A TCU TRADITION 4Since the NCAA began tracking statistics in 1937, TCU trails only Alabama for the most times leading the nation in total defense. The Crimson Tide has been No. 1 six times, while all five No. 1 rankings for the Horned Frogs are in the last 14 seasons. 4In 2010, TCU became just the third program in NCAA history to top the nation in total defense in three consecutive seasons (2008-10). The others are Toledo (1969-71) and Oklahoma (1985-87). FAMILIAR FACES RETURN IN 2014 4TCU returns nine starters on defense from a unit that led the Big 12 in rushing defense (130.8 yards per game) while placing a close second in total defense (356.4 yards per game). The Horned Frogs were just 6.2 yards behind Oklahoma State, despite playing 40 more snaps. 4The Horned Frogs’ nine returning defensive starters does not include 2012 Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Devonte Fields, who was limited to just three games last season due to injury. IMPRESSIVE FEAT 4TCU finished 24th nationally in total defense (356.4 yards per game) but seventh for teams that played at least 886 snaps. CHASING HISTORY 4TCU made a run at becoming the first Big 12 team since 1996 (Nebraska) to lead the conference in both sacks and interceptions. 4TCU led the conference in both categories for most of the season, before finishing in a tie for second in picks (19) and in a tie for third in sacks (32). DEFENDING THE PASS 4TCU opponents combined to complete less than 50.0 percent of their passes over the final seven games last season: Team Comp. Att. Pct. Yds TD Int Kansas 13 26 50.0 152 1 1 Oklahoma State 20 44 45.5 320 0 3 Texas 9 19 47.4 228 1 2 West Virginia 25 41 61.0 267 2 2 Iowa State 19 40 47.5 173 0 0 Kansas State 13 29 44.8 257 2 1 Baylor 19 38 50.0 206 2 1 Totals 118 237 49.8 1,603 8 10 4TCU held six of its last seven opponents to a 50.0 percent or less completion percentage. Sixteen of the last 18 opponents are below 60 percent. 4TCU opponents completed just 51.7 percent of their pass attempts last season with 19 interceptions and only 14 touchdowns. 4Prior to Oklahoma completing 64.5 percent (20-of31) of its passes, TCU had the nation’s longest current streak (10 games) for keeping its opponent to less than a 60 percent completion percentage.
STANDING ALONE 4TCU was one of just two teams (Tulane) to finish in the top five nationally in tackles for loss per game (5th, 8.2) and in the top 10 in interceptions (tied for 6th, 19). STUFFING THE RUN 4Since 2000, TCU has the nation’s top run defense: No. Team Rushing Yds Allowed PG 1. TCU 93.8 2. Ohio State 102.1 3. Alabama 102.5 4TCU’s run defense in wins and losses last season:
Category Rushes Per Game Yards Per Game Yards Per Carry Rushing TDs
Wins Losses 38.0 40.3 94.8 148.9 2.5 3.7 2 12
4TCU held four of its last 10 opponents to under 100 yards rushing, including three at 46 or less. SHUTTING THEM DOWN 4Since 2010, TCU is tied for fourth nationally in most games holding an opponent to less than 10 points: No. Team 1. Alabama 2. Florida State 3. Michigan State 4. TCU LSU
Games 25 19 16 12 12
4Prior to allowing 30 points to Texas, TCU was tied for the nation’s longest current streak (six games) for holding opponents to 24 points or less. PRESSURING THE QB 4TCU tied for third in the Big 12 in sacks (32) and was 25th nationally with its average of 2.7 per game. 4Defensive end Terrell Lathan had a team-high five sacks. 4Fourteen players combined for TCU’s 32 sacks. The following is a position breakdown of the sacks: Position No. of Players Combined Sacks Defensive Line 8 21 Linebackers 3 4 Secondary 3 7
SPRING PROSPECTUS
FROG DEFENSIVE NOTES TCU ACTIVE LEADERS TACKLES 1.___ Chris Hackett_______________________ 149 2.___ Jonathan Anderson___________________ 143 3.___ Sam Carter_________________________ 120 4.___ Paul Dawson________________________ 105 5.___ Chucky Hunter________________________ 96 6.___ Kevin White_________________________ 95 7.___ Marcus Mallet________________________ 91 8.___ Derrick Kindred _______________________ 68 9___ Davion Pierson_______________________ 60 10.___ Terrell Lathan________________________ 27
TACKLES FOR LOSS 1.___ Devonte Fields______________________ 20.5 2.___ Sam Carter_________________________14.0 Chucky Hunter_______________________14.0 4.___ Marcus Mallet_______________________13.5 5.___ Davion Pierson_____________________ 12.0 6.___ Paul Dawson________________________ 11.0 7.___ Terrell Lathan_______________________ 8.0 8.___ Chris Hackett_______________________ 6.0 9.___ Jonathan Anderson___________________ 5.5 James McFarland____________________ 5.5 11.___ Mike Tuaua_________________________ 4.5 12.___ Derrick Kindred______________________ 4.0
SACKS 1.___ Devonte Fields_______________________10.0 2.___ Sam Carter__________________________7.0 3.___ Chucky Hunter_______________________ 6.0 4.___ Terrell Lathan_______________________ 5.0 5.___ Davion Pierson______________________ 4.0 6.___ James McFarland____________________ 3.5 7.___ Chris Hackett_______________________ 2.0 Marcus Mallet_______________________ 2.0 9.___ Jonathan Anderson___________________ 1.5 10.___ Mike Tuaua_________________________ 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS 1.___ Sam Carter___________________________9 2.___ Chris Hackett_________________________5 3.___ Kevin White__________________________4 4.___ Derrick Kindred________________________2 5.___ Jonathan Anderson_____________________ 1 Paul Dawson__________________________ 1 Devonte Fields_________________________ 1 Geoff Hooker__________________________ 1
RUSHING THE PASSER 4TCU had at least two sacks in 10 of its 12 games. 4Since 2007, TCU is fourth in the nation for most games with at least three sacks: No. Team 1. Stanford Virginia Tech 3. Cincinnati 4. TCU 5. Oregon
Games 48 48 47 45 43 S P R I N G 2 0 14
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