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| Sunday, August 12 Updated: August 14, 8:42 AM ET QB Printers one of conference's best By Eric Crawford Special to ESPN.com |
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TCU Horned Frogs 2000 record: 10-2 (7-1 in WAC). Coach: Gary Patterson (first year, 0-1). Starters returning: 4 offense, 5 defense, 2 kickers. Outlook: With RB LaDainian Thompson off to the NFL, the Horned Frogs will gear their offense around talented QB Casey Printers, who is 18-4 as a college starter and ranked fourth nationally in passing efficiency last season. TCU has speed and depth at receiver, led by LaTerence Dunbar and a pair of solid tight ends -- Matt Schobel and B.J. Roberts. A fantastic line from last season was gutted by graduation, but guard Victor Payne is a good one to build a new line around. On defense, TCU lost six starters but bring back reserves who saw lots of action. LB Chad Bayer will anchor the unit, with Tennessee transfer Devon Davis expected to make an immediate contribution. Patterson says the defense is plenty talented, just a bit young. Keep an eye on: LB Chad Bayer. He's been playing in the shadows of some other stars at TCU, but is fully capable of stepping into the spotlight himself. He came to TCU as a walk-on and has been starting for three seasons, which says something about his tenacity. He led the team with 107 tackles last season and had 14 tackles for loss. Key game: How about a key stretch? In their first season in C-USA, they end the season with a four-game stretch of East Carolina and Louisville at home, and UAB and Southern Miss on the road. It's a good year if... TCU makes a respectable showing in C-USA. Printers is a proven winner and steps into the conference as one of the top QBs in a league that is loaded with good ones. "We have no idea what to expect," Patterson said. "We've got a lot of respect for these teams. We're just going to do what we do and see if it stacks up." Eric Crawford covers Conference USA for the Louisville Courier-Journal. |
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