TCU/2004

[50's PONY]

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2004 TCU Preview | Offense Breakdown and Analysis | Defense Breakdown and Analysis
Player Profile: CB Mark Walker

Inside Scoop by Mark Risley
A pair of key seniors, WR Reggie Harrell and S Marvin Godbolt, had to sit out this spring, while each rehabbing injuries. Harrell is recovering from off-season foot surgery, while Godbolt continues to recover from his season-ending knee injury. Both players state that they're ahead of schedule, although Godbolt must avoid contact until fall camp, and Harrell remains on crutches, although he states that his foot feels fine. … The QB competition, according to head coach Gary Patterson, will remain undecided until well into pre-season camp. Patterson won’t even discuss the existence of a QB controversy because that would mean that each of his QB’s are healthy, which they are not. Junior Tye Gunn started five games last year, but was sidelined for the rest of the season with a pulled groin muscle. He’s looked decent this spring (18-of-38 for 269 yards with two INT’s and one TD, in last two scrimmages) and feels great, but senior Brandon Hassell, who took over for Gunn last season, continues to deal with a nagging bone spur in his foot, which has kept him from scrimmaging this spring. Redshirt freshman James Battle joins the competition, but either Gunn or Hassell, if healthy, should nail down the No. 1 job. At the moment, Gunn is getting more of the reps, and may head into fall with an ever so slight advantage. … At tailback, Kenny Boyd comes over from his safety spot of a year ago, but the two-headed yard-chewing monster of Robert Merrill (sophomore) and Lonta Hobbs (junior) look to get the bulk of the carries. … The defense, however, looked sensational – especially against the run – in the last two scrimmages, as it held the Horned Frogs’ non-QB’s to just 154 yards on 55 attempts.

By John Harris
A Bolt of Marvin – Throughout the magical ride that was the 2003 TCU season, up until the Southern Miss game that is, not a whole lot was made of the loss of safety Marvin Godbolt – lost for the season due to an ACL tear. With one win after another, Godbolt was a virtually forgotten man even though Houston torched TCU’s defense in a way symbolic of past John Jenkins’ Run and Shoot squads and Louisville ran up and down the field for sixty minutes.

The Froggies were still winning and becoming America’s darling or whipping boy, depending on which side of the ledger you were on. Underneath the surface, though, huge cracks were forming in the TCU secondary outside of CB Mark Walker,, due to the loss of Godbolt.

Finally in Hattiesburg, Dustin Almond and the Golden Eagle receivers turned Jeremy Modkins into toast time and time again. Then, against Boise State in the Fort Worth Bowl, Ryan Dinwiddie beat Modkins again on a deep ball. If Godbolt had been healthy throughout the year, this defense would not have been set on its ear and TCU would possibly have made its way to play Kansas State in Tempe, instead of Ohio State.

Wait until #23 makes his way back on to the field in 2004. He has tremendous instincts, is a great blitzer and has strong leadership skills in the secondary. His influence is even more valuable in the upcoming year, as the Horned Frogs lose Butkus semi-finalist Bo Schobel, who created all kinds of mayhem off the edge. Godbolt’s return should allow Gary Patterson to maximize the entire defensive scheme, as Godbolt is like the pawn in a chess game – move him where ever you want and he will still have an effect on the game.

Conclusion: This team may be as dangerous an offensive team as there is in college football in 2004. Running backs Robert Merrill and Lonta Hobbs are as strong and versatile as any duo west of Auburn, Alabama. Cory Rodgers is a young, electrifying receiver in the mold of Desmond Howard or Johnny Rodgers. The offensive line returns in tact, and two solid quarterbacks return, however, Brandon Hassell needs to be under center when the season starts. Tye Gunn is a wonderful leader and has a heart as big as the ocean, but Hassell makes plays. All of that being said, it makes Godbolt, as the leader of the defense, that much more valuable to the Froggies in 2004. If he comes back healthy, the rest of Conference USA may be playing for second place.
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[EastStang]

That'll make it so much sweeter when we upset them on their turf. Unfortunately, they've seen Burns offense before (Cincy) so no surprises there, and they've seen Bennett's defense. So we won't surprise them. We'll just have to beat them with some pure smashmouth football.

[king_k]

I think if our young defense can hold TCU to 20 points like they did last year, our offense will give us a chance to walk off the field at Amon Carter victorious contingent on a real #1 QB earning the job. With addition of Massey and Munlin, I don't think Keylon will be missed to badly. We need to have one guy take the starting quarterback job and run with it. You just can't win with a revolving door at QB and an unestablished offense like we have had for the past few years (caused by Cavan's terrible recruiting; this year should tell if Bennett's recruiting is any better).

Although, I am concerned that this year's TCU game is on week 2 right after the Tech game. That doesn't give the coaching staff much time to figure out what's going to work in 2004 making the Spring and August practices even more important. Hopefully some guys will step up and make the coach's jobs a little easier.

[WreckEm16]

True, but TCU is in the same position. In addition, they have to travel to Lubbock the week after playing SMU - maybe you'll catch them looking ahead?

[PlanoStang]

#$*&!%!, you guys are talking about playing the froggies 6 months in advance, and just a couple of months ago when they bailed for the MWC
nobody wanted them on our schedule.

[EastStang]

They're on the schedule so we might as well talk about beating their butts.

[EastStang]

It appears that Frog starting cornerback Chris Peoples was kicked off the team.

[GuardianFrog]

Actually Peoples would have been 3rd string at CB this year after moving over from safety last year where he started some games after Godbolt got hurt. Walker and Butler are the likely starters at CB and Coleman and Braziel are the other two that will be seeing a lot of playing time at the CB spots for the Frogs. Look for this to be one of our strong points next year.