Bringing its own energy among things to watch as TCU football hosts Oklahoma
TCU football coach Gary Patterson likes to say his team has to bring its own energy on the road. But the Horned Frogs are finding out its BYOE at home, too, with limited capacity crowds of only about 12,000 at the 46,000-seat Amon G. Carter Stadium during the coronavirus pandemic.
That is something Patterson and his coaching staff have been preaching to a team that has started 0-2 at home with losses to Iowa State and Kansas State. This is the first time in Patterson’s tenure that the program has started this poorly in its own house, and the first time for the program overall since losing its first four home games in 1997 during a 1-10 season under Pat Sullivan.
“We didn’t come out with a lot of energy,” Patterson said. “So we’ve got to find a way to be able to do that. We’ve just got to get fired up for everybody that we play. It can’t just be Texas.”
Getting TCU (1-2, 1-2) fired up for Oklahoma shouldn’t be too hard of a sell. The Sooners have won five consecutive Big 12 championships, reaching the College Football Playoff the past three seasons.
Oklahoma (2-2, 1-2) is in the midst of a down year by falling out of the rankings with early-season losses to K-State and Iowa State, but it’s still a highly-regarded program.
As TCU linebacker Garret Wallow said, “Like I say all the time, every game in this league is a championship.”
With that being said, here’s five things to watch going into Saturday’s game:
1. Duggan’s Day
Sophomore quarterback Max Duggan is already a feel-good story for the Frogs, returning to the field after being diagnosed with a heart condition that required surgery and sidelined him for a month in training camp. Duggan has taken strides from Year 1 to Year 2, particularly with his accuracy.
But TCU’s passing offense has been inconsistent due to struggles along the offensive line. But good things can happen If Duggan and TCU get improved O-line play since OU has been prone to giving up big plays.
2. Rushing attack
TCU’s O-line struggles are well-documented, but the RB corps is something the program has been high on. The Frogs have been going with a committee approach early on this season, but it will be interesting to see if someone emerges as the “bell cow.” Darwin Barlow is the early favorite after rushing for a team-high 56 yards on eight carries against K-State.
3. Stopping the run
OU rushed for 366 yards on TCU last season. The good news is the leading rushers in that game, QB Jalen Hurts and RB Kennedy Brooks, won’t be suiting up for the Sooners on Saturday.
The bad news is run defense hasn’t been an area of strength for TCU. Instead, it’s one of the glaring weaknesses with opponents averaging close to 180 yards rushing a game.
4. Pressuring the QB
TCU had the fewest number of sacks in the Patterson era last season. The Frogs have only four sacks through three games this year.
TCU has to find ways to get pressure on the quarterback, particularly a relatively young and inexperienced QB such as OU’s Spencer Rattler.
5. Special teams watch
This matchup has been decided by one-score or less in six of the eight regular-season games played since TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012. With another close game expected, special teams could become the deciding factor.
From TCU’s standpoint, it feels comfortable with Derius Davis serving as the primary punt returner if JD Spielman is not able to go. Davis has big-play potential with the ball in his hands.
TCU kicker Griffin Kell, meanwhile, has a strong leg and has made four of six field goal attempts. The other two were blocked. His leg could be the reason TCU wins — or loses — on Saturday.
