When the coaches look at the tape for this game, they won’t be happy. TCU had every chance to win its opener against Iowa State, but couldn’t pull out the victory in the 37-34 loss.
Here are some key takeaways (positive and negative) from the season-opening loss.
Matthew Downing can be a serviceable quarterback
But he’s the back-up. His line looks very much okay. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He showed some zip on some passes, but was very inconsistent. Sounds like somebody that can connect on about 50 percent of his passes.
But Max Duggan is healthy
And he’s the starter. Gary Patterson said after the game he didn’t know who would start the Texas game, but it has to be Duggan. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns. The one interception was not his fault as it went off the hands and knee of Taye Barber before a diving catch by Iowa State.
He didn’t get much prep for this game, but a talent like him doesn’t need much prep. He’ll be able to roll out of bed and drop 300+ yards and four total touchdowns against anybody in the Big 12.
If he can stay healthy
The offensive line had an atrocious day. The TCU quarterbacks were sacked seven times in this one. Duggan’s athleticism can make any offensive line look better as he keeps plays alive, but we just watched a three-man rush handle the five offensive linemen with ease.
Austin Myers and newcomer TJ Storment both had issues at left tackle. A couple bad snaps, not sure if they were more the fault of Coy McMillon or Duggan, but they killed drives. A handful of holdings and false starts killed drives. If the offense, and Duggan, wants to stay alive this unit has to play better.
So does the defensive line
They got to Brock Purdy just twice, but one was for one of the wildest touchdowns you’ll ever see. Wallow tossed Purdy while he tossed the ball directly to a wide-open Lakendrick VanZandt in the backfield. Parker Workman had a sack.
We’re used to this group being GP’s calling card, but they started slow last season. Marcel Brooks seemed to get going pretty well when he was on the field and Ochaun Mathis and Corey Bethley showed flashes. A healthy Terrell Cooper would go a long way to help with that.
Where has all the run (D) gone?
It used to be rare for a Patterson defense to allow 100 rushing yards in a game, let alone to a single player. Breece Hall, who TCU I’m pretty sure was the first to offer when he was in high school, had a field day with 154 yards and three touchdowns. Chubba Hubbard had two monster runs on this defense last year and I get that from a Heisman contender, but Kene Nwangwu had one carry for a 49-yard score today. His career-long carry in three full seasons at ISU was 24 yards.
Tre Tomlinson the next Jason Verrett?
Famously, Jason Verrett got torched in his first game as a Frog against Baylor in 2012. This is Tomlinson’s second year, I know, but Patterson gave him a vote of confidence after the game. Not many teams have receivers the size of Iowa State’s and they bullied the 5-9 corner today. He played in 12 games last year, I’m not worried about him in the long run, but this was a rough opener for him.
Noah Daniels is back
After missing all of last season, Daniels looked good today. He had a couple monster tackles too, which is not what you traditionally see out of corners. But Purdy was held to 211 passing yards and one touchdown. Daniels shut down his side of the field and that usually leads to a great defense.
TCU has receivers
After struggling to find anybody that can consistently catch the ball last season, it seems like the Frogs have some weapons out wide this year.
Barber led the team with 82 yards on five catches, but Blair Conwright and Artayvious Lynn each had three catches and a score. Quentin Johnston is going to be the real deal after scoring in his first career game. Derius Davis, Dylan Thomas, JD Spielman and Mikel Barkley each had two catches too. This TCU passing game is in good hands.
