Photo by: Caleb Saunders
Tony's Take: Beware of the Horned Frogs
November 13, 2020 09:37 AM | Football, Tony's Take
Radio play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi provides periodic commentary on the Mountaineer football program for WVUsports.com. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @TonyCaridi. Tony's Take is presented by Encova.My wife and I spent several days in southern West Virginia a few years back and took away a phrase shared by many of the people we encountered.
"You be careful," they would say as we departed one location and went to another. "You be careful" became the de facto way to end conversations. If you think about it, it's three word West Virginia magic. It's short, to the point and says a lot.
It's the same phrase I would deliver to the Mountaineer football team this week when talking about TCU.
What is kryptonite for most teams is the Horned Frogs' power source. TCU wins on the road. It is 2-0 this season and has won three of its last four games away from Fort Worth. Dig even deeper and Gary Patterson's 43 road victories are tied for third most in the nation going back to 2009.
TCU doesn't give a ribbit where it plays.
Since joining the Big 12 with WVU in 2012, this series between the league's newest members has produced some great theater. Consider that five of the eight games have been decided by a touchdown or less, two have gone to overtime and just two minutes remained last season when the Mountaineers scored the game winner.
All indications are leaning toward another game that won't be decided until deep in the fourth quarter on Saturday. TCU lost by three points to No. 17 Iowa State and beat No. 21 Texas 33-31. When it comes to comparing scores, the Frogs won at Baylor 33-23 and slapped Texas Tech at home last Saturday 34-18.
For the second week in a row, and this is really unique, WVU's defense will face a team whose leading rusher just also happens to be its quarterback. Sam Ehlinger of Texas can run, TCU's Max Duggan likes to run and that's a big difference.
You could tell last week that Ehlinger was banged up and begrudgingly ran when it was necessary. Duggan looks like he runs for enjoyment and adventure, kind of like a hyped-up skateboarder taking his board down the steps coming from the College of Law to Milan Puskar Stadium.
A week ago, he rode his board for a head-shaking 154 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns and a long run of 81 yards. Ribbit.
It presents an interesting challenge for a WVU defense that's been stingy all season, especially at home where it's allowing an average of 16 points in three Big 12 games.
While WVU's defense is drawing impressive reviews, TCU's defense is the nucleus of everything Patterson has accomplished in Fort Worth. Neal Brown raves about Patterson's scheme because he knows the challenges it presents. I could bore you with alignment principles, but it's much easier to simply point you toward Jerry Seinfeld and the close talker episode. Yep, TCU's defense is the annoying cousin who gets really close into your face and makes you unbearably uncomfortable. It's the ultimate challenge for WVU's receivers. Can and will they be able to release themselves from the constant and pervasive pressure they'll face? That question is perhaps the single most important of the game considering Leddie Brown's health status.
Brown isn't the only banged up Mountaineer, as WVU is playing for a fifth consecutive week and needs a break physically and mentally. A Mountaineer win would equal last season's win total and provide a much needed boost heading into games with Oklahoma and Iowa State.
So what should we expect on Saturday? History says it will be physical, closely contested and likely not decided until the final moments of play. TCU has won two straight and have no fear of playing away from home.
It's a trap game for the slightly favored Mountaineers. My message to the team would be real simple.
"You be careful."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballRich Rodriguez | Dec. 3
Wednesday, December 03
Reid Carrico | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Jeff Weimer | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Rich Rodriguez | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
