Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the TCU season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– TCU Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 7-6 overall, 4-5 in Big 12
Head Coach: Gary Patterson, 19th year: 167-63
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TCU OFFENSE
– Well that didn’t work. The same TCU program that was around the 7,000-yard total offense mark on a regular basis had a rough year in 2017, and fell off the map last season with just 4,779 total yards while averaging fewer than 24 points per game. Injuries were a problem, mediocre quarterback play hurt, and the painful inability to move the chains was a killer. Turnovers, no downfield passing game, and seven of the last ten games with 17 points or fewer – there’s work to do, and it starts with …
– The quarterback play has to be better. Shawn Robinson was just okay, got hurt, and transferred to Missouri. Penn transfer Mike Collins and Grayson Muehlstein were serviceable, and star talent Justin Rogers simply wasn’t healthy enough to do anything. The hope is for Rogers to soon heal from a slew of injury issues, but Kansas State transfer Alex Delton has to step in and be a factor right away. If he’s not great, freshman Max Duggan will get thrown to the wolves.
– The rest of the parts are in place. Four starters return to an offensive front that led the Big 12 in pass protection, the 1-2 rushing punch of Sewo Olonilua and Darius Anderson is dangerous, and Jalen Reagor is a big-time playmaker who can change a game all by himself. More key parts have to rise up in the receiving corps, but the ground game should be stronger.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TCU DEFENSE
– As mediocre as the offense was, the season was saved by a terrific year from the Big 12’s top defense. The Horned Frogs allowed just 23 points per game, was terrific against the run, and gave up a Big 12-best 199 passing yards per game. Seven of the top eight tacklers are gone, but it’s TCU. The D will be fine.
– How good was the secondary? It didn’t allow a touchdown pass over the final three games, gave up a low 6.4 yards per pass – terrific for the Big 12 – and closed out with five interceptions in the Cheez-It Bowl win over Cal. Starting with Jeff Gladney, the cornerbacks are outstanding, and the safeties in the 4-2-5 alignment should grow into among the Big 12’s best.
– The linebacking corps is a wee bit of a concern after losing three of the team’s top four tacklers, Ty Summers, Arico Evans, and Jawuan Johnson. Garret Wallow is a good hitter with all-star potential, and with several options being tried out to fill the roles. The pass rush has to emerge up front on the ends, but the tackle combination of Corey Bethel and Terrell Cooper is a good one to build around.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP TCU PLAYERS
Best TCU Offensive Player
WR Jalen Reagor, Jr.
One of the Big 12’s most dynamic all-around playmakers, the 5-11, 195-pounder was the only offense and the only guy to worry about at times for the struggling Horned Frog attack. He led the team with 72 catches for 1,061 yards and nine scores, ran for two touchdowns, and came up with a few big kick and punt returns. Get the ball in his hands in the open field and watch him go.
2. OT Lucas Niang, Sr.
3. RB Darius Anderson, Sr.
4. RB Sewo Olonilua, Sr.
5. QB Alex Delton, Sr.
Best TCU Defensive Player
CB Jeff Gladney, Sr.
A terrific starter over the last two seasons, he’s one of the Big 12’s best pure cover-corners with 13 broken up passes last year with two picks. Tough enough to be reliable in the open field, he made 41 tackles even with a not-that-huge 6-0, 183-pound frame. Leave him on an island and he’s just fine in the pass-happy conference.
2. DT Corey Bethley, Jr.
3. S Innis Gaines, Sr.
4. DT Ross Blacklock, Jr.
5. SS/LB LaKendrick Van Zandt
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The TCU Offense
Just find a way to keep things moving and stop turning the ball over. This won’t be a machine like the 2014 or 2015 attacks, but it at least has to be able to go on more productive drives. The offense went from No. 1 in the Big 12 in third down conversion percentage in 2017 to dead last in the league last year. The Horned Frog O converted just 37% of its chances and was under 30% in each of its last four and six of its last eight games. Also, for a team that’s not going to be Oklahoma when it comes to cranking up the production, there can’t be 26 turnovers again.
Biggest Key To The TCU Defense
The pass rush has to emerge from the new starting ends. After generating 85 sacks over the previous two seasons, the pas rush slowed down a bit last year with just 35 sacks. The producers who came up with 25 of those are gone, including Ben Banogu and LJ Collier on the ends along with LB Ty Summers. South Carolina grad transfer Shameik Blackshear should be a big help, and junior Brandon Bowen and redshirt freshman Ochaun Mathis have to play roles right away.
Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Alex Delton, Sr.
Or Justin Rogers, or Mike Collins, or Max Duggan. Someone has to take over the starting quarterback job and make it his – and that includes being lucky at staying healthy. Duggan is the wild-card, with the mobility and accuracy to become the face of the franchise for the next few seasons, and Delton is the veteran grad transfer from Kansas State who’s looking to up his passing game a bit. Delton can run, and he’s experienced, but he needs to show something big in fall camp to be the answer. It’ll be a battle throughout August for the gig.
Key Game To The TCU Season
Texas, October 26
Even in a relatively down year, TCU was able to beat Iowa State and Kansas State. Those two showdowns are on the road after starting out the Big 12 season against Kansas, and the Horned Frogs have to start out 3-0 if it’s going to have any realistic hopes of playing for the conference title. They won four straight over Texas before losing 31-16 in Austin last year, but this time it’s in Fort Worth. After this, they still have to deal with Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Oklahoma on the road.
– TCU Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 TCU Fun Stats
– Sacks: TCU 35 for 195 yards – Opponents 16 for 109 yards
– Penalties: TCU 73 for 575 yards – Opponents 56 for 508 yards
– Points Per Game: TCU 23.54 – Opponents 23.08
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. TCU WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
Just assume that TCU and head coach Gary Patterson are able to figure it all out and get back to form.
The defense might have to replace a slew of key parts, but the factory that’s so good at developing talent should kick in with another good front seven to go along one of the Big 12’s most effective secondaries.
It’s the other side of the ball that’s the concern.
The running backs are good, the receivers are fine as long as Jalen Reagor is being Jalen Reagor, and the line has the talent and experience to be outstanding. There are plenty of quarterback options, but one of them has to be good enough to make it all go.
It’ll all come together in a bounceback season, because that’s what TCU does.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 8
Go 4-8 in 2013? Tweak and adjust the offense, and win 23 games over the following two seasons.
Go 6-7 in 2016? Tweak and adjust the defense, and win 11 games in 2017.
The schedule is going to be a problem with road games at Purdue, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Oklahoma, and with home dates against Texas, Baylor and West Virginia. But the Horned Frogs will be good enough to win at least five of those, get to eight wins – more likely nine – and be in the Big 12 title chase until the finish.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
