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John Denton Breaks Down the Razorbacks

September 9, 2016

There is something special about a Friday during football season before a big home game. Vendors are busy setting up on campus. The field at Amon G. Carter has a fresh coat of paint (Love those purple end zones!), and you can feel the build-up and countdown to kickoff. It should be a great Saturday. Spruce it up — the SEC is coming to town.

And here comes Arkansas.

Arkansas is the first SEC team to visit “The Carter” since Vanderbilt stopped by in 2003. The Frogs beat #20 Vandy 30-14.

They’ll drop their gear at Amon G. Carter Stadium for the first time since October 5, 1991. Lots has changed since then, and the difference will be noticeable to Hog fans. This is not the same TCU from 25 years ago. Four conference affiliations, a Rose Bowl win and a brand-new stadium later, Hog fans will no doubt say, “Love what you’ve done with the place!”

Arkansas rolls in with the size that you’d expect from a SEC team — huge offensive line, a 500-pound backfield and a slow-down, bulldozer system that Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema calls “Huddle Football.” It’s a throwback to the old days of the SWC. Nobody else plays like that anymore, except maybe Kansas State. Quarterback Austin Allen is a talented, but new, quarterback who threw for two touchdowns (but also two interceptions) versus Louisiana Tech last week. He has a deadly tandem of wideouts to throw to in Keon Hatcher and Drew Morgan. Both have speed and are dangerous. Add to that another huge target in tight end Jeremy Sprinkle at 6-6 and 256 pounds, and suddenly coverage combined with a mean pass rush are musts for the Frogs. TCU will also have to be uber-physical on defense.

Key stat: Arkansas gave up four sacks last week to Louisiana Tech with an offensive line that is trying to break in three new starters.

Defensively, Arkansas runs a 4-3 scheme with a lot of 4-2-5 mixed in throughout the game. The defensive line is one of the largest in the SEC (next to Alabama) and features defensive end Deatrich Wise, Jr., who has 7.5 sacks in his last five regular-season games). Experienced defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson holds down the middle; he’s making his 28th start. The linebackers are young and improving. The secondary is where Arkansas needs work. Last year they gave up an average of 275 yards per game through the air, and they didn’t look much better against Louisiana Tech. Former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads is the new secondary coach, and he has his hands full. And he’s running out of bodies.

Key stat: Since the start of fall camp, Arkansas has lost three corners to injury, two for the season. They’re taping up injured cornerback DJ Dean and will likely have to play him Saturday. Frog receivers, are you listening? Hello!

1989 TCU football

Game program from the 1989 showdown between TCU and the University of Arkansas.

Extra Extra Points:

· The weather is going to be perfect with the kickoff forecast for 80 degrees. It’s fall and you can tell by the angle of sunlight – it’s changing.

· Arkansas is the first SEC team to visit “The Carter” since Vanderbilt stopped by in 2003. The Frogs beat #20 Vandy 30-14.

· Arkansas cornerback DJ Dean is the nephew of former TCU defensive end Kevin Dean, who played for the Frogs from 1983-86 and was a member of the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl team that defeated Arkansas 32-31 in Fayetteville.

Bring your big Frog voices, TCU fans. You will be challenged Saturday. Time to own “The Carter”

Kick ‘Em High!

TCU Flag, TCU east side stands

Bring your big Frog voices for Saturday’s showdown against Arkansas, writes John Denton. (photo by Leo Wesson)

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