:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65278288/FOW_Be_Informed.0.0.jpg)
Football:
This isn’t the Ponies of even last year.
TCU has dominated the series of late, winning by an average of 31 points the last six times. But SMU has improved, courtesy of the NCAA transfer portal.
“I think I’ve seen they’ve added 20-something guys,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “They’ve changed their roster really.”
Former Texas quarterback and Arlington Lamar alum Shane Buechele headlined the overhaul this offseason. He’s provided a veteran presence under center, going 65-of-98 passing for 871 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
TCU almost brought back a coordinator this offseason. Here’s why it didn’t work out | The Star-Telegram
I think most fans would have welcomed Meach back, but it sounds like that’s not how the folks who worked with him felt.
The two coaches who oversaw the most prolific offense in TCU’s history were nearly reunited, but the marriage between current TCU co-offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham ended for a reason.
TCU coach Gary Patterson discussed with Meacham about rejoining his staff for this season, but sources said some TCU coaches on offense were not crazy about the idea.
Sources said Meacham was eager and willing to return.
After Patterson’s weekly press conference on Tuesday, the coach would only say that there was some “personality issues” and that he didn’t want to cause any problems for his offensive coaching staff.
TCU could get key players back against SMU | 247 Sports
The Frogs desperately need to get guys back that can catch the ball.
Through two games, the Frogs have dropped over 10 passes from Alex Delton and Max Duggan. Last week in the win over Purdue, there were six drops alone. The return of Barber should help the group; last season he was second on the team with 32 catches and 2 touchdowns. He was the only true freshman in the Patterson era to catch a pass in every single game. He had a career-high 5 catches for 75 yards last year on the road at Kansas.
Barkley was a highly-coveted JUCO prospect that Patterson raved about during fall camp and had earned a starting spot at the “X” position. Barkley is a vertical threat that had 583 yards and 9 scores last season at Palomar College.
CBS analyst Brady Quinn breaks down TCU RB Darius Anderson | 247 Sports
A healthy Anderson is a boon for TCU.
Anderson helped TCU total a whopping 346 yards on the ground against Purdue, which was by far the best rushing total in the past two seasons. Anderson not only impressed TCU and Purdue fans for his performance; he also caught the attention of CBS college football analyst Brady Quinn. The former Notre Dame signal caller feels Anderson could be the reason the Frogs could sneak up on some opponents this season.
“The guy is almost averaging 10 yards per carry right now; he’s really the fire starter to this TCU offense,” Quinn said. “Gary Patterson wants to run the football and control the game with a good defense. But Darius Anderson is the guy that’s going to help propel this team to be competitive and potentially be one of those teams that plays spoiler in the Big 12 this year.”