NFL drafts 16 from MWC

16 players from the MWC were selected in the '09 NFL draft, nearly matching the conference-high mark of 17, set in 2005 (including then C-USA member TCU's picks from that year).

TCU led with five: LB Jason Phillips (5th, Ravens), LB Robert Henson (6th, Redskins), S Stephen Hodge (6th, Cowboys), RB Aaron Brown (6th, Lions), and C Blake Schlueter (7th, Broncos).
Utah had four: DE Paul Kruger (2nd, Ravens), CB Sean Smith (2nd, Dolphins), CB Brice McCain (6th, Texans) and TE/WR Freddie Brown (7th, Bengals).
From BYU: WR Austin Collie (4th, Colts) and RB Fui Vakapuna (6th, Bengals);
New Mexico: CB Glover Quin (4th, Texans) and DB DeAndre Wright (6th, Giants).
RB Gartrell Johnson (4th, Chargers) from Colorado State, OG Lance Louis from SDSU (7th, Bears), and RB Frank Summers from UNLV (5th, Steelers) finish the list.

NFL teams drafted seven MWC players in '08, nine in '07, twelve in '06, seventeen in '05, eight in '04.

By conference: SEC: 37, ACC: 33, Pac 10: 32, Big 10: 28, Big 12: 28, Big East: 27, MWC: 16, C-USA: 10, WAC: 10, MAC: at least 2, SunBelt: 2.

Colorado State - post spring

The rebuilding that Steve Fairchild signed on to accomplish has gotten underway in Fort Collins in earnest. Few MWC teams lose more and more central personel this offseason than Colorado State. The Rams return multiple starters at O-line and in the secondary, but that's about it. Center Tim Walter feels better than they did a year ago, even if CSU has only two QBs with which to run drills, and is rebuilding its defense, and won't have LB Ricky Brewer in '09 to help, as well as its entire skill-set on offense. The Rams return only 2 starters in the front 7, but bring 4 back in the secondary. SMQ says .500 would be a good year in Fort Collins; the Wimple agrees.

JUCO transfer Leonard Mason (pictured) will try his hand at filling Gartrell Johnson's enormous shoes in the backfield, as will senior John Mosure and Alex Square; Mason got kicked out of one practice for failing to execute assignments, giving Derek Good and Jonathan Gaye snaps to show their stuff on. The Rams hope to get better production from Sevaro Johnson and Sam Stewart, both JUCO transfer DTs with a year in D1 now under their belts. Elija-Blu Smith, normally a CB who played at safety last season, is taking snaps at both position this spring.

Walk-on Rams getting significant looks in practice: James Skelton, RsFr linebacker; RsFr wide receiver Alex Johnson; sophomore RB Derek Good; and junior WR Tyson Liggett. Receiver is a bright spot for CSU-- the Rams return every wideout who caught a pass last season, and have moved 6'4" T.J. Borcky from quarterback to receiver, where's he's practiced with the first team. That said, the QB and WR play this spring has disappointed Coach Fairchild. Smart linebacker play may have something to do with that-- even though CSU's two best LBs from '08 do not play this season. Former DT Ty Whittier has moved to be a big DE-- he's 6'5", 270 lbs. The Rams are practicing a "wildcat" formation. Even the heavens seem arrayed against the Rams, cancelling one practice and the spring game.

Wyoming - post spring

Wyoming is attempting the most thorough change of personality the conference has seen in years, going from a ground-first defense-heavy attack to a high-tempo pass-happy out-score-'em style. Graham Watson, who watched Christensen install the same offense at Missouri, says the project is progressing, but hints that it's take a few years-- just like it did in Missouri. Even the coaches are having difficulty keeping up. 17 Cowboys have been out at one time with injuries, (and 17 missed the spring game, leaving only 51 on the roster, forcing Coach Joe to bring in some graduating seniors to fill spots) still unused to the vigor Christensen expects from his team.

Wyoming returns highly experienced Brian Hendricks in the place of graduated LBs; QBs Karsten Sween, Dax Crum, and Adam Barry are all fighting to start; look for Barry to change positions; Sween ended spring atop the depth chart. All QBs have been open for sacks, but Karsten Sween loves the new scheme because he ran something like it in high school; TE Orlando Arnold looks forward to catching balls; his brethren on offense are getting the swing of things and even getting the best of the Wyoming D some of the time. The D doesn't have to re-learn every facet of its game, even if it is working out harder than it ever has. Senior Russ Arnold takes over at center; coach Mike Fanoga has helped bring several Polynesian players to Laramie; freshman corner Tashaun Gipson has impressed. Brandon Stewart, who was a specialty speed back in '08, looks to figure more prominently in the Cowboys' spread option. Junior Darious Terry, and sophomores James Davis, and James Carraway (second feature on the trio) will vie to replace seniors Wynel Seldona and Devin Moore, Wyoming's only good offensive news in '08. Terry loves the new spread, and is running a wildcat formation from it sometimes.

In the second half of the Cowboys' third scrimmage, the offense began to click; one particularly bright spot in the inter-squad game was the kicker: Jake Scott was 5-5. The offense was so underwhelming in the spring game, however, that the secondary and running game looked good; Karsten Sween did finish it off with a long TD drive, however.

Virginia - post spring

Virginia's new OC Greg Brandon, formerly the head coach at Bowling Green, is installing the spread, toying with Wild Frog (which they call "hoo cat") formation, with both Vic Hall (Al Groh says, "In Vic We Trust") and Jameel Sewell lining up for the offense, much like Jeremy Kerley and Andy Dalton. Sewell is back after a year's suspension. The Cavs have welcomed back their best cornerback, Chris Cook, after a year's eviction from the team. Sophemore Landon Bradley looks to replace top draftee Eugene Monroe at left tackle. The four other starters on the line are all returning, lead by RT Will Barker. Mikell Simpson looks to return in high-yardarge form, after a year out healing a broken collar bone.

New Mexico - post spring

New Mexico may be surprisingly strong; they replaced every single coach in the off-season, but return strong lines, experienced QBs, and talent to replace Rodney Ferguson- perhaps the best Lobo rusher in the modern era. The Lobos' Locksley isn't naming any starters while teaching his players yet another offensives system, and are looking for a few good men to fill DeAndre Wright and Grover Quinn's shoes in the secondary, as well as Jermaine Queen at WR.

Defense looks sharp, intercepting the QBs; practice is less about hard hitting than it is about being in the right place; Gruner and Smith impress in the QB battle, though Donovan Porterie looks like the starter going in to fall. Big DT Peter Gardner impresses on the line. Gruner and RB Terrence Brown (pictured) got the best of the D in a scrimmage; Porterie isn't trailing in the QB battle; Donovan Porterie has regained a comfort zone after his rehab, while WR Roland Bruno and PK James Aho are making plays consistently. Safeties Bubba Forrest (really!) and Mica Williams have impressed.

DT Ahraya Crespin and Donovan Porterie shone in the spring game; Terrence Brown was on crutches.

Utah - post spring

Utah didn't lose quite as much of its BCS-team the year after the Sugar Bowl as it did the year after the Fiesta Bowl. But the Utes are still trying to plug holes and fill some big shoes: the biggest being graduating QB Brian Johnson's, PK Louie Sakoda's, and DE Paul Kruger's.

Whittingham tries 5:30AM practice to keep the '09 Utes' minds off their '08 success; The QB battle likely isn't big enough for RSFr DeVonte Christopher as much-touted JUCO transfer Terrance Cain and returning QB Corbin Louks appear to have taken the battle to themselves. R.J. Sanford and Brandon Burton hope to replace the Utes' tremendous CBs; Matt Asiata doesn't expect to split carries with anyone in '09; one starter the Utes didn't lose to graduation is LB Stevenson Sylvester. Whittingham hopes hitting will grow up some young players. One younger player who is emerging is WR Aiona Key; another is featherweight true freshman QB Jordan Wynn, who's good work in the high-scoring spring game may keep the Utes' QB battle a three-way fight into fall.

After the Utes' second scrimmage, the offense still looks shaky, and Louks and Cain remain "about even" (Whittingham's estimation). None of the Utes' kickers are anywhere near Louie Sakoda's reliability, however.

BYU - post spring

The Cougars managed a remarkable feat in 2008: they felt bad about winning ten games. They lost their biggest three, however, hence the disappointment. Much of the '08 crew returns to attempt to reclaim conference-smashing form in 2009. Its focus is on growing 4 new starters on the o-line, tightening up the defense, finding a go-to receiver, and definitely not on coining the perfect pithy phrase to memorialize the season.

Defense outshone offense in first scrimmage; McCay Jacobson was kept from contact during spring drills, allowing the team to focus on developing Luke Ashworth and O'Neill Chambers; Unga's healthier, likes the new, lower expecations; J.J. DiLuigi hopes to join Unga in what may become a very crowded and talented BYU backfield. LB Terrence Hooks hopes to be the senior star of BYU's linebackers this season; so is Jordan Pendleton. Max Hall says the defense is better, and that the o-line is great (only Matt Reynolds, pictured, returns) and that he's more concerned with their health than their inexperience. But Hall also says he's open to running more. LB Vic S'oto refractured his foot, and touted JUCO Bernard Afutiti finally began practicing at DE. [update: Afutiti decided to serve an LDS mission instead.]
Coach Bronco Mendenhall says the team is hungry and competitive like it was in 2006; Unga loves his new O-line; on the other side of the ball, Jan Jorgensen and Matt Bauman are on the Lott Trophy watch list.

UNLV - post spring

UNLV appears finally to have enough depth and talent across the field to contend in every game this season. Its most pressing need is replacing Frank "The Tank" Summers; when Summers went down at San Diego in the last game of 2008, the Rebels' hopes for a bowl bid went with him. In 2009, UNLV returns 28 players who have started at least one game-- the most in the MWC. Look for this unusual experience and depth in Las Vegas, especially in the trenches, to push UNLV into the post-season.

Sophomore Phillip Payne (pictured) has gained some muscle, but not lost a step; Ryan Wolfe must now lead the Rebels' receiving corps, now that Casey Flair has graduated; Warren Ziegler (pictured), a JUCO-transfer at safety, appears to be meeting the high expectations that accompanied his early enrollment at UNLV; Ziegler and returning DB Will Chandler appear to have an edge on a starting spot going into fall; cornerback Quinton Pointer hopes to play at 100% next year; massive Samoan DE Issako Aaitui's football smarts have caught up with his size; his fellow lineman DT Malo Taumua is also impressing, wearing the day's best black jersey four times. LB looks to be a strong position for UNLV again; youth and inexperience are no longer problems on the Rebel o-line; former QBs Travis Dixon and Chris Jones are doing well as safeties. UNLV returns four starters to the O-line, and the newbie, RsFr Sean Tesoro, has drawn high praise. Coach Sanford says the 1st team defense and offensive line have improved, but the 2s need to improve, and the Rebs are still looking for a go-to runningback and punter.

In the Rebs' spring game, Mike Clausen outshone Omar Clayton, but hasn't ousted Clayton from the starting spot. JUCO transfers Kenny Brown and Warren Ziegler corralled Phillip Payne; senior Chris Brogdon and sophomore C.J. Cox lead at tailback, awaiting incoming freshman Bradley Randle. Sanford called this the Rebs' best spring ever, and listed likely battles in fall drills.

Clemson - post spring

Young WR Brandon Ford has impressed; Da'Quan Bowers, the Tigers' best DE, is monstrous. Kyle Parker is pressing Willy Korn for first-team snaps at QB; in the spring game, Parker looked better than Korn, who threw two ints. Speaking of youngsters, early enrolled freshman Andre Ellington is drawing oohs and aahs as C.J. Spiller's backup at RB. The offense is clicking; Clemson released its spring-game depth charts a few days early, and publically, and the press printed 'em. What's that, you ask? Press support for the local team? No wonder kids love it there...

Air Force finishes spring drills

Air Force concluded its spring workouts, with a surprising controversy at quarter-back. Tim Jefferson, the incumb-ent Falcon QB won the MWC Freshman of the Year last season, but struggled with eligibility. He practiced intermittently with the team during the spring. Rising star tailback Asher Clark was penciled into Jefferson's spot, but five practices later tore a meniscus and won't play again until the fall. So who's under center in Colorado Springs? Conner Dietz, a freshman, impressed the coaches enough perhaps to sneak into the #2 spot behind... behind whomever starts at QB for AFA in the fall. The battle for the #1 spot will continue.

Jared Tew remains an intriguing 210-pound possibility at tailback; newcomer Jon Davis has impressed at safety; two kickers are vying to replace the very steady Ryan Harrison; small Rick Ricketts may win a chance to replace an outgoing all-MWC DE.

AFA's toughest losses are at TE, both DEs, and K/P. Coach Calhoun gambled with true freshmen last year, and won big. Those young players (primarily Jefferson and Clark) return-- assuming healing and eligibility-- in strength, and give the Falcons a powerful nucleus to build around. The freshman safety Davis joins returning all-MWC safety Chris Thomas in the secondary, in what will be a strong area for the young team. [update: Reggie Rembert, the Falcons' best cornerback, has been suspended indefinitely, weakening AFA's strong backfield a little] The Wimple expects no dropoff for the Falcons in '09.

TCU post-spring

TCU is the first MWC team to finish spring drills. Has it answered any spring questions?

The personnel along the lines was the Wimple's biggest question, and the apparent answers are interesting. The value of experience is showing: the Braylon Broughton and Jeremy Coleman, often called the two most talented linemen on the team, didn't make the first team this spring. The first-team defensive line seems set: Jerry Hughes, Kelly Griffin, Cory Grant, and Wayne Daniels; the second team is Clarence Leatch, Henry Nuitei, Jeremy Coleman, and Braylon Broughton. All of these linemen are juniors but Hughes (senior) and Broughton (sophemore). The Wimple expects Leatch and Nuitei to push their respective ones hardest.

The DTs do not seem quite as stout as Cody Moore and James Vess were; hopefully the graduates' replacements will grow more overpowering this summer and fall. That said, the first team line is better than the half-surprised first-team line that gave up too many plays in 2007. Griffin, much grown and seasoned, will have started in both squads.

The offensive lines are also interesting. Left to right, the first-team line appears to be Marshall Newhouse, Kyle Dooley/Blaise Foltz, Jake Kirkpatrick, Zach Roth/Josh Vernon, Marcus Cannon. That's a highly mixed group of youth and experience. Newhouse is the only senior of the five. One thing's clear: the Frogs are deep, big, and have a lot of young players in tight competition for starting and playing minutes up front.

The Frogs' second pressing question coming out of the bowl season was who would (attempt to) replace Jason Phillips. Henson's successor was clear: it's going to be senior Daryl Washington, who has been phenomenal. Phillips' successor appears to be Tank Carder, the sophemore. Tank has risen to the challenge, and has turned heads. And smashed heads. He's fast, physical, and knows where to be.

Behind Carder and Washington are a talented, but young, group of future Frog stars. Greg Burks, baby Brock (the Wimple calls him that only while anonymous!), Kris Gardner, and three other incoming all of whom the Wimple expects to redshirt.

In the backfield, Ed Wesley appears as good as advertised. Chris Smith has turned in his second stellar spring. The Wimple can only guess if it'll result is more PT this fall than it did last. It appears the Frogs will boast three of the best freshmen runningbacks on their roster come August-- Dwight Smith apparently is likely to enroll, joining Matthew Tucker and Waymon James in the nation's best class of tailbacks this fall. With Turner returning, Smith, Jai Cavness, Jercell Fort, and Wesley booming, the Wimple hopes all three of the new guys will redshirt.

The backup QBs appear competent-- Yogi Gallegos looked like the sharpest passer in the spring game, but he turned his knee and will certainly be out of action for a bit-- hopefully not into August, but don't expect updates from tight-lipped TCU. Casey Pachall started like a true freshmen only months out of high school, (which is exactly what he was) and ended the spring looking much more competent and confident. He's tall and quick, as advertized, and looks good in purple. [update: snide remarks above notwithstanding, CGP says publically that Yogi's injury wasn't as bad as feared, and that he should be back in action by June 1. CGP also says (and this surprises no one) that if Yogi's in playing form by Sep 5, Pachall will redshirt.

Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders didn't play the spring game, giving room to see Greg McCoy and Jason Teague look good at corner. Ibiloye is making plays at safety now.

The returning starters looked great. Dalton is the master; Hughes is unblockable; Washington is everywhere; Sir Demarco Bledsoe (not a returning starter, but you wouldn't know it) will be all-MWC, at least; Tejay Johnson, Marshall Newhouse, Jimmy Young, Antoine Hicks, Alonzo Adams... all look ready for great seasons.

The Frogs will re-break all the offensive records they broke last year, with one exception: time of possession. They'll throw too many touchdown passes, and be too much softer in the middle of the D-line to best that mark.

Spring Game

The Frogs took to the field ones-on-ones, twos-on-twos, for the spring game today. Dalton and Jackson alternated at QB for the first team; Gallegos and Pachall for the second team. There was a noticable dropoff in offensive coordination on the second team, including several bad snaps. Gallegos dove after one of them, and twisted his knee in the melee, injuring it. Pachall showed his speed more than once, and Dalton hid the ball on some play action runs very well. Both overthrew receivers more than once. Gallegos looked crispest passing.

The Frogs did not show the offensive variety they've exhibited to much smaller audiences in practices; there was lots of running up the gut-- which is noticably softer than when Cody Moore and James Vess manned the interior defensive line. Chris Smith, Ed Wesley, and Jercell Fort each had great runs.

Daryl Washington, Tank Carder, Sir Demarco Bledsoe, Tejay Johnson, Jerry Hughes, and Clarence Leatch were explosive on defense.

Here's Jeremiah's take ($).

'09 Schedule

The Frogs' 2009 schedule is out. There's no conference game on the first weekend, so the Frogs start playing a week later than everybody else. After that, it's games in a row: and all of them on Saturdays! The Wimple does not recall a season where the Frogs were given such royal treatment. (Most of the MWC is in the same favored boat.)

TCU's road trips are tough across the board: Virginia, Clemson, Air Force, BYU, San Diego State, and Wyoming (in mid-November). Likely Virginia is the easiest of those contests. SDSU is the conference's most intriguing team this year (see the preview, coming soon) and cold, cold Wyoming has never welcomed the Frogs warmly. Clemson and BYU are the teams with the best chance to beat the Frogs this year-- but the Wimple puts odds no worse than 50/50 for TCU in both of those contests.

At home, the Frogs have a much easier schedule: Texas State, SMU, Colorado State, UNLV, Utah, and New Mexico. The Rebels and the Utes will be the tough games at Amon Carter Stadium this year.

The Wimple will preview each MWC team after spring drills.

Here's SpitBlood;

Spring Questions

TCU’s football spring drills are right around the corner. What questions need answering for the Horned Frogs? Graham Watson thinks finding Jason Phillips’s replacement is key. She’s on to something there—sophomore Tank Carder and early-enrolled true freshman Tanner Brock likely will battle for the first-team linebacker spot next to Darryl Washington. Kris Gardner, Greg Burks, and the other touted freshmen—Isadore and Cain-- will make themselves heard, too.

Mercedes Meyer highlights offensive coaching by committee (and says Cannon starts ahead of Richmond at RT).

The Wimple thinks the right half of the defensive line is a bigger question. Cody Moore and Matt Panfill graduate in May, and it remains unclear who’ll lead to replace them. Henry Nuitei made waves on the scout team at DT, and everyone’s waiting for Braylon Broughton, now a sophomore, to break out at DE. RSFreshman Jeremy Coleman is expected to figure prominently in the mix, at either spot, also.

Senior Zach Roth is expected to challenge junior Jake Kirkpatrick for the first team spot at center, but the rest of the line appears set with returning starters, albeit not all at the same position. If the line isn’t Newhouse-Dooley-Kirkpatrick-Vernon-Richmond/Cannon going into fall, then there’ve been surprises.

The Wimple is particularly excited to see two new guys: Ed Wesley, RSF at tailback, whom the scuttlebutt says is going to make waves; and the early-enrolled freshman phenom at QB, Casey Pachall. It seems the coaches are pleased with his early progress (and RSF Yogi Gallegos’s as well) because they moved senior QB Marcus Jackson to safety.

Some Frog faithful are concerned about TCU’s lineup at safety. The Wimple is not concerned. Bledsoe and Cuba played a lot in ‘08 (Cuba started at least one game), and did well. Behind them are a gaggle of recruits and young players who’ve had time in the system, and from whom he fully expects playmakers to emerge. Chris Scott, Johnny Fobbs, Malcolm Williams, and Jurrell Thompson are his guesses.

Here's MM at practices #2, 3

Frogs ink twenty

Here they are: the 2009 true freshmen Horned Frogs-- if they all qualify. The one who's got an asterisk by his name that we know of is Dwight Smith, the do-it-all back from Carthage. (He told Smoaky he's good to go if he scores high enough on this weekend's ACT; here's to that!) Ten players in the group played tailback at least some in high school-- indicating the speed of the class generally. CGP said this is the fastest overall group he's ever signed.

By leaps and bounds, this is TCU's best recruiting class since Reagan's first term. It's impossible to narrow the list to a few headliners. Pachall is the only QB in the group; Brock and Boyce are enrolled with the signal caller already. Cain and Smith were last minute and welcome surprises. The Maud Squad probably have the biggest learning curve, coming from 1A ball, but CGP says they're all very talented. Rivals' Jeremiah says Boyce might be the biggest difference-maker in the group, but I suspect that honor will go to one of the tailbacks when it's all over-- unless Pachall does in college what he did in high school: dominate. Reports put Ty Horn most ready to contribute on the line.

The line players: Maponga, Burns, Dunbar, House, Horn, Tausch, Wooldridge, and Yendry, will keep the Frogs well stocked for years. 2009's wealth in the trenches won't fade quickly. Here's Feisty's (weird) take, DCTF's, and J/J's ($).

And, adding the cherry on top, the Frogs picked up their first 2010 commit- a very highly sought defensive tackle from Aledo.

First Prognostications

So what next, both for TCU and for the MWC agenerally? The correctest answer is that nobody knows for sure. But ignorance is never a barrier to commentary, so let's dive in.

We do know that a lot of new coaches will be strolling the sidelines in '09. Brady Hoke (last at Ball State) takes over for Chuck Long in San Diego, with Al Borges (Auburn) and Rocky Long (New Mexico) as offensive and defensive coordinators. Replacing Long at New Mexico is Illinois's recruiting genius Mike Locksley, who hired Doug Mallory (LSU) for D.C. and Darrell Dickey (Utah State, UNT) for O.C. Every one of Locksley's assistants is new to the Lobos this year. Dave Christensen (the offensive mastermind from Missouri) now leads Wyoming, with Marcus Arroyo (San Jose State) and Marty English (Wyoming, linebackers) coordinating his offense and defense. Something else we don't know is who'll be coordinating TCU's offense; Mike Schultz is off to Illinois to replace Locksley. (the D-1 coaching merry-go-round has been whirling with unusual gusto this season...) Utah replaces both its coordinators-- promoting Kalani Sitake for D.C., and Dave Schramm for O.C. Remarkably, Kyle Whittingham ain't leaving Salt Lake City after outcoaching Nick Saban's Tide on national TV last week. Perhaps the MWC top spots are less like stepping stones than they used to be.

So what'll stay the same for next year? Most of the conference's offenses. SDSU, UNLV, TCU, Air Force, UNM, and Wyoming return much of their '08 crews. BYU loses 4 of its starters on the o-line, and its best receiver. Colorado State must replace its best core of skill players in years: Gartrell Johnson, Billy Farris, and Korry Sperry. Wyoming loses its backfield duo, Seldon and Moore, it's only bright spot. Utah loses much of its offense.

It's a make-or-break year for UNLV, again. The Rebels came within a torn ligament in Frank Sommer's knee early in the last game of the season of bowl eligibility; they'll come that close again-- and if they don't break through the 6-game barrier, they'll oust their coach.

Air Force now can capitalize on the experience it gave Asher Clarke, Tim Jefferson, and the rest of its true freshman that played most of the second half of the '08 season. Look for the best year in Colorado Springs since its late WAC years.

BYU looks to bounce back-- from a 10-win season! You know expectations are high when double-digit wins are a disappointment. Max Hall will work behind a largely new offensive line, but gets to face TCU and Utah at home this year.

Focusing now on TCU, the Frogs will face Wyoming, Air Force, San Diego State, and BYU on the road. BYU, particularly, will be nursing a grudge against the Frogs, and will be TCU's toughest road game. Utah in Fort Worth may be the Frog's lowest scoring matchup of the year: both teams will bring good defenses to the tilt. Expect the Frogs' offense to win the day, however, if by only a field goal... (how's practice, Mr. Evans?) The roady to Air Force might be a trap game, if sandwiched just right (or wrong).

Confidence in TCU's offensive potency next season is not misplaced. The Frogs return a terrific backfield and receiving corps for Andy Dalton to hand off and throw to for his third year at the helm.

Up front, only one of the big guys will be starting for the first time-- likely Jake Kirkpatrick at center. The right guard position is up in the air to date, with several strong contenders, including Josh Vernon, who started at left guard some of last year. Blaize Foltz, Spencer Thompson, Spencer Olson, Trevius Jones, and Zach Roth are in the mix. Look for Marshall Newhouse (LT), Kyle Dooley (LG), Kirkpatrick, (C) Josh Vernon (RG), and Nic Richmond (RT) to compose the first team, and to dominate. How Marcus Cannon fits in (well, he fits in largely-- we know that!) remains to be seen. This much we know: the Frogs are stacked at O-line.

Joe Turner, Luke Shivers, and Jai Cavness return in the backfield, and will be joined by Ed Wesley, who apparently has made waves in practice. Two true freshmen will press them mightily for PT-- Waymon James and Matthew Tucker.

Defensively, optimism requires more faith, and reasoned expectations must be for slightly less dominance than this year's stellar season. Kelly Griffin, who is now huge, will replace James Vess at left DT. The competition to start to his right, both at tackle and end, will be tremendous. Henry Nuitei, Cory Grant, Jeremy Coleman, the Maud Squad (Burns, Dunbar, House), Ross Forrest, Braylon Broughton, and Chris Leatch are all in play.

Behind them all will be Daryl Washington and Tank Carder at linebacker. Carder hasn't played a lot, but has two full years in the system already, and some experience. His step up is key to the season. Washington appears to be the emotional heir to Robert Henson, and may well end the year as TCU's best linebacker-not-named-Jason-Phillips in a long time. Kris Gardner and Greg Burks will see PT as backups.

The secondary will be a strength. Johnson, Sanders, and Priest return. Bledsoe and Cuba haven't started (much) but have played a lot and are going to make names for themselves as safeties. (clearly Sir Demarco Bledsoe has the goods on the name department already...) There's a very good crop of backups behind them, including four-star JUCO transfer Malcome Williams. Look for Greg McCoy and Jason Teague to get lots of time as well.

The biggest question for TCU will be its offensive scheme; the Frogs geared up for the spread in '07, and cashed in on all that work in '08. Hopefully the new coordinator, whoever he'll be, can up the production. He's certainly got a great cast to work with.

The biggest question for the conference will be Boise State. Have the Broncos an invitation to join the conference, as rumored? [turns out the answer is: no.] The Wimple hopes so, and looks forward to adding the Broncos' stellar decade to the conference laurels when the BCS recalibrates its autobids in a few years. The Wimple does not expect, however, for the Broncos to continue their NCAA-topping winning percentage once a part of the tougher MWC. They put in an inspiring effort against TCU this season, and came us short in the end. Boise State, if it joins the MWC, won't have the best athletes in the conference anymore.

2008 Retrospective

The season is now relegated to the past tense; the Frogs have put up their pads and helmets. Before turning our attention to the next contests, the Wimple offers this perusal of the '08 season.

In April, the Wimple correctly fingered Oklahoma and Utah as the toughest matches for the Frogs; both proved the only red marks on an otherwise remarkable season-- and the latter only by the rottenest luck of all. The Frogs' defense racked up the best ranking in the nation, and the offense improved substantially over its '07 incarnation, setting a new school record for points. The complete package garnered TCU's highest AP final ranking in generations: 7th.

But at Oklahoma and Utah, points were not plentiful. Turnovers proved the culprit in Norman, and in Utah, a more general offensive malaise. While Joe Turner's tough running was absent in Salt Lake City, the Wimple wonders why Luke Shivers or Chris Smith was not tasked to tote the rock near the endzone in that fateful fourth quarter. Shivers performed that very deed admirably at other times this season; Smith was infrequently entrusted with the same.

Gary Patterson often credited superior senior leadership when asked to point out the source of this team's success. The rollcall of those seniors is a list of fantastic Frogs indeed: Matt Panfil, Giles Montgomery, James Vess, Cody Moore, Walter Bryant, Blake Schlueter, Justin Watts, and of course the more lauded Phillips, Henson, Coleman, Hodge, Brown, etc. Replacing these leaders will be a primary concern in 2009-- but that's fodder for a future post.

This year's Frogs went a long way toward pushing TCU into the top of the conference. Plainly Utah was destined for a higher position, but the Frogs are at least as likely as the Utes to move upward next season. This is a tremendous legacy for the '08 team, and if the '09 team lives up to its potential, its more remarkable story must begin with this year's successes.

Last, while generally occuring under the surface, the 2008 recruiting by TCU's coaches and players may prove to be their greatest legacy of all. Even ESPN is noticing. The future Frogs ($) that will sign on February 4 (some of whom are already enrolled) are substantially more talented than any previous class since the bad old days when TCU paid for bluechip recruits, and then paid for those payments with the walking death penalty.

Looking now to the Mountain West, the conference had a banner year. Troy Calhoun far exceeded my expectations with his very young squad at Air Force; Steve Fairchild made remarkable hay with his CSU Rams, as did Mike Sanford at UNLV, and of course Kyle Whittingham at Utah. The MWC both assembled a great pile of football capital, and cashed in on it in grandest style, with Utah's riveting crushing of Alabama in New Orleans, and to a lesser extent, TCU's and CSU's beating WAC teams in bowls. Wyoming and San Diego State disappointed-- the latter all the more when it fired Chuck Long, whose successor will reap the rewards of Long's very good work with the Aztec program.

In sum, the conference continues its rise. In 2008, it not only firmly planted itself as the best of the non-cartel conferences, but spent a year in considerably better limelight than the Big East, and even the ACC for stretches.

MWC > SEC

Remind me, Coach Saban: who's the team from the "real BCS conference"? Would it be the 13-0 team from somewhere out West that just beat the snot out of your pampered elite Crimson Tide? Or is it the wimps from Tuscaloosa who gave up with time still on the clock, after their QB went down for the... 6th (7?) sack of the day?

Ahh... how stereotypes suffer when the underdogs come out with better motivation, preparation, and coaching. In sum, one could call it a... quest perfected. Congratulations Utah, and Mountain West Conference.

Here's SMQ, Fiutak's gamenotes;