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Football:
A really exceptional preview by our friends in burnt orange.
Models of consistency: Patterson probably doesn’t get the attention he deserves nationally, but his Horned Frogs have been a model of consistency. TCU is one of five programs in the country to finish in the final top 10 in at least three of the past four years. The Frogs are 40-13 over that stretch.
Is Robinson up to the task?: Since the Big 12 is a quarterback league, it makes sense to say TCU’s success is contingent on Robinson, who will be a sophomore. He was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country when he signed with TCU out of DeSoto in 2017. Robinson started one game last fall — on the road against Texas Tech — when Hill was nursing an injury. The Frogs won but the offense didn’t really flow. Robinson’s 84 yards rushing led the team. But he didn’t respond well when Tech forced him to throw. He was 6 of 17 for 85 yards. The offensive line is raw and untested, so the unit probably can’t be counted on save Robinson early in the season. The Frogs are missing four starters from last year’s unit.
There’s Turpin, and there’s Big Turpin: Receiver/returnman KaVontae Turpin, on paper, is the most dynamic offensive player for TCU. He probably was at his best on special teams and averaged 16.2 yards per punt return and 30.8 on kicks last year. There’s another player Patterson really likes — freshman Taye Barber, who is a bigger version of Turpin. Watch to see how many touches he gets as TCU finds its offensive identity.
TCU football: 5 questions going into Big 12 Media Day | The Star-Telegram
Athletically more talented, experience - less proven. But, if some of these young guys can play well, watch out.
3. Is the secondary OK? The Frogs have a thin cornerback corps that could be troublesome at some point in the season.
They lost one of the mainstays, cornerback Ranthony Texada, and have only one returning starter – Jeff Gladney.
Julius Lewis and Tony James also have starting experience at the position, and TCU is going to give track standout Darrion Flowers reps at cornerback.
This unit is unproven, but what is its potential? TCU has to have a solid secondary if it wants to make noise in the pass-happy Big 12 this season.
Just how good will Big Ben be with so much attention focused on him? I am guessing... better.
Speaking of Ben Banogu... the D-lineman was recently selected as the Big 12’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The UL-Monroe transfer was selected as the Big 12’s defensive newcomer last season after his 8.5 sacks ranked second in the conference, only behind teammate Mat Boesen.
Banogu has a legitimate shot at being taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and was recently ranked among the top players on TCU’s roster.
The McKinney native finished second on the team in sacks and led TCU with 16.5 tackles for a loss in 2017. After stunning many to return for his senior year, Banogu should be considered one of the top edge rushers in college football. -- Reece Graham
10 burning questions ahead of Big 12 football media days | Norman Transcript
The rest of the league is worried about the TCU QB. TCU fans are more worried about the o-line, though.
TCU
It just seems too easy to make a team’s quarterback competition the big question, but at last check, that position is imperative.
TCU coach Gary Patterson will field a quality defense, but who will take snaps: sophomore Shawn Robinson or freshman Justin Rogers?