TCU rebounds on defemse
Patterson is starting to get solid play from inexperienced Horned Frogs.
Reports about the demise of the TCU defense appear to be premature.
The historically strong unit was written off after returning only a few key defenders from last season and then losing seven starters in the first four games.
Fourteen defenders have made their first career starts, and the group Gary Patterson has fielded for the past sever- al weeks was one of the least experienced in the country. Yet they just missed a shutout in a 50-7 thrashing of Texas, and now they’re gaining confidence under Patterson, one of the top defensive masterminds in the country.
“They’ve had a lot of resiliency. I’ve been proud of them,” the Horned Frogs coach said. “With everything that’s happened to them, they just keep fighting.”
TCU, the No. 2 team in the nation, is getting healthier on defense. Two starting linemen — tackle Davion Pierson (concussion) and end Mike Tuaua (knee/suspension) — are back.
“Having two defensive leaders back brought calmness, both in practice and in the game,” Patterson said. “You’ve got to be able to rush the passer and hold up on the edges in this league. We had been playing with two or three young guys who hadn’t done that before.”
He said there’s a good chance defensive end Terrell Lathan (shoulder) will return Saturday at Kansas State.
Five starters are out for the year, but new playmakers are emerging.
Montrel Wilson, a lightly recruited linebacker from Keller Fossil Ridge, leads the team in tackles and was all over the field against Texas. Linebacker Travin Howard, a two-star recruit from Longview, has 36 tackles, six for loss, and has forced two fumbles.
New cornerback Nick Orr, a three-star recruit from DeSoto who’s taking the injured Ranthony Texada’s spot, has broken up five passes and recovered two fumbles.
Breylin Mitchell, a freshman defensive end from Round Rock, also is starting to see some playing time.
“It takes young guys a while to get out of the fog,” Patterson said. “Now a lot of them have played, and they know (what to do). They understand a little bit more what’s going on. I think we’re better now than we were.”
FYI: KaVontae Turpin, who caught four touchdown passes against UT on Saturday, was basically an add-on to TCU’s 2015 recruiting class. Texas Tech was the only other Power Five school interested in the 5-foot9, 152-pound flyer from Monroe, La. He was being chased by Appalachian State, South Alabama and smaller Louisiana schools.
“We had a spot open up late and thought he would be a kick returner, initially,” Patterson said.
Instead, TCU’s two-star freshman wideout beat Texas’ four-star freshman DBs all day long. Of course, he had a pretty fair quarterback throwing to him.
Officiating error: Oklahoma State’s last-minute 36-34 victory over Kansas State on Saturday included help from Big 12 officials. The week before, the Cowboys benefited from 16 penalties against Texas for 128 yards, including a baffling defensive holding call late in their 30-27 victory. This time, an incorrect chain placement late in the first half helped OSU prolong a drive that resulted in a touchdown.
The Big 12 office fessed up to the mistake and said that “disciplinary actions would be taken with both the field officials and chain crew.”
K-State coach Bill Snyder said, “Maybe we need a better system than what we have.”
Extra points ...
■ Kansas, a 44-point underdog to Baylor, is believed to be the larg- est home dog in Big 12 history, according to Vegas oddsmakers. Because of injuries, the Jayhawks will start freshman Ryan Willis at QB.
■ Kansas State quarterback Joe Hubener (head) is expected to be back for the TCU game. Kody Cook, the team’s leading receiver who switched to QB when Hubener was injured, will return to wideout.
■ Oklahoma State is optimistic that running backs Chris Carson (knee) and Rennie Childs (concussion) will play at West Virginia.