TCU Scouting Report

SCOUTING TCU

 

Overall Record: 10-2

 

National Ranking: 11^th in BCS, 11^th in AP, 11^th in USA Today

 

Conference Record: 7-1 (2^nd in Mountain West)

 

Head Coach: Gary Patterson (72-27 Overall Record, 8th Season)

                           

Non-Conference Record over FBS Teams:  2-1 (W vs. Stanford; W at SMU; L at Oklahoma)

 

Record vs. Current Top 25 Teams: 1-2 (35-10 L at Oklahoma; 32-7 W vs. BYU; 13-10 L at Utah)

 

Record vs. Bowl Eligible Teams: 3-2 (L at Oklahoma; W at Colorado St.; W vs. BYU; L at Utah; W vs. Air Force)

Season Review: One of the most successful, yet underrated programs in the country, TCU put together its fifth 10-win season in the past 7 years in 2008.  After starting the season outside the Top 25, the Horned Frogs moved into the Top 25 in mid-September, climbing as high as 11^th in the country prior to the Mountain West title showdown against Utah on November 6^th.  The Utes captured the conference crown with a come from behind 13-10 win over TCU, as the Horned Frogs only two losses of the season came to team’s ranked in the top 6 in the country (Oklahoma and Utah).  Led by fast and tenacious defense, TCU opened the season 4-0, allowing just 31 total points in the first four games, before falling at #2 Oklahoma.  Following the Sooner loss, the Horned Frogs reeled off five straight wins, including a dominating 32-7 home victory over then #9 BYU.  At 9-1, TCU was poised for the Mountain West title and move into the top 10 nationally, before two missed fourth quarter field goals and a last minute Utah touchdown crushed the TCU BCS hopes with a three-point loss.  The Horned Frogs rallied from the Utah loss to crush Air Force, 44-10, in the regular season finale, jumping to #11 nationally in the BCS, AP and USA Today Coaches polls.

 

Key Players:  DE Jerry Hughes (MWC Defensive Player of the Year); QB Andy Dalton (Honorable Mention All-MWC); LB Robert Henson (First Team All-MWC); LB Jason Phillips (First Team All-MWC); S Stephen Hodge (First Team All-MWC); C Blake Schlueter (First Team All-MWC); RET Jeremy Kerley (First Team All-MWC); NT Cody Moore (Second Team All-MWC); CB Rafael Priest (Second Team All-MWC); WR Jimmy Young (Honorable Mention All-MWC).

 

Horned Frogs Offense:  TCU ranked 3^rd in the Mountain West Conference and 20^th nationally, averaging 35.0 points per game.  Quarterback Andy Dalton leads a balanced offensive attack, that averages 201 yards passing and 216 yards rushing.  Dalton has completed 59 percent of his passes, with 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions.  Dalton is threat on the ground, rushing for 358 yards and 8 touchdowns as well.  The Horned Frog running game uses a stable of backs, with five different players rushing for 350 yards or more on the season.  Tailback Joseph Turner leads TCU with 494 yards on the season and 10 touchdowns.  Wide receiver Jimmy Young is the big play threat for TCU, leading the team in every category with 54 receptions for 926 yards (17.1 yards per catch) and 5 touchdowns.  A veteran offensive line includes first team All-Mountain West center Blake Schlueter and second team tackle Marshall Newhouse.

 

Horned Frogs Defense:  Fast and stingy.  Two of the best words to describe a TCU defense, that is one of the best in the country.  The Horned Frogs allowed 10 points or less in 8 of 12 regular season games, leading to a season long defensive scoring average of just 10.9 points per game to rank second nationally to USC.  Eight of TCU’s 11 starters were named first or second team All-Mountain West Conference.  All told, the incredible defensive season by TCU included leading the nation in rush defense (48.7 yards per game), second nationally in total defense (215.1 yards per game), second nationally in sacks (41) and fourth in pass efficiency defense.  Defensive end Jerry Hughes is perhaps the best football player in the country, that few have heard of.  He is the first defensive player in Mountain West Conference history to be named first of second team four straight seasons.  The 6-2, 248 pound Hughes leads the nation with 14 sacks and six forced fumbles.  A fast Horned Frog linebacking corp includes first team all-conference selections Robert Henson and Jason Phillips.  The duo has combined for 152 tackles and 21 tackles for loss.  Safety Steven Coleman leads the Horned Frog secondary with three interceptions.  TCU’s defense has allowed just 16 touchdown’s all season, 8 via the ground and 8 through the air.

 

Horned Frogs Special Teams:  Two of the top return men in the Mountain West Conference were members of the TCU team.  Kickoff return specialist Aaron Brown averages 32 yards per return, including an 85 yard touchdown.  Punt returner Jeremy Kerley earned first team all-conference honors, with a 14.5 per return average.  Kicker Ross Evans was steady most of the season, nailing 15-of-19 field goal attempts, including a long of 50.  But, Evans also missed two fourth quarter field goals inside 35 yards in the three-point loss at Utah, something that Bronco fans vividly remember.

 

Overall Bowl Record:  10-13-1

Last Five Bowl Games (4-1):  2007 Texas Bowl vs. Houston (W 20-13); 2006 Poinsettia Bowl vs. No. Illinois (W 37-7); 2005 Houston Bowl vs. Iowa State (W 27-24); 2003 Fort Worth Bowl vs. Boise Staet (L 34-31); 2002 Liberty Bowl vs. Colorado State (W 17-3)

 

Series Record with Boise State:  0-1 (L in 2003 Fort Worth Bowl, 34-31)

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