Deseret News | BYU football: TCU's defense ranks first in nation

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BYU football: TCU's defense ranks first in nation

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TED | 9:54 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

TCU UTAH BYU COLORADO ST AND AIR FORCE ARE ALL VERY GOOD FOOTBALL TEAMS THIS YEAR. I THINK THIS IS THE MOST TALENTED OF ALL PAST YEARS (WAC OR MWC) TO BAD THE OVERALL GREATNESS IS BEING GOBBLED UP BY COMMENTS FROM ALL YOU WANT TO BE COACHES.

it's all relative | 9:58 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

TCU's defense is high when they play MWC teams, not vs. top caliber ie. Oklahoma. Then they were overmatched. BYU similarly has done well vs. weak competition (I don't consider UW or any other PAC 10 team as particularly weak since they could cream most of the MWC).

To say BYU has only won vs. losing teams is stupid since they've beaten everyone on their schedule and it just so happens those teams have a losing record so far. Wait until the end of the year for these kinds of comments!!

New Unofficial BCS Rankings | 10:04 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

1Texas
2Alabama
3Penn St
4Oklahoma
5Texas Tech
6USC
7Okla St
8Florida
9Utah
10BYU
11Georgia
12Boise St

Comments continue below

Cougar believer looking at.. | 10:05 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

the numbers..

Team Passing Nationally:
OK #4, BYU #8 (TCU #97)- Huge Advantage BYU
(TCU was beat by a strong OK passing attack)

Team Passing Defense:
OK #32 BYU #43 (TCU #41) Slight Advantage TCU

Team Rushing Nationally:
OK #54 BYU #73 (TCU #13) Huge Advantage TCU

Team Rushing Defense: Big Advantage TCU
OK #25 BYU #38 (TCU #1)
(TCU shut down OK on the run)

Strength of Schedule: Advantage TCU
OK #32 BYU #121 (TCU #91)
(BYU squeaked by in Washington, TCU was flattened in Oklahoma)

Conference Play Consecutive Wins:
BYU 18 TCU 5

What a game tomorrow! I'll be there as part of the visiting 'home' crowd!.. "Hall drops back.."

Schedule | 10:08 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

You all are laughing at BYU's schedule, but TCU's is pretty weak as well. The difference is when they played a good team, they got beat badly. Other than that....San Diego St, Colo St, SMU, Stephen F. Austin etc. AND...they could only manage 13 points against the lowly CSU Rams...Cougs by three TDs

RE: DEFENSE | 10:19 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

It's clear you think TCU has a good defense against average teams, so that would make BYU's offense good agaisnt avergae teams as well right?

From Yesterday | 10:20 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Gentlemen. I come from the south and have enjoyed football in the south for many years. I also enjoy football here in the mountain west. After reading "TCU Amazing" I couldn't restrain myself. BYU's defense "hard hitting, fast, incredible." "I don't know anyone who could stop us." My observations lead me to believe that if you don't see football up close and in person you don't know how fast they are. I have seen up close and in person in the south and mountain west. Neither BYU, Utah, TCU or any other mwc team can compete in speed, strength, hard hitting, etc. with the upper echelon teams in the south. All mwc teams would be in the bottom half of the leagues right now. You just can't recruit the top athletes. After a number of years I could see a mwc team compete in the south because they would get recruits based on the conf. they played in. You have not seen speed, strength and hard hitting till you have seen football in the south in person. Just ask Hawaii and Boise State when they played Georgia. Give it a break BYU dreamers of NC hopes.

New song | 10:21 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Sing to rise and shout:

Sit and pout cause the horned frogs came out

And smashed your team to pieces!

It is sad but the cougars were had

for breakfast,lunch and dinner!

Sorry... don't know the rest of your song. What do you shout when you rise?

Good luck ladies...You're going to need it.

A LAUGH | 10:22 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

would be all this talk and drama about BYU or UTah going to BCS bowl and then having say a team like Texas or Florida play them and eat up their receivers. The sad part is that you guys actually think that Austin collie could outplay any of the top 5 teams secondary. Be a realist for once. Try it! utah would get ran by any top 10 team. Putting these two over ranked teams in a game with the big dogs would be a travesty and emberassment.

TCU | 10:23 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

is the size of a high school, so no excuses BYU fans.

Re: TheHailstorm | 10:23 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Oh yeah, I'm sure Ute fans would love to forget about recent history, i.e. 2007 at LES or 2006 at RES, thus rendering it unimportant. But those same Ute fans love to bring up their 2004 season or the overall BYU/Utah series record over the last 80+ years. I can't blame them but I also can't help but wonder if the shoe were on the other foot...

RE: GO COUGS | 10:26 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

HAHA Your laughing at TCU's schedule! Enough said. Your first game was against NORHTERN IOWA. DO me a favor and combine the records of the teams BYU has played and get back to me. Talking about TCU's schedule, PLEASE!

Just Win | 10:27 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

A blowout win over TCU would do very little to enhance BYU's BCS ranking, this week.

That's right, a 70-0 win wouldn't do anymore than a 35-10 win.

Why?

Because NONE of the computers care about margin of victory. A 100-0 score is equal to a 3-2 score.

The only thing a blowout win would do is impress the voters, but that probably wouldn't move BYU (or Utah) up more than a place or two, if that, baring several upsets of teams ranked above BYU in the human polls.

#1 Texas vs #12 Missouri (a Missouri win might hurt)
#2 Alabama vs Ole Miss (upset unlikely)
#3 Penn St vs Michigan (will hurt Utah's SOS)
#4 USC at Washington St (will hurt USC's SOS)
#5 Texas Tech at Texas A&M (upset unlikely)
#6 Oklahoma vs Kansas (will eliminate Kansas from BCS bowls)
#7 Florida bye
#8 BYU
#9 Georgia vs Vandy (could hurt if Georgia wins big)
#10 Oklahoma St vs Baylor (upset very unlikely)
#11 Ohio St at Michigan St (loser eliminated)
#12 Missouri
#13 Utah

LOL | 10:27 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I just read all the posts. I could care-a-less about BYU TCU or UTAH but come on. Do you people really think you as good as the top programs in the country in speed, size and strength? Go watch a game in the SEC up close and personal and you will never ever make the comments that you are making on here. BYU and UTAH have good teams but nothing like in the South. I guess it's OK to dream but keep your dreams to yourself and not embarrass yourself with the comments I am reading on here. BYU And UTAH are like Jr. College Programs compared to Florida and the SEC.

NEW FLASH | 10:30 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

EVEN IF BYU WINS 50-0 they still won't jump far in the polls. Try reality on for size! I don't know why you UTE and COugar fans don't understand. Pound for Pound the LSU,UF,USC,ALABAMA,MIZZ,UT,OU are just better teams who compete at a higher level. Why can't you accept it. Does that mean that if they played BYU or UTAH could they slip and lose? YES! BUT they are the better team and program.

IT"S ALL ABOUT HISTORY | 10:34 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

IF UTAH or BYU beats USC are they better than USC? NO! IF a team has been a top 5 national power for more than 5 years and they slip one night, it doesn't mean they are inferior. I t just mean they slipped and they usually rebound and compete for a national title. I don't understand these U AND Y Fans criticizing the big boys and complaining and making excuses as to why they are not ranked higher.

Re: UCLA? | 10:39 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Could you be any more disingenuous? Of course UCLA was huge, going in. So BYU got up for that game and smoked 'em 59-0. Sure UCLA isn't what anyone thought they were but many talking heads around the country at the time were picking UCLA to win that game. BYU got up huge and not only won the game but handed them their worst defeat in almost 80 years!

Utah had a perceived big win against Michigan to start the season. BYU had a perceived big win against UCLA. Which one of those wins is more impressive, now in hindsight? Probaby UCLA. Both Michigan and UCLA are currently 2-4. Both teams had huge wins against opponents that have now turned out to be mediocre at best (Wisconsin and Tennessee respectively). The difference you say? UCLA hasn't lost to a bad team yet this year. They've lost to BYU, Arizona, Frenso State (by 5 points) and Oregon (by seven), all teams with winning records. Michigan lost to Toledo. Nuff said!

Re: New Unofficial BCS Rankings | 10:46 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

What's your source?

TCU - CSU | 10:57 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I watched the game on the MTN (replay) and CSU easily could have won this game, they had several drops, including one in the end zone. TCU is a middle of the pack Mtn West team, even Utah might beat them this year.

Eyes Wide Open | 11:00 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Have all of you forgotten that when TCU entered the MWC three years ago they beat Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma when Adrian Petersen was a running back for OU? The same Adrian Petersen who racked up the single game rushing record in the NFL! That same year all the sports writers/pundits had TCU finishing last or next to last in the MWC. Trust me, Max Hall is going to see pressure that he has never seen before and BYU is in for the fight of their lives at TCU. Hey, I'm just happy TCU is in the MWC. Makes it more fun, don't you agree. TCU 24, BYU 10.

Quest T-shirts | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Will be available at various locations throughout happy valley beginning at the end of the TCU game for deep discounts. They make excellent garage rags, good for cleanup, as well as for soaking up burst bubbles and tears. See the classifieds on Monday for exact locations, or visit your local DI.

Long Time Fan | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I may be wrong, but it seems to me that for the last 3 years BYU has played TCU pretty tough. If you will remember, we are 2-1 in that time frame and the only reason for the lone loss was a bad call on one of the last plays of the game. No one even gave us a chance of winning that one and that was the year TCU went undefeated in the conference. I think when the dust settles after the game is over tomorrow night that the Cougars will have shown that they are still the class of the MWC.

BYW, I have to agree with an earlier post that questions who TCU has played this year that would have given them the defensive stats that they have. Oklahoma is the only worthy opponent so far and look what happened.

Sure seems to me like everyone is trying to scare BYU fans with defensive stats. Too bad for TCU that the Cougars won't look at the stats and just give up, roll over, and die. It is good that they actually have to play the game. Stats don't mean anything.

Eyes Wide Open | 11:02 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Three years ago when TCU beat Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, OU was ranked No. 5 in the country.

Anonymous | 11:12 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I'm really worried about this game. Last time BYU met TCU @ TCU, TCU was ranked 15th in the nation and had the nations longest winning streak. Not to be a doomsayer or anything like that, but the shoe is indeed on the other foot and if BYU isn't careful, they will hit the same wall TCU did in '06. BYU has seemingly let down the last couple of games but lets hope that they have been saving their more potent offensive schemes for games like these. Who knows maybe they have just let down. This game should be a defensive battle. Out of pride for my school, BYU 14, TCU 10.

Loss for byu | 11:14 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

BYU has no chance in this game

Re: Just Win | 11:15 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

What's your point? Yes, you're right that MOV does not factor into computer rankings but SOS does. And since TCU is the highest ranked opponent so far on the BYU schedule, according to the computers, a win over them, regardless of margin, would greatly enhance the computer portion of their BCS ranking.

SEC Sucks | 11:19 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Is anyone else sick to death of comments that the SEC is so superior? Give me a break! It gets a little tiring, you know? If they're so great, then why don't they break off from the NCAA and form their own pro-league to compete with the NFL, or something? Then we wouldn't have to hear about their superiority ad nauseum from their annoying fans.

Re: NEW(S) FLASH | 11:23 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

You're the one that brought in the SEC into this discussion (with how many posts now?) No one here said that either Utah or BYU is better than the SEC. Why don't you go find your own SEC message board? I'm sure there are plenty of those around for blowhard, backwoods SEC fans to get their kicks.

Exposed | 11:27 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

BYU will bring it. Maximum exposure. TCU will come out all fired up and then start to falter. By halftime they will need to regroup. They will then come out strong and give a show, but by the time Gaskins is playing in the fourth the TCU team will be wanting to hide. How could lowly BYU do this to them again, three years straight. Then Utah fans will look for another excuse as to why TCU lost, something about not being full strength. Never fear. Your chance to also try to match up will come. Happy Thanksgiving Cougars.

re; TCU will expose BYU & Hall | 11:34 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

the whole country must not think they are overrated, they are still ranked higher than the utes.

Re: Re: Defense | 11:36 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I believe BYU's offense is A LOT better than TCU has encountered (except OU) so they will have thier hands full. Again, it's not BYU's fault their schedule has been weak, just like it's not the Yewts fault their schedule is weak. Point is...TCU has had only one test thus far...and they failed..they will fail again.

Go Cougs!!

Re: News Flash | 11:40 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Completely disagree...those teams do NOT consistently compete at a higher level. Until this year, Alabama has been bad the past several years, Mizz is usually bad and this year is the exception, we're finding out LSU isn't that good this year. It goes in cycles, but then again, if you understood college football and recruiting, you wouldn't make such a lame comment to start with.

re: From Yesterday | 11:47 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I agree with you about speed and talent, but disagree with the hard hitting. anyone can hit hard regardless of talent. just ask that linebacker from UCLA that got crushed by Unga, and he was the running back.

Texas Cougar | 11:53 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I am amazed at how many of you take the media for their word. TCU is NOT that good.

I have seen them play in person against SMU, and yes they beat SMU (#118 out of 120), and they beat some other teams not even in the top 50.

The one team they played in the top 50 torched them up and down the field and made them look like a high school team. So, this so-called statistical # 1 defense makes me laugh when you consider who TCU has played: SFA (non bowl division), SMU #118, Stanford #51, SDSU #109, NM #76, & CSU #72 (according to Rivals).

Come on! They will be using their second string QB, and they are suspect to the long ball. I see this as BYU toughest test to date, but the score will be a lot like the TCU - OU score, so I say BYU - 31 TCU 7.

Frogs do taste like chicken, so let's fry some up Thursday night.

The SEC is overrated | 11:59 a.m. Oct. 15, 2008

this year.

The Big 12 is better.

Every one of the top SEC teams has weaknesses and would be vulnerable, especially if they played BYU, Utah or TCU on the road in our house.

Speed, quickness, and athletism can all be countered with execution.

The "higher level" that the elistists like to brag about isn't that much higher, a little, but not much.

Better doesn't mean invincible.

It's all talk.

Until we have a playoff, you'll just have to live with the fact that you haven't proved your superiority on the field by beating BYU, Utah or TCU at our place.

Beating another over-rated SEC team doesn't prove you're better than the best teams in the MWC.

Glenn | 12:09 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I don't think Utah or Byu has played a ranked team this year have they? This will be the first week that either of them play a ranked team, so up to this point, I think their schedules are equal. I think Byu survives with a 31-21 win.

Source | 12:09 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Take the current Coaches and Harris rankings, forecast the winners and losers for this week, project the new human poll rankings, adjust the 5 BCS computer polls to account for changes in SOS and W/L records, take a wild guess at what the 6th computer poll rankings will be, subtract, subtract, add, divide, add, add, divide, mix thoroughly, bake for 1.5 seconds so that the final result is just as half-baked as the rest of the "unofficial" BCS rankings, and poof, the

New "Unofficial" BCS Rankings:

1 Texas
2 Alabama
3 Penn St
4 Oklahoma
5 Texas Tech
6 USC
7 Okla St
8 Florida
9 Utah
10 BYU
11 Georgia
12 Boise St

geezer | 12:10 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Re: TCU-CSU

It won't be the same TCU that barely beat CSU. BYU played poorly against USU. This will be a great game with both teams pumped and ready to go. I'm not sure what my head says, but may heart says BYU 27-24.

Matt | 12:20 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

BYU needs to win at TCU to keep its top 10 ranking. Hopefully there will be two undefeated teams by the time the Y and U meet. I hope BYU plays like it is capable of playing and offsets a pretty solid TCU defense.

And no more complaining about schedules. They are what they are. Boise State played a "cupcake" schedule in '06 and then beat up on a very good OK team.

Quest T-shirts | 12:21 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Will be treasured keepsakes for BYU fnas in years to come; a reminder that setting high goals is a worthy endeavor, even if you fall a little short.

The Quest will continue even if BYU loses to TCU or Utah. Those who think otherwise, really never understood the Quest to begin with.

btw, BYU will beat TCU tomorrow night.

hmmm? | 12:36 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Just Win

was my point.

Any movement in the rankings is completely out of BYU's hands.

Winning, is the only thing BYU needs to worry about. The rankings will take care of themselves. SOS will take care of itself.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

As long as you stay with the lead pack, by not losing, competitors will slowly, one-by-one, drop off the pace.

You can't control who or when; all you can control is whether you remain in contention and have enough courage, strength, desire, fortitude, whatever it takes, to beat the last competitor(s).

RE:LOL | 12:39 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

What's that? You could "care-a-less" about BYU, TCU or Utah? I could "care-a-less" about seeing some SEC games this year, i.e. Auburn 3, Miss. St 2. (But the players were moving so fast they probably didn't see all of the scoring).

I think we just might be able to make a field goal to tie Auburn. We'd have to play to see.

Gorum The Old | 12:42 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

BYU, Utah, and TCU are great teams, but comparing SOS between BYU and Utah is pointless. Utah's schedule so far has been tougher, but it's nothing to brag about. None of the teams on Utah's D1A non conference have winning records either.

I think BYU vs TCU game will be determined by turnovers. Both teams have offenses that can and have produced a lot of points.

Both teams have stingy defenses. BYU is 2nd in the nation scoring defense (true, ranking is inflated due to weaker schedule, but still impressive). TCU is #1 in total defense and run defense. True OK scored 35 against them, but nobody has defended them better so far. They only allowed 25 yards rushing, and held Bradford to 58.9% completion, which is 16.6% below his season average.

The short fields created by turnovers will go a long way in determining who wins.

PS: BYU 24 TCU 10. BYU's Tight ens have a big day.

Seriously amused | 12:45 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

All the experts with their predictions here should use that talent to pick a good stock portfolio. That might be more beneficial than the other stuff changing hands here.

Hmmm... | 12:46 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I think that the BYU team that shows up on Thursday night will be closer to the team that beat up on UCLA. Remember how they were pretty much underdogs in that game? Remember how UCLA was ranked right around 24-26 in the weeks leading up to that game? Sound familiar? How BYU was underachieving prior to that game and many writers and analysts were predicting a BYU loss? Sound familiar? BYU has got something to prove in this game and they're going to be fired up. They're not going to win by 59 points, but I think you'll see a much more dynamic offense and a solid defense. Bronco will have the team prepared for the game and the team should and will have the underdog mindset.

-----1--2--3--4--F
BYU--7-14-14-0--35
TCU--7-7--0-10--24

funny | 12:49 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

...how some yewt fans insist on calling the Cougars "the kittens". What an indictment against your own sorry excuse of a team. Your sorry little yewts have been owned by a bunch of "kittens" the past 2 years and will getted rolled by "kittens" again this year!! How come ewe guys can't even beat a bunch of "kittens"??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Every week is different | 1:04 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Anyone who has played football at a high level knows that on any given day, a team can play better or worse than normal. Sometimes, it is due to the defense while on other times, it is due to lack of intensity/preparation. Being at home or on the road is also a factor that cannot be ignored

TCU played CSU in a tight game. Normally, CSU would not give TCU fits. This time, they did. UCLA is a better team than Washington, yet UW gave the Cougars fits.

If that rationale was concrete, we wouldn't have need for playing the games.

History | 1:08 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Top 5 national powers come and go, just ask Notre Dame, Nebraska and Miami.

Just because you had a great team last season, doesn't guarantee that your team is great this season.

USC's win against Ohio St was impressive at the time, but the Buckeyes haven't been all that impressive, even in their wins.

Oregon State didn't just beat USC, the Beavers dominated that game. Oregon State is a good team, but certainly not a great team.

The Trojans are a Top 10 team, but whether they're Top 5 or NC caliber, or not, is debateable.

Cosmo | 1:17 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

RE: A Laugh

And Oklahoma really tore apart Boise State didn't they? (2006 Fiesta Bowl which Boise State won) Like it or not as long as there are good teams that don't get invited to the BCS party the BCS will be second guessed. Put yourself in our shoes. All we're asking for is a chance. The BCS denies that to our conference teams. We have to be perfect to even have a chance at a BCS game. Hawaii didn't play well last year, but both Utah and Boise State have beaten "mighty" BCS powers. The underdogs or Cinderellas at least have a shot in NCAA basketball. Why is it asking so much to have a similar format for football? (greed, conspiracy, bullying, good old boys only, etc..)

Marie | 1:29 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I hope TCU knocks Hall into the middle of next week. TCU BY 10.

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Bradley Wakoff, Associated Press

TCU's defense, shown here sacking Colorado State quarterback Billy Farris on Oct. 11, leads the nation in several defensive categories.

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BYU football: TCU's defense ranks first in nation