Editor’s note: Offensive lineman Andrew Coker likes the way things are coming together for TCU Football. The Frogs are averaging nearly 40 points a game in offensive coordinator Kendall Briles’ up-tempo scheme and have won three straight contests. The grind continues Sept. 30 against West Virginia. Coker will be making his 32nd consecutive start, which is as much a mental feat as it is physical. 

We’re doing what people would say is good, but we feel like we’ve left a lot out there, which is encouraging. It shows us how good we can really be whenever we put it all together.

We’ve just got to keep working every week and try to tighten up little things. Who knows how many points we can put up and how good we can be when we’re all doing the right thing.

There was a big emphasis on tempo with Coach Briles coming in and a new offense, but I didn’t think we were going to be that fast. At times I’m like, “Ooh, we’re going fast.”

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It’s good for us. Defenses can’t sub, so when their guys get tired, they have to stay in there. There are times when we’re out there and we’re tired, but they’re more tired than we are. They don’t get set, we might catch them off guard, they don’t have time to really dial up things, and they have to simplify their defense in order to get calls very quickly.

West Virginia is a really good team with a really good defense. I think they’re sixth in the country on third down. They’re really solid, physical guys. I haven’t watched much of their offense, but they hold the ball. They’re going to try to run it and take their shots. They’re a team that can beat you if you’re not ready.

The shorter your third-down distances, the more likely you are to get them. If we could just stay out of third down, that would be great, too. Just get first downs upon first downs. But being great on first and second will lead to good opportunities on third down. That’s our goal.

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The last day we were healthy was the first day of camp — especially the offensive line with as much banging as we’re doing. There’s a big emphasis on taking care of your body and what modalities to use — cold tub, active recovery, passive recovery, stretching, any treatment we have in a training room. 

 I’m just trying to take a professional approach to try to get my body back and my legs back. I do contrast tubs, hot and cold. I do BFR, which is blood flow restriction; passive recovery; and then I go in there and do whatever specific things I need. It’s usually a stem unit or any compacts, any muscle relaxation things like that to get the blood back to it. 

I think the mental part of it is, you’re not the only one. There’s plenty of guys hurting. If there are any guys younger than me or who haven’t started as much as me, it’s one of those things where I have to set the example.

I’ve started 40 games here. Hopefully I can set the example to where it’s like, ‘Coke’s banged up, he’s tired, but he’s still here doing it.’ So I try to set the example, but then also I have to set the example in my own head and not let my imagination get going.

Sitting out is really not an option. If those thoughts ever start to creep in, they get pushed down really quickly. 

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