2008 TCU Football
Gary Patterson brings a 62-25 record in his 7-year tenure at TCU into the 2008 college football season. With only 12 starters back, Patterson will have his work cut out for him to get the Horned Frogs back to the top of the Mountain West Conference. They’ll have to improve on the -0.54 turnover margin that ranked 99th nationally last year. Let’s see if Patterson can work some magic as the Info Plays team gives their 2008 TCU Horned Frogs football predictions below.
Offense:
A strong line, promising Freshman All-American quarterback and an MWC Offensive Player of the Year candidate at running back means TCU’s running game should be strong again. Tackles Marshall Newhouse and Nic Richmond, guard Giles Montgomery and center Blake Schlueter should open hole for tailback Aaron Brown. Brown missed all or part of nine games last season with injuries, but still managed to be second on the team in rushing with 490 yards. Joseph Turner is more than capable of a backup role, scampering for 226 yards and four touchdowns last season in a single games against San Diego State.
Andy Dalton is an improved rushing threat at quarterback. His passing accuracy improved in the second half of last season so big things are expected from this QB. Spring indicated the Frogs might not miss a beat at receiver. Perhaps Jeremy Kerley ore fellow sophomore Jimmy Young can be go-to guys this year. Tight end She Raegan is big and fast for his position and should be a reliable target.
Defense:
Chase Ortiz and Tommy Blake, perhaps TCU’s best tandem of ends in school history, will be vitally missed. Matt Panfil and Jerry Hughes have to fill the big shoes left by Ortiz and Blake quickly. Nose tackle Kelly Griffin and tackle Cody Moore are back at starters to ease the transition. James Vess is back in the tackle rotation after missing all of last season with a disciplinary suspension.
Jason Phillips is a preseason All-American candidate at middle linebacker. The Frogs should also get great production out of the other linebacker spot with Robert Henson, who finished fifth on the team in tackles despite starting only one game. Cornerback is solid as well with three-year starters Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders manning these spots. Priest broke up 10 passes and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Stephen Hodge holds down one of three safety spots in the 4-2-5 base defense the Frogs run. He led the nation in sacks for a defensive back with eight last year. Steven Coleman is projected at free safety after starting a couple games a year ago.
TCU Football Predictions at Info Plays: 3rd in the Mountain West
TCU played Texas close for more than a half last year before wearing down. After that 34-13 loss, the Frogs never appeared the same team. This year there’s another big non-conference game on the schedule against Oklahoma on September 27th right before the meat of the MWC schedule. No matter how they fare against the Sooners, it’s hard seeing this team fading in the league again. With production out of their receivers, TCU could win the MWC in 2008.
Check out more insight into TCU’s 2008 football schedule from Pegasus here.
Mountain West Wins Expected in ‘08: SAN DIEGO STATE, at Colorado State, WYOMING, at UNLV, AIR FORCE
Potential Scares/Losses: at New Mexico, BYU, at Utah
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