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October 31, 2016

5 Thoughts on TCU – Texas Tech

The defense came on strong, but the Frogs fell short in another thriller.

TCU football field

Kenny Hill takes a midfield snap during TCU's double-overtime loss to Texas Tech on Oct. 29, 2016. (photo courtesy of Leo Wesson)

October 31, 2016

5 Thoughts on TCU – Texas Tech

The defense came on strong, but the Frogs fell short in another thriller.

5 Things We Noticed

1. … Orr Not

After struggling to live up to the fierce reputation established by TCU defenses in previous years, the 2016 unit is finally coming into its own. The priority for the Texas Tech game was to stop the Red Raiders’ explosive quarterback Patrick Mahomes. And the Frogs did just that for most of the afternoon, starting with the opening whistle. TCU Safety Nick Orr picked up his team-leading fourth interception of the year on the game’s opening drive, which in all likelihood bruised Mahomes’ confidence for the rest of the afternoon.

2. Sewo What?

With Kyle Hicks’ tendency to run wild over opponents, the running back position has been a strong spot for the Frogs all season. After Sir Cadillac tweaked an ankle, several backs rotated through the game to fill his hefty shoes. True freshmen Sewo Olonilua was especially impressive in his seven touches for an average of almost seven yards apiece. Next year’s squad should feature a then-senior Hicks, the return of the stellar Shaun Nixon, who is sitting out this season with an injury, the powerful Trevorris Johnson and a more experienced Olonilua. Dare we say excitement?

3. Ball Control

Given his druthers, Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury would have been happy to trade mad dashes to the end zone all afternoon. But TCU shifted offensive gears by abandoning the quick-strike spread strategy for a ground-and-pound, time-gobbling game plan. The preference for ball control (and keeping Mahomes on the sideline) was evident by the 7-0 score after 10:20 had elapsed in the first quarter. At the end of regulation, TCU had held Tech to under half of its season average in both scoring and total offense, in large part by consuming time on offensive possessions. Most football fans expected a high-scoring affair, but the 2016 season is proving that in college football, expectations aren’t reality.

4. Toughening Up

Yeah, we know. Losses are depressing. But don’t let the disappointing result of the double-overtime grudge match overshadow the fact that the collective defensive unit played its best game of the year, by far. The return of cornerback Julius Lewis, who was supposed to be out for the year while recovering from an injury, has been a real boon. Lewis’ presence seems to have upped the confidence of the entire secondary. Cornerback Ranthony Texada, himself no stranger to yearlong injuries, looks to have shaken off the lingering effects of 2015’s torn knee ligament. The defensive line is evolving from tough to ferocious as Boise State transfer Mat Boesen is turning into a terror at defensive end. Boesen came within inches of sacking Patrick Mahomes near the end of the game, which would have been Boesen’s third sack of the afternoon, and those inches might have changed the final score. Regardless, TCU’s final four opponents can’t like what they’re seeing from the Frog D on game film.

5. Risky Business

Change is tough, and changing quarterbacks midway through the season is akin to putting a year’s salary onto a Las Vegas roulette table. Kenny Hill may have thrown 10 interceptions on the season, but they weren’t all his fault. The guy is also 14th in the country in total passing yards — not too shabby for his first half-year under center for the Frogs. Quarterback is a difficult position to play because the person who throws the ball often takes the blame when things aren’t going well. The risk to replace the more experienced Hill with redshirt sophomore Foster Sawyer was the coaching staff’s to make, and they have certainly earned our trust on how to best manage the team. But not reinserting Hill, who has more experience in making plays in tight games, in overtime was like doubling-down on that risk. Oh well. Coaching college football is an exercise in managing risk.

 

5 Tweets that Told the Tale

 

 

https://twitter.com/TCU_Athletics/status/792491452781559808

 

 

Your comments are welcome

1 Comment

  1. Without reliable field goal chances,I wonder if GP considered going for 2 in first OT?

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