Essentially, this is the perfect meme to explain how our LB's react to a well executed gameplan that makes them cover.
anyone who tells you they know much about the tcu offense really is throwing crap at a wall because they just haven't had to so much in the first two games.
biggest problem for the fan base in my mind is separating their expectations from what has actually played out over the first two games.
frogs replaced 4 offensive linemen and are breaking in a new quarterback so they are working to find an identity. in both games they have run the ball and under cumbie last year they ran the ball more than half the time. some will same first two games were against bad defenses which they were, but to me the only time that comes into consideration is if we couldn't run the ball which didn't happen.
can we run the ball on saturday? don't need to run for 200+, only do so enough to avoid long downs, keep defense honest, and open up parts of the passing game. running back looks to be the deepest part of the offensive roster at this time with 3 quality backs.
additionally, the frogs do use the short, quick passing game as an extension of the running game. osu can match the athletic ability of the frogs receivers in the slot so to me it comes down to execution by the wide receivers to block versus secondary tackling in space.
in regards to the tcu passing game there is talent at receiver at quarterback, but it is young. young isn't always bad, just unpredictable. one thing i have seen in two game this year that you didn't see much last year is a willingness to throw in the middle of the field. last year was a great deal of around the edges and while i am not ready to say that trend won't hold with a young quarterback they have shown a willingness to throw it down the center of the field.
one final point, unlike some frog alums/fans and the media i don't see this game as the holy grail and a chance to put 2014 in the past once and for all. patterson is a big music guy and i think he is going into this game with a mindset from the rolling stones' classic ruby tuesday of "yesterday doesn't matter if its gone".
winning saturday doesn't do [ Finebaum ] for 2014, but what is does serve is as a benchmark for where this team is and the real work starts next week on conference play. i very much see tcu opening up both game plans, but i don't expect a win at all cost attitude.
one thing to note on defense, patterson in the past has shot himself in the foot at times by over scheming at the start of a game and going back to playing fundamentally sound defense. the key to the defense when tcu plays at its best is not freaking mind games, but the ability to recognize, respond, and attack with a great deal of speed.