2022 TCU Post Mortem: Defense/Special Teams
Somehow the Texas Longhorns frittered away their best defensive performance of the season against a high octane TCU offense. Texas held the Frogs to almost half of their season total yards per game average (289 yards, 68 at halftime), cut the Toad’s season scoring output by 60% (41.3 to 17), inflicted 5 sacks and double digit tackles for loss, eradicated their passing game (Duggan was 19 of 29 for 124 yards), added a defensive score of their own hoping to inspire a listless Horn offense…and provided the most amazing statistic of all: they held TCU scoreless on five drives that started at the Texas 49, 44, 36, 34 and 38, respectively. The first four of those were consecutive TCU possessions. Unbelievable. How did Texas manage that? By holding the Frogs to 25 yards on 22 plays on those drives, forcing a fumble, then getting a hand on a field goal attempt. They held an offense averaging 7.4 yards every time they snapped the ball to 3.9 yards per play. The Horn defensive approach looked like the best possible melding of PK’s calls with Gary Patterson’s scouting report on TCU’s personnel.
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The Texas defense wasn’t perfect, but they were damn good. So let’s get the only two major defensive mistakes of the game out of the way. The first was a 75 yard run by Kendre Miller (my TCU preview: “Miller has a knack for breaking long runs”) where TCU caught Texas in an alignment where any mistake by the unblocked play side linebacker was going to be punished badly.
The edge overhang at the top of the screen is in a wide alignment and can’t squeeze down the tackle. Byron Murphy has the interior play side covered. All Tucker-Dorsey has to do is mind his only gap. He has no blocker to worry about either. You’ll notice that he begins hopping around after faking a blitz and then takes false steps to a gap that isn’t his concern. He should be standing like a statue and then firing on Miller when Kendre angles out. Miller runs right by him, has a two way go with a blocker on Watts and 75 yards later, TCU has a 10 point lead. It felt like the Alabama Jase McClellan run in terms of game impact.
The other mistake was a blown coverage by Anthony Cook and/or Terrance Brooks. Was Brooks supposed to carry Quentin Johnston? I can’t tell. He settles into a zone with conviction, as if he’s now #11’s problem. Even if Brooks was supposed to carry him, Cook is the deepest man. A safety needs tiered vision: awareness of the receivers near you, but still watching the QB’s release to allow your break. Cook is fixated on the sideline receiver. Cook also can’t allow a receiver across his face even if that’s not his guy. That score gave TCU 17 points and, amazingly, that’s all they needed for a 7 point win.
Of course, that second touchdown never happens if Texas doesn’t attempt a punt block. Putting those two plays aside, Texas was otherwise dominant. Constant disciplined pressure on Duggan (who never posed any pocket run threat), the best zone and combo coverage I’ve seen this year and terrific aggression. Texas played at a defensive speed we haven’t seen since Bama and a physical and multiple pass rush coordinated with corner and nickel blitzes completely disrupted TCU’s rhythm.
DL
Here’s a good 4 play slice up illustrating their physicality and effort:
Strong job all around. By far the best performance for the edges this season. Barryn Sorrell was everywhere with 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a batted ball. Sorrell exploited his quickness advantage against a slow-footed TCU offensive line. Ovie Oghoufo turned in his most physical performance of the season, containing Duggan beautifully while repeatedly driving bigger TCU tackles into Duggan’s lap. I have to think that Ovie’s disappointing KSU film was used heavily as both motivation and a tool for instruction. Ovie effectively created Sorrell’s first sack by moving Duggan off his spot, not via flyby but by parking #74 in his lap. You’ll see that on the first clip above. #18 finished with 7 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. Coburn and Sweat were the primary standouts inside. They combined for 9 tackles and Sweat had a blocked pass. They were largely responsible for Texas being able to bring stunts and movement without being punished inside.
LB
Ford and DMO combined for 20 tackles. Jaylan Ford played with consistency and effort, though he wore down a bit in the 4th quarter. This was a DMO friendly game for sure. At least until the closing run sequences where Texas wore down and the linebackers didn’t fit some gaps ideally. With the Texas DL dominating inside, DMO was free to roam and run and did a lot of cleaning up across the board. There was a discernible drop off to DTD’s snaps, though he did have a nice stunt sack on a flushed Duggan. Ghosting his gap on the 75 yard TD run was a backbreaker.
DB
Texas was without D’shawn Jamison and were probably better for it. Physicality abounded, highlighted by the terrific play of screen hawk Jahdae Barron. Barron totaled 11 tackles, a scoop and score touchdown and 3 tackles for loss, all inflicted by jumping TCU’s staple screen game. Destroying those easy yards out wide put TCU’s offense into a pickle early. The best DB play of the game came when Barron split a double team to stick a TCU pass catcher 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Before the play, you can see him kamikaze to the spot before the ball is even out of Duggan’s hand. That play was emblematic of the confidence and aggression that so many Texas defenders played with. No hesitation pulling the trigger. Ryan Watts played a heck of a game and PK’s habit of blitzing corners and nickels wasn’t fruitless, but was greatly enhanced by the efficacy of the regular pass rush. It was also a nice containment insurance on Duggan getting out of the pocket. Watts finished with 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack.
Props to Terrance Brooks and Austin Jordan for holding up in tough circumstances at the other corner spot. Brooks got the lion’s share of snaps and he held up pretty well on most of his snaps. Jerrin Thompson and Anthony Cook didn’t have much work as TCU avoided the middle of the field and the Texas edge defenders of all varieties (both DL and CB, nickel) didn’t let much bleed past them.
Special Teams
Keilan Robinson had a nice kickoff return to midfield and the Horns had very good coverage on a dangerous TCU special teams unit while Kitan Crawford got a finger on missed TCU field goal attempt, but the new set of downs gifted to TCU at the beginning of the 4th quarter with a punt block attempt was a decisively bad call. One I understand emotionally, but can’t countenance logically. That’s why there are head coaches and not just three coordinators running the team. That’s a frustration “let’s make something happen” call by Jeff Banks meant to compensate for a pathetic offensive performance. You have to set up return, make TCU kick (they were punting from their 27) and hope the offense puts it together. You don’t put the defense at risk again in a one score game when they’ve been under constant stress and just gave up their only touchdown the drive prior. TCU parlayed a new lease on life into a touchdown. Ultimately, that was the decisive score of the game.
Final
The Texas defense drew by far the most difficult assignment of the TCU units and they kicked TCU’s ass on about 85% of plays, even with considerable headwinds provided by other units. The Texas offense played so abysmally that they managed to kill themselves and drown their rescuer.
