Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. I'll try to add as much as I can. Unfortunately, I'm working in Europe until December, so I only get NASN (basically ESPN Europe) and ESPN Gameplan to watch games. I haven't been able to watch TCU play yet this year, but I've been talking to my buddies that have been watching the games and trying to glean as much info as possible from them. So, some of y'all may know more about TCU this year than I do, but I'll try to add my 2 cents. On to the OU game:
I don't really think much needs to be said about the TCU defense that hasn't already been said. I love the 4-2-5 scheme because it is pretty difficult to prepare for. You can really hide your blitz packages well and confuse the o-line, and the scheme usually frees up the DE's to focus more on pass rushing and outside containment than is allowed in a 3-4 set. I think that TCU's front 4 are better than last year as a unit and I can't wait to see what they can do against OU's o-line. I'm pretty confident that we will be able to stop the run as well. The main concern for me on defense this week is the lack of height at CB. Both of TCU's CB's are listed at 5'10" but I think that's generous in Priest's case, because I had class with him and he's no taller than I am (I'm 5'8"). For OU, both Iglesias and Johnson are 6 feet, and Chaney's 6'5". Our corners will be able to run with any of these receivers and won't get beat deep, but I just worry that if Bradford gets time in the pocket to wait for a WR to get position on an out, quick slant, etc., then OU could put together some long drives and really wear down this defense.
As for the offense, they really matured last year in the second half of the season. I don't worry about Dalton making mistakes in this game because he has plenty of big game experience (UT, BYU, Katy vs. Southlake state championship game). What I do worry about with Dalton is his running ability. TCU's offense thrives with a hybrid quarterback. I say hybrid because I don't think that TCU likes the dual-threat type of quarterback. IMO, our offense was most successful when Jeff Ballard was the QB a few years back. He was a great pocket passer, but he was also a great shortstop who possessed decent speed (4.65 or so). What made him so good was that he had great presence in the pocket and made great reads, but wouldn't run unless absolutely necessary. This made him a great operator outside of the pocket, and made him difficult to defend. Dalton has the makings of a great pocket passer, but the TCU coaches seem to think that Dalton is the next Ballard. It seems like they try to occasionally move him outside of the pocket to operate, and he just lacks the speed IMO to be that hybrid player that TCU loves. This could create some serious problems when TCU faces a fast defense like OU.
Another thing to point out is that Dalton hasn't thrown for a TD yet this season. This may have something to do with the playcalling (TCU loves intermediate zone read passes, which pick up decent chunks of yards, but never seem to go for huge plays), but that worries me a bit. It could also have to do with the inexperience of TCU's receivers, but OU has two first year starters at corner, so we should have relative success there as well. We should have success on the ground now that Brown is back, and he's a great receiver as well as runner, but I worry about his game conditioning, as I stated earlier in this thread.
From what I've heard so far this year, our special teams, especially kick and punt coverages, have looked terrible. This is where I think that OU has its biggest advantage in this game. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that they had the best kick return squad in the nation last year. I know that both of Stanford's scores came off of special teams, so it's something to worry about. I can't really comment too much on this, since I haven't seen us play yet, though.
So, all in all, I think that TCU should be successful for most of the game against OU. We will get the key stops on defense and be able to move the ball with relative success on offense. I do, however, worry about the second half adjustments that the teams will make. OU should be able to shut down Dalton in the second half if TCU doesn't make the proper adjustments and keep him in the pocket. If Dalton gets shut down, then the onus lies on the shoulders of the running game. Brown should get winded, and Christian will have no success against OU, which leaves Turner to shoulder the load. TCU has always had a good rotation of at least two backs, so I worry that we may not be as successful on the ground as some think. If this TCU offense gets shut down, I don't think that the TCU defense will be able to hang with the OU offense for an entire game without getting some rest on the sidelines.
I know it's a bit of a long winded rant, but the key point for me is how well TCU's offense can adjust in the second half. If they can do that, then TCU will cover the spread. But if they can't, then OU could win by 3+ scores.
