Things are unquestionably better around the San Diego State football program. How much better may be revealed on Saturday night, when the Aztecs (4-4, 2-2 MWC) face by far their toughest test of the season. TCU (8-0, 4-0 MWC) is ranked 4th in the coaches’ poll and 6th in the latest BCS standings, and with good reason. The Horned Frogs have no apparent weakness, says SDSU head coach Brady Hoke:
Hoke’s complimentary words are borne out by the statistics. Just what do you try to stop against TCU? An offense that’s ranked in the top 15 nationally in yards and points per game? A rushing offense that’s in the top 10 in the country? A defense that is ranked #1 in the country in total defense, #3 in scoring defense, #6 in rushing defense, #8 in passing defense, and #9 in sacks? Or a return game that’s top 10 in both kickoff and punt return average per game?
Oh, and then there’s the TCU team speed. As in, everywhere you look. Hoke compared it to a great team he faced as a Michigan assistant:
Hear more from Coach Hoke, plus Ryan Lindley and Davion Mauldin, after the jump:
Defensive end Jerry Hughes, a running back who was converted to defense by head coach Gary Patterson when he arrived in Fort Worth, has nine sacks, tied for 5th in the NCAA. He’s a handful, and Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley admits that he’s a player SDSU will have to account for on the field every play:
But lest you forget about the other side of the football, TCU is also setting a school record with 447 yards per game of total offense. Horned Frog quarterback Andy Dalton has matured into his role as team leader, and the junior is completing 63% of his passes, with 14 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. Joseph Turner is a heavy-duty running back with 499 yards and 8 scores, and the TCU receiving corps is deep, with five players in double digits for catches.
Senior defensive back Davion Mauldin gives his look at the TCU offense:
Listening to Hoke talk about what he sees from TCU on tape, you can tell that he’s looking at exactly the type of team he’d like his Aztecs to become: fast, hungry, hard-hitting, relentless. The admiration came through when Hoke broke down the Horned Frog defense:
Hoke will be subjected to a full 60 minutes of TCU up close and personal on Saturday afternoon. It may not be as fun to watch when it’s happening to your team.
