TCU 23, Kansas 17: What We Learned

[caption id="attachment_19562" align="alignright" width="300"]Photo by Hoss McBain Photo by Hoss McBain[/caption] Can TCU win without Trevone Boykin? The Horned Frogs were blown out by Oklahoma State last week, and Boykin’s struggles were a big reason why. On Saturday, he went down with an ankle injury late in the first quarter and didn’t return for the rest of the game. In his absence, TCU couldn’t get its normally explosive offense going. Kansas’ defense isn’t remotely anything special, but it managed an interception (and could’ve had at least two more), made big stops and didn’t allow a TCU offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter. They pulled this one off by the skin of their teeth, but with Oklahoma and Baylor up next on the schedule, the Horned Frogs better hope Boykin is healthy and ready to go.  Aaron Green and TCU’s ground game saved this game. With Boykin out and wide receiver Josh Doctson getting very little playing time due to a wrist injury, TCU turned to its running game and Green answered the call. He ran for 177 yards on 30 carries and put the Horned Frogs on his back when the game mattered most. His 48-yard run set up a field goal that gave the Horned Frogs just enough cushion to close out the game. TCU racked up 487 yards and 279 of those came on the ground, which it relied on heavily in the second half. TCU’s offensive line is going to have to be spectacular in the next few games to keep the ground game successful and whatever quarterback is taking the snaps safe. What’s going on with TCU’s defense? TCU’s secondary was bad against the Cowboys last week, but the struggles were fairly understandable considering Oklahoma State’s ability. Kansas, however, shouldn’t have found the success it did throwing the ball. Jayhawk freshman quarterback Ryan Willis finished the game 20-of-41 with 203 yards and a touchdown while hobbling around with some type of leg injury. He threw a lot of risky passes but TCU didn’t manage to bring one down for an interception until late in the fourth quarter and gave up too many big pass plays. The Horned Frogs struggled to stop Kansas’ ground game, too. The Jayhawks rushed for 121 yards and found a lot of success despite their weak offensive line going up against a usually solid TCU defensive line. The Horned Frogs defense needs to find some answers if TCU wants to end this season with anything but a letdown.