No but I think that our top ranked defense is doing fine with linebackers that are about the same size as they always have been.
interesting people point to the top ranking.
at one time that was in reference to a national ranking while now it is a conference ranking. the biggest changes have been that the frogs don't have the physical advantage over their conference foes the way they did in the mwc and more of their big 12 peers can stress the frogs defensively in ways that just didn't happen in the mwc.
the result is that the frog linebackers are being asked to do things defensively they weren't before and that isn't right or wrong, just a matter of evolving with the challenges the frogs face in the conference.
consider the 2009 defense that was ranked #1 in the mwc. the most yards they gave up that year was the 317 yards boise gained in the bowl game. in conference play? 298 yards to byu.
compare that to the 2014 frogs who were #1 in the big 12 in total and scoring defense.
frogs gave up 461 yards and 33 points to ou which in the mwc just didn't happen and that isn't even close to the 61 points, 782 total yards, and 272 yards rushing that frog defense gave up to baylor.
the defense has evolved and the linebackers have not been the same size howard played at around 210, same with wallow and they have had to in order to run in coverage.
hawthorne, washington, carder, and brock all played over 230 and it has mattered at times.
tcu has struggled at times in the run game against some of the better offenses, but it has been a pick your poison choice as the frogs don't physically overwhelm offenses like they did in the mwc.