TCU News: “It’s going to be just like before when they were together”

Football:

TCU’s Patterson hints at play-caller change, but it’ll have familiar feel | The Star-Telegram

This is music to Frog fans ears.

Gary Patterson is reverting back to how TCU’s offense was run when Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham were co-offensive coordinators from 2014-16.

“It’s going to be just like before when they were together,” Patterson said on a conference call with select media members last week.

Those seasons saw Meacham serve as the Horned Frogs’ primary play-caller and he’s expected to do so again this season. Cumbie has called plays since 2017 when Meacham departed for a job at Kansas.

TCU Football: Can Horned Frogs bounce back from 2019 regression? | Fansided

Wallow and... ? This is one of the more underrated battles of fall camp.

Focusing on the TCU linebackers

A big reason why that excuse won’t be acceptable is the depth of talent that TCU boasts at linebacker. In the Horned Frogs’ 4-2-5 defense, these players play a critical role in making sure those rushing numbers stay low for opponents while also having a huge role to play in backfield disruption.

Senior star Garret Wallow is the linchpin for this group after leading the team in total tackles last year and finishing with more than twice as many tackles for loss as any other player on the roster. Wallow boasted 125 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss. He also tied for the team lead in sacks with Blacklock, finishing the year with 3.5 quarterback drops.

Sophomore Dee Winters will look to get more playing time this season after starting two games as a freshman and finishing with 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. La’Kendrick Van Zandt, a junior who could also see more playing time, notched an interception and two pass breakups in addition to a dozen tackles and one tackle for loss in a reserve role last season.

College Football News Preview 2020: TCU Horned Frogs | College Football News

You have to take this with a grain of salt because no Duggan, but it’s a good look.

This is going to be a better Horned Frog team.

The program might have been a disappointment over the last few seasons, but it’s got the rising young talent at the skill spots to go along with what should be one of the Big 12’s best defenses.

It’s not going to be an easy road to get to five wins or more – SMU isn’t a layup of a non-conference game, especially after losing last year – but TCU will be a tough out for everyone else.

Expect TCU to be at least two wins better with one big win along the way to make a little noise in the Big 12 title chase.

Around College Athletics:

TCU AD applauds decision by NCAA to freeze eligibility for fall athletes | The Star-Telegram

The NCAA did right by fall athletes after extending the same privilege to those that lost time in the spring.

The board of governors approved a plan that will allow fall sports athletes to freeze their eligibility this season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“I applaud the decisions that came down today,” Donati said. “Given all the uncertainty and the circumstances it’s the appropriate thing to do for our student-athletes.”

With the decision, schools will be allowed to welcome seniors back for an additional season without counting against roster and scholarship limits. That’s similar to how the NCAA handled spring sports athletes when it canceled spring championships in March.