Baylor would love to keep TCU football searching for an offensive identity
Baylor coach Dave Aranda hopes that TCU is still searching for its offensive identity following Saturday’s game.
If that happens, Aranda said, one of the Bears’ goals will be accomplished.
“It’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that,” Aranda said of TCU’s offense on the Big 12 coaches teleconference this week. “We have to take care of our end of it, so that they continue kind of searching for another week.”
TCU’s offensive struggles have been well-documented early this season, starting with issues across the offensive line. The Frogs are averaging just 23.8 points a game, which ranks ninth in the 10-team Big 12.
They rank seventh in rushing offense and fifth in passing offense in the league. The only thing consistent with the Horned Frogs’ offense has been their inconsistency.
TCU struggled in establishing the run in its season-opening loss to Iowa State (99 yards rushing on 44 carries) but then rushed for 227 yards on 51 carries in its victory over Texas. The Frogs threw for 399 yards against the Cyclones then threw for 236 yards against the Longhorns.
TCU had solid rushing numbers against K-State (189 yards on 37 carriers) but struggled against OU (75 yards on 25 carries). Passing-wise the Frogs had 153 yards against K-State and 276 yards against OU.
TCU coach Gary Patterson has seen strides made by the offense, particularly from a protection standpoint after giving up seven sacks to Iowa State. But he acknowledged there is much room for improvement.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to win ballgames,” Patterson said. “We’ve just got to do a better job of getting done what we need to get done — coaches and players. When it’s not going the way you want to, it’s really easy to point fingers. For us, what we’ve always been good at is gathering the troops and going forward and keep grinding and find a way to turn it around. This year is no different.”
For TCU, it starts with finding consistency and an identity with its offense. This is a program that has scored just 14 points in each of the past two games against K-State and OU.
There have been flashes of potential, though.
Quarterback Max Duggan has improved his accuracy significantly. Freshman receiver Quentin Johnston has shown big-play potential. Junior receiver Taye Barber has been a reliable target with at least five catches in three of the first four games. The running back corps has high-end potential with Darwin Barlow, Daimarqua Foster, Zach Evans and Kendre Miller, although the team has been using a committee approach with nobody emerging as the “bell cow.”
As much as Aranda would like to keep TCU searching for another week, he knows it’s easier said than done. Aranda raved about TCU’s coaching staff, namely offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie.
Aranda and Cumbie crossed paths at Texas Tech when Aranda was a graduate assistant and Cumbie was a player in 2001.
“Sonny was our scout team quarterback,” Aranda said. “I’ve got a great relationship with Sonny. I think the world of him, he’s just a great coach. So I know they’re going to be motivated and energized for this game.
“I see a competitor at quarterback [Duggan]. I see a guy who can extend plays and can get the ball down the field with a strong arm. I see an O-line that is physical. I think they’re one of the better O-lines that we’ve played to this point. Then I think they’ve got good skill players. … Have a lot of respect for the group coming in and know that they’ll be primed and ready to play.”
TCU (1-3) and Baylor (1-2) will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Waco.
