Big 12: Casey Pachall
We did it last year, and it's time to rev up the engines one more time.
The Big 12 had five passers top 3,000 yards in 2011. WVU's Geno Smith also topped 3,000 yards, but Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill did, too. The league breaks even in that sense.
College football had 39 passers top 3,000 yards last year, up from 27 in 2010.
Which ones will crack the mark in the Big 12 next year? I'm glad you asked.
Remember: This isn't so much a ranking of the Big 12's best quarterbacks, but the QBs with the best chance to break the benchmark for a great season.
1. Geno Smith, West Virginia: Smith had his first season over 3,000 yards last year, and did it by a long ways, racking up 4,385 yards, which was 1,781 more than any other Big East QB. That's nuts. He may throw for more yards than any Big 12 QB this year, but it won't be that wide of a margin. He's got one of the best receiving corps in the league. Injury would be the only thing that could keep him under 3,000.
2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma: Jones has big question marks at receiver. Three of his top four returning targets are currently suspended. Still, he has Kenny Stills and hyped newcomer Trey Metoyer headlining the best class of incoming receivers in the country. He'll top 4,000 yards for the third consecutive season, and 3,000 for the fourth.
3. Seth Doege, Texas Tech: Doege took his place as the next in a long line of successful Tech QBs, throwing for 4,004 yards despite losing the heart of his running game and his two most talented receivers. Tech will throw it enough as always to make this one a no-doubter.
4. Nick Florence, Baylor: Florence will top 3,000 yards in his first full year as a starter with time to prepare for becoming one. He earned seven sudden starts when Robert Griffin III tore his ACL in 2009, Florence's true freshman season. He's got more experience now and arguably the best receiving corps in the league. That's a heck of a combo.
5. Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State: Lunt is a true freshman who better brace for growing pains, but he'll have plenty of great moments in OSU's loaded, pass-first offense. He'll top 3,000 yards by a narrow margin, but the biggest key for Lunt will be keeping his interception total low. If he does that, OSU could be scary.
6. Casey Pachall, TCU: Pachall will have to balance out TCU's running game, which should take advantage of some Big 12 defenses' weak interiors. He'll need to chuck it a whole lot more this season if TCU gets into shootouts or needs to come from behind. That'll happen a lot more in the Big 12 than in the Mountain West.
Just missed: Dayne Crist, Kansas. (Simply put, not enough offensive weapons to top 3,000 yards.)
The Big 12 had five passers top 3,000 yards in 2011. WVU's Geno Smith also topped 3,000 yards, but Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill did, too. The league breaks even in that sense.
College football had 39 passers top 3,000 yards last year, up from 27 in 2010.
Which ones will crack the mark in the Big 12 next year? I'm glad you asked.
Remember: This isn't so much a ranking of the Big 12's best quarterbacks, but the QBs with the best chance to break the benchmark for a great season.
1. Geno Smith, West Virginia: Smith had his first season over 3,000 yards last year, and did it by a long ways, racking up 4,385 yards, which was 1,781 more than any other Big East QB. That's nuts. He may throw for more yards than any Big 12 QB this year, but it won't be that wide of a margin. He's got one of the best receiving corps in the league. Injury would be the only thing that could keep him under 3,000.
2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma: Jones has big question marks at receiver. Three of his top four returning targets are currently suspended. Still, he has Kenny Stills and hyped newcomer Trey Metoyer headlining the best class of incoming receivers in the country. He'll top 4,000 yards for the third consecutive season, and 3,000 for the fourth.
3. Seth Doege, Texas Tech: Doege took his place as the next in a long line of successful Tech QBs, throwing for 4,004 yards despite losing the heart of his running game and his two most talented receivers. Tech will throw it enough as always to make this one a no-doubter.
4. Nick Florence, Baylor: Florence will top 3,000 yards in his first full year as a starter with time to prepare for becoming one. He earned seven sudden starts when Robert Griffin III tore his ACL in 2009, Florence's true freshman season. He's got more experience now and arguably the best receiving corps in the league. That's a heck of a combo.
5. Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State: Lunt is a true freshman who better brace for growing pains, but he'll have plenty of great moments in OSU's loaded, pass-first offense. He'll top 3,000 yards by a narrow margin, but the biggest key for Lunt will be keeping his interception total low. If he does that, OSU could be scary.
6. Casey Pachall, TCU: Pachall will have to balance out TCU's running game, which should take advantage of some Big 12 defenses' weak interiors. He'll need to chuck it a whole lot more this season if TCU gets into shootouts or needs to come from behind. That'll happen a lot more in the Big 12 than in the Mountain West.
Just missed: Dayne Crist, Kansas. (Simply put, not enough offensive weapons to top 3,000 yards.)
The Big 12 season is approaching, and there's no league in which the quarterback position is more important. Want success? Experience is a good place to start. How do the QBs rank in experience? Let's take a look.
1. Landry Jones, Oklahoma (37 starts): Jones is the league's elder statesman by a long, long ways. He took over as a redshirt freshman in 2009 when Sam Bradford injured his shoulder, and didn't miss any of his 27 starts in 2010 and 2011.
2. Geno Smith, West Virginia (26 starts): Smith has been the team's unquestioned starter for each of the past two seasons, and should be ready for a big 2012 after topping 4,000 yards in 2011.
3. Collin Klein, Kansas State (15 starts): Klein had two more starts at receiver earlier in his career, but we're not counting those. Klein was a gadget QB in 2010, but took over as the team's offensive workhorse in 2011, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the team's total offense.
4. Casey Pachall, TCU (13 starts): Pachall played well in his first year as a starter, but often relied on his three star running backs in the offense and didn't top 3,000 yards. He's ready for more responsibility if necessary this year.
5. Seth Doege, Texas Tech (13 starts): Doege earned one start all the way back in 2009, but ceded that spot by the end of the game. He did no such thing in a strong 2011 season, though Tech missed a bowl game and had a losing season (5-7) for the first time in almost two decades.
6. Dayne Crist, Kansas (10 starts): Crist's 10 starts all came at Notre Dame, but there doesn't look to be much challenge from any other QBs on the roster this season. Does he have the offensive weapons to be productive?
7. Nick Florence, Baylor (seven starts): Florence started seven games in 2009 when Robert Griffin III suffered a knee injury, and earned a half of playing time last season against Texas Tech that cost him his redshirt season.
8. Steele Jantz, Iowa State (seven starts): Jantz got off to a strong start, but never figured out his very serious turnover issues. That cost him his starting job in midseason, despite three fourth-quarter comebacks to begin the 2011 season 3-0.
9. David Ash, Texas (six starts): Ash was the fourth-string QB last summer, but when Garrett Gilbert and Connor Wood transferred, it was up to him and Case McCoy to carry the load. By season's end, Ash had established himself as the future at the position, at least immediately, but Texas' coaches haven't given him the official designation yet.
10. Jared Barnett, Iowa State (six starts): Barnett took over for Jantz in the middle of the season and engineered wins over Texas Tech, Kansas and a historic win over No. 2 Oklahoma State, but struggled with inconsistency late and opened up the competition to Jantz in a Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers. There's no assurance for either to be the starter after the spring.
11. Case McCoy, Texas (five starts): McCoy's gutsiest performance came in a comeback win over Texas A&M, but his lack of arm strength limited what the Longhorns could do in 2011. McCoy's got all the heart you could ask for, but his physical attributes bring about plenty of questions about his ability to carry the team over the course of his career.
12. Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State (zero starts): Lunt shocked even his own offensive coordinator by beating out junior Clint Chelf and redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh in the spring to earn the starting job. He still has to validate that spot in the fall, but Lunt is in a class of his own at the bottom of the Big 12 when it comes to experience. He's a big, NFL-sized QB with a big arm, though. Can his mind catch up fast enough to help the Cowboys defend a Big 12 title?
1. Landry Jones, Oklahoma (37 starts): Jones is the league's elder statesman by a long, long ways. He took over as a redshirt freshman in 2009 when Sam Bradford injured his shoulder, and didn't miss any of his 27 starts in 2010 and 2011.
2. Geno Smith, West Virginia (26 starts): Smith has been the team's unquestioned starter for each of the past two seasons, and should be ready for a big 2012 after topping 4,000 yards in 2011.
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Cal Sport Media/AP ImagesNo doubt, Kansas State QB Collin Klein drew a ton of attention from opposing defenses in 2011.
Cal Sport Media/AP ImagesNo doubt, Kansas State QB Collin Klein drew a ton of attention from opposing defenses in 2011.4. Casey Pachall, TCU (13 starts): Pachall played well in his first year as a starter, but often relied on his three star running backs in the offense and didn't top 3,000 yards. He's ready for more responsibility if necessary this year.
5. Seth Doege, Texas Tech (13 starts): Doege earned one start all the way back in 2009, but ceded that spot by the end of the game. He did no such thing in a strong 2011 season, though Tech missed a bowl game and had a losing season (5-7) for the first time in almost two decades.
6. Dayne Crist, Kansas (10 starts): Crist's 10 starts all came at Notre Dame, but there doesn't look to be much challenge from any other QBs on the roster this season. Does he have the offensive weapons to be productive?
7. Nick Florence, Baylor (seven starts): Florence started seven games in 2009 when Robert Griffin III suffered a knee injury, and earned a half of playing time last season against Texas Tech that cost him his redshirt season.
8. Steele Jantz, Iowa State (seven starts): Jantz got off to a strong start, but never figured out his very serious turnover issues. That cost him his starting job in midseason, despite three fourth-quarter comebacks to begin the 2011 season 3-0.
9. David Ash, Texas (six starts): Ash was the fourth-string QB last summer, but when Garrett Gilbert and Connor Wood transferred, it was up to him and Case McCoy to carry the load. By season's end, Ash had established himself as the future at the position, at least immediately, but Texas' coaches haven't given him the official designation yet.
10. Jared Barnett, Iowa State (six starts): Barnett took over for Jantz in the middle of the season and engineered wins over Texas Tech, Kansas and a historic win over No. 2 Oklahoma State, but struggled with inconsistency late and opened up the competition to Jantz in a Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers. There's no assurance for either to be the starter after the spring.
11. Case McCoy, Texas (five starts): McCoy's gutsiest performance came in a comeback win over Texas A&M, but his lack of arm strength limited what the Longhorns could do in 2011. McCoy's got all the heart you could ask for, but his physical attributes bring about plenty of questions about his ability to carry the team over the course of his career.
12. Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State (zero starts): Lunt shocked even his own offensive coordinator by beating out junior Clint Chelf and redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh in the spring to earn the starting job. He still has to validate that spot in the fall, but Lunt is in a class of his own at the bottom of the Big 12 when it comes to experience. He's a big, NFL-sized QB with a big arm, though. Can his mind catch up fast enough to help the Cowboys defend a Big 12 title?
We're moving on in our series on the Big 12 Blog pegging the single player each team in the Big 12 can't afford to lose. He's also the player that will be most responsible for the team's ultimate success.
Next up, the TCU Horned Frogs. Find more indispensable players here.
Most indispensable player(s): QB Casey Pachall
2011 stats: 228-of-343 (66.5 percent) for 2,921 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT. 51 yards rushing, 2 TD
Why TCU can't afford to lose him: Pachall didn't put up huge stats as a first-year starter and replacement for Andy Dalton, but he was really good and had three backs on his team that each had at least 100 carries. That limits his attempts. If TCU had been in the Big 12 last season, Pachall would have been seventh in the Big 12 in attempts. TCU's balance last season was astounding. He would have been fourth in completion percentage and second in yards per attempt.
TCU's backs are deep. Losing one wouldn't be a problem. It has three solid receivers and another in LaDarius Brown who could be a big player in the offense. That eliminates them from "most indispensable." The defense should be OK, but its top talent, Tanner Brock, is already gone.
That leaves Pachall, who might have been more valuable than all of them anyway. Sophomore Matt Brown and Trevone Boykin have almost no experience, and Pachall has showed lots of upside. His talent doesn't show up in the stat sheet, but it makes defenses do a whole lot more than respect the pass. Without Pachall, TCU's rushing attack is nowhere near as effective. TCU won't be rolling over opponents in the Big 12, and Pachall will be forced to throw the ball a whole lot more in high-scoring games and no off weeks like TCU encountered in the Mountain West. Against Boise State, Pachall proved he's capable of big numbers, throwing for 473 yards and five touchdowns to just one pick.
He may need more of those kinds of days for TCU to succeed in 2012. And for TCU to succeed in 2012, there's no doubt they need Pachall more than any other player on the roster.
Next up, the TCU Horned Frogs. Find more indispensable players here.
Most indispensable player(s): QB Casey Pachall
2011 stats: 228-of-343 (66.5 percent) for 2,921 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT. 51 yards rushing, 2 TD
Why TCU can't afford to lose him: Pachall didn't put up huge stats as a first-year starter and replacement for Andy Dalton, but he was really good and had three backs on his team that each had at least 100 carries. That limits his attempts. If TCU had been in the Big 12 last season, Pachall would have been seventh in the Big 12 in attempts. TCU's balance last season was astounding. He would have been fourth in completion percentage and second in yards per attempt.
TCU's backs are deep. Losing one wouldn't be a problem. It has three solid receivers and another in LaDarius Brown who could be a big player in the offense. That eliminates them from "most indispensable." The defense should be OK, but its top talent, Tanner Brock, is already gone.
That leaves Pachall, who might have been more valuable than all of them anyway. Sophomore Matt Brown and Trevone Boykin have almost no experience, and Pachall has showed lots of upside. His talent doesn't show up in the stat sheet, but it makes defenses do a whole lot more than respect the pass. Without Pachall, TCU's rushing attack is nowhere near as effective. TCU won't be rolling over opponents in the Big 12, and Pachall will be forced to throw the ball a whole lot more in high-scoring games and no off weeks like TCU encountered in the Mountain West. Against Boise State, Pachall proved he's capable of big numbers, throwing for 473 yards and five touchdowns to just one pick.
He may need more of those kinds of days for TCU to succeed in 2012. And for TCU to succeed in 2012, there's no doubt they need Pachall more than any other player on the roster.
2011 overall record: 11-2
2011 conference record: 7-0
Returning starters: offense: 6; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 0
Top returners
QB Casey Pachall, RB Waymon James, DL Stansly Maponga, RB Ed Wesley, RB Matthew Tucker, WR Josh Boyce, LB Kenny Cain, DB Jason Verrett
Key losses
LB Tank Carder, LB Tanner Brock, S Tekerrein Cuba, S Johnny Fobbs, WR Antoine Hicks, S Devin Johnson
2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Waymon James* (875 yards)
Passing: Casey Pachall* (2,921 yards)
Receiving: Josh Boyce* (998 yards)
Tackles: Kenny Cain*(72)
Sacks: Stansly Maponga* (9)
Interceptions: Tank Carder, Kris Gardner, Greg McCoy (2, none return)
Spring answers
1. Filling a hole at linebacker: TCU was ready to lose Tank Carder, but the loss of Tanner Brock was unexpected. Thus, TCU entered spring with big questions at linebacker. Danny Heiss and Joel Hasley have stepped in to help fortify a position with a lot to prove in 2012. TCU has a feel for who its guys will be, but are those guys good enough?
2. Beware of the TCU receivers: TCU already felt good about Josh Boyce and Skye Dawson after 2011, but sophomore Brandon Carter is bigger and better this spring. LaDarius Brown may join the fold as a big factor, though. It's not impossible for him to become one of the team's best targets. Casey Pachall has to love adding a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder to his targets, and freshman Kolby Listenbee proved he can contribute right away after enrolling early this spring. He'll play.
3. A change in identity: There's no doubt TCU has big questions on defense, especially at linebacker and in the secondary. But offensively? The Horned Frogs have to shore up the offensive line, but its skill-position players are as deep and as talented as any in the Big 12. It's not often that offense has to carry the load for a Gary Patterson team, but it looks like that'll be the case this year.
Fall questions
1. How will TCU handle the jump? Complain about the question all you want, Frogs. It's not that anyone's beating it into the ground, it's that TCU hasn't had a chance to answer it. Fact: The Big 12 will be much more difficult than the Mountain West Conference. TCU brings back a good amount of talent that's built to have success in the Big 12 immediately. Can they do it, though? I'm betting yes, that TCU will flirt with double-digit wins.
2. Will the secondary, especially the safeties, improve? TCU's rise under Gary Patterson has been marked by suffocating defense, but TCU slid to a finish outside the national top 30 in total defense last season after leading the nation in total defense in 2009 and 2010. The loss to Baylor personified those struggles more than any game all season. Patterson wasn't happy with his secondary this spring, either. The bad news: There are lots of Baylors in the Big 12. The good news: Safeties coach Chad Glasgow is back after serving as defensive coordinator at Texas Tech for one season.
3. Can TCU handle gut-punching defensive losses? The Horned Frogs suffered the biggest off-field scandal in the Big 12 this offseason when four players were arrested in a campus drug sting. That's a problem of its own off the field, but on the field, TCU still has to replace 2011 big contributors in Tanner Brock, Devin Johnson and D.J. Yendrey. How much will those losses hurt in the fall?
2011 conference record: 7-0
Returning starters: offense: 6; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 0
Top returners
QB Casey Pachall, RB Waymon James, DL Stansly Maponga, RB Ed Wesley, RB Matthew Tucker, WR Josh Boyce, LB Kenny Cain, DB Jason Verrett
Key losses
LB Tank Carder, LB Tanner Brock, S Tekerrein Cuba, S Johnny Fobbs, WR Antoine Hicks, S Devin Johnson
2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Waymon James* (875 yards)
Passing: Casey Pachall* (2,921 yards)
Receiving: Josh Boyce* (998 yards)
Tackles: Kenny Cain*(72)
Sacks: Stansly Maponga* (9)
Interceptions: Tank Carder, Kris Gardner, Greg McCoy (2, none return)
Spring answers
1. Filling a hole at linebacker: TCU was ready to lose Tank Carder, but the loss of Tanner Brock was unexpected. Thus, TCU entered spring with big questions at linebacker. Danny Heiss and Joel Hasley have stepped in to help fortify a position with a lot to prove in 2012. TCU has a feel for who its guys will be, but are those guys good enough?
2. Beware of the TCU receivers: TCU already felt good about Josh Boyce and Skye Dawson after 2011, but sophomore Brandon Carter is bigger and better this spring. LaDarius Brown may join the fold as a big factor, though. It's not impossible for him to become one of the team's best targets. Casey Pachall has to love adding a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder to his targets, and freshman Kolby Listenbee proved he can contribute right away after enrolling early this spring. He'll play.
3. A change in identity: There's no doubt TCU has big questions on defense, especially at linebacker and in the secondary. But offensively? The Horned Frogs have to shore up the offensive line, but its skill-position players are as deep and as talented as any in the Big 12. It's not often that offense has to carry the load for a Gary Patterson team, but it looks like that'll be the case this year.
Fall questions
1. How will TCU handle the jump? Complain about the question all you want, Frogs. It's not that anyone's beating it into the ground, it's that TCU hasn't had a chance to answer it. Fact: The Big 12 will be much more difficult than the Mountain West Conference. TCU brings back a good amount of talent that's built to have success in the Big 12 immediately. Can they do it, though? I'm betting yes, that TCU will flirt with double-digit wins.
2. Will the secondary, especially the safeties, improve? TCU's rise under Gary Patterson has been marked by suffocating defense, but TCU slid to a finish outside the national top 30 in total defense last season after leading the nation in total defense in 2009 and 2010. The loss to Baylor personified those struggles more than any game all season. Patterson wasn't happy with his secondary this spring, either. The bad news: There are lots of Baylors in the Big 12. The good news: Safeties coach Chad Glasgow is back after serving as defensive coordinator at Texas Tech for one season.
3. Can TCU handle gut-punching defensive losses? The Horned Frogs suffered the biggest off-field scandal in the Big 12 this offseason when four players were arrested in a campus drug sting. That's a problem of its own off the field, but on the field, TCU still has to replace 2011 big contributors in Tanner Brock, Devin Johnson and D.J. Yendrey. How much will those losses hurt in the fall?
The spring is nearing its end with just a little over a week remaining for some.
Oklahoma State and West Virginia will wrap up their spring practices this weekend. Until then, it's time to break down where we stand in the quarterback competitions around the league.
Baylor: Bears coach Art Briles said it was Nick Florence's job to lose entering the spring, and Florence did nothing to let Briles down. Instead, he seized the job ahead of talented backup Bryce Petty, who has a bright future ahead of himself. Florence gave up his redshirt last season by playing the second half against Texas Tech, but he'll try to make his senior season count. For now, this is his team.
Iowa State: Nothing's been settled after Iowa State's spring game last Saturday. Steele Jantz got back into the race when Jared Barnett struggled in the bowl game, and the competition was too close to call at the end of spring. ISU coach Paul Rhoads even said redshirt freshman Sam Richardson isn't out of the race. Former QB Jerome Tiller is, though. He was in the four-man competition last spring, which Jantz eventually won, but missed the season because of academic issues. He's a receiver now, and doing well at the position.
Kansas: Charlie Weis brought in his guy, Dayne Crist, from Notre Dame, and last year's starter, Jordan Webb, transferred. Crist has entrenched himself as the starter midway through spring practice, which ends with the spring game on April 28. BYU transfer Jake Heaps is taking reps with the second team now, but he'll be phased out in the fall while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring.
Kansas State: Collin Klein is still developing as a passer, but he is K-State's offense. Moving on ...
Oklahoma: Landry Jones returned for his senior season, but with a healthy set of running backs, the Belldozer, a power formation named after big-bodied backup Blake Bell, may be phased out this season. Bell, though, showcased his arm in the spring game and outperformed the older Drew Allen. The backup QB race should be interesting to watch this fall.
Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy really wanted to name a starter by the end of spring, but it doesn't look likely to happen. No quarterback has established any distance, but they'll have a huge chance in Saturday's spring game. For now, true freshman Wes Lunt is still in the race, though dual-threat man J.W. Walsh may be the favorite ahead of junior Clint Chelf, who has some game experience the past two seasons. This is the league's best race, but also its most difficult to predict. Just about anything could happen.
Texas: Coach Mack Brown isn't making anything official, but sophomore David Ash was getting nearly all the first-team reps in the spring, ahead of Case McCoy. There's no official title yet, but there would be major shock if anyone but Ash starts the season opener. Now, if Ash struggles...
TCU: Casey Pachall had a great first year, and brings back his top three targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter. The sky is the limit for Pachall.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' staff liked what Seth Doege did as a first-year starter, but the defense and injuries to his offense put too much strain on him in 2011. He'll look a lot better if his receivers and running backs can stay healthy.
West Virginia: Geno Smith may be the league's best quarterback, and coach Dana Holgorsen can't quit calling him "special." That's not to say he should. It could be a special season for him and the Mountaineers as they join the Big 12.
Oklahoma State and West Virginia will wrap up their spring practices this weekend. Until then, it's time to break down where we stand in the quarterback competitions around the league.
Baylor: Bears coach Art Briles said it was Nick Florence's job to lose entering the spring, and Florence did nothing to let Briles down. Instead, he seized the job ahead of talented backup Bryce Petty, who has a bright future ahead of himself. Florence gave up his redshirt last season by playing the second half against Texas Tech, but he'll try to make his senior season count. For now, this is his team.
Iowa State: Nothing's been settled after Iowa State's spring game last Saturday. Steele Jantz got back into the race when Jared Barnett struggled in the bowl game, and the competition was too close to call at the end of spring. ISU coach Paul Rhoads even said redshirt freshman Sam Richardson isn't out of the race. Former QB Jerome Tiller is, though. He was in the four-man competition last spring, which Jantz eventually won, but missed the season because of academic issues. He's a receiver now, and doing well at the position.
Kansas: Charlie Weis brought in his guy, Dayne Crist, from Notre Dame, and last year's starter, Jordan Webb, transferred. Crist has entrenched himself as the starter midway through spring practice, which ends with the spring game on April 28. BYU transfer Jake Heaps is taking reps with the second team now, but he'll be phased out in the fall while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring.
Kansas State: Collin Klein is still developing as a passer, but he is K-State's offense. Moving on ...
Oklahoma: Landry Jones returned for his senior season, but with a healthy set of running backs, the Belldozer, a power formation named after big-bodied backup Blake Bell, may be phased out this season. Bell, though, showcased his arm in the spring game and outperformed the older Drew Allen. The backup QB race should be interesting to watch this fall.
Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy really wanted to name a starter by the end of spring, but it doesn't look likely to happen. No quarterback has established any distance, but they'll have a huge chance in Saturday's spring game. For now, true freshman Wes Lunt is still in the race, though dual-threat man J.W. Walsh may be the favorite ahead of junior Clint Chelf, who has some game experience the past two seasons. This is the league's best race, but also its most difficult to predict. Just about anything could happen.
Texas: Coach Mack Brown isn't making anything official, but sophomore David Ash was getting nearly all the first-team reps in the spring, ahead of Case McCoy. There's no official title yet, but there would be major shock if anyone but Ash starts the season opener. Now, if Ash struggles...
TCU: Casey Pachall had a great first year, and brings back his top three targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter. The sky is the limit for Pachall.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' staff liked what Seth Doege did as a first-year starter, but the defense and injuries to his offense put too much strain on him in 2011. He'll look a lot better if his receivers and running backs can stay healthy.
West Virginia: Geno Smith may be the league's best quarterback, and coach Dana Holgorsen can't quit calling him "special." That's not to say he should. It could be a special season for him and the Mountaineers as they join the Big 12.
Last season, Oklahoma or Texas failed to win the Big 12 for the first time since 2003.
How?
Well, Oklahoma State had a little something to do with it, but so did two huge positions in need of improvement.
Both cracked colleague Travis Haney's list of positions with the potential for huge growth
in 2012.
First up, the Texas quarterbacks.
Second, Haney looks at the Oklahoma defensive backs, who are under new direction this year with Mike Stoops.
It's tough to know exactly what the problem for Oklahoma was. The Sooners could be dominant at times. They have the talent and athleticism. Most importantly, they have lots of experience. For OU, it's a matter of just doing it. Stoops will try to make it happen, but big improvement could result in a big, big year for the Sooners.
A national title, perhaps?
How?
Well, Oklahoma State had a little something to do with it, but so did two huge positions in need of improvement.
Both cracked colleague Travis Haney's list of positions with the potential for huge growth
in 2012.
First up, the Texas quarterbacks.
Texas seemed to indicate it would like for the more athletic [David] Ash to be the guy, even as a freshman, but he could not sustain enough consistency to win the job outright. And, really, Ash simply could not take care of the ball. He threw an interception every 21.8 passes. (The most efficient quarterback in 2011, Wisconsin's Russell Wilson, threw one every 77.3 throws.My take: I totally agree with this one. How much Ash improves is the big question. An offseason full of first-team reps will be extremely valuable -- he got almost none last year before being thrust into the role of starter as a true freshman. During spring camp last year, he was a fourth-stringer. He could get better, but Ash has never really looked the part of future superstar to me. Fortunately for the Longhorns, the team is good enough everywhere else it doesn't need him to be a superstar. If he's solid, but able to get the ball to Texas' playmakers like Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis, the Longhorns will be a factor in the Big 12 race.
[Case] McCoy was more consistent in November, but no one was mistaking him for his older brother in terms of arm strength and accuracy. He did put up a 356-yard passing day in the loss to Baylor at the end of the regular season, but McCoy then gave way to Ash for the bowl victory against Cal. It was a yo-yo effect all season for the Horns, who would like to see one of the two emerge -- but still haven't really through spring ball.
Second, Haney looks at the Oklahoma defensive backs, who are under new direction this year with Mike Stoops.
Stoops has a variety of options for the different spots in the defensive backfield. Already, he has shifted Tony Jefferson from sam linebacker to free safety, his more natural position, and moved Javon Harris from free to strong safety. Harris was the goat in several games, including the Baylor debacle. Jefferson might be the most underrated defensive player in the Big 12 because he has yet to settle into one, specific position.My take: The league's best quarterbacks gave the Sooners all kinds of trouble last year, and it won't be much easier this year. Yeah, Brandon Weeden and Robert Griffin III are gone, but TCU's Casey Pachall and West Virginia's Geno Smith are the new guys very capable of tearing up anybody's secondary.
Another important piece of the OU defense, Aaron Colvin, missed the spring after minor shoulder surgery. He can play any of the secondary spots, again freeing up Mike Stoops to mix and match to find a solution for the big-play disease.
It's tough to know exactly what the problem for Oklahoma was. The Sooners could be dominant at times. They have the talent and athleticism. Most importantly, they have lots of experience. For OU, it's a matter of just doing it. Stoops will try to make it happen, but big improvement could result in a big, big year for the Sooners.
A national title, perhaps?
Heisman Pundit is exactly that. Chris Huston knows his stuff about the Heisman, and famously penned The 10 Heismandments, which outline what has to happen for players to earn the greatest individual honor in sports.
He looked at his top 10 candidates from the Big 12, ranking them from top to bottom.
Topping the list?
West Virginia's Geno Smith. Huston pegged Oklahoma's Landry Jones as the No. 3 candidate, but had a moderate surprise at No. 2 with Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein on his list of "Contenders"
"Klein was probably the toughest player in college football last year, pound for pound," wrote Huston. "I can’t remember the last time I saw a player improve as much as Klein did between his sophomore and junior seasons."
No arguments here. The guy carried the ball 317 times, 67 more times than anybody else in the Big 12 and third-most in the nation. He took a beating every week and kept improving, kept running and kept growing as a passer.
I might have Jones ahead of both Klein and Smith, but it's definitely close. Klein needs wins and production to gain some more name recognition, but he's everything to Kansas State's offense.
I liked Huston's picks as the three dark horses, too.
TCU quarterback Casey Pachall topped that list, ahead of running back Joseph Randle at Oklahoma State and receiver Tavon Austin from West Virginia.
I think it'll be tough for Austin to legitimately win as a receiver, but if OSU and TCU start racking up wins by the bushelful, Randle will make an appearance on the short list, as will Pachall, who has three outstanding targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter.
Check out Huston's blog for his list of longshots, which includes four boys in burnt orange from Texas.
He looked at his top 10 candidates from the Big 12, ranking them from top to bottom.
Topping the list?
West Virginia's Geno Smith. Huston pegged Oklahoma's Landry Jones as the No. 3 candidate, but had a moderate surprise at No. 2 with Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein on his list of "Contenders"
"Klein was probably the toughest player in college football last year, pound for pound," wrote Huston. "I can’t remember the last time I saw a player improve as much as Klein did between his sophomore and junior seasons."
No arguments here. The guy carried the ball 317 times, 67 more times than anybody else in the Big 12 and third-most in the nation. He took a beating every week and kept improving, kept running and kept growing as a passer.
I might have Jones ahead of both Klein and Smith, but it's definitely close. Klein needs wins and production to gain some more name recognition, but he's everything to Kansas State's offense.
I liked Huston's picks as the three dark horses, too.
TCU quarterback Casey Pachall topped that list, ahead of running back Joseph Randle at Oklahoma State and receiver Tavon Austin from West Virginia.
I think it'll be tough for Austin to legitimately win as a receiver, but if OSU and TCU start racking up wins by the bushelful, Randle will make an appearance on the short list, as will Pachall, who has three outstanding targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter.
Check out Huston's blog for his list of longshots, which includes four boys in burnt orange from Texas.
Time to continue our series breaking down each team's best and worst positions entering the 2012 season. TCU is up next.
More spring superlatives:
Strongest position: Running back
Simply put, this position is pretty absurd for TCU. The Horned Frogs have by far the deepest set of running backs in the league. Ed Wesley, Waymon James and Matthew Tucker all topped 700 yards rushing but each got at least 120 carries and not more than 123. That's crazy balance.
The Horned Frogs may not have a gamebreaker in the unit, and they put those numbers up in the Mountain West, but it's still impressive. Casey Pachall spearheads a great passing attack, but the Horned Frogs are more than capable of getting physical on the ground. Balance has been a benchmark of Gary Patterson's program, and it'll be especially true this year. Nobody in the Big 12 can boast anything close to three 700-yard rushers coming back, and TCU will use them all liberally.
Weakest position: Safety
TCU's safeties outpace the linebackers here, but after Tanner Brock got mixed up in the campus drug sting, there's a big question mark at both positions. Tank Carder was a stalwart at the position for the past three seasons, including the Rose Bowl win in 2010, but he's gone now. Brock missed 2011 with an injury, but the former All-American was expected back. He almost certainly will not return.
Safeties Tekerrein Cuba and Johnny Fobbs are both gone, and the position was already a trouble spot last year. You saw plenty of it in the loss to Baylor that opened the season. Devin Johnson, a likely starter this season, was also arrested in the drug sting and barring a stunning turn of events, won't be with the team this year. Now, it's up to sophomores Sam Carter, Jonathan Anderson and juniors Elisha Olabode and Trent Thomas to fill the void.
The good news? Coach Chad Glasgow is back to coach them after a year coordinating the defense at Texas Tech. The Horned Frogs were the nation's leader in total defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with Glasgow. That'll change in their new home in the Big 12, but hopes are still high.
More spring superlatives:
Strongest position: Running back
Simply put, this position is pretty absurd for TCU. The Horned Frogs have by far the deepest set of running backs in the league. Ed Wesley, Waymon James and Matthew Tucker all topped 700 yards rushing but each got at least 120 carries and not more than 123. That's crazy balance.
The Horned Frogs may not have a gamebreaker in the unit, and they put those numbers up in the Mountain West, but it's still impressive. Casey Pachall spearheads a great passing attack, but the Horned Frogs are more than capable of getting physical on the ground. Balance has been a benchmark of Gary Patterson's program, and it'll be especially true this year. Nobody in the Big 12 can boast anything close to three 700-yard rushers coming back, and TCU will use them all liberally.
Weakest position: Safety
TCU's safeties outpace the linebackers here, but after Tanner Brock got mixed up in the campus drug sting, there's a big question mark at both positions. Tank Carder was a stalwart at the position for the past three seasons, including the Rose Bowl win in 2010, but he's gone now. Brock missed 2011 with an injury, but the former All-American was expected back. He almost certainly will not return.
Safeties Tekerrein Cuba and Johnny Fobbs are both gone, and the position was already a trouble spot last year. You saw plenty of it in the loss to Baylor that opened the season. Devin Johnson, a likely starter this season, was also arrested in the drug sting and barring a stunning turn of events, won't be with the team this year. Now, it's up to sophomores Sam Carter, Jonathan Anderson and juniors Elisha Olabode and Trent Thomas to fill the void.
The good news? Coach Chad Glasgow is back to coach them after a year coordinating the defense at Texas Tech. The Horned Frogs were the nation's leader in total defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with Glasgow. That'll change in their new home in the Big 12, but hopes are still high.
We wrapped up our list of the Big 12's top 25 players in 2012 last week, but it's time to look ahead.
Who was way off this year's list that could crack it in 2013? Here's a few names.
Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas: Diggs' fellow corner, Carrington Byndom, nearly made this year's list, and perhaps should have. Next year, though, Diggs could make both of UT's cornerbacks among the league's best. As a true freshman, Diggs led the team in interceptions, with four.
Josh Boyce, WR, TCU: Boyce (and his quarterback, Casey Pachall) would have been easy selections this year, but they weren't in the Big 12. They will be in 2012. Boyce caught 61 balls for 998 yards and nine scores, and figures to be as productive next year.
Quarty McBackerson, QB, Oklahoma State: Call this a placeholder. Brandon Weeden is gone, but Oklahoma State has a great offensive line and lots of weapons around whoever wins the Cowboys' spring quarterback derby. Look for Clint Chelf, Wes Lunt or J.W. Walsh to make this list next year.
Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas: Brown led the Longhorns in rushing as a true freshman, but was hampered by injury and the team limited his touches early in the season. There won't be any restrictions this year, and if he stays healthy, he could be a 1,000-yard back, even with Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray sharing carries.
Darrin Moore, WR, Texas Tech: If you read this blog, you know how big of a Moore proponent I am. I see Biletnikoff Award potential in him. Tech needs a new top receiver, and if Moore stays healthy, don't rule out a 1,500-yard season for the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder.
Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor: Williams wasn't too far off this year, but he didn't make our honorable mention. He had a quiet 900-yard season this year, but without Kendall Wright, Williams is the top target for new quarterback Nick Florence.
Corey Nelson, LB, Oklahoma: Nelson had a somewhat underwhelming year, but without Travis Lewis' leadership, Nelson could emerge as a breakout defensive player this fall.
Who was way off this year's list that could crack it in 2013? Here's a few names.
Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas: Diggs' fellow corner, Carrington Byndom, nearly made this year's list, and perhaps should have. Next year, though, Diggs could make both of UT's cornerbacks among the league's best. As a true freshman, Diggs led the team in interceptions, with four.
Josh Boyce, WR, TCU: Boyce (and his quarterback, Casey Pachall) would have been easy selections this year, but they weren't in the Big 12. They will be in 2012. Boyce caught 61 balls for 998 yards and nine scores, and figures to be as productive next year.
Quarty McBackerson, QB, Oklahoma State: Call this a placeholder. Brandon Weeden is gone, but Oklahoma State has a great offensive line and lots of weapons around whoever wins the Cowboys' spring quarterback derby. Look for Clint Chelf, Wes Lunt or J.W. Walsh to make this list next year.
Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas: Brown led the Longhorns in rushing as a true freshman, but was hampered by injury and the team limited his touches early in the season. There won't be any restrictions this year, and if he stays healthy, he could be a 1,000-yard back, even with Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray sharing carries.
Darrin Moore, WR, Texas Tech: If you read this blog, you know how big of a Moore proponent I am. I see Biletnikoff Award potential in him. Tech needs a new top receiver, and if Moore stays healthy, don't rule out a 1,500-yard season for the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder.
Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor: Williams wasn't too far off this year, but he didn't make our honorable mention. He had a quiet 900-yard season this year, but without Kendall Wright, Williams is the top target for new quarterback Nick Florence.
Corey Nelson, LB, Oklahoma: Nelson had a somewhat underwhelming year, but without Travis Lewis' leadership, Nelson could emerge as a breakout defensive player this fall.
Mailbag: TCU facilities, Geno vs. Weeden
March, 16, 2012
Mar 16
4:00
PM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
Thanks for all the emails this week, everybody. Here's where you can reach me.
Dr. John in St. Mary's, Kan., wrote: So if Kstate sucks next year as bad as tech and KU will you then find time to maybe write or even find an article on them? Just irritates me how much ink is spent on the bottom dwellers and really the only stuff about KSU are the "collective"articles that are common to every team.(where to eat, what to expect next year). Like your writing style, and your tone, just wish some of it went to KSU. emaw!
David Ubben: I've heard a lot of this so far this spring, and let me clarify: the teams that are practicing right now are obviously going to get more coverage on the blog. We'll get to the other teams when they kick off the spring. So, no worries Kansas State fans.
The Wildcats don't even start spring practice until April 4. Kansas kicks off on March 27, and Iowa State will get started next month. The rest of the Big 12 is practicing, and as such, will produce some news worth updating on the blog.
Tech was the first team in the Big 12 to start practicing, and KU has obviously been a fascinating program this offseason, with lots of big names coming and a few lesser, but notable names leaving. Kansas State has been relatively static this offseason.
Marlon Figueroa in Houston, Texas, wrote: Hi David,I'm glad you had an opportunity to visit TCU's facilities. As a horned frog reading this article, I have a few concerns. In the article you never took a strong position about your opinion as to how TCU stacks up to other Big 12 teams. I think it would be nice to actually mention if TCU is or isn't at the level of other teams. If something is not up to par, can you specify exactly what you mean. I like the article, I just think is very vague. I want to know where we are better, up to par, and below standards. Please don't take this as a negative comment, I'm just truly interested in knowing how we compare to our new conference rivals. Thanks!
DU: Thanks, Marlon. Maybe I didn't dwell on it, but I broached the subject in the first sentence. I think TCU stacks up to the rest of the Big 12 "quite well." To break that down: TCU's indoor facility will be one of the best in the league. With a brand-new locker room opening this summer, surely that will be among the best, but I doubt it will top Texas, OU or Oklahoma State, who have three of the best. We'll see, though. Stadium size isn't everything, but it definitely is something. TCU will have the smallest stadium in the Big 12, but one of the nicest, if not the nicest. I'm planning on touring the stadium once it's done before the season, so we'll see then. Building it bigger for TCU wouldn't be wise. It's what the Horned Frogs need, but it's still small.
Its weight room was large and nice, not anything worse than you'll see in the Big 12, but not much better. The same with the outdoor practice fields. The coaches offices -- which I don't think are all that important -- were probably in the bottom half of the Big 12.
That's how I saw it. Hope that helps.
Chef in Austin, Texas, wrote: David,How many yards do Big 12 champs usually have to rack up to win the conference? If my 'horns can get 2000 yards out of some combination of Brown/Bergeron/Gray (not hard to imagine) and another 2000 out of Shipley/Davis/Goodwin (maybe a little harder to imagine), is that enough?
DU: Probably not, Chef. We'll see, though. Here's what the recent Big 12 champions have done in total yardage:
So, there you have it. It's pretty clear that 4,000 yards would be nowhere near enough. Kansas State had 4,381 yards last season, and finished ninth in the Big 12 in total offense. The Wildcats are in many ways the Big 12 antithesis, and I've written a lot about their success in close games, too. So, take their 10-win season for what it's worth.
Maybe a team like Kansas State or, if Texas produces only about 4,000 yards, the Longhorns, could break the mold. But like we've said all along, you win in this league with offense.
Michael in Morgantown, W. Va., wrote: I thought it was crazy when a WVU fan was asking who would you make the number 1 player in the Big 12 players list had you made the list with WVU included. RGIII over Geno all the way but I was surprised when you said you would take Weeden over Geno hands down. What exactly did Weeden do that Geno didn't that makes you come to that conclusion?
DU: Let me preface this by saying I obviously didn't get to watch Geno on a week-to-week basis, and I saw Weeden in person seven times last season. I was paying attention to Geno, but obviously not watching entire games.
That said, Weeden delivered a level of consistency last season that few others in college football duplicated. Certainly not Geno. Every easy throw seemed like it was on the money every time for Weeden, who completed 72.3 percent of his passes to Smith's 65.8.
Geno took better care of the ball, but in big games, Weeden was great and took care of it when it mattered (with the one exception of the double-overtime throw against Iowa State). Weeden averaged a full yard better per attempt than Geno, and he didn't have any players on his team with the ability to turn short throws into big plays like Smith had in Tavon Austin. Weeden and Justin Blackmon completed the fade route better than anybody in college football, and Weeden was truly great in every single game, including the win against Texas, who I thought had an argument as the best pass defense in football last year.
If Quinn Sharp makes one kick in Ames, Weeden has the Heisman right now. It was that close. You can't say that with Geno.
Don't mistake this for criticism of Smith. He's a great player. But last season, there's no doubt in my mind that Weeden was better.
Marcel in Austin, Texas wrote: Hey David, which players do you think have a shot at winning the Heisman in the Big 12.
DU: Oklahoma's Landry Jones is at the top of the list. He obviously has question marks about his ability to play at a Heisman-caliber level for 12 games, but he's got loads of experience, a great team behind him, big-time name recognition, and a top-10 ranking to begin the season. Great combo.
TCU and WVU quarterbacks Casey Pachall and Geno Smith have decent shots, but they've got to win big in their new league. If Collin Klein duplicates his production on the ground and win total, he could be in the conversation. If Kansas State wins 11 or 12 games, he could win it. Tavon Austin might be a guy to keep an eye on, but he's going to have to be a crazy playmaker in special teams and on offense to make it happen.
Texas' backs will split too many carries to let any of them sniff the Heisman, plus I don't see the Horns winning enough games. That's pretty much it this year.
Dr. John in St. Mary's, Kan., wrote: So if Kstate sucks next year as bad as tech and KU will you then find time to maybe write or even find an article on them? Just irritates me how much ink is spent on the bottom dwellers and really the only stuff about KSU are the "collective"articles that are common to every team.(where to eat, what to expect next year). Like your writing style, and your tone, just wish some of it went to KSU. emaw!
David Ubben: I've heard a lot of this so far this spring, and let me clarify: the teams that are practicing right now are obviously going to get more coverage on the blog. We'll get to the other teams when they kick off the spring. So, no worries Kansas State fans.
The Wildcats don't even start spring practice until April 4. Kansas kicks off on March 27, and Iowa State will get started next month. The rest of the Big 12 is practicing, and as such, will produce some news worth updating on the blog.
Tech was the first team in the Big 12 to start practicing, and KU has obviously been a fascinating program this offseason, with lots of big names coming and a few lesser, but notable names leaving. Kansas State has been relatively static this offseason.
Marlon Figueroa in Houston, Texas, wrote: Hi David,I'm glad you had an opportunity to visit TCU's facilities. As a horned frog reading this article, I have a few concerns. In the article you never took a strong position about your opinion as to how TCU stacks up to other Big 12 teams. I think it would be nice to actually mention if TCU is or isn't at the level of other teams. If something is not up to par, can you specify exactly what you mean. I like the article, I just think is very vague. I want to know where we are better, up to par, and below standards. Please don't take this as a negative comment, I'm just truly interested in knowing how we compare to our new conference rivals. Thanks!
DU: Thanks, Marlon. Maybe I didn't dwell on it, but I broached the subject in the first sentence. I think TCU stacks up to the rest of the Big 12 "quite well." To break that down: TCU's indoor facility will be one of the best in the league. With a brand-new locker room opening this summer, surely that will be among the best, but I doubt it will top Texas, OU or Oklahoma State, who have three of the best. We'll see, though. Stadium size isn't everything, but it definitely is something. TCU will have the smallest stadium in the Big 12, but one of the nicest, if not the nicest. I'm planning on touring the stadium once it's done before the season, so we'll see then. Building it bigger for TCU wouldn't be wise. It's what the Horned Frogs need, but it's still small.
Its weight room was large and nice, not anything worse than you'll see in the Big 12, but not much better. The same with the outdoor practice fields. The coaches offices -- which I don't think are all that important -- were probably in the bottom half of the Big 12.
That's how I saw it. Hope that helps.
Chef in Austin, Texas, wrote: David,How many yards do Big 12 champs usually have to rack up to win the conference? If my 'horns can get 2000 yards out of some combination of Brown/Bergeron/Gray (not hard to imagine) and another 2000 out of Shipley/Davis/Goodwin (maybe a little harder to imagine), is that enough?
DU: Probably not, Chef. We'll see, though. Here's what the recent Big 12 champions have done in total yardage:
- 2011 Oklahoma State: 7,148 yards
- 2010 Oklahoma: 6,749 yards
- 2009 Texas: 5,897 yards
- 2008 Oklahoma: 7,670 yards
- 2007 Oklahoma: 6,285 yards
So, there you have it. It's pretty clear that 4,000 yards would be nowhere near enough. Kansas State had 4,381 yards last season, and finished ninth in the Big 12 in total offense. The Wildcats are in many ways the Big 12 antithesis, and I've written a lot about their success in close games, too. So, take their 10-win season for what it's worth.
Maybe a team like Kansas State or, if Texas produces only about 4,000 yards, the Longhorns, could break the mold. But like we've said all along, you win in this league with offense.
Michael in Morgantown, W. Va., wrote: I thought it was crazy when a WVU fan was asking who would you make the number 1 player in the Big 12 players list had you made the list with WVU included. RGIII over Geno all the way but I was surprised when you said you would take Weeden over Geno hands down. What exactly did Weeden do that Geno didn't that makes you come to that conclusion?
DU: Let me preface this by saying I obviously didn't get to watch Geno on a week-to-week basis, and I saw Weeden in person seven times last season. I was paying attention to Geno, but obviously not watching entire games.
That said, Weeden delivered a level of consistency last season that few others in college football duplicated. Certainly not Geno. Every easy throw seemed like it was on the money every time for Weeden, who completed 72.3 percent of his passes to Smith's 65.8.
Geno took better care of the ball, but in big games, Weeden was great and took care of it when it mattered (with the one exception of the double-overtime throw against Iowa State). Weeden averaged a full yard better per attempt than Geno, and he didn't have any players on his team with the ability to turn short throws into big plays like Smith had in Tavon Austin. Weeden and Justin Blackmon completed the fade route better than anybody in college football, and Weeden was truly great in every single game, including the win against Texas, who I thought had an argument as the best pass defense in football last year.
If Quinn Sharp makes one kick in Ames, Weeden has the Heisman right now. It was that close. You can't say that with Geno.
Don't mistake this for criticism of Smith. He's a great player. But last season, there's no doubt in my mind that Weeden was better.
Marcel in Austin, Texas wrote: Hey David, which players do you think have a shot at winning the Heisman in the Big 12.
DU: Oklahoma's Landry Jones is at the top of the list. He obviously has question marks about his ability to play at a Heisman-caliber level for 12 games, but he's got loads of experience, a great team behind him, big-time name recognition, and a top-10 ranking to begin the season. Great combo.
TCU and WVU quarterbacks Casey Pachall and Geno Smith have decent shots, but they've got to win big in their new league. If Collin Klein duplicates his production on the ground and win total, he could be in the conversation. If Kansas State wins 11 or 12 games, he could win it. Tavon Austin might be a guy to keep an eye on, but he's going to have to be a crazy playmaker in special teams and on offense to make it happen.
Texas' backs will split too many carries to let any of them sniff the Heisman, plus I don't see the Horns winning enough games. That's pretty much it this year.
Patterson prepping Frogs for Big 12 move
March, 14, 2012
Mar 14
9:00
AM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Early in Tuesday's practice under an overcast sky, a fitting anthem blared.
"You know where you are?" screeched Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. "You're in the jungle, baby."
Nevermind that the song's next line prophesied death for the newcomer. TCU is officially preparing to enter the Big 12.
Welcome to the jungle, indeed. Hope you brought a machete.
Preparations start now in the spring for Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs. As TCU transitions into an AQ conference, it must tackle the No. 1 criticism of any non-AQ team: depth.
"Twos and threes win championships. Everybody loses ones," Patterson said. "How do your twos and threes play?"
He's already undergoing his third conference move as he prepares for his 13th season as TCU head coach. The program moved from the WAC to Conference USA after Patterson's first season and from C-USA to the Mountain West in 2005.
Patterson already has every Big 12 game from 2011 for viewing on his home laptop.
"Instead of watching 'CSI: Miami,' I’m watching Oklahoma State," Patterson said. "That’s what you have to do. There’s a lot of preparation. It’s not like we’ve been playing these teams 7-8 years and you know what they do. You’ve got to start preparing right now."
The same is true on the recruiting trail, where TCU cracked the national top 25 with its latest class. The Horned Frogs could see those dividends multiply with its new home in one of college football's best conferences, where former Southwest Conference rivals Baylor, Texas Tech and Texas reside along with new foes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State from the former Big 8.
"We’ve always recruited to play in the Big 12, because we knew if we could recruit to play in the Big 12, we could have a chance to win in the Mountain West," Patterson said. "So, the only big difference is now we’re recruiting kids and people can’t say, 'Well, you’re not going to go to TCU because you’re not in the Big 12.' Well, now we are in the Big 12."
TCU looks ready to grow, and if prospects in the Metroplex don't want to come along? Well ...
"We're like the girl next door. If they're not careful in the Metroplex, pretty soon they are going to go three hours down the road," Patterson said. "They are going to grow up and we are going to grow up and be beautiful and they are going to wish they would have went out with us because somebody else is taking them to the prom."
Yeah, but it's not all boutonnieres and roses (or Rose Bowls). Those recruiting inroads come with a price: a schedule that's likely to feature five preseason top-20 teams.
TCU can have its new stadium, undergoing a $164 million upgrade, including six $15 million suites 20 rows from the field (it will seat 45,000 when it's finished before the 2012 season). It can have its new locker room with pristine wood lining each player's space along with a cushy seat to park after long practices.
That doesn't change the obvious truth.
"All that doesn’t make any difference if you don’t win," Patterson said. "So my goal is to grow up the best football team I can and win.
"That’s what we’re doing right now."
We'll find out in the fall if Patterson is succeeding, but he's got the pieces. His Horned Frogs return an all-conference quarterback in Casey Pachall and his top three targets, along with an outlandish three 700-yard rushers from last year's team.
The big job this spring is patching together a defense that took a step back in 2011. It fell on its face when three starters were arrested in a campus drug sting and have been consequently "separated" from the team until the legal process plays out.
"The thing I like best about this team is they competed hard but they still like each other," Patterson said. "But for two hours, you’ve gotta hate each other. You’ve gotta learn."
His team is learning, but the fall tests will be much more difficult.
Will TCU pass or fail?
"You know where you are?" screeched Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. "You're in the jungle, baby."
Nevermind that the song's next line prophesied death for the newcomer. TCU is officially preparing to enter the Big 12.
Welcome to the jungle, indeed. Hope you brought a machete.
Preparations start now in the spring for Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs. As TCU transitions into an AQ conference, it must tackle the No. 1 criticism of any non-AQ team: depth.
[+] Enlarge
Kevin Jairaj/US PresswireOne of the questions facing TCU coach Gary Patterson is if he has enough depth to compete in the Big 12.
Kevin Jairaj/US PresswireOne of the questions facing TCU coach Gary Patterson is if he has enough depth to compete in the Big 12.He's already undergoing his third conference move as he prepares for his 13th season as TCU head coach. The program moved from the WAC to Conference USA after Patterson's first season and from C-USA to the Mountain West in 2005.
Patterson already has every Big 12 game from 2011 for viewing on his home laptop.
"Instead of watching 'CSI: Miami,' I’m watching Oklahoma State," Patterson said. "That’s what you have to do. There’s a lot of preparation. It’s not like we’ve been playing these teams 7-8 years and you know what they do. You’ve got to start preparing right now."
The same is true on the recruiting trail, where TCU cracked the national top 25 with its latest class. The Horned Frogs could see those dividends multiply with its new home in one of college football's best conferences, where former Southwest Conference rivals Baylor, Texas Tech and Texas reside along with new foes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State from the former Big 8.
"We’ve always recruited to play in the Big 12, because we knew if we could recruit to play in the Big 12, we could have a chance to win in the Mountain West," Patterson said. "So, the only big difference is now we’re recruiting kids and people can’t say, 'Well, you’re not going to go to TCU because you’re not in the Big 12.' Well, now we are in the Big 12."
TCU looks ready to grow, and if prospects in the Metroplex don't want to come along? Well ...
"We're like the girl next door. If they're not careful in the Metroplex, pretty soon they are going to go three hours down the road," Patterson said. "They are going to grow up and we are going to grow up and be beautiful and they are going to wish they would have went out with us because somebody else is taking them to the prom."
Yeah, but it's not all boutonnieres and roses (or Rose Bowls). Those recruiting inroads come with a price: a schedule that's likely to feature five preseason top-20 teams.
TCU can have its new stadium, undergoing a $164 million upgrade, including six $15 million suites 20 rows from the field (it will seat 45,000 when it's finished before the 2012 season). It can have its new locker room with pristine wood lining each player's space along with a cushy seat to park after long practices.
That doesn't change the obvious truth.
"All that doesn’t make any difference if you don’t win," Patterson said. "So my goal is to grow up the best football team I can and win.
"That’s what we’re doing right now."
We'll find out in the fall if Patterson is succeeding, but he's got the pieces. His Horned Frogs return an all-conference quarterback in Casey Pachall and his top three targets, along with an outlandish three 700-yard rushers from last year's team.
The big job this spring is patching together a defense that took a step back in 2011. It fell on its face when three starters were arrested in a campus drug sting and have been consequently "separated" from the team until the legal process plays out.
"The thing I like best about this team is they competed hard but they still like each other," Patterson said. "But for two hours, you’ve gotta hate each other. You’ve gotta learn."
His team is learning, but the fall tests will be much more difficult.
Will TCU pass or fail?
Spring is already underway at three Big 12 schools (Texas, TCU, Texas Tech), but it's March today, and we're headed for full swing this month.
Here's what you can expect when it comes to quarterback competitions this fall. Each spot is ranked from most to least secure entering spring 2012.
FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS
1. Oklahoma State: This should be the best battle by far. Junior Clint Chelf is the elder statesman of the group, but redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh and early enrolling true freshman Wes Lunt were both much more highly recruited. Lunt hails from Illinois and Walsh from Denton, Texas, but Chelf, from nearby Enid, Okla., will try to hold off the younger guys to grab the reins of one of the most powerful passing offenses in the country.
2. Texas: The Longhorns didn't resolve much late in the season, but David Ash had the best finish, helping Texas win the Holiday Bowl. Case McCoy is back, too, though, and the coaches say the competition is still wide open. Early enrolling freshman Connor Brewer would like to crash the party, and he and Ash are more physically gifted passers, but McCoy made plenty of plays during the season. He'll be right there fighting, too.
TIME TO LOCK IT DOWN
3. Iowa State: Jared Barnett looked like the future of the program over the second half of the season, but struggled down the stretch and opened the door for senior Steele Jantz, who helped Iowa State start the season 3-0 before being benched for Barnett. It's probably Barnett's job, but he's got to earn it. If he doesn't improve, Jantz could take advantage.
4. Baylor: Nick Florence started nine games in 2009 with mixed results, but looked good in relief of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III in a win over Texas Tech. Coach Art Briles says it's Florence's job to lose to start the spring, but Bryce Petty will be looming during the spring, too.
5. Kansas: Last year's starter, Jordan Webb, has transferred, and ex-Golden Domer Dayne Crist is on campus and taking part in promotional videos for the program. He looks like the guy, but juco national champion Turner Baty is joining the team, too. Could Michael Cummings be a factor, too? Jake Heaps is waiting his turn until 2013 while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring from BYU.
FIX ALL THE LITTLE THINGS
6. Oklahoma: Hush, Sooner fans clamoring for Blake Bell. He's part of the Belldozer gadget formation that produced 13 rushing touchdowns in the final half of 2011. But it's exactly that, a gadget formation. If OU can run the ball between the tackles well next year, we may not even see much of it. He's not touching Landry Jones' spot, though. Jones enters 2011 as a legitimate Heisman contender.
7. Kansas State: Collin Klein is the guy at Kansas State, but he's still got to develop as a passer. We'll see what kind of growth he shows this offseason.
8. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' coaches were pleased with Seth Doege's performance in all but two games (Iowa State, Oklahoma State), but the defense gave him almost no chance to succeed. He's back this spring. Michael Brewer's development is encouraging, but it's highly unlikely we see any shift in the starter's status.
9. TCU: Casey Pachall threw for 25 touchdowns, seven picks and completed 66.5 percent of his passes. His top three targets return. When it comes to the QB spot, the spring is about preparing for a big year on offense at TCU.
10. West Virginia: Geno Smith makes WVU's offense go, and he'll be back for his senior year with big hopes in Morgantown. Smith threw for 4,385 yards and 31 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. Like Pachall, Smith's spring is about getting ready for a memorable Big 12 debut.
Here's what you can expect when it comes to quarterback competitions this fall. Each spot is ranked from most to least secure entering spring 2012.
FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS
1. Oklahoma State: This should be the best battle by far. Junior Clint Chelf is the elder statesman of the group, but redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh and early enrolling true freshman Wes Lunt were both much more highly recruited. Lunt hails from Illinois and Walsh from Denton, Texas, but Chelf, from nearby Enid, Okla., will try to hold off the younger guys to grab the reins of one of the most powerful passing offenses in the country.
2. Texas: The Longhorns didn't resolve much late in the season, but David Ash had the best finish, helping Texas win the Holiday Bowl. Case McCoy is back, too, though, and the coaches say the competition is still wide open. Early enrolling freshman Connor Brewer would like to crash the party, and he and Ash are more physically gifted passers, but McCoy made plenty of plays during the season. He'll be right there fighting, too.
TIME TO LOCK IT DOWN
3. Iowa State: Jared Barnett looked like the future of the program over the second half of the season, but struggled down the stretch and opened the door for senior Steele Jantz, who helped Iowa State start the season 3-0 before being benched for Barnett. It's probably Barnett's job, but he's got to earn it. If he doesn't improve, Jantz could take advantage.
4. Baylor: Nick Florence started nine games in 2009 with mixed results, but looked good in relief of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III in a win over Texas Tech. Coach Art Briles says it's Florence's job to lose to start the spring, but Bryce Petty will be looming during the spring, too.
5. Kansas: Last year's starter, Jordan Webb, has transferred, and ex-Golden Domer Dayne Crist is on campus and taking part in promotional videos for the program. He looks like the guy, but juco national champion Turner Baty is joining the team, too. Could Michael Cummings be a factor, too? Jake Heaps is waiting his turn until 2013 while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring from BYU.
FIX ALL THE LITTLE THINGS
6. Oklahoma: Hush, Sooner fans clamoring for Blake Bell. He's part of the Belldozer gadget formation that produced 13 rushing touchdowns in the final half of 2011. But it's exactly that, a gadget formation. If OU can run the ball between the tackles well next year, we may not even see much of it. He's not touching Landry Jones' spot, though. Jones enters 2011 as a legitimate Heisman contender.
7. Kansas State: Collin Klein is the guy at Kansas State, but he's still got to develop as a passer. We'll see what kind of growth he shows this offseason.
8. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' coaches were pleased with Seth Doege's performance in all but two games (Iowa State, Oklahoma State), but the defense gave him almost no chance to succeed. He's back this spring. Michael Brewer's development is encouraging, but it's highly unlikely we see any shift in the starter's status.
9. TCU: Casey Pachall threw for 25 touchdowns, seven picks and completed 66.5 percent of his passes. His top three targets return. When it comes to the QB spot, the spring is about preparing for a big year on offense at TCU.
10. West Virginia: Geno Smith makes WVU's offense go, and he'll be back for his senior year with big hopes in Morgantown. Smith threw for 4,385 yards and 31 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. Like Pachall, Smith's spring is about getting ready for a memorable Big 12 debut.
Thanks for all the questions this week. We heard from plenty of you. Here's where I can be reached if you have more thoughts, questions or cute witticisms.
Ernie A in Austin, Texas, writes: Ubbexander the Great, I watched a video over on the Pac 12 blog today and saw their blogger refer to the Pacific conference as "The Conference of Quarterbacks." Ridiculous, right? I mean, sure they've got Price and Barkley, but the Big 12 can more than match that in my opinion, especially since every team excluding my horns and the Jayhawks have a real, potential difference maker going into the season. So diving off of this--what is the state of Big 12 QBs with the departure of three of the best from last season, and who do you think (besides Jones and Klein) will step up and keep the Big 12's strong QB reputation known?
David Ubben: First off, what are you doing on the Pac-12 blog? I can only assume it's because the Longhorns are plotting an escape to the Pac-16.
We heard the same thing about the Pac-12 last season with Luck, Barkley, Foles and Co., but I'd say it was still pretty clear by season's end that the Big 12 was superior. It took home the Heisman and was a deeper league at the position. The gap isn't enormous, but the Big 12 was better.
This year? You have to remember how well this league develops new passers. Baylor and Oklahoma State lose two great quarterbacks, but Nick Florence and whoever wins the battle at OSU should be solid. All those guys have potential.
Landry Jones and Seth Doege are back, but they're joined by Geno Smith at WVU and Casey Pachall at TCU, the two new guys. For now, the league's reputation as the best quarterback league is safe, even if Barkley will grab plenty of attention at the top this season, and maybe win the Heisman.
Jason in Evansville, Ind., writes: David, looking forward to getting to know your blog. BB and AA have done a nice job covering our beloved Mounties. As far as some game day traditions to see at Mountaineer Field, get to know the 1st down chant. All schools have their own game day traditions in the crowd that give them an identity. FSU does the chop, some schools like VTech jingle keys for "key plays", Pitt sings Sweet Caroline (never understood why), etc....The first down chant kind of started in the student section during my days as a an undergrad and over the years has become a standard game day tradition across the stadium. Pretty simple, here's how it goes. WVU gets a 1st down on any given play. Fans hold their arms straight out and start vocally with "ohhhhhhh" until the PA announcer says" 1st down West Virginia", and in unison the crowd bounces their arms down 3 times and says "hoo-hoo-hoo.....(clap) first down", and points in the direction of the first down. Pretty simple. When the game is a big one and is close the chant gets louder with the crowd and generally gets everyone fired up as momentum builds moving the ball down the field. Hopefully we will continue many more 1st down chants against our new Big tWelVe conference foes. You should start practicing for your first visit to Morgantown. See you in the Blue Lot!
DU: Thanks for filling us in, Jason. I'm curious about all the gameday traditions. I really can't wait for my first game out there. New experiences are always great. I'll keep an eye out for this. I'm sure the other fans across the Big 12 think the same.
Jayhawk in Maryland in Edgewater, Md., writes: Dave, Love the readers' snippets on what to do in Morgantown and Fort Worth for gamedays. Maybe we/you should introduce them to Lawrence, Stillwater, Manhattan, etc. as well. Always good to plan a tailgate.
Mason in Texas wrote: Ubbs, I like the "Home Turf" series for TCU and WVU. A thought though, expand it to all schools. WVU and TCU folks need to know where to go when they visit all of us. Not just that, but I bet a lot of people haven't traveled every and would like to know what's up in each town. Just a humble suggestion.
DU: I heard from a ton of you this week, expressing a similar sentiment. Which means we'll do this for the rest of the Big 12 because a) there are new members to educate and b) we've never done it before.
I'll send out calls for recommendations for each city in the weeks to come, so don't bother just yet. That said, I'm excited for this series. It should be delicious.
Here's the new ones, if you missed them:
Fred Dodge in Annapolis, Md., writes: David, I was extremely skeptical and ready to dismiss your column on the change in the Big 12 "Rivalries will be missed, not results." [I should note here that I am a Cornhusker]. But you know what, you convinced me. The Big 12 is better off, not only do WVU and TCU bring some recent pedigree, they really want to be in the Big 12. Hopefully that will bring some stability.
DU: I appreciate it, and your second point gets lost a bit, I think. There's no question that both schools are pretty enthusiastic about entering the league. We'll see if that spreads.
The league is losing a ton of tradition in Missouri and Texas A&M, and that's sad. A&M will have that rivalry with LSU, but I doubt it will have any others. Missouri's going to have a tough time finding a rival if it doesn't lock in Arkansas as its cross-divisional rival.
Arkansas' been in the league 20 years and still doesn't have a true rivalry that gets fans fired up year-round.
Kansas and Texas will miss their departed rivals. But like I said, the league's in good shape on the field, to maintain, if not exceed, the success.
Grant in Round Rock, Texas, writes: In response to your blog "New Big 12 will miss rivalries, not results". The bottom line is the SEC upgraded with the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri, while the Big 12 downgraded. If the conference really felt they would be better off with TCU and WVU they would have had no problem losing these two schools.
DU: Not true. Like I mentioned before, that tradition can't be replaced, and that's the biggest reason the Big 12 was sad to see them go.
My point in the column wasn't that the Big 12 made some monumental upgrade on the field. The difference is negligible on the field at worst, and a slight upgrade at best. That's about as good as the Big 12 could expect, considering its recent membership issues.
The money issue matters. Texas A&M and Mizzou have bigger fan bases, but if TCU and WVU sustain nationally relevant programs, the difference in the television deal is probably negligible, too. There's not much reason to believe TCU and WVU will see a huge drop-off in the quality of their programs.
The Big 12 would have loved to keep A&M and Mizzou. It didn't. As a response, it made two great additions.
Gabe in Buehler, Texas, writes: Ubbs, what is your thought on K-State special teams next year, namely Tyler Lockett, both as return man and receiver. I wonder if he had been healthy, would the Cotton Bowl have gone a little different? Not necessarily a K-State win, but pretty darn close! Also, what is your thought on Justin Tuggle moving to OLB? MORE speed to that linebacker corps?!
DU: Yeah, K-State wouldn't have won that game with Lockett, but the Wildcats definitely missed their big-play man. Joe Adams changed that game on special teams, and Lockett could have possibly done the same for K-State. The way Kansas State's offense played, it needed that badly. Tuggle seems like a good move. He's a guy that just wanted to get on the field, and with Collin Klein's emergence, it wasn't going to happen at quarterback. In the Big 12, you can never have enough speed at linebacker, and he should bring that. Instincts and toughness seem like it could be tough to develop in one offseason. It'll be fun to watch, though.
Ernie A in Austin, Texas, writes: Ubbexander the Great, I watched a video over on the Pac 12 blog today and saw their blogger refer to the Pacific conference as "The Conference of Quarterbacks." Ridiculous, right? I mean, sure they've got Price and Barkley, but the Big 12 can more than match that in my opinion, especially since every team excluding my horns and the Jayhawks have a real, potential difference maker going into the season. So diving off of this--what is the state of Big 12 QBs with the departure of three of the best from last season, and who do you think (besides Jones and Klein) will step up and keep the Big 12's strong QB reputation known?
David Ubben: First off, what are you doing on the Pac-12 blog? I can only assume it's because the Longhorns are plotting an escape to the Pac-16.
We heard the same thing about the Pac-12 last season with Luck, Barkley, Foles and Co., but I'd say it was still pretty clear by season's end that the Big 12 was superior. It took home the Heisman and was a deeper league at the position. The gap isn't enormous, but the Big 12 was better.
This year? You have to remember how well this league develops new passers. Baylor and Oklahoma State lose two great quarterbacks, but Nick Florence and whoever wins the battle at OSU should be solid. All those guys have potential.
Landry Jones and Seth Doege are back, but they're joined by Geno Smith at WVU and Casey Pachall at TCU, the two new guys. For now, the league's reputation as the best quarterback league is safe, even if Barkley will grab plenty of attention at the top this season, and maybe win the Heisman.
Jason in Evansville, Ind., writes: David, looking forward to getting to know your blog. BB and AA have done a nice job covering our beloved Mounties. As far as some game day traditions to see at Mountaineer Field, get to know the 1st down chant. All schools have their own game day traditions in the crowd that give them an identity. FSU does the chop, some schools like VTech jingle keys for "key plays", Pitt sings Sweet Caroline (never understood why), etc....The first down chant kind of started in the student section during my days as a an undergrad and over the years has become a standard game day tradition across the stadium. Pretty simple, here's how it goes. WVU gets a 1st down on any given play. Fans hold their arms straight out and start vocally with "ohhhhhhh" until the PA announcer says" 1st down West Virginia", and in unison the crowd bounces their arms down 3 times and says "hoo-hoo-hoo.....(clap) first down", and points in the direction of the first down. Pretty simple. When the game is a big one and is close the chant gets louder with the crowd and generally gets everyone fired up as momentum builds moving the ball down the field. Hopefully we will continue many more 1st down chants against our new Big tWelVe conference foes. You should start practicing for your first visit to Morgantown. See you in the Blue Lot!
DU: Thanks for filling us in, Jason. I'm curious about all the gameday traditions. I really can't wait for my first game out there. New experiences are always great. I'll keep an eye out for this. I'm sure the other fans across the Big 12 think the same.
Jayhawk in Maryland in Edgewater, Md., writes: Dave, Love the readers' snippets on what to do in Morgantown and Fort Worth for gamedays. Maybe we/you should introduce them to Lawrence, Stillwater, Manhattan, etc. as well. Always good to plan a tailgate.
Mason in Texas wrote: Ubbs, I like the "Home Turf" series for TCU and WVU. A thought though, expand it to all schools. WVU and TCU folks need to know where to go when they visit all of us. Not just that, but I bet a lot of people haven't traveled every and would like to know what's up in each town. Just a humble suggestion.
DU: I heard from a ton of you this week, expressing a similar sentiment. Which means we'll do this for the rest of the Big 12 because a) there are new members to educate and b) we've never done it before.
I'll send out calls for recommendations for each city in the weeks to come, so don't bother just yet. That said, I'm excited for this series. It should be delicious.
Here's the new ones, if you missed them:
Fred Dodge in Annapolis, Md., writes: David, I was extremely skeptical and ready to dismiss your column on the change in the Big 12 "Rivalries will be missed, not results." [I should note here that I am a Cornhusker]. But you know what, you convinced me. The Big 12 is better off, not only do WVU and TCU bring some recent pedigree, they really want to be in the Big 12. Hopefully that will bring some stability.
DU: I appreciate it, and your second point gets lost a bit, I think. There's no question that both schools are pretty enthusiastic about entering the league. We'll see if that spreads.
The league is losing a ton of tradition in Missouri and Texas A&M, and that's sad. A&M will have that rivalry with LSU, but I doubt it will have any others. Missouri's going to have a tough time finding a rival if it doesn't lock in Arkansas as its cross-divisional rival.
Arkansas' been in the league 20 years and still doesn't have a true rivalry that gets fans fired up year-round.
Kansas and Texas will miss their departed rivals. But like I said, the league's in good shape on the field, to maintain, if not exceed, the success.
Grant in Round Rock, Texas, writes: In response to your blog "New Big 12 will miss rivalries, not results". The bottom line is the SEC upgraded with the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri, while the Big 12 downgraded. If the conference really felt they would be better off with TCU and WVU they would have had no problem losing these two schools.
DU: Not true. Like I mentioned before, that tradition can't be replaced, and that's the biggest reason the Big 12 was sad to see them go.
My point in the column wasn't that the Big 12 made some monumental upgrade on the field. The difference is negligible on the field at worst, and a slight upgrade at best. That's about as good as the Big 12 could expect, considering its recent membership issues.
The money issue matters. Texas A&M and Mizzou have bigger fan bases, but if TCU and WVU sustain nationally relevant programs, the difference in the television deal is probably negligible, too. There's not much reason to believe TCU and WVU will see a huge drop-off in the quality of their programs.
The Big 12 would have loved to keep A&M and Mizzou. It didn't. As a response, it made two great additions.
Gabe in Buehler, Texas, writes: Ubbs, what is your thought on K-State special teams next year, namely Tyler Lockett, both as return man and receiver. I wonder if he had been healthy, would the Cotton Bowl have gone a little different? Not necessarily a K-State win, but pretty darn close! Also, what is your thought on Justin Tuggle moving to OLB? MORE speed to that linebacker corps?!
DU: Yeah, K-State wouldn't have won that game with Lockett, but the Wildcats definitely missed their big-play man. Joe Adams changed that game on special teams, and Lockett could have possibly done the same for K-State. The way Kansas State's offense played, it needed that badly. Tuggle seems like a good move. He's a guy that just wanted to get on the field, and with Collin Klein's emergence, it wasn't going to happen at quarterback. In the Big 12, you can never have enough speed at linebacker, and he should bring that. Instincts and toughness seem like it could be tough to develop in one offseason. It'll be fun to watch, though.
Chat: New rivals, preseason POY, UT's shot
February, 21, 2012
Feb 21
4:30
PM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
Thanks for all the questions in today's chat. Here's the full transcript.
Time for some highlights:
Time for some highlights:
QueenP (Lubbock, Texas): Being that A&M is no longer in the Big 12, do you see the TTU/UT rivalry growing?
David Ubben: No, probably not. They've obviously had some great games over the year, but I don't think so. If anything, some of that energy may spill over into the Red River Rivalry, as hard as it is to believe.
Tony (Richmond, Calif.): Don't you have to feel the conference is yours for the taking in Austin this season with OU having to travel to both Morgantown and Fort Worth at the end of the season with archrival Okie State sandwiched in between? Texas gets WVU and TCU at home, so they really have no one to blame but themselves if they don't return to the top of the Big XII? Your thoughts?
David Ubben: Texas needs to worry more about its quarterback spot than Oklahoma's schedule. Develop David Ash. Then let's talk Sooners.
Jeremy from Parkersburg, W.Va. [via mobile]: The Mountaineers will have a need to find a new rivalry game now that the Backyard Brawl with Pitt is possibly done. Who from their new Big 12 brothern would most likely step in to fit that bill. By the way, thanks to all for our warm Big 12 welcoming. Looking forward to see how we stack up against big boys.
David Ubben: Texas Tech and Oklahoma State make some sense because of the Holgorsen connection. Ultimately, though, rivalries are born out of great games stacked back to back.
Hornsfan (Best City in the USA): Ubbs, any way that UT qb play is worse next season?
David Ubben: No. I think it'll be better, but still a decent chunk away from being good enough to win the Big 12.
Kevin (Kansas): Collin Klein have a shot at Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 12?
David Ubben: Definitely, but he has to improve as a passer and have similar rushing output. There's going to be some tough competition this year. Look out for the new QBs, Casey Pachall and Geno Smith, too. Landry Jones is probably the frontrunner for the award, though.
Tony (Richmond, Calif.): Will this Texas defense rank among the best in Mack Brown's tenure by season's end?
David Ubben: It's got the talent to do it, but replacing the leadership from Acho, Robinson and Gideon is going to be tough. Those guys kept young players in position and motivated their teammates. UT will have the athletes, but who knows how it looks in Year 2 under Manny Diaz? I think it'll be really good, but you never know. Those guys left big holes.
ClarenceOveur (The Cockpit): David, you believe that TCU has more "potential upside" than WVU in the Big 12 due to its location in the DFW Metroplex and its familiarity with other schools in the conference. Did you consult TCU's prior record in the SWC at all before coming to that conclusion? At one point they went 35 years between conference titles. What about the Frogs makes their outlook that much better this time around? Also David, do you like movies about gladiators?
David Ubben: I think it's unfair to look at TCU's history. Look at it now. Gary Patterson's built something big there since. He's got them rolling. They'll be better with some more talent. He's also made TCU a much better job. He's got a lot of time there, but when he leaves, TCU will be in position to get a great replacement.
Steve (Philadelphia): I am thoroughly enjoying your coverage of my new league so far. However, I have never closely followed any Big 12 team and from BE country there was always a feeling that Big 12 teams were grossly unbalanced with high powered offenses and no defense to speak of. I would cite my Mountaineers Fiesta Bowl victory over the Sooners but that wouldn't be fair would it? Any evidence to the contrary?
David Ubben: Yeah, I think it's unfair to make that assumption. Teams like UT, OU and Nebraska have had some great defenses. The problem is one, the offenses are that much better than every other league, and they run a whole lot more plays. If I remember the numbers correctly, OSU faced something like 1,050 plays before its bowl game. LSU, meanwhile, had faced something like 615.
Introducing TCU to its home in the Big 12
February, 9, 2012
Feb 9
9:00
AM ET
By
Andrea Adelson and
David Ubben | ESPN.com
Cal Sport Media/AP ImagesThe Horned Frogs move to the Big 12 next season, an AQ conference with a perfect geographic fit.Our former Southwest Conference teams surely remember the Horned Frogs, but it's time to get everyone acquainted. To help me out, we've got College Nation blogger Andrea Adelson.
David Ubben: Andrea, you've been around this program the last year or so. Most fans won't have to travel far when they make it to the newly renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium, but what can they expect for a game-day experience?
Andrea Adelson: TCU might not have a stadium as big as Texas or Oklahoma, but fans sure get loud and provide a really good home-field advantage. The Horned Frogs have won 26 of their last 27 home games, and coach Gary Patterson has lost only seven times there in his 11 seasons as head coach. The newly renovated stadium should provide even more of a home-field advantage as the student section has now been reconfigured to run goal line to goal line behind the opponent bench. Students typically get dressed up all in purple and there is one spirit organization known as the HyperFrogs that leads chants throughout the game to get everybody fired up. Word is that playing a full slate of Big 12 competition is going to spur even more excitement at games and lead to many more sellouts.
DU: I'm excited to see it. I've done baseball and basketball at TCU, but I've never been to a football game. I'll have to end that this year. I'm definitely buying the idea that TCU's attendance issues have been accentuated by some less-than-stellar opponents. I'm not impressed by the home record, though.
The Horned Frogs already have their hand signal ready, a signature of Texas teams from that old Southwest Conference, but what's this move, getting reacquainted with some old friends, mean to TCU?
AA: It means everything, David. TCU was so desperate to get into an automatic qualifying conference, it agreed back in 2010 to join the Big East and then tried to tell everybody that geography did not matter and making the move was the perfect fit. The truth is, TCU always had designs on the Big 12, but the league had no interest in the Horned Frogs. Maybe that is because they were viewed as the pesky little brother that needed to be kept locked in his room. But the shifting sands of realignment made it increasingly obvious that TCU was the no-brainer choice to join the Big 12. It is no wonder TCU jumped ship for a conference closer to home without ever having played a down of football in the Big East. The Horned Frogs have finally achieved the goal set when the Southwest Conference broke up -- and it took only three (and a half) league homes to get there.
DU: Yeah, people want to knock TCU for conference jumping, but how can you not when the non-AQ leagues are shifting as much as they have in the past couple of decades. There's no doubt about it: TCU is home. I was at the news conference when they announced the move, and I've never seen so many people in suits wearing enormous smiles.
Big 12 fans may know TCU's combo of quarterback Casey Pachall and receiver Josh Boyce, but who are a few names Big 12 fans should keep an eye out for in 2012?
[+] Enlarge
Troy Babbitt/US PresswireEd Wesley and Waymon James are part of TCU's deep running back corps.
Troy Babbitt/US PresswireEd Wesley and Waymon James are part of TCU's deep running back corps.DU: OU fans may remember Brandon Carter. He was almost a Sooner, but they wanted him to play corner. Safe to say he's feeling good about his decision now.
Time to put you on the spot, AA: Forecast the Horned Frogs' first year in the Big 12. Win total, conference record, bowl game and Big 12 finish.
AA: Without knowing the actual schedule, as in home games and away games, I am going to say at least eight wins and a finish in the top four. So that would project out to Alamo or Insight, and of course that depends on who else is eligible to be selected.
DU: Yeah, the Big 12 isn't really making this one easy on us.
I like what TCU's got coming back. This is a team that could run the table outside of the Big 12, but they may hit a few speed bumps in the transition. I'll say TCU wins nine games, finishes fourth in the Big 12 and heads to the Insight Bowl. Not a bad debut for a program that could see its success sky-rocket in years to come.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ubben
Ubben joined ESPN.com in March 2010 after covering Big 12 football for two seasons at the Columbia Missourian and The Oklahoman. Ubben, a native of Springdale, Ark., lives in Dallas.
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