Frog defense starting to answer doubters
For the first time in his 15 years as head coach at TCU, people are questioning if Gary Patterson's defense can get it done. He doesn't like that.
TCU came into its matchup with West Virginia ranked 68th in the country in total defense. Not terrible, but distinctly middle-of-the-road. A slew of injuries and shootouts with Texas Tech and Kansas State had people wondering if the Horned Frogs' had any realistic shot of making the College Football Playoff. Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson could churn out all the highlights they wanted, but a porous defense would ultimately keep them out of consideration for the top four.
Patterson's bunch did its best to destroy that perception Thursday. TCU shut down WVU in a 40-10 win, the second fewest points it has allowed all year. The Frogs held the Mountaineer offense, which had been averaging 36.3 points per game, to its lowest output of the season.
"All I've been hearing is we can't play defense," Patterson said. "Well that's a pretty good offense to be honest with you."
After getting an open week to prepare, the TCU defense shut down the WVU passing attack, holding Skyler Howard to 160 yards on 16-of-39 passing. The Frogs also held the Mountaineers to 167 yards rushing, 41 yards less than their season average.
It was a significant step forward for a defense that had given up 385 yards or more in four of its previous five games. A defense throwing in second- and third-string players that's having guys switch positions multiple times will do that.
TCU had to play a different starting lineup each of the first four weeks due to injuries and suspensions. The game against WVU was the fourth in a row the same group of players got to play significant snaps together. With that continuity comes progress.
Travin Howard and Montrel Wilson are first and third on the team in tackles, respectively. They've flashed speed and playmaking ability, and Howard has given the Frogs flexibility in their personnel by being able to work at safety and linebacker.
Terrell Lathan, Davion Pierson and Mike Tuaua, all in better game shape after missing time earlier in the year, put more pressure on Skyler Howard than they had any other passer this season. Derrick Kindred, the Frogs' veteran presence at safety, has started every game this season. And Nick Orr has gone from preseason backup safety to No. 1 corner capable of limiting an opposing team's best receiver.
The Frogs have allowed 31 points combined over their last two contests. They aim to continue the positive trend in November. There are still areas to improve. They could have given up more points after the Mountaineers dropped at least two passes that would have been touchdowns. WVU was able to attack the TCU secondary deep, but the receivers were unable to make those catches. The Mountaineers didn't test the TCU run defense, either. Not like Oklahoma and Baylor will at the end of November.
If last week was a mirage, those upcoming games and this week's matchup with Oklahoma State, which just put 70 points on Texas Tech in Lubbock, will expose just how far TCU is from being one of the nation's top defenses. The Frogs don't think they need to be the best defense in the country though. They just need to slow their opponents down enough to ease the burden on the No. 2 offense in the country.
"I keep hearing, 'Well to be one of those four teams, you've got to be four of the most complete teams.' Why is that?" Patterson asked. "Why is it you can't just outscore people and go win?"
The offense has proven it can do that already. Now the defense is starting to answer the questions of whether it can do its part, even if Patterson hates hearing them in the first place.