All eyes are on QB Max Duggan as TCU starts spring practices
TCU football is back. Sort of.
TCU opens spring practices today and all eyes will be on sophomore quarterback Max Duggan. Expectations are for Duggan to take a step forward in 2020 after a true freshman season that saw plenty of highs and lows.
With Duggan as the primary quarterback, TCU went 5-7 last season, missing bowl eligibility for just the third time in Gary Patterson’s 19 seasons.
Patterson spent the offseason adjusting his staff, notably bringing in veteran head coach Jerry Kill to oversee the offense and re-hiring Doug Meacham to help resurrect the passing game.
All of it is geared toward getting the offense headed back in the right direction with Duggan at quarterback. He’s the only available and healthy scholarship QB this spring.
Duggan took to social media with a simple message, posting an Instagram picture of him diving into the end zone during the Baylor game: “Going into spring ball like ...”
Ironically, the picture is of a play in which officials ruled Duggan stepped out of bounds short of the goal-line, a controversial call that overturned the initial call on the field of what would have been a game-tying touchdown.
But that’s kind of how Duggan’s — and TCU’s — season went. Plenty of close calls and close losses (TCU went 1-6 in games decided by one score or less).
Duggan finished throwing for 2,077 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed just 53.4% of his passes (181 for 339). As far as rushing, Duggan ranked second on the team with 555 yards and six TDs.
He had standout games such as completing more than 70% of his passes (19 for 27) for 273 yards and two TDs in a 37-27 victory over then-No. 15 Texas. A few weeks later, Duggan shined with a season-high 323 yards passing and 75 yards rushing in a 33-31 victory at Texas Tech.
But he closed the season with disappointing games at Oklahoma (7 for 21 passing) and against West Virginia (15 for 36 passing).
All that said, Duggan earned the trust of the coaching staff going forward. They believe he has the tools and mentality to lead the program back to competing at a high level.
Count Kill as an early believer in Duggan too.
“I think he’s going to be very good,” Kill told the Star-Telegram earlier this month. “I think he fits what I’m used to doing and I think he’ll have a great year next year. He’s going to learn a ton from that freshman year and then we’ve got to build around him a little bit. He can throw the ball. He can run the ball. We’ve just got to do a better job.
“When I was at Virginia Tech, everybody knew about that kid. Everybody knows he brings something to the table.”
Today is the first of 15 practices for the Horned Frogs, which will run through April 2. The team will take a week off for spring break (March 9-13) and have a spring scrimmage open to the public on March 28 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Three more things to watch for a TCU team that is returning 14 starters in 2020 (eight defensive, six offensive) —
Finding playmakers
This spring is a great opportunity for playmakers to emerge for the Frogs.
TCU lost its best receiving threat in Jalen Reagor and its top two running backs in Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua.
As Patterson likes to say, the program has plenty of “paper tigers” on the roster but it’s time to see which ones translate that on the field.
Receiver Taye Barber has shown signs of developing into that high-end player and maybe he takes another step as a junior. Te’Vailance Hunt displayed his athleticism with a memorable TD catch against Baylor, but has to become more consistent.
TCU also has potential playmakers in the incoming recruiting class in Quentin Johnston, a four-star prospect, and Savion Williams, a three-star prospect.
As Kill said, “We’re not going to call them freshmen when they come in. Don’t let them act like they’re freshmen, make them act as sophomores because some of those wide receivers are going to have to contribute.”
From a running back perspective, TCU will look to redshirt freshmen Darwin Barlow and Daimarqua Foster, as well as junior Emari Demerecado.
In the trenches
TCU lost its top three offensive tackles this offseason in Lucas Niang, Anthony McKinney and David Bolisomi, as well as left guard Cordel Iwuagwu.
That’s a lot to replace but TCU has a number of candidates pushing for playing time. Andrew Coker is a promising prospect who has spent a year in the program. Other returners include Austin Myers and Quazzel White, both of whom have starting experience.
TCU also added depth by bringing in graduate transfer TJ Storment and JUCO tackle Brandon Coleman, and landing four-star prospect Garrett Hayes.
Defensively, TCU has a big void with Ross Blacklock bolting to the NFL. But TCU has two newcomers at defensive tackle this spring in Patrick Jenkins, a four-star prospect out of Louisiana, and Jaquaze Sorrells, another four-star prospect who sat out last season after initially signing with South Carolina.
The Frogs are also looking to boost their pass rush depth after registering just 22 sacks last season. That’s the fewest number of sacks TCU has had since Patterson took over in 2001.
Ochaun Mathis, who is out for spring practices, is expected to improve as a sophomore with a full season of starting under his belt. The same can be said for Aledo’s Colt Ellison, who played in six games as a true freshman.
The Frogs will also have Brandon Bowen and Thomas Armstrong available this spring after both sat out 2019 with injuries.
Coaching roles
Patterson kept Sonny Cumbie as offensive coordinator this offseason, although he’s yet to anoint a play-caller for the 2020 season. Cumbie has called plays for the Frogs since 2017, but Meacham was the play-caller from 2014-16.
It remains to be seen how TCU handles it next season. Kill is expected to have a strong voice in determining the best roles for the offensive staff on game day.
Kill isn’t sure where he’ll be on game days, whether it’s on the field or in the coaching booth, and hasn’t made that determination for assistants.
TCU had a unique setup last season when Cumbie moved from the booth to the field. That meant both co-OCs last season, Cumbie and Curtis Luper, were on the field instead of having one in the booth.
At the end of the day, coaching roles will be evaluated by Kill throughout spring practices and fall camp. It’s something to keep an eye on given how much impact it could have on the offensive direction the program goes.
