To keep the soaring confidence of his players in check, TCU coach Gary Patterson simply makes practice a little more spirited.
His logic is that a tired player can’t think too far ahead, just on the task at hand.
The No. 10 Horned Frogs have risen to rare heights, just the second time in 50 years they have reached the top 10 during the season.
That’s reason enough for overconfidence. So are all the national accolades and articles that bill the Frogs, and No. 6 Boise State, as the best possible BCS busters this season.
While that might frighten some coaches, Patterson nudged his players toward a little more preparation for their Mountain West Conference opener Saturday at Air Force.
“I’ve always believed that if you work hard and you’re tired enough, you don’t have time to think about it,” Patterson said. “So, we’re just going to keep working hard.”
Patterson has ways of getting his players to focus.
video of last year’s game at Utah. The Frogs (4-0, 0-0) dominated the Utes everywhere but the scoreboard, losing 13-10. There went any hope of a BCS berth, which went to the Utes as they capped off an undefeated season with a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
“The Utah game from last year has had a lot of carry-over for us of understanding how fine that line can be,” Patterson said. “To outgain somebody (416 yards to 275) like we did and still lose, there’s no answer to it. … It doesn’t matter how well you play, you’ve got to be able to finish.”
If Patterson wants even more motivation, all he has to do is mention how the Frogs stumbled at Air Force in 2007. The Falcons overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to win in overtime.
Not only that, but Air Force’s triple option has always been tricky. The Falcons (3-2, 2-0) have the second-ranked rushing attack in the country, averaging nearly 292 yards a game.
“They can also line up in a 100,000 different formations,” Patterson said. “They run a lot of plays very well, including reverses and any kind of option pass or drop-back pass you can name. … You’ve got to tackle well, play leverage well and keep your eyes in the right place.”
That’s something TCU’s defense has been priding itself on all season. The Frogs boast one of the top run defenses in the nation, allowing very little on the ground.
ter overtime loss at Navy, giving the Midshipmen a leg up on winning another Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy.
They’re also struggling to find the end zone. Air Force hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown in the last nine quarters, a trend that’s becoming a concern for coach Troy Calhoun.
“We have to make sure we stick … to our ground work of what we’re trying to instill in guys,” Calhoun said. “A lot of times what you do is you build layers to get to a point where you’re more productive.”
Air Force’s defense has been picking up the scoring slack, tallying five touchdowns this season. Defensive back Anthony Wright has two interception returns for scores in as many games.
However, the Falcons were recently dealt a blow when they lost starting inside linebacker Ken Lamendola to a season-ending knee injury. Just when the Falcons’ defense was rounding into shape, too. Asked if his defense was where he wanted it to be, Calhoun simply said, “Close.”
TCU will provide the ultimate gauge.
The Frogs rotate in a steady stream of fresh tailbacks and have one of the nation’s most efficient passers in quarterback Andy Dalton.
nse.”
With a little inclement weather thrown in for good measure.
The forecast for Saturday is calling for cold and rainy conditions.
Might that be an equalizer? Patterson doesn’t think so. The weather always seems to be unpleasant when TCU plays Air Force.
“I’ll start to get scared when we get sunshine,” Patterson said.
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