If you also want to watch their discussion surrounding this week’s College Football Playoff rankings (with Texas being the seventh-ranked team, still trailing the Oregon Ducks), simply click here.
DeRaud’s Scouting Report of the TCU Offense:
TCU’s offense has found success this season in the passing game, ranking second in the Big 12 for passing yards at 296.6 per game, making them the 16th-best in the nation. They also lead the conference in pass attempts per game. Their total offensive yardage has been near the top of the conference and the nation as well, ranking third in the Big 12 and 16th nationally. However, their running game ranks only 10th in the conference, with 165.6 yards per game. In addition, ball security is an issue, as they rank second in turnovers per game in the conference, averaging 1.7 turnovers.
In terms of impact players, redshirt freshman QB Josh Hoover, while showing promise, has thrown an interception in every game, and his erratic play mirrors that of a young quarterback. Running back Emani Bailey is a key ground threat, ranking fourth in the Big 12 with 908 rushing yards, and he’s also a receiving threat out of the backfield.
Wide receivers John Paul Richardson and Savion Williams have had their moments, but Richardson is due for a bounce-back game, and Williams, although imposing due to his 6’5″ height, has yet to eclipse 80 yards this season. Tight end Jared Wiley has made a notable impact, typically securing 4-5 receptions on a good day and is on the cusp of surpassing his total receiving yards from last year.
The offensive line has been solid and has allowed 14 sacks on the season, while kicker Griffin Kell has shown range but struggled with consistency beyond 40 yards. The Horned Frogs have the talent to move the ball on offense, but turnovers and youth at the quarterback position have been significant factors contributing to their 4-5 record this season.
Messinger’s Scouting Report of the TCU Defense:
Leading the TCU defense is junior linebacker Namdi Obiazor, who leads the team in both tackles (72) and sacks (4). Senior linebacker Jamoi Hodge also adds experience and talent with 51 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
In the secondary, senior cornerback Josh Newton is the star player who has not seen much action from opposing quarterbacks. Along with Newton, safeties Mark Perry and Bud Clark have been integral defensive backs for the Horned Frogs this season.
Lastly, one interesting thing to note is that 13 different Horned Frog defenders have tallied at least a contributed sack, with Paul Oyewale being the pressure-maker on the defensive line.
Overall, this TCU team is ranked 77th in the country in total yards allowed, which indicates that this team is not as talented as they have been in year’s past. This regression makes sense when you consider the fact that the team lost several key members of the defense to the most recent NFL Draft.