that Tech would replicate TCU's 4-8 to 12-1 turnaround this year? As crazy as it sounds there are some similarities. We were all laughing when Patterson said they were switching to the air raid and how long it would take TCU to implement it effectively, well they seemed to have figured it out. We are switching back to the 4-3 which, lets be honest, has always been a much better defense for us given our DL and under Kaufman was the number 1 D in the country for about a month into the season. Brining in Meacham and Cumbie were solid hires just as we know Gibbs is based on his actual track record.
Boykin was the suck in his first year and really improved last year. I am still not a huge boykin guy as I think he just throws long bombs that connected well last year for big plays but he isn't really that great of an intermediate passer. Similarly, Mahomes is coming back and looks very promising and should be able to run the offense well. Webb is a solid player and I'm sure he will see the field some as well this year.
TCU was brining back a lot of starters which we are as well this year. If Mitchell plays up to at least half his ability he is going to be a difference maker, the DL is all seniors, and the secondary looks like it has some decent depth. It is definitely a unit that if coached well can be effective.
Here is the biggest change htat needs to happen. TCU's offense was absolute crap a couple years ago and improved by 3 scores year to year, a phenomenal increase. Well I know Tech's overall defensive rank will improve but what it our turnover margin makes a similar type of improvement? Based on the league we would still probably be well over the 70th ranked defense but if we can create turnovers to the same effect that TCU's offense increased its scoring, that would make this team formidable.
TCU's schedule also set up pretty well with OU and home and Texas in Austin. Now we don't have OU at home but Texas is still average and we have TCU at home as well as Baylor on a neutral field. KSU will be down, OSU will be better, OU is probably a push depending on QB, UT as I said is average, WVU is beatable, and KU and ISU aren't worth mentioning. Minnesota is obviously worse that Arkansas but perhaps we jump on the hogs early. So definitely harder but there are some bright spots.
Now I don't think we will win 12 games, we never have, but the chance to be shockingly better could be more likely than not. Winning 8 games plus a bowl would do wonders for this program.
Boykin was the suck in his first year and really improved last year. I am still not a huge boykin guy as I think he just throws long bombs that connected well last year for big plays but he isn't really that great of an intermediate passer. Similarly, Mahomes is coming back and looks very promising and should be able to run the offense well. Webb is a solid player and I'm sure he will see the field some as well this year.
TCU was brining back a lot of starters which we are as well this year. If Mitchell plays up to at least half his ability he is going to be a difference maker, the DL is all seniors, and the secondary looks like it has some decent depth. It is definitely a unit that if coached well can be effective.
Here is the biggest change htat needs to happen. TCU's offense was absolute crap a couple years ago and improved by 3 scores year to year, a phenomenal increase. Well I know Tech's overall defensive rank will improve but what it our turnover margin makes a similar type of improvement? Based on the league we would still probably be well over the 70th ranked defense but if we can create turnovers to the same effect that TCU's offense increased its scoring, that would make this team formidable.
TCU's schedule also set up pretty well with OU and home and Texas in Austin. Now we don't have OU at home but Texas is still average and we have TCU at home as well as Baylor on a neutral field. KSU will be down, OSU will be better, OU is probably a push depending on QB, UT as I said is average, WVU is beatable, and KU and ISU aren't worth mentioning. Minnesota is obviously worse that Arkansas but perhaps we jump on the hogs early. So definitely harder but there are some bright spots.
Now I don't think we will win 12 games, we never have, but the chance to be shockingly better could be more likely than not. Winning 8 games plus a bowl would do wonders for this program.
