TCU Horned Frogs @ San Diego State Aztecs Football Preview

TCU has to defend a lot of things this weekend in Southern California. A team reeling from a second defeat this season must not only defend its pride and its place in the Mountain West Conference; it must defend a football field as well.

It’s been an odd season for TCU, at least compared to expectations. Despite having to replace their all-time winningest quarterback, Andy Dalton, the Horned Frogs have been relatively solid on offense. However, for a school that has prided itself on defense over the years, it would be a considerable understatement to say that the Frogs have flopped on defense.

Under coordinator Dick Bumpas, TCU has been a top-5 defensive team, if not first in the country, for several years, which is why the 2011 campaign has been such a downer to this point in time for the Purple People from Fort Worth, Texas. It was widely known that the Horned Frogs weren’t going to be as robust or resourceful on defense this season – the 2010 team that rolled to a 13-0 record was a defensive force that pounded almost every foe into submission. Rocky times were to be expected this season, but the problems that emerged in September were supposed to be fixed by the time October rolled around. It’s the lack of improvement that must really alarm Bumpas and his boss, TCU head coach Gary Patterson. Heading into one of the Mountain West Conference’s games of the year this weekend, there’s no time left for mediocrity. TCU’s defense has to take a stand.

Giving up 410 yards per game, TCU’s defense has been downright bad at times, and coming off a home loss to cross-town rival SMU, the Frogs’ defense will face another capable offense as the Texas Christian crew travels west to face San Diego State on Saturday night.

The Aztecs are coming off a bye week after a disappointing loss of their own, a 28-7 loss at Michigan. Earlier in the month of September, SDSU posted a 42-24 win over Washington State which led many college football observers to conclude that the Aztecs could take down Michigan, but in that game against the Wolverines, quarterback Ryan Lindley was off target in Ann Arbor. Running back Ronnie Hillman also fumbled twice against Michigan, more than he had in his career to that point. SDSU will try to wash away the bitter taste of that failure against one of its foremost conference rivals.

Hillman must be the centerpiece of the Aztecs’ quest for redemption. The star running back averages just over 150 rushing yards per game, a talented back that will do well against TCU’s average run defense, especially with linebacker Tanner Brock out for the season. If Hillman plays at his best, the Frogs will be under the gun this weekend.

TCU should be able to keep up even if its defense struggles, however. San Diego State surrenders 228 rushing yards per game. Granted, the Aztecs have played Army and Michigan, but TCU’s run game is every bit as capable of stacking up yards. Running back Ed Wesley has returned from injury to join Waymon James and Matthew Tucker in a rushing attack that averages 205 yards per game. If past performances and statistics indicate anything, it would be hard to deny the notion that the Frogs and the Aztecs are in for a late-night shootout. It will be up to TCU to show that it can draw a line in the sand and defend not just the Aztecs, but its sense of honor.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer