TCU practice report: The latest on the QB competition; Coker gets left tackle reps
All eyes remain on the quarterback competition as TCU football approaches the midway point of spring practices.
Senior Max Duggan and redshirt freshman Chandler Morris continue to split reps, although Duggan worked two of the three first-team series on Tuesday. Morris worked one series with the first team and two series with the second team as TCU went through Day 7 of 15 spring practices.
Again, coach Sonny Dykes has said not to read too much into the depth chart, especially at this point in the offseason. The QB battle doesn’t have a leader in the clubhouse yet and it seems unlikely that a starter will emerge this spring. This feels like a competition that will go into fall camp.
Overall, the offense looked solid on Tuesday behind both quarterbacks.
Duggan went 4-for-5 passing (unofficially) on the day with his lone incomplete pass being a dropped deep ball by Blair Conwright. Morris went 5-for-7 (unofficially) while third-team QB Sam Jackson had one of his better days going 3-for-4. True freshman Josh Hoover went 1-for-4 in his lone team series.
Other takeaways from the day —
▪ Left tackle is an open competition this spring. Junior Marcus Williams has gotten the most first-team reps this spring with sophomore Michael Nichols backing up. But TCU had right tackle Andrew Coker taking first-team reps at left tackle on the series with Morris at QB. Coker started every game at right tackle last season, and eight games at right tackle in 2020. It’ll be interesting to see if Coker, the most experienced tackle on the roster, gets more looks on the left side.
▪ Sticking with the O-line, the starters on the first series were Coker at right tackle, John Lanz at right guard, Steve Avila at center, Brandon Coleman at left guard and Williams at left tackle. During the Morris series with the first-team, it was Coker at left tackle, Coleman at left guard, Alan Ali at center, Avila at right guard and Nichols at right tackle.
▪ Junior defensive back Jaionte McMillan, a walk on, had two interceptions during the 7-on-7 portion of practice. McMillan played in four games for the Frogs last season, and three in 2020. Increasing the number of takeaways is among the top priorities for TCU’s defense going into 2022.
▪ The defense had at least two sacks during the team portion, too, including sophomore defensive lineman Jaquaze Sorrells getting a sack on Jackson. The Frogs had just 15 sacks last season, which was the second-fewest in the Big 12 ahead of only Kansas’ 14.
