TCU, Patterson aware that SMU is more than meets the eye
The SMU game is not going to be as easy for TCU as it was last year.
Gary Patterson can promise you that.
Actually, he can promise you that about every game. But it’s not an unwelcome development for the TCU coach.
The schedule is setting up ideally for him and the No. 3-ranked Horned Frogs as they try to make new pieces fit on a team missing six starters.
SMU at 7 p.m. Saturday will be a tougher test than Stephen F. Austin last week, and Texas Tech in the Big 12 opener next week will be a tougher test than SMU. By then, the Frogs hope to have a more complete picture of their capabilities in a season with them in the top five and harboring hopes for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
But first things first: getting past the Mustangs, whom the Frogs subdued 56-0 in Dallas last year, the biggest rout in the history of the 94-game series, which began in 1915 — 100 years ago.
“They play hard. A lot more emotion, a lot more physical,” Patterson said, comparing the SMU of 2014, which finished 1-11 and played its last nine games under an interim coach, and the SMU of 2015, which is 1-1 through its first two games under new coach Chad Morris.
“The new offense makes you be that way,” Patterson said. “They have a lot of them playing hard.”
The playing hard part won’t be much different.
Patterson said SMU has always played with emotion against TCU. Never mind that the series is 7-1 in TCU’s favor the last eight meetings.
“This game’s always been an emotional game,” Patterson said. “As a general rule, except every once in a while, it’s a very physical ballgame. I don’t look at this any different. I prepare hard for SMU. We always have as a staff. We always understand what we’re getting into when we play this ballgame. [In 2011] they were here, they beat us.”
The series isn’t going away, either. Patterson said he wants to continue playing SMU because it’s close and makes sense financially and traditionally, even in years when the Mustangs can consider it their Super Bowl and an upset could cost the Frogs dearly.
“Is there more risk? Yes,” Patterson said. “But I don’t have any more pressure with that than I do playing all the other guys in the Big 12 I’ve got to play.”
Besides, with the Mustangs’ new offense, Patterson has had no trouble focusing.
Led by quarterback Matt Davis, a former Texas A&M redshirt, SMU is running the misdirection and play-action scheme Morris used as offensive coordinator at Clemson to make stars of Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins and Andre Ellington.
Davis may or may not be in Boyd’s league. But he’s already set the SMU record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a game — twice, first with 181 yards and two touchdowns at Tulsa, and then with 191 yards and a touchdown at Connecticut, both last season.
This year, he’s started with 271 yards and two rushing touchdowns, including a 50-yarder. And he’s thrown four touchdown passes, with a 70.2 percent completion rate. His No. 1 target, Courtland Sutton, averages 18.4 yards a catch.
“Obviously, he’s put a spark in,” Patterson said of Davis, a 6-foot, 212-pound junior from Houston. “He’s one of those guys that, probably when he’s the scariest is when he drops back to pass. Because you can be covering everybody, and then he takes off.”
Remind you of anyone?
“It’s like playing Trevone Boykin,” Patterson said. “He can run all over the place. He fits their role a lot better than what he fit when they were throwing the ball 60 times a game. So yeah, he creates problems.”
From Patterson, that’s a promise.
Carlos Mendez: 817-390-7760, @calexmendez
Three to watch
The linebackers. Travin Howard drew rave reviews from Gary Patterson last week. He came off the bench to share the team lead in tackles with fellow linebacker Montrel Wilson. Now they’re the two starters.
Who’s at safety. The Horned Frogs are probably going to look at more than one candidate for Kenny Iloka’s vacated spot. Weak safety is a playmaking position in Patterson’s defense. Chris Hackett had seven interceptions there last year.
The score. Baylor played SMU two weeks ago and won 56-21. TCU’s performance will be compared, no matter what. It’ll be strictly for entertainment purposes, since head-to-head will trump all in November. But still, won’t it be fun to talk about?
Head to head
Stat | TCU (2-0) | SMU (1-1) |
Scoring offense | 46.5 | 26.0 |
Passing offense | 324.5 | 168.5 |
Rushing offense | 213.5 | 238.0 |
Total offense | 538.0 | 406.5 |
3rd down conv. % | 54.5 | 53.3 |
Scoring defense | 12.0 | 34.5 |
Passing defense | 109.0 | 275.5 |
Rushing defense | 145.0 | 206.0 |
Total defense | 254.0 | 481.5 |
Def. 3rd down conv.% | 19.4 | 38.5 |
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 2:53 PM with the headline "TCU, Patterson aware that SMU is more than meets the eye."