TCU mailbag: Horned Frogs fans soundoff after K-State blowout
The bye week came at a much-needed time for TCU as the Horned Frogs desperately needed a week off to regroup after the 41-3 defeat to Kansas State.
With no game on Saturday, it’s also an ideal time for another TCU mailbag. As one can expect Horned Frogs fans had plenty on their mind on the state of the program with TCU sitting at a surprising 4-4 with only four games left.
With so many questions, this will be the lengthiest mailbag to date, so let’s get right to it.
Here’s this latest edition of the TCU football mailbag:
Is the starting quarterback for TCU 2024 currently on the roster?- @the_realG3
We’re coming out swinging for the first question I see . There are two ways to look at it. On one hand both Chandler Morris and Josh Hoover have shown flashes and had good moments. You could make the argument that either could take a jump in the second season of operating Kendal Briles’ offense.
But here’s another perspective. Morris has been hurt in back-to-back seasons and his durability and his smaller statue has to be a question at this point. Hoover had an excellent game against BYU and then looked like he needed more time to develop against K-State. Incoming freshman Hauss Hejny has had a strong off-season and senior season at Aledo, but would TCU really start a true freshman over more experienced options?
This opinion can change in the next four games, but I think TCU needs to explore its options in the transfer portal and swing for the fences with a quarterback that has starting experience even if means losing Hoover or Morris to portal.
Would love to hear your evaluations of the offensive and defensive lines- Kevin M. Wright
The offensive line has probably been the most disappointing unit so far. Remember even though TCU lost stars like Steve Avila and Alan Ali, the Horned Frogs still returned three of its top six linemen in terms of snaps. But as the season has progressed the deficiencies of the unit have become clear. The o-line doesn’t generate a consistent enough push in the run game which is why TCU struggles so much in third-and-short and fourth-and-short.
It’s also why the Horned Frogs haven’t been able to rely on the run game as much as last year. Emani Bailey will pop off a 25-yard gain and then struggle to gain 10 on the next five or six carries combined. As far as pass protection, the unit I think is more consistent depending on the quality of the defensive line it’s facing, but there’s still been a noticeable step back.
Before last week’s debacle I would say TCU’s defensive line has just been okay. Damonic Williams hasn’t taken the leap many expected and Caleb Fox is serviceable, but not spectacular. I’m still high on Paul Oyewale’s upside, but he hasn’t had a sack in over a month. Don’t be surprised to see some of those young 2023 signees to get more run to close the season.
How is Johnny Hodges?- @koko721dove
Hodges hasn’t played since TCU’s win over Houston in September with a hand injury. There’s optimism Hodges could return to the field on Thursday against Texas Tech which would be a big boost for the defense.
Why has the team regressed so much in terms of mental and physical toughness?- @ScottAbel14
Lack of leadership. The 2022 Horned Frogs were excellent in that regard with Steve Avila, Max Duggan, Dee Winters and Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson. Avila was the stoic presence on the field and in the locker room and we’ve already seen that translate to the NFL. We know how much Duggan inspired the team with his grittiness on the field and how good of a teammate he was when he lost the starting competition. Hodges-Tomlinson and Winters led with their leadership and playmaking.
We just haven’t see that enough this season. Josh Newton and Andrew Coker are two players I believe are trying their best, but there still needs to be more players stepping up.
Coordinators: One, both or none gone after the season? @sorensen_chris
As of today I think both Kendal Briles and Joe Gillespie will be back next season. With Briles only in his first season and having a close relationship with Dykes, I would be surprised if he doesn’t get another year. As bad as the K-State game was, Gillespie’s defense had shown improvement in the previous six games and he still coordinated a defense that was good enough to make the national title game.
However, another loss like K-State and I think that conversation will change quickly.
What’s the biggest concern with the team? Talent, coaching, execution, will or chemistry? @mikefrogit
Talent isn’t the issue for TCU as I believe the Horned Frogs have had the more talented rosters in all but maybe one of their games. If I had to pick one I would say chemistry, I’m not sure if this is the same tight knit locker room we saw last season. It feels more like a group of talented individuals than a talented team if that makes sense. As far as will, K-State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe said TCU players were allegedly laughing down 30 points on Saturday.
True or not, it’s a bad look for an opponent to come out and accuse you of quitting.
At what point is it time for a youth movement? @manysuchcases17
It’s still too early to pull the plug and go all in on your freshmen and sophomores. You have to sell to the team that it’s possible to go 4-0 down the stretch and inserting a bunch of younger players into the lineup would be contradictory. I think that point will come if TCU drops the next two games to Texas Tech and Texas. At that point it might be a disservice to not get players like Jamel Johnson, Ben Taylor-Whitfield and more meaningful game reps.
Will (Joe Gillespie) change the 3-3-5?- @mandobull197
No and Gillespie shouldn’t. Here’s a few reasons why. First there’s just not enough time to install a new base defense, even with the bye week. Defense is about more than just alignment, there are specific run fits, calls and the players have become accustomed to all of that. Asking them to change mid-season is like asking a right-handed basketball player to learn to shoot with his left in a week.
More importantly, Gillespie has made his career off of this defense. Pivoting now after one bad game would be a sign of a lack of confidence and if he’s not confident how can his players be?
Coach Dykes made a comment post-game that there will likely be personnel changes. Who do you expect we see more of in the coming weeks?- @llandogrande1111
There are a few that come to mind and one is Marcel Brooks, he’s had a solo tackle in the last two games and gives TCU some juice with his overall speed. He could be a better matchup on running backs in coverage as well. I think Jordyn Bailey and Major Everhart could see bigger roles at receiver, whether it be due to health or lack of production.
Ben Taylor-Whitfield is another I think could get more snaps, if the offensive line is going to continue to struggle with older players then you might as well get Whitfield in there to develop.
Assuming TCU were to make a change at OC, who would be the top candidates for the job? @ThrowBackFrog
Just to reiterate, I don’t anticipate Briles being gone after this season yet, but let’s have some fun with this. This is my personal hot board and the obvious name is Seth Littrell. He was the former head coach at North Texas and also coached under Mike Leach at Texas Tech. He would be easily attainable as he’s an analyst at Oklahoma currently.
Tim Cramsey at the University of Memphis has gone good work the past few seasons and also had Marshall as one of the top offenses during his stint there. One candidate that I think would do great at TCU is UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. A former standout during his playing days at Tulsa, Marion coached wide receivers at Pittsburgh, Texas and Hawaii before taking over in Vegas. UNLV has a top-20 scoring offense and the Red Rebels are having their best season in at least a decade.
