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A good, long look at … TCU
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 | 2:15 a.m.
UNLV-TCU Preview
Alex and Ryan Greene recap the BYU game and preview the TCU contest.
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Christine Killimayer sits down with UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton.
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This season
- Week 1: Utah State, W 27-17
- Week 2: Utah, L 42-21
- Week 3: ASU, W 23-20 OT
- Week 4: ISU, W 34-31 OT
- Week 5: UNR, L 49-27
- Week 6: CSU, L 41-28
- Week 7: Bye
- Week 8: Air Force, L 29-28
- Week 9: BYU, L 42-35
Next game
- Opponent: TCU
- Date: Saturday, 5 p.m.
- Where: Sam Boyd Stadium
Each Friday during the 2008 season, the Sun will take an in-depth look at the Rebels' upcoming weekend foe, giving you a crash course on what you need to know, plus what you might not have known already.
A good, long look at TCU (Saturday, 5 p.m., PST, CBS College Sports)
The rep ... At this point in the season, it's a two-horse race in the Mountain West Conference in terms of an at-large BCS berth. When the Horned Frogs sliced and diced BYU two weeks ago down in Fort Worth, that not only bumped the Cougars from the picture, but gave TCU the biggest boost it could have possibly received.
That night, TCU constantly put BYU quarterback Max Hall on his backside and forced the Cougar offense into mistake after mistake. And really, that's what they've been doing all season. The Horned Frogs boast an 8-1 record, with the only loss coming at Oklahoma on Sept. 27, and rank second in the nation in total defense.
They rank first in the Mountain West in points allowed per game at 10.4, but are second in the league in points scored, averaging 35.8 per tilt.
Speed and big plays are what have gotten TCU to this point in the 2008 season. For those unfamiliar with the program, it's pretty much more of the same under Gary Patterson. Now in his ninth season at the helm, he's taken TCU to a bowl game every year except for 2004.
The key pieces of this speedy defense are at the end spots, where junior Jerry Hughes and senior Matt Panfil hold things down. The two are responsible for 16.5 of TCU's NCAA-best 35 quarterback sacks.
Last week ... The Horned Frogs' 54-7 thrashing of Wyoming was more or less a tune-up for the final quarter of TCU's 2008 schedule. It was truly a tail of two programs headed in opposite directions.
Cowboys running back Devin Moore became the first Horned Frogs opponent this season to top 100 rushing yards, but 42 of his 114 came on Wyoming's lone scoring play of the game. Take away his 114 yards on the ground, and Wyoming gained just 107 yards of total offense.
The big story of the night for TCU came on the offensive side of the ball, as the Horned Frogs brandished their big play ability better in this game than any other contest so far this season. Andy Dalton threw for 334 yards on just 16 completions. A school-record 226 of those went to speedy sophomore Jimmy Young, who caught a trio of TD passes.
Oddly, all six of Dalton's touchdown throws this season have come in the last two games. It's obviously an ever-evolving offense.
Why TCU can beat UNLV ... The Horned Frogs can do one thing on offense which UNLV's defense has yet to prove it can stop consistently - produce big plays. TCU likes to run deep switch routes with its bevy of receivers, and the Rebels have been spotty in terms of covering the deep ball.
But with TCU's strength being its defense, Gary Patterson's club certainly has the potential to be able to use that to control the game. UNLV's offense is putting up just under 28 points per game, and that unit has been the most consistent piece for the Rebels all year. Though TCU's pass rush is unlike anything the UNLV line has seen so far this season. One of the reason's Omar Clayton has only thrown three interceptions this season is that he's been able to get comfortable in the pocket and also has found space when rolling out. TCU has the potential to stem both of those options.
Also, the Horned Frogs have a full head of steam right now. They're only three wins away from a BCS berth and are peaking at just the right time. A perfect storm, so to speak.
Why UNLV can beat TCU ... With the fact that TCU is just three wins from a BCS berth comes one major potential pitfall - the 'lookahead' theory. UNLV's already benefited from it once this season. The Rebels went south and knocked off then-No. 15 Arizona State on Sept. 13, 23-20 in overtime, when the Sun Devils were obviously looking past UNLV towards their date with Georgia a week later.
But as far as what the Rebels can control, they've done a good job in recent weeks of using a consistent offense to hang around with opponents until the closing moments. That all depends on how much time the UNLV offensive line can give Omar Clayton to operate in the pocket. If they become just another victim of TCU's relentless pass rush, winning this game could be darn near impossible.
Also, UNLV needs to run the ball. Not a ton, but some. TCU gives up an average of just 31.2 rushing yards per game. Frank Summers and C.J. Cox need to make just a small dent on first and second down, because if UNLV runs into an endless stream of third-and-long situations, moving the sticks won't come easy.
The infirmary report ... Offensive lineman Marcus Cannon is recovering from an ankle injury and is questionable, but will make the trip out to Las Vegas. Not making the trip, though, is receiver Jeremy Kerley. The sophomore will miss the game due to injury, and it takes a potent weapon out of the Horned Frogs' plans. He only has 11 catches this season for 95 yards, but he's rushed the ball 21 times for 133 yards and a trio of scores. Patterson has shown a penchant for using him in direct snap situations as a 'quarterback.' Taking his place off the scout team is sophomore Clint Renfro, who is expected to be the holder for field goals and PATs - a role typically held by Kerley. That could be of note should TCU face crucial kicking situations late in the game.
A name that could creep up for the Horned Frogs ... Andy Dalton has come back from injury to put up huge numbers while running the TCU offense in the past two games, but don't be surprised if Patterson decides to put Marcus Jackson behind center for a few snaps. With the way UNLV has struggled against the option this season, Jackson could become a big factor in this game if Patterson and his staff decide to try an exploit that. In seven games, Jackson's thrown the ball just 62 times, but is second on the team in rushing attempts with 63. He's totaled 356 yards and four TDs on the ground.
Be sure to log onto www.lasvegassun.com both leading up to, during and after Saturday's game at Sam Boyd Stadium. You'll find ongoing numbers and analysis in our game day blog, plus postgame analysis, reactions from the Rebels, photos, video highlights and much more.
Discussion: 8 comments so far…
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Next Basketball Game
Nov. 25, 7:00 p.m. (PST)
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- Location: Sam Boyd Stadium
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Please stop using the Arizona State game as a comparison to the TCU game. ASU is a horrible team this year with a 2-5 record. The Sun Devils are NOT good and no way deserved to be ranked at any point in this season.
Mike Sanford has lost 11 Mountain West Conference games in a row. It will be 12 in a row after TCU lights us up in our own stadium in frong of about 50 fans (mostly parents of the players).
Sanford is 3-25 vs. MWC opponents. That means that he is TERRIBLE in conference where our conference opponents know him and his staff.
The UNLV Defense is terrible and won't get any better. Dennis Therrell (D-Coordinator) is a miserable coach and he is the best that the program can get. The only guys who will accept a job under Mike Sanford at this point are UNEMPLOYED LOSERS. Nobody who has a job at another University would ever consider coming to UNLV. The team will only get worse if Sanford is not fired.
11 MWC losses in a row. Name any other sport on the UNLV campus and if they lost 11 Conference games in a row they would be SHOWN THE DOOR. The same holds true for Sanford, he is 3-25 overall vs. the MWC. That is totally unacceptable and he must be fired in the next 30 days!
I think the Frogs are going to beat the Rebels badly
Man this TCU game is a lot like the ASU game, you're right Ryan, because leading up to that game no one, not even the all knowing Sufferin, could have forseen ASU being this bad and up to that time they were very much considered a top 15 program. So if TCU were to get upset by UNLV and then go on to lose to either Air Force or Utah or both, he'll say that UNLV beating TCU was no big feat because of how TCU collapsed down the stretch. Nothing will ever satisfy his miserable soul.
The evidence of this is how he consistantly blasts Lon Kruger and the basketball program even though they're enjoying more and more success by the day. We could go 33-3 this year and he would point out the loss to Louisville on the road in a hostile environment as to why Lon should be fired.
Pay no mind Ryan, this was a good article.
Hey, toomanybongs, did UNR also lose last week? I wasn't sure and I just wanted to check with you.
Toomany is just bugging us because his football team is also terrible....they could only muster 13000 for hokmecoming...even reno hates the WolfPack.
Hey william...did your UNR basketball players get out of jail yet?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27228919/
get a life buddy!
Sufferin, you're obviously not paying very close attention to this season. There's no way Sanford will be fired. For one, they've got two more wins probably left on the schedule and, say, a 5-7 finish? That would keep him for sure. They've shown improvement and have been in every game really but one. They played two straight bowl teams to the final play of the game. Not everything is indicated by the win-loss record. If the same thing happens next year? Well, then Hamrick has a choice to make. But what they're showing right now is progress, and Sanford deserves a shot to take that next step with this team next season.
Ryan Greene: I have been paying very close attention. Much closer than you obviously. Mike Sanford will finish the season 3-9. Sanford will finish the season having last 15 MWC Football games in a row! The final home game of Sanford's career vs. Wyoming won't even have 5,000 butts in the seats at Sam Boyd.
Everything is absolutely indicated by winning and losing. But, if you want blowouts... they are coming soon to a stadium near you.
No progress has been shown whatsoever. UNLV has not beaten a team with a winning record this year. UNLV has lost 11 Mountain West Conference games in a row! Mike Sanford is 3-25 overall vs. MWC opponents!
Sanford can't be allowed to go into the final year of his contract. It will destroy recruiting and destroy Rebel Football for years to come. No decent parent would allow their child to sign a letter of intent to a coach who is in the Final year of his contract. Other schools will use this against UNLV in recruiting and our program will only fall further behind the ABSOLUTE MISERY that we are already in. Do I need to remind you that we have lost 11 Conference Football games in a row? This is year FOUR for Mike Sanford and he has only beaten ONE TEAM ever that had a winning record.
A 3-9 finish in the 4th year is absolutely showing ZERO progress. Utah State, Arizona State and Iowa State are all bottom of the barrel programs with miserable records.
What Defensive Coordinator would come to UNLV to coach under Sanford in 2009 when they know the entire staff will be fired? NOBODY. That means UNLV will be stuck with Therrell for another year and that means another MISERABLE FAILURE for the worst coach in the history of Rebel Football. That is what Mike Sanford is, the worst coach in the history of Rebel Football.
8-34 overall vs. FBS (I-A) programs. 11 MWC losses in a row! 3-25 vs. MWC programs!
An absolute loser who must be fired. The sooner the better. Save UNLV Football!
How can anyone save a program in which you claim is already destroyed.
If you think that Ryan is going to subscribe to your irrational thought process you have smoked yourself retarded. And once again, no one cares for your stats, they're meaningless when someone with a brain considers that Sanford was given practically nothing to work with by Robinson and UNLV, player and fiscal wise. Unfortunately you represent a good portion of society today in that you want satisfaction and results immediately and if not, off with their heads. And no, I don't think 4 years was enough to resurrect UNLV football. I would point out that the season is not over but you seem to think that we are going to lose to San Diego State and Wyoming, which tells everyone everthing we need to know about your intellect.