TCU Football: Tori's Thoughts - The Past Does Not Define The Future

A 3-2 start might be hard to swallow, but this TCU team is writing its own story.

The 2023 season has gotten off to a rocky start. TCU's 3-2 record, including 1-1 in the Big 12, feels like a step back after arguably the best season in program history.

The offense has been inconsistent, the defense is slowly finding its footing, and special teams has had some costly miscues. This is not what TCU fans are used to after last season, but perhaps it's time to take a breath and look at the bigger picture. The 2022 and 2023 teams have very different makeups. Quarterback Chandler Morris is still gaining experience and should not be expected to replicate what Max Duggan did last year.

TCU quarterback Chandler Morris against West Virginia in Week 5.  :: Tony Beblowski/KillerFrogs

A trip to Ames, Iowa is another opportunity for this TCU team to improve and show its resiliency. Kickoff against Iowa State is slated for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on FS2.

Give the 2023 Team Time

There's no way around it – the 2022 season was special.

An undefeated regular season followed by Big 12 championship and national title game appearances is difficult to top. A lot of things had to bounce right for that to happen, though, including a 9-1 record in games decided by 10 points or less. That's a difficult feat to repeat.

A 3-2 start the following season is understandably hard to swallow. Saturday's loss to West Virginia hurt, especially coming on the heels of the Horned Frogs' most complete game of the season a week earlier. The offense disappeared in the second half, and special teams slipped up allowing the Mountaineers to block two field goals.

TCU will continue having moments of growth and regression. Some opponents will highlight those moments more than others, but no matter what happens, comparing this team with last year's is unfair. These are two completely different teams.

The defense returns nearly all the starters in the secondary and at linebacker from a group that snagged 16 interceptions. Some of the other 2022 defensive numbers were not overly impressive. The Horned Frogs allowed 29 points and 408 yards per game, numbers that ranked in the middle of the Big 12. TCU's final three opponents averaged 47 points per game.

On offense, the Horned Frogs lost starters at every single position and coordinator Garrett Riley, the nation's best assistant coach. Quentin Johnston led an NFL-caliber receiving room. Johnston became a first-round pick, Derius Davis went in the fourth round, and Taye Barber found a spot on the Tampa Bay practice squad. Replacing all that talent in one fell swoop is a very tall task.

Duggan developed relationships with the receivers over years, not a single offseason. He also benefited from playing behind an offensive line that remained the same all season and had two future NFL linemen, Alan Ali and Steve Avila.

That team was full of fourth and fifth-year seniors, too, many of whom had played together for several seasons. Experience and familiarity with each other mattered in those close games.

On top of that, Duggan was an uncommon leader. He wore his heart on his sleeve, ran through defenders when the moment called for it, and played with incredible emotion. The team fed off that.

Leaders emerge in adverse situations. The West Virginia loss provides the perfect opportunity for someone on this team, or maybe a couple of people, to step up. Reaching a bowl game is still a realistic expectation just based on this team's talent. How many games TCU wins along the way will be determined by how quickly those leaders can emerge and make those game-winning plays.

TCU Football Week 6 Opponent Preview: Iowa State Cyclones

Experience Matters At Quarterback

Morris' inexperience at the college level has shown in almost every game this season. He has missed open receivers, stared down targets, been hesitant to take downfield shots, and passed over running opportunities.

While it's tempting to compare his performances with how Duggan handled similar situations last season, keep in mind Duggan was a four-year starter. His decision-making had matured over time and should have looked different.

It wasn't always that way, though. When Duggan became a starter three games into the 2019 season, he played inconsistently but with a lot of promise.

Duggan's final stat line through 12 games, featuring ten starts, landed at 181-of-339 passes completed (53%) for 2,077 yards, 15 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. He also ran for 555 yards and six touchdowns on 130 carries.

A couple games highlighted Duggan's potential, like completing 17-of-25 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa State and going 25-of-42 for 323 yards, three touchdowns and a rushing touchdown versus Texas Tech.

Then, he had a few forgettable games, including a pair of three-interception performances against Oklahoma State and Baylor or throwing for 65 yards and an interception at Oklahoma.

Morris has had a similar track record through five games. The SMU and Houston games showed his potential as he hit downfield throws, took off running, and made throws in tight spaces. The Colorado and West Virginia games have brought out more of the stare downs, overthrows, and hesitancy.

Still, Morris has put up respectable stats so far this season, completing 121-of-183 passes (66%) for 1,419 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. Another bad quarter, half, or game will happen as Morris learns how to handle different in-game situations, gets comfortable with the offense, and continues building relationships with a new group of wide receivers.

Double Morris' numbers to account for ten games for a fun exercise. The stat line would surpass what Duggan did in 2019. While too many factors are at play to guarantee Morris' stats will double in five weeks, he's still on track for a solid first year as a starter.

Duggan was far from perfect in year one, and the same can currently be said of Morris. Growing pains are hard for everyone involved, but that's just part of the process.

Ames is a tough spot for Horned Frogs

Ames, Iowa has not been a particularly friendly place for TCU over the past 12 years.

The Horned Frogs are 2-3 at Jack Trice Stadium since joining the Big 12, and the last road win came in 2015 when quarterback Trevone Boykin threw for four touchdowns and wide receiver Josh Doctson lit up the Cyclones defense for 190 yards and two scores.

Iowa State won the last two games in Ames by an average of 27 points. The 2017 contest was a low-scoring affair, and Iowa State needed an interception in the final minute to seal a 14-7 victory.

Defense is usually the Cyclones' calling card. This year's unit has posted solid numbers, giving up 23 points and 338 yards per game. However, Iowa State has allowed 77 points over the last two games after surrendering 39 total points through the first three games. Defensive back Jeremiah Cooper leads a disruptive secondary with four interceptions.

Iowa State has the conference's worst scoring offense (20.8 points per game) and second-worst passing offense (220 yards). Quarterback Rocco Becht has thrown five interceptions and ranks near the bottom of the conference in passing efficiency.

TCU might have the better offense, but as it learned last week, one or two bad drives can shift the entire game. If the Horned Frogs want to break the three-year skid at Ames, they can't take the Cyclones lightly. The performance doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough to get back on track. 

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