TCU Preview
The Gold Sheet
Well, if HC Gary Patterson is still on the payroll at TCU, we suppose he's going to stick around for a while longer. After all, Patterson's stock is never going to be higher than it was after last season, his third 11-win campaign in the last four years. And there were reportedly plenty of suitors sniffing around Fort Worth last December, with several high-profile jobs (including one at Patterson's alma mater, Kansas State) needing to be filled, and Patterson supposedly a top candidate for almost all of them.
Indeed, there were some erroneous reports that Patterson had even agreed to take over the Wildcat program, although that might have been a convenient smokescreen for the "cigars" at K-State to finalize the deal to that brought back former HC Bill Snyder to Manhattan. Whatever, Patterson didn't end up at K-State, Tennessee, Auburn, or anywhere else, to the delight of the Horned Frog faithful and to the chagrin of Mountain West opponents that have become accustomed to absorbing annual beatings at the hands of Patterson's ravenous TCU teams.
Still, don't be surprised if Patterson again appears on the coaching radar at the end of this season. Metroplex sources indicate that Patterson has grown a bit tired of being on the outside of the BCS umbrella, and covets a chance at a direct shot into the national title picture instead of the roundabout way that the best Mountain West teams have to take before entering the BCS discussion. In that context, future openings at a Big XII or SEC school might prove enticing. But it's also said that Patterson truly enjoys TCU (a delightful campus) and Fort Worth (a surprisingly delightful town and livable place that's quite dissimilar from glitzier neighbor Dallas), and much appreciates his job security and position of dominance within the MWC that he enjoys with the Frogs. Either way, Patterson is in an enviable position, but just in case we'll be staying tuned for further developments.
For the time being, however, Patterson remains at TCU, although he'll be shuffling the personnel deck a bit more than usual this fall. Seven starters graduated from last year's voracious defense that ranked tops nationally. But remember that Patterson and shrewd d.c Dick Bumpas also had to replace six starters from a similarly-accomplished '07 stop unit. Don't expect too much dropoff, even though Bumpas once again has to reload on a DL (as he did a year ago) now minus three starters, including irrepressible DT Cody Moore. A good block around which to build, however, is nonstop DE Jerry Hughes, who recorded a nation's-best 17 sacks (more than some entire teams!) in '08. And the LB corps is more seasoned than it seems, as a new starter, sr. Daryl Washington, saw enough playing time in '08 to rank as the platoon's fourth-leading tackler. A sticky pass "D" that allowed only 48% completions returns both of its starting CBs in srs. Nick Sanders and Rafael Priest, while all-name nominee Sir Demarco Bledsoe is one of the capable candidates to fill openings at the safety positions in Bumpas' pet 4-2-5 scheme.
Meanwhile, the offense is in a bit of an adjustment phase, too, after o.c. Mike Schultz moved to Illinois, with coordinator duties now shared by QB coach Justin Fuente & RB coach Jarrett Anderson. Patterson indicated the passing game will be slightly tweaked and formations renamed for the sake of simplicity, bit that otherwise the "O" would look much the same, which seems a good idea after setting school records for TDs (56 of 'em) and points (437) a year ago. There's certainly a familiar face at QB, where versatile jr.
Andy Dalton (also a dangerous runner) enters his third year as the starter while welcoming back five of his Top 7 receivers from '08, including a legit homerun threat in jr. Jimmy Young (59 receptions for almost 17 yards per catch in '08). A deep RB corps returns slamming top rusher Joseph Turner (577 YR LY) plus slasher Ryan Christian; the pair combined for 15 rush TDs in '08 and should be ready to go in fall despite being limited by minor injuries in spring. MWC scouts also say to keep an eye on touted RS frosh RB Ed Wesley (from nearby Irving).
Summary...Despite some not-so-insignificant departures from the nation's top-rated defense, Patterson has demonstrated he knows the formula for success at Fort Worth, so we don't expect much (if any) dropoff from the Frogs. And if TCU can survive MWC showdowns at BYU (October 24) and at Fort Worth vs. Utah (November 14), plus navigate potentially tricky trips to ACC Virginia & Clemson in September, Patterson might land his first BCS bid after all. Also note the Frogs' 7 straight covers at Fort Worth and 17-4 spread mark at home since '05.