Some reason for optimism going into Saturday...
- Coach Brown is now 3-1 vs. TCU in his four years.
- Coach Brown is 2-0 vs. TCU in Ft. Worth.
- WVU RUSHING vs. TCU:
> 2019: 27 carries, 86 yards (3.2 ypc). OK, that's bad, but we won.
> 2020: 37 carries, 180 yards (4.9 ypc). Leddie Brown had 163 yards on 24 carries (6.5 ypc)
> 2021: 41 carries, 229 yards (5.6 ypc). Leddie had 112 yards on 24 carries, 3 TD (4.6 ypc)
> 2022: 40 carries, 155 yards (3.9 ypc). CJ Donaldson had 104 yards on 19 carries, 2 TD (5.5 ypc)
- WVU TOTAL OFFENSE vs. TCU:
> 2019: 62 plays, 244 yards, 3.9 ypp, 20 points vs. TCU with 71 plays, 297 yards, 4.2 ypp, 17 points
> 2020: 63 plays, 392 yards, 6.2 ypp, 24 points vs. TCU with 63 plays, 295 yards, 4.7 ypp, 6 points
> 2021: 70 plays, 487 yards, 7.0 ypp, 29 points vs. TCU with 60 plays, 393 yards, 6.6 ypp, 17 points
> 2022: 79 plays, 430 yards, 5.4 ypp, 31 points vs. TCU with 55 plays, 494 yards, 9.0 ypp, 41 points
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Our Defense is clearly better in 2023, and seems to be gaining steam with each game. Our offense has clearly taken a step back from last year. However, we had a ton of success vs. TCU last season, and CJ Donaldson had a hell of a day.
Their personnel aren't any better than our personnel. It's going to be a pure X's and O's matchup - which I know makes some of you gag a bit. However, for me, it's simple - hit a couple big throws down the field and if the defense keeps up what it is doing, then we're going to be right there at the end and may get to 4-1.
Sirius XM's show around 3:30pm yesterday with Jacob Hester and Chris Doering had Chris Plank on, and he was talking us up as one of the best stories of the season that no one is talking about. When we get to 4-1, then all of the sudden we'll be back on the radar screen...which would be a welcome change.