Frogs O' War - Game Week: Baylor Delenda EstThe #1 TCU Athletics blog on the internet!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50293/fow-fav.png2014-10-12T10:37:31-05:00http://www.frogsowar.com/rss/stream/66812022014-10-12T10:37:31-05:002014-10-12T10:37:31-05:00Three Up, Three Down
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<figcaption>Tom Pennington</figcaption>
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<p>Now that we've all had some time to come off the ledge a bit, let's look back on some of the best (and worst) performances of what could have been.</p> <p>I'm still pretty crushed, guys. That was brutal. I kept waking up throughout the night, sweating from the nightmare of ONE MORE STOP. WE JUST NEEDED ONE MORE STOP. Or one more first down, or one flag to go the other way (and yes, it should have - and not even Frog fans are the only ones saying <a target="_blank" href="http://deadspin.com/baylor-beats-tcu-with-a-little-help-from-the-officials-1645328506">that</a>), or one less fade route... you get the idea. As much as much as I never want to think about this game ever again, we went on the road, in a game we were double digit underdogs, and had every opportunity to win. The season isn't over, and the Big 12 title is still an achievable goal. Let's start with an up!</p>
<p><b>UP - MARCUS MALLETT</b> - I love these linebackers. We have had some outstanding LBs in the Patterson era, but has there been a more athletic, exciting duo of Mallett and <span>Paul Dawson</span>? Mallett's 49 yard return of a Petty pick put TCU in the driver's seat... for a while. Consecutive INT returns for scores by these two beasts in the middle almost led to back to back upsets of top 5 teams, and the Frogs will need more from the middle of the D, especially if a disturbing trend along the front line continues. Which brings us to...</p>
<p><b>DOWN - THE D LINE</b> - Petty doesn't need much time to get the ball deep, but he had more than enough yesterday. Hunter, Tuaua, and company were a non-factor, showing an inability to get pressure on the Baylor QB and letting <span>Shock Linwood</span> and co gash them up the middle to the tune of 272 yards on the ground. Though Petty put up gaudy numbers, it was what the Bears did on the ground that ultimately did the Frogs in. Having to bring guys up in the box to protect against those long runs made it easy for Petty to go over the top to the receivers, and those long bombs kept finding their target in the end zone.</p>
<p><b>UP - JADEN OBERKROM</b> - He's back! After a couple of weeks where the kicker didn't play his best, Oberkrom was back to his consistent, accurate self. Krom nailed three field goals and seven extra points, each a no doubter. His kickoffs were deep (though not many were touchbacks), allowing for better kick coverage than we have seen. I really thought he was going to get his chance at the game winner... but... it wasn't to be.</p>
<p><b>DOWN - THE SECONDARY</b> - Wow, the DBs were bad. Baylor has a lot of talent at wide receiver, and a special QB, but the Horned Frog back end sure did make it easy on them. The guys on the outside just got plain BEAT. These weren't complicated routes or ridiculous back shoulder throws, this was line up and out run you, and we got plain out ran. I'll be honest, it was hard to see exactly who was out there from my perch in the 300's, but it didn't seem to matter who was lined up, they each got their chance to get burned. That was bad. The second half adjustments that had worked so well a week ago were no where to be found, and Petty and co feasted to the tune of 500 passing yards. That's not going to win you many games, especially against a great offensive team. Sure, there were a couple of questionable (understatement) pass interference calls, but if the Frogs had shown the ability to cover the Bear receivers at all, maybe we would have gotten the benefit of the doubt.</p>
<p><b>UP - POINTS!</b> - There sure were a lot of those. TCU put 58 points on the board, and 99.99% of the time, that would equal a TCU win. Even against Baylor's "improved" defense, this TCU team continued to show they can score in a lot of different ways (including on special teams and defense), and if the Frog D gets back to playing the kind of D we are used to, they will win a lot of games going forward. When we hit 51, I thought the game was in hand, as I haven't seen TCU give up a 50 spot in a long time... welp...</p>
<p><b>DOWN - FADE ROUTES</b> - What the heck was up with the play calling? If I never see a fade pass thrown in to the end zone or two the sideline again, I'll be fine. I especially hate the fade to the corner of the end zone, at any level. I understand that <span>Josh Doctson</span> has great ball skills, and that the coordinators felt they had an advantage there, but when it didn't work oh, say the first 10 times, maybe it was time to try something different. Two really bothered me; the end zone fade route on third down (I think) after the long time out, where certainly they had time to come up with something a little more creative, and the side line fade on fourth and three, where I would have much preferred to see a rollout for Boykin with a run pass option or something quick in the slot to one of the speed guys. Don't throw it up and hope for a call, especially on the road and on the opponent sideline. The play calling was very questionable throughout the game; the Baylor D was solid up front, but Cumbie and Meacham never really gave the running game a chance to get going outside of trying to force lanes for Boykin, which wasn't effective. Boykin didn't have a great game either, but I don't feel like the calls played to his strength, or forced the D to make any real adjustments.</p>
<p>Leave your ups, or vent out your downs, in the comments, and after we get this out of our system today, let's get ready for Okie State and sweet revenge!</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/12/6964815/three-up-three-downMelissa B. Triebwasser2014-10-11T19:24:51-05:002014-10-11T19:24:51-05:00Postgame Analysis- Baylor 61, TCU 58
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<figcaption>Ugh. | Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Things looked great for the Frogs in a game they didn't trail, but a combination of a few generous calls, questionable decisions by the TCU OCs and a defensive collapse by the frogs give Baylor the win.</p> <p>A word to those who might consider trolling a worthy pursuit- The ban hammer will be deployed very quickly tonight, no warnings.</p>
<p><b>HawkeyedFrog: </b>I hate talking about officiating, so I'll get it out of the way early. If there was ever a game that showed that the entire Big 12 officiating crew needs to be set on fire, this was it. Terrible calls on both sides of the ball, but in the clutch things went very well for the home team- I'll leave it at that.</p>
<p>Man, TCU looked really good until about twelve minutes left in the game, going up three touchdowns and making some of the fans start to head for the exits. Then around that time, the frogs decided that the game was over and took their foot off of the throat of the Bears and they paid for it time and time again after that. The offensive playcalling stagnated, with the OCs repeatedly calling fades that led to very quick possessions by the Frogs, instead of running the ball and taking enough time off the clock to put pressure on the bears. The defense was hit and miss throughout the game, but it was a lot more miss than hit in the fourth quarter, as the Bears were able to both run and pass on the Frogs when it mattered late. It's going to take a long time for me to realize that we actually lost this game, so I'm going to call it there. What we want for this season is still in play- a nice bowl game and the Big 12 championship, but our fate is now out of our hands- and there's no time to feel sorry for ourselves with OSU coming in next week.</p>
<p>Of all the teams to choke to though, ugh.</p>
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<p><b>If they can stop vomiting up bile or pull themselves away from their alcoholic beverage of choice, the rest of the FoW crew will drop by and share their thoughts on this one. If you're the masochistic type, feel free to keep checking.</b></p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/11/6963347/postgame-analysis-baylor-61-tcu-58HawkeyedFrog2014-10-11T14:45:20-05:002014-10-11T14:45:20-05:00TCU Horned Frogs @ Baylor Bears Gamethread
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<figcaption>Good luck Deuce. | Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>TCU vs Baylor. That's generally all we need to get pumped up, but this time it's a matchup of top ten teams for the first time in the long history of the rivalry. We want this one bad.</p> <p>Baylor Delenda Est has been the motto of the week here on Frogs O' War (even more so than usual), so it seems fitting that we explain exactly why we've adapted an old Roman saying to relate to our foes down in Waco. Rome, the empire to the North, had been victorious over Carthage in the first two Punic wars, but the threat was still present- and Carthage had always won enough battles in the war for them to be considered the greatest threat to Rome. Much like for us- Texas and Oklahoma will always do their things, but for TCU to thrive at the highest possible level, the threat to the south must be sorted out. Carthago Delenda Est came from one Roman senator who steadfastly asserted at the end of every discussion that the real pressing concern needed to be the threat to the South. There's been a lot of talk in the national media about the path to the Big 12 championship or even to the playoff for the Frogs if they take care of business against the Bears. All worthy pursuits, of course, but for TCU and Rome alike, before peace can reign or other matters can be discussed, there is one area to the South that needs to be dealt with first. Cetereum censeo Baylor esse delendam- Furthermore, I consider that Baylor must be destroyed. That will be our hope for today, and all days to come. There are a lot of good things ahead for the Frogs if they manage to pull off the victory today- but first things must come first.</p>
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<p>Go Frogs.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/11/6962509/tcu-horned-frogs-baylor-bears-gamethreadHawkeyedFrog2014-10-10T17:22:56-05:002014-10-10T17:22:56-05:00Playing cards: How a new offense wins in practice
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<img alt="The nifty spin that eludes this tackle? Baylor's going to have to practice that." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GtWg_1cgxKWVogNsolyPfYahk6Q=/0x10:4000x2677/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41544628/20141004_mje_se2_703.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The nifty spin that eludes this tackle? Baylor's going to have to practice that. | Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The seeds of success on offense are often sown well before you take the field, and revealing all of your tricks the week before a big game isn't the worst thing in the world.</p> <p>After the win over Oklahoma that saw TCU run up 37 points and convert well over 50% of third downs for most of the game, I think that the few remaining holdouts against the air raid offense have pretty well come around- we're still not running the ball as much as many of us might like, but Boykin looking comfortable at quarterback for the first time in his career has made up for a lot, and the playcalling has been fairly inspired- to the point where I can't usually tell what's about to happen next. As a result, Meacham and Cumbie have come into a ton of praise on the blog, and rightly so, not only for the playcalls, but holding enough of the playbook back to give Oklahoma a lot of looks and plays that they wouldn't have seen the Frogs do before. That leads to two big questions going into the Revivalry tomorrow though, how much more does TCU have in the playbook that opponents haven't seen and, if they've emptied the tool box, how big of a deal is that?</p>
<p>If you've followed TCU for a while, you know that often early in the season there are moments where everything looks to have gone terribly wrong, and maybe the TCU defense is going to be down a bit this year. That was all over the blogosphere after Shepherd burned the secondary for two deep strikes in the first quarter, and if you remember back to last season (I apologize for making you remember any of last season) in the Southeastern Louisiana game, the Lions not only stymied the anemic Anderson/Burns offense in the first half, but they had the game knotted until the last snap of the first half thanks to breaking off a few huge plays that had no one even close to making a play. Of course, it turned out that the sky <i>wasn't</i> actually falling for the TCU defense in either case, as the Frogs adjusted in the second half of both games and the defense stood strong. But why was it an issue in the first place? In both cases Patterson said that "It was something new that they didn't have on tape". So if you're getting a big edge on a coach like Patterson with the plays that everyone hasn't seen, it's a <i>big deal</i>, and resulted in 14 point swings in both of the games listed. In particular, I'm very interested to see more of the diamond formation the Frogs showed with the very large O-line splits, because not only is it a great formation for what the Frogs are hoping to achieve on offense (spreading the defense out even wider and giving Boykin and the running back acres of room) there's a lot of potential to pass out of that formation that I don't think we've seen nearly the extent of yet. If there's more that we haven't seen in the playbook, that could be a huge edge for the Frogs, as once an offense has been around the block a few times in the league (as Briles' has) there generally aren't <i>that</i> many changes that can be made that opposing coaches haven't seen before. However, even the plays that we've already debuted against Oklahoma can be handy for putting pressure on the Baylor defense, as I'll explain next.</p>
<p>One of the things that I feel makes college football so much more enjoyable than the pros is the sheer variety of offenses and defenses that teams will run. In the span of three weeks you may face an air raid, a flexbone triple option and a MANBALL power rushing attack with two tight ends and a fullback. This makes the week of practice before any game a frantic period as the coaching staff is analyzing tape the night they get back for film study on Sunday and decide what they want the scout team offense to look like in the week ahead. Then come four days of practice of varying intensity, with Friday serving as the final gameday walkthrough- and that's just not a lot of time to get reps. What does that mean? It means that for every item in the bag of tricks that you want your team prepared for, you're going to have to run through it a handful of times, even if it's something that you don't end up seeing in the game. The little flip pass over to Catalon on the kickoff return? Baylor will practice it. The more things your offense has shown throughout the year, the more things that your opposing defense is going to have to have multiple reps against, otherwise it will essentially be another play they haven't seen- which as we mentioned before can lead to very big things. And for every snap that Baylor runs against one of TCU's trick formations, that's one less snap of experience that they have against the TCU base offense, which means a greater chance of a blown assignment or coverage when TCU is doing the things they do most often. It's an interesting chess game in college football when offenses look so different, and it won't ever be as much in evidence as it will be this week- Oklahoma State, TCU's next opponent, is playing Kansas this week, and if they're not spending at least a little time looking ahead to what the Frogs are going to throw at them, I'll eat my hat. Fortunately our next opponent just so happens to be our most bitter rival and (on paper) the toughest team on TCU's schedule.</p>
<p>So don't be surprised if the Frogs do something that Baylor hasn't seen before on Saturday and it pays off big time for the Frogs, but if the vanilla plays- zone read, option, verticals and quick slants end up doing a bit better than you thought they would against a good Baylor defense, make sure to thank Meacham and Cumbie for showing off those super wide splits in the Oklahoma game- they may have made all the difference.</p>
<p>Go Frogs.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/10/6959027/playing-cards-how-a-new-offense-wins-in-practiceHawkeyedFrog2014-10-10T14:46:17-05:002014-10-10T14:46:17-05:00Talking Points: TCU and Baylor, The Revivalry
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<figcaption>Layne Murdoch</figcaption>
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<p>There's not a love between these two teams. What should we expect from the 2014 matchup? </p> <p>Just how close is the Revivalry? 51-51 and some ties. Despite having some big games in the Patterson vs. Briles era, none have been as important as Saturday's contest. In fact, in the 109 times these teams have met, this is the first time they'll meet as ranked teams. Not to mention they're both in the Top-10.</p>
<p>I'm not going to complain that Waco isn't the site of Gameday this weekend. That just seems a little petty at this point. Should it be? Probably. A Top-10 rivalry game seems like it would take precedence over an intraconference Top-5 matchup. That's just the world we live in. But that's okay. You know why? It's Baylor vs. TCU. Remember when we tried to figure out who TCU's <i>rival </i>was? We'll, we don't have to look much further.</p>
<p>Also, as a fun way to pass time search the tcWHO hashtag on Twitter. It's truly a delight.</p>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><b><span>Baylor’s new stadium</span></b></h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>Really anticipated Drayton McClane giving me a huge eyesore on my many drives between Austin and Fort Worth. But it’s a work of art honestly.</span></p>
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<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><b><span>Boykin and his Obi-Wan</span></b></h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>Sonny Cumbie has been essential to Boykin’s coming of age. Cumbie knows a little something about biding his time. Not starting until his Senior year in Lubbock, Cumbie led the Red Raiders to an 8-4 season--capped off with a 45-31 victory over Aaron Rodgers’ Cal Bears. Remember that game? Tech was obviously a huge underdog against a Cal team that believed Texas had unjustly nabbed their Rose Bowl spot from them (Texas would go on to beat Michigan). </span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>Cumbie has unleashed something in Boykin, mentally and physically. Deuce Boogie will get another chance to impress the country Saturday afternoon. If the Frogs win Saturday, and Boykin’s name isn’t in Heisman contention...start to get mad.</span></p>
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<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><b><span>Meacham’s Mind.<br><br></span></b></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>In Baylor’s only (regular season) loss last season, they were absolutely dominated by Oklahoma State. The system that overpowered the Baylor defense last year is not much different than the one that was in place when Doug Meacham was there--and not a whole lot different than the one currently being run at TCU. Going slightly deeper, Dougie Fresh also has overlap with Dana Holgorsen. West Virginia lost to Baylor last year 73-42, but given how atrocious the Mountaineer defense was last year, that’s still a good sign for TCU. Also, in the last two meetings between Baylor and West Virginia, there have been a total of 248 points scored. You can read all the great, technical insight by friends of the blog such as Bill Connelly (READ THIS Q&A) and Ian Boyd, but the bottom line is that Baylor’s defense is far from un-exposable, and TCU’s current system is the perfect one to call it out. </span><span></span></p>
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<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><b><span>The Revivalry. </span></b></h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>The Revivalry was registered in 2006 and 2007. In two games, Baylor scored a combined 7 points. However, it can be argued that the Revivalry really began in <b>2010, </b><i>aka</i><b> "The Fluke" </b>game. Despite overpowering Baylor 45-10, Five Dollar Footlong savant, <span>Robert Griffin III</span> wasn’t too impressed by TCU’s rattle and hum. Against the Horned Frogs, who were No. 4 in the country at the time, Griffin went 16 for 28, and had a measly 163 yards and one throwing score. The TCU run defense? Held 4 Baylor running backs and RGIII to under 100 yards. If this was a fluke game, it was the flukiest fluke of all time. </span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>Griffin got his revenge though. Coming off their Rose Bowl season with a new quarterback, and among many personnel changes, the Horned Frogs lost their first regular season game since Utah in 2008. The Bears dominated the first half, but <span>Casey Pachall</span>’s spirited second half almost edged out a TCU victory. Griffin responded, and as one of the defining moments of his Heisman win, led Baylor to a 50-48 win on their last drive. </span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>2013 was a fun one. Two weeks after Casey Pachall’s DUI arrest and one week after a shocking loss to Iowa State, Boykin lead TCU to a <b>49-21</b> whopping in their reignited rivalry against the Bears. Boykin looked incredible in that game, completing 22 of his 30 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns. His versatility and speed were also on display as he rushed for 56 yards and one touchdown.<b> </b>But it wasn't so much the stats that were impressive. It was his overall demeanor. He was confident, poised, and dominant. His only rushing score looked like something out of the <span>Johnny Manziel</span> playbook as he completely demolished the Baylor defender. Boykin looked fluid, confident, and had the poise of a guy who'd been starting for two or three years. If this is the real <span>Trevone Boykin</span>, the possibilities are near limitless.</span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>We’ll get to 2014 below. </span><span></span></p>
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<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><b><span>Trevone Boykin vs. <span>Bryce Petty</span> </span></b></h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>Melissa had a really great piece yesterday. But seriously. Why all the love for Petty and none for Boykin. FOX Sports’ David Ubben was surprisingly the first person to point this out. It’s surprising because Ubben has been a semi-homer for Petty and to some degree, Baylor. Ubben went to Mizzou, but he called Petty before anyone else did. While Petty has sat out for many 4th quarters this season, his stats against Texas might be indicative of who’s the better quarterback at this point in the season. To his credit, Petty’s still coming off of an injury. But even a fully healed Petty would have to be at his best to go toe-to-toe against the new and improved Trevone Boykin. </span><span></span></p>
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<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><b><span>Art Briles vs. Gary Patterson</span></b></h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>This is the most exciting talking point about the game, because it’s one that’s going to live on for quite some time. To say there’s bad blood is quite an understatement. It’s more like that </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb-rnL3z1Lc">YouTube video</a><span> in which snake venom is plopped out of an eyedropper--simply toxic. I buy that they have a mutual respect. But I don’t buy their knee-jerk reaction assuring a civil relationship, and I’m almost certain that they hate each other. Will they admit that? No. And why would they? As we pointed above, the Briles vs. Patterson era at their current schools began in 2010. Both coaches bring out the worst in each other--Briles turns Patterson’s Hyde into Jekyll whereas Patterson intensifies Briles’ West Texas cocksurness. In an ESPN Insider article from last week, Travis Haney--whilst saying TCU would win one, if not both matchups against Oklahoma and Baylor--pointed out that Saturday’s game was the only one circled on Patterson’s calendar. And judging by Baylor’s lowly performance against a lowly Texas, it can be said they’re looking forward to this game too. </span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>It makes sense that they’re enemies. They’re polar opposites in their football idealism. They’re polar opposites personally. Using Haney’s words, Patterson is "understated" while Briles can be "brash" and "cocky". Neither were intended as in insult, and I’d be surprised if either coaches disagreed with those words. They’re also masterminds on their respective sides of the ball. Patterson is the defensive guru who modified Bill Belichick's NFL defense into the masterful 4-2-5 TCU fans know and love. Both coaches pulled their schools out of the gutter and made them Nationally relevant. In the process, both schools have been able to build new football cathedrals because of them. They’re two men, who when it’s all said and done, will have fields, if not stadiums, named after them. Carter-Patterson Stadium has a lovely little ring to it. </span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>The two have always been a little salty, but it took to new heights when <span>Ahmad Dixon</span> targeted Trevone Boykin in last year’s final game. A win wouldn’t have made up for a 4-8 season--potentially 5-7--but it would’ve ended on a high-note. Instead, it ended with Patterson in a semi-manic, uncharacteristic frenzy. From an outsiders perspective, it could easily seem like Patterson, hoarse as can be, was simply whining. But given what the general public knows about Dixon now, it’s hard to refute that it wasn’t a cheap shot, and the very worst of Dixon. He said it’s the way he plays football. But that’s a pretty dirty standard to live by. Everyone involved, minus Boykin, is a little at fault. It should’ve been left on the field. But it’s a helluva lot more fun for us now. </span><span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 19.0pt;"><span>Last week was a huge stepping stone. But this is the biggest game for TCU since joining the Big 12. Should they win, they are in dominating control of their destiny to the playoff. </span><span></span></p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/10/6958993/talking-points-tcu-and-baylor-the-revivalryMarshall Weber2014-10-10T14:03:22-05:002014-10-10T14:03:22-05:00Frogs O' War Friday Picks: Week 7
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<p>Here are the staff picks of the week!</p> <p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph0"><u><b>Current Standings</b></u></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph1">1. tylervr11 (38-1)</p>
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<p id="paragraph2" class="pgh-paragraph">2. Marshall Weber (37-2)</p>
<p id="paragraph3" class="pgh-paragraph">3. coachmelissa (36-3)</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph4">4. Hawkeyed Frog (35-3)</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph5">5. Jamie Plunkett (34-5)</p>
<p>So we added a few non-conference games to see if we could shake things up a bit. I'd say it worked.</p>
<h3>Big 12 Games</h3>
<h4>Texas Tech vs. West Virginia</h4>
<h5>Jamie Plunkett</h5>
<p><b>West Virginia 42, Texas Tech 28</b> - Tech hangs around, but Davis Webb is bad, and the defense is worse. West Virginia isn't a bad team, and they'll be 4-2 after this one's through.</p>
<h5>Marshall Weber</h5>
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<b>West Virginia 56, Texas Tech 31 - </b>Kliff isn't on the hot seat yet. But if the defense keeps getting shellacked and Davis Webb has another game like he did against K-State--the seat may get a little warm.</div>
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<h5>Hawkeyed Frog</h5>
<p><b>West Virginia 37, Texas Tech 24</b> - Tech starts strong in this one, but just as everyone starts to believe that Davis Webb has turned the corner he throws a pick 6 that ties the game and completely turns the tide. West Virginia gets revenge for 2012's beatdown in Lubbock.</p>
<h5>tylervr11</h5>
<p><b>West Virginia 45, Texas Tech 31 </b> - West Virginia's offense will continue to roll versus a non-existent Texas Tech defense. Tech mine as well forfeit playing defense and flip a coin to decide if West Virginia will score a touchdown or field goal. The only reason the Mountaineers will not blow out the Red Raiders is because the game is in Lubbock.</p>
<h5>coachmelissa</h5>
<p><b>Texas Tech 35, West Virginia 31 </b>- Texas Tech seems to be on a slippery slope as they head to Morgantown, losers of three straight games, including two to Big 12 opponents. After a shootout with OSU, they were all but shut down by K State, and now face a Mountaineers squad that has looked nearly unstoppable on offense behind quarterback Clint Trickett. This is put up or shut up time for the Red Raiders, and if they are going to have any chance of staying in the Big 12 race, this is a must win game. I believer WVU is the better team, but Kingsbury rallies the troops and gets a hugely important win at home.</p>
<h4>No. 11 Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas)</h4>
<h5>Jamie Plunkett</h5>
<p>Oklahoma 31, Texas 24 - Texas won't upset OU like they did last season, but this one will be close. Texas' defense is on the rise, and if Trevor Knight plays like he did in the second half against TCU, this one could get dicey for the Sooners.</p>
<h5>Marshall Weber</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma 45, Texas 13</b> - Angry from last week's game--and wanting to make a statement after last year's loss, Bob Stoops shows no mercy. He shows no mercy on defense. He shows no mercy on offense. He shows no mercy to the fried butter and fried iced tea.</p>
<h5>Hawkeyed Frog</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma 30, Texas 10</b> - Oklahoma just doesn't lose two games in a row, and when not facing a TCU-esque offense on the road, I think the Sooner defense has little trouble keeping Swoopes and company bottled up.</p>
<h5>tylervr11</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma 35, Texas 10 </b>- The Red River Rivalry is never easy to predict, does not matter the records or rankings of these teams coming into this game. The Sooners will look strong coming off a tough loss to TCU last week. Texas has displayed a strong defense this year and they will keep the score close in the first half, but Oklahoma will again prove why they are one of the best teams in the country.</p>
<h5>coachmelissa</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma 45, Texas 17</b> - Sorry Longhorns, but we done ticked off the Sooners, and you'll be the ones that suffer for it. OU will come out for blood, and UT is basically roadkill at this point. The UT D will fight valiantly, but Stoops and co will shut down the Texas run game and force Swoopes in to mistake after mistake. Texas can't score enough to keep this game interesting for long, and the eyes of Texas turn to Waco.</p>
<h4>Iowa State vs. Toledo</h4>
<h5>Jamie Plunkett</h5>
<p><b>Toledo 27, Iowa State 20</b> - Toledo is better than y'all think, and Iowa State is bad. Poor Cyclones. When does Paul Rhodes get put on the hot seat? After this loss.</p>
<h5>Marshall Weber</h5>
<p><b>Iowa State 35, Toledo 20</b> - In their Ronald McDonald style uniforms, the Cyclones get a much needed win.</p>
<h5>Hawkeyed Frog</h5>
<p><b>ISU 24, Toledo 22</b> - Finally the Cyclones catch a break, as desperate to show that they're only biased against ISU when they're playing other Big 12 teams, the referees call the rockets for three consecutive PI penalties to set the 'clones up for the winning score late.</p>
<h5>tylervr11</h5>
<p><b>Iowa State 31, Toledo 27 </b>- This is going to be a dogfight for Iowa State this week. For a team that opened the season with a loss to an FCS team in NDSU, the Cyclones are going to have to put together some sound defensive strategies. Toledo averages over 200 yards passing and rushing per game so far this year. With head coach Paul Rhodes on the hot seat this week, I believe his team will narrowly pull off this must win.</p>
<h5>coachmelissa</h5>
<p><b>Iowa State 31, Toledo 24</b> - ISU's offense has been a dumpster fire, but Toledo's D gives up a ton of points. Since this game is in Ames, and the Cyclones fans know how to give their team a home field advantage, they will take care of business against the Rockets.</p>
<h4>Kansas vs. No. 16 Oklahoma State</h4>
<h5>Jamie Plunkett</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma State 49, Kansas 10</b> - Daxx Garman will tear apart Kansas without mercy. Poor Kansas. Even more Poor Kansas than Poor Iowa State.</p>
<h5>Marshall Weber</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma State 63, Kansas 17 - </b>J.W. Walsh (who I'm pretty sure I called Clint Chelf last week) is still out with an injury. Daxx Garman has done a admirable job of filling the void, but all the eyes are on Tyreek Hill. Despite much of the focus on the conference being on Baylor, TCU, Charlie Strong, etc., Hill is one of best things about the Big 12 right now.</p>
<h5>Hawkeyed Frog</h5>
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<b>Oklahoma State 56, Kansas 12</b> - How bad is Kansas at football? So bad. How good is Oklahoma State at football? At least above average. No turnaround for the Jayhawks.</div>
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<h5>tylervr11</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma State 41, Kansas 7 </b>- For a team that looked very impressive in a near win over Florida State, their in-conference results have not been nearly as strong. They have the easiest conference schedule thus far, as they played arguably the 3 worst team in the Big 12. They allowed Texas Tech and Iowa State to complete 50% of their 3rd down plays, in Stillwater I might add. This week will be an easy win, but it will be a steep uphill climb from there for the Cowboys.</p>
<h5>coachmelissa</h5>
<p><b>Oklahoma State 42, Kansas 17 </b>- The 2014 Kansas Jayhawks - the cure for what ails ya. If it's true that John Harbaugh is truly interested in the Kansas job, then the rest of the Big 12 better go about getting their licks in now. They might not be the whipping boy for much longer.</p>
<h4>No. 9 TCU @ No. 5 Baylor</h4>
<h5>Jamie Plunkett</h5>
<p><b>TCU 31, Baylor 30</b> - This is so close, and Baylor will probably win. However, who would I be if I didn't pick the Frogs? That's right, I'd be Fungo. No one wants that.</p>
<h5>Marshall Weber</h5>
<p><b>TCU 35, Baylor 27</b> - Baylor has plenty of weapons, and they make a last minute bid for a win, but the Frogs edge them out in Waco. The Bears play great at home, sure, but TCU is just more polished right now. Yes, they blew out SMU at home. Yes, Baylor is night and day when playing home versus away, but their game in Austin made them look extremely vulnerable. All detailed inter-workings aside, I simply think TCU wants it more and that they're more prepared on every level than Baylor is right now.</p>
<h5>Hawkeyed Frog</h5>
<p><b>TCU 41, Baylor 27</b> - I don't think I'll be alone in picking the Frogs this week, but I'm pretty confident that my margin of victory will be the largest. I love the matchup of the TCU defense against the Baylor offense most of the time, and this year with an offense that can actually stay on the field and match any big play that Baylor puts up, I like it even more. This year Petty will be the one throwing into the end zone at the end of the game to attempt to pull off the win, and much like last year it will end in an interception- a pick 6 as time expires means that Oberkrom doesn't get to try the extra point.</p>
<h5>tylervr11</h5>
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<b>TCU 41, Baylor 38 </b>- I am going to predict the same exact score as last year, but reverse the winner and loser. All of the talk about how Baylor is a better team this year and how stout their defense is, which means absolutely nothing to me. The fact of the matter is, Baylor has not played a major conference offense that scores more than 20 points per game. The best offense they have seen so far this year was Iowa State. Enough said right there. You take out by far the best opponent either team has played this year in Oklahoma, and TCU's defense is statistically the best in the country.</div>
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<div>Both offenses will score some points <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Saturday</span></span>, but one team will make a few more crucial errors to prevent their team from winning (Baylor). TCU was that team last year with too many turnovers and mental mistakes. The offense gave up 21 in 2013, and a game winning touchdown bounced off Brandon Carter's shoulder for an interception. TCU held the best offense in the country to 20 points last season, and I believe that they will do enough to win the game in Waco this year. <br>
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<h5>coachmelissa</h5>
<p><b>TCU 38, Baylor 35 </b>- this is, without a doubt, the hardest game I've picked all year. I was supremely confident against OU, and just knew the Frogs had that one. This game feels much more like a toss-up, especially being on the road. I don't think that Baylor has some untenable home field advantage, but this is their first home game in a while, the first Big 12 game in the new digs, and a chance for their O to regroup in front of a crowd that might be quiet when they make calls (so let's be loud, friends in purple, yes?) I won't be surprised with a close score or a frenetic finish by either squad, and expect it to come down to the wire, as the these games tend to do lately. Ultimately, I'm not going to pick against TCU until I have a darn good reason to do so, and they haven't given me one of those yet. Oberkrom (my sources say has been getting extra work in this week with his kicking coach, thankfully) gets sweet redemption <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Saturday</span></span>, kicking a long game winner as the clock winds down, and making that drive back up I-35 feel really good.</p>
<h3>Around the Country</h3>
<h5>No. 3 Mississippi State vs. No. 2 Auburn</h5>
<p><b>Jamie Plunkett</b> - Auburn 27, Mississippi State 24</p>
<p><b>Marshall Weber - </b>Mississippi State 41, Auburn 35</p>
<p><b>Hawkeyed Frog - </b>MSU 31, Auburn 28</p>
<p><b>tylervr11 -</b> Auburn 38, Mississippi State 35 <b><br></b></p>
<p><b>coachmelissa </b>- Mississippi State 35, Auburn 31</p>
<h5>No. 3 Mississippi vs. No. 14 Texas A&M</h5>
<p><b>Jamie Plunkett</b> - Ole Miss 42, Texas A&M 35</p>
<p><b>Marshall Weber - </b>Mississippi 31, Texas A&M 28</p>
<p><b>Hawkeyed Frog - </b><b></b>Texas A&M 40, Ole Miss 28</p>
<p><b>tylervr11 </b>- Texas A&M 28, Ole Miss 24 <b><br></b></p>
<p><b>coachmelissa - </b>Texas A&M 27, Mississippi 24</p>
<h5>No. 18 UCLA vs. No. 12 Oregon</h5>
<p><b>Jamie Plunkett</b> - UCLA 31, Oregon 27</p>
<p><b>Marshall Weber - </b>Oregon 49, UCLA 38</p>
<p><b>Hawkeyed Frog - </b>UCLA 40, Oregon 35</p>
<p><b>tylervr11<b> - </b></b>Oregon 45, UCLA 35</p>
<p><b><b></b>coachmelissa </b>- Oregon 27, UCLA 17</p>
<h5>Minnesota vs. Northwestern</h5>
<p><b>Jamie Plunkett</b> - Minnesota 28, Northwestern 24</p>
<p><b>Marshall Weber - </b>Minnesota 30 vs. Northwestern 27<b> </b></p>
<p><b>Hawkeyed Frog - </b>Minnesota 27, Northwestern 13</p>
<p><b>tylervr11</b> - Northwestern 28, Minnesota 24 <b><br></b></p>
<p><b>coachmelissa </b>- Minnesota 24, Northwestern 20</p>
<h5>No. 22 Georgia Tech vs. Duke</h5>
<p><b>Jamie Plunkett</b> - Georgia Tech 35, Duke 21</p>
<p><b>Marshall Weber - </b><span>Georgia Tech 31, Duke 24</span></p>
<p><b>Hawkeyed Frog - </b>Georgia Tech 39,<b> </b>Duke 15</p>
<p><b>tylervr11 - </b>Georgia Tech 24, Duke 20</p>
<p><b>coachmelissa - </b><span>Georgia Tech 28, Duke 24</span></p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/10/6958541/frogs-o-war-friday-picks-week-6Jamie Plunkett2014-10-10T13:23:25-05:002014-10-10T13:23:25-05:00Friday Focus - Keys to Victory, Baylor
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<p>No one needs to tell you that this is a big game. What do the Frogs need to focus on to take a win away from Waco and give TCU the inside track on a Big 12 title?</p> <p>Oklahoma was a tough test, undoubtably, but Baylor might even be better. A sloppy fourth quarter, mistakes in the kicking game, and a few early blown coverages might not have spelled doom against the Sooners, but the same mistakes won't cut it against Bryce and his Bears. What do the Frogs need to key in on to ensure another successful Saturday against a top five opponent?</p>
<p><b>BRICK BY BRICK</b> - Though McLane Stadium doesn't use real brick on their interior walls, that doesn't mean the Frogs don't need a strong foundation inside. If you've ever built a masonry wall (and yes, as a matter of fact, I have), you know it is a slow, deliberate process, that takes planning and commitment. That must be the TCU philosophy tomorrow. This is not a slow or deliberate offense by any means, and it doesn't need to be. But the calmness of those behind it, their patience and commitment, will be the difference. If the Frogs fall behind early, Cumbie, Meacham, and Boykin will need to stay the course, not just start chucking it deep in the hopes that something good happens. Keep a balanced attack, stick to the game plan, and trust a defense that has made the big play when they need to time and time again. Baylor is going to score points, that's a fact. But just because they put up numbers does not mean this has to become a shootout.</p>
<p><b>HOLD ON TO THE GOSH DARN BALL</b> - The last six minutes of the game last week took a solid six years off of my life. If you play with fire long enough, you're bound to get burned, and frankly I'm still amazed the back to back fumbles didn't cost us that big win. The team that wins the turnover battle more than likely wins this game, and with two teams that play as aggressively on both sides of the ball as these two, the propensity for mistakes can be high. Boykin needs to be a patient passer and a protected runner, knowing when to lock up the rock as opposed to fighting for a few extra yards. This goes for receivers, running backs, and special teams, too.</p>
<p><b>KEEP THE LAUNDRY OFF THE FIELD</b> - Dead ball penalties are drive killers, and if the Frogs spend too much time in third and long due to false starts, delay of game calls, and holding penalties, the Baylor D will feast. Communication will be a bigger issue than what TCU has faced thus far in the season, as I imagine the green and gold will make a little more noise than the Mustangs mustered, so the line being on the same page with the snap will be even more crucial. TCU has been penalized 29 times through the first four games of the season, for 255 yards. Seven flags a game is far too many, and very uncharacteristic for a Patterson squad; it will be important for the Frogs to win the flag party as well as the turnover battle. Especially when it comes to the unforced penalties.</p>
<p><b>YOUR BOY(KIN)'S (NEXT) BIG TEST</b> - <span>Trevone Boykin</span> has stood up every time someone has asked him to sit down, whether it was the pundits handing the job to <span>Matt Joeckel</span> back in the spring, the fans clamoring against the number of pass attempts or the sailed balls early in the season, or even yours truly not fully jumping on the bandwagon until last Saturday, Deuce has continued to do work on the ground and through the air game after game. But each of those games brings a new challenge and a tougher test, and Boykin will have to be at his very best to bring down Baylor. If there is an achilles heal for the Bears, it is the running QB, as their aggressive front line is known to over pursue, opening up running lanes for Boykin, which will in turn open up opportunities for the running backs and in the passing game, as they focus their attention on #2. Best case scenario would be a couple of early big plays on designed runs or scrambles, forcing Baylor to either spy Boykin or not rush as many guys to the pocket, giving him time to find the speedsters down field.</p>
<p><b>YOU HAVE NOT ARRIVED</b>: The Frogs have always been at their very best when everyone looks at them like they're the worst. Patterson is a master motivator, and has thrived in environments that have made TCU the perennial underdog. As jubilation reigned in the locker room after the "upset" of OU, Coach P was so quick to ask the team why they were so happy, all they did was what they had to do and they were going to have to do it again in a week. Most of the national writers give credence to the thought that TCU is sure to lose, due in part to the natural let-down coming off a huge win, and there was no way to get up for another game after that. Well, anyone saying that does not know GP, and does not know just how much disdain there is in that locker room for the Bears - but really, all that this game is is the next game on the schedule. The key is now, to not believe the hype. That top 10 ranking won't mean anything if the Frogs don't continue to win, and that starts on the road in Waco. Being the underdogs suits the Frogs well, and they are underdogs once again.</p>
<p>Be sure to leave your thoughts on what will be the keys to a TCU win in the comments, and as always, GO FROGS!</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2014/10/10/6953481/friday-focus-keys-to-victory-baylorMelissa B. Triebwasser