Patterson wants to see TCU play second-half defense in first half

TCU played a strong second half on defense last week against Kansas State, but coach Gary Patterson wants to start seeing that in the first half.

“What we’ve got to do is start ballgames like that,” he said Monday during the Big 12 coaches conference call with reporters. “If we can start games like we started against Texas, then you’re going to have a chance to slow some people down. If not, it’s going to be the same kind of things at the end of ballgames we’ve already dealt with for the last month.”

The Horned Frogs, ranked No. 3 in the AP and USA Today coaches polls, needed last-possession scores to win at Texas Tech and Kansas State. Those teams scored 28 and 35 points, respectively, in the first half against the Frogs.

“Everybody sees where we’re ranked,” Patterson said. “We’re going to get everybody’s best shot. That’s why I’ve been proud of my kids. We’ve gotten everybody’s best shot to this point, but they’ve found a way to win it; they’ve found a way to fight back. Some teams, when it’s not going their way, they quit, especially on the road. But these kids, even though they’re young on defense, they’ve found a way to get stops at the end of ballgames.”

Two weeks ago at home against Texas, TCU didn’t allow a point in the first half and none until the fourth quarter.

But Patterson said the venue is part of the reason.

“Everybody plays better at home,” he said. “They play better, and they play better at night. Like I heard coach [Bill] Snyder say, it was the first game of the year he saw his team play with passion. That’s what this team is going to get all the way out.”

The Horned Frogs face another road night game this week. Kickoff at Iowa State is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday.

Lathan, Listenbee ‘average’

Patterson said defensive end Terrell Lathan and receiver Kolby Listenbee had “average” games in their returns from injury. Neither had played since leaving the SMU game, Lathan with an apparent shoulder injury and Listenbee after falling hard on a touchdown catch.

“Lathan was the guy that actually let the quarterback free three times on zone reads in the first half,” Patterson said. “Kolby was kind of hit and miss. But I expect both of them to keep getting better, kind of like Josh Doctson and Aaron Green — they weren’t good at the beginning of the season because we held them out of two-a-days because of injuries.”

Lathan had a sack, but it was the only tackle he got credit for. Listenbee was targeted twice but had no catches.

Wilson, Howard progressing

For the first time since becoming the linebacker starters, neither Montrel Wilson nor Travin Howard was among the game’s leading tacklers. But Wilson forced the fumble on a sack of Joe Hubener that ended the game, and Howard had six solo tackles.

“I’ve had to limit some things because basically, we’re playing seven defensive backs,” Patterson said. “We’re not playing a 4-2-5 right now, we’re playing a 4-7. But they’ve been playing well. They’ve made a lot of tackles. They just have to keep progressing. They’re both young, one’s a true freshman, one’s a true sophomore. We’ve just got to keep moving forward and find a way each week to win ballgames.”

Howard leads the team in tackles with 42, including five for loss and two fumbles forced.

Wilson is second with 41 tackles, 2  1/2 sacks and one fumble forced.

Boykin award

Trevone Boykin is the offensive Player of the Week in the Big 12 after producing 425 total yards to rally TCU from an 18-point deficit at Kansas State on Saturday.

The senior quarterback ran for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Boykin ranks second in the nation in touchdown passes (21), fourth in passing yards (2,103) and second in total offense (411.5 yards per game).

It’s the second time Boykin has won the conference award. He shared it following the SMU game.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Patterson wants to see TCU play second-half defense in first half."