TCU Football: Keys to the Game, Week 11
It has been a difficult last month for TCU Football who has now lost four of their last five games, and unfortunately for the Frogs, it will not get any easier with the No. 7 Texas Longhorns rolling into town.
Since Texas’ loss to Oklahoma in early October, the Longhorns have been on a three-game winning streak, taking care of Houston, BYU, and Kansas State. While they’re coming to Fort Worth to take on a team that appears defeated in a lost season, the Frogs are expected to put up a fight for what could be the most critical game yet.
But for the Frogs to get a much-needed victory over the Longhorns, they will have to stick to these keys to the game.
Win the line of scrimmage:
The Frogs offensive line has struggled immensely over the past month. With a high-tempo offense and a young quarterback, the offensive line hasn’t provided the protection Josh Hoover has needed.
When Hoover has time in the pocket, he is sharp and can execute. He’s proven that. But when he has two seconds before the pressure comes and has to anticipate the sack, he’s forced to skim over his reads and fails to make the best decision. That’s not necessarily all his fault, rather he needs time. Hoover is still a young, inexperienced quarterback who has started only three games in his career.
TCU Quarterback Josh Hoover (10)
Against the No. 7 Texas Longhorns, who have one of the premier defensive lines in the nation, the Frogs will have to be as physical as ever to protect their quarterback.
Now the key to winning the line of scrimmage does not only apply to the offensive line, but to the TCU defensive line as well.
TCU is tasked with slowing down sophomore running back Jonathan Brooks. With the departure of Bijan Robinson, Brooks has exploded for 1,035 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. He also has 212 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. Brooks has eclipsed the century mark in five of nine games this year, cashing in a season-best 218 yards against Kansas.
It will indeed be a tall task for the Frogs, but if they want this victory it all starts at the line of scrimmage.
Establish the Rushing Game:
Emani Bailey is going to be the most critical piece of the TCU offense come Saturday. His production on the ground will be the reason that TCU either finds or fails to find success on offense.
The workhorse in the backfield, Bailey will need to exploit the holes and pick up yards for the Frogs. If Bailey is able to establish the rushing game, it will allow TCU to find other ways to attack offensively through the air. Especially with a depleted receiving core, as Jack Bech, Dylan Wright, and Warren Thompson will all be unavailable against Texas.
It was just a year ago that TCU improved to 10-0 after a 17-10 victory in Austin. That day the Frogs unleashed for 159 yards on the ground and held Texas to a mere 28 rushing yards. If this TCU team can generate some of that magic last season, we could be in for a treat.
Execute in the Red Zone and on 3rd Down:
The lack of execution in the Red Zone or even on 3rd or 4th down has hurt the Frogs tremendously.
In regards to Red Zone efficiency, TCU ranks 124th of 130 FBS teams with an efficiency of .694. An astonishing statistic, it doesn’t get much better defensively as the Frogs rank 69th in red zone defense. Now shifting gears to 3rd down defense. While the Frogs tend to do better than they do worse on 3rd down offense, it’s 68th ranked 3rd down defense that is a worry.
While TCU has been without some key pieces on defense, most notably Johnny Hodges, who is now back in the team, there is no excuse for allowing 1,015 total yards over the last two games.
Against a Texas Longhorns team that undoubtedly has one of the most explosive, threatening offenses in the nation, the Frogs will have to impose their game early and set the tone.
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