subject: 2010 TCU Football Predictions [print this page] The TCU Horned Frogs nearly finished the 2009 season with a perfect record, as their only loss game in their final game against a very good Boise State team in the Fiesta Bowl. The Bulldogs finished the season a perfect 8-0 in MWC play and ended up 12-1 on the year. This year the Horned Frogs open the 2010 season ranked No.7 in the country, as they figure to be even better with 16 starters back from the 2009 season. To get an even better idea of what the Horned Frogs will look like, here is a quick breakdown of what they will send to the field on both sides of the ball, plus my thoughts on where they will finish the year in the MWC.
Offense:
Senior Andy Dalton returns as the starting quarterback for the Horned Frogs, and they are expecting big things from him in 2010, as Dalton really shined in 2009, throwing for 2,756 yards with 23 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Dalton must stay healthy for the Horned Frogs to not only when the MWC this season, but for a legit shot to win the National Championship.
The Horned Frogs have to make a switch at running back this season, as they lose their top rusher from the 2009 in Joseph Turner. With Turner gone the Horned Frogs will turn sophomore Matthew Tucker to take over the starting job, as Tucker finished second on the team with 676 yards and eight scores in 2009.
A big reason why I expect a huge season out of Dalton in 2010, is the fact that he returns all his starting weapons in the passing game, and it isn't as though one player stood out over the others, four different players had at least 33 catches for over 400 yards in 2009. The two guys you have to watch out for are seniors Jimmy Young and Jeremy Kerley.
The Horned Frogs should be very strong up front on the offensive line, as TCU has four starters back from the 2009 season, including one of the best tackles in the conference in senior left tackle Marcus Cannon. The only change that this unit will have to make is at right tackle, where red-shirt freshman John Wooldridge is expected to step in and start right away.
Defense:
The Horned Frogs have been very good on the defensive side of the ball, and with seven starters back for the 2009 season this unit should once again be one of the top defenses in the country. Up front the Horned Frogs will feel the loss of defensive end Jerry Hughes, but still have plenty of talent to be very strong on the defensive line. Seniors Cory Grant and Kelly Griffin are both back at the defensive tackle spots, and they also return one of the best defensive ends in the conference in senior Wayne Daniels, who finished second to Hughes with 5.5 sacks last season.
The Horned Frogs also have to replace one of their best linebackers from last season, as they lose their top tackler in Daryl Washington. They should still be very solid at this unit, as they return junior Tank Carder and add a very talented sophomore to the starting lineup in Tanner Brock on the outside.
The Horned Frogs should be pretty solid in the secondary as well this season, but do have to replace both starting corners. It looks as though junior Greg McCoy and senior Jason Teague will step in and start at the two open spots. At safety the Horned Frogs welcome back senior strong safety Tyler Luttrell and one of the best free safeties in the conference in senior Tejay Johnson.
MWC Prediction 1st:If the Horned Frogs can start the season off with a nice win over Oregon State, I think they have a real legit shot at finishing the year undefeated again in 2009. Whether or not that will be good enough to get them in the title game is still up for debate. Either way I don't see the Horned Frogs finishing with more than one loss and should go undefeated in MWC play again this season.
Find out where the rest of the teams will finish in the MWC, in our 2010 MWC predictions.
