TCU defense struggling

TCU remains on course to become a member of the Big East. At least today, anyway. You never know in the changing landscape of college athletics.

With that in mind, I bring to you the first of what will be weekly installments on how the Horned Frogs are faring this season.

The most glaring problem for TCU has been its defense. TCU has finished ranked No. 1 in total defense three straight seasons, but the likelihood of that happening in 2011 is remote.

Right now TCU sits at No. 103 in total defense. TCU has finished outside the Top 25 twice since Gary Patterson became head coach in 2000. That happened in 2003, when TCU was ranked No. 38, and in 2004, when it was ranked No. 99.

Patterson is a defensive guru, so to see his unit struggle like this has been unusual. His team has faced radically different styles of offenses, but the primary problem seems to be against the pass. TCU has four new starters in the secondary, and they have yet to jell completely.

Linebacker Tanner Brock also is expected to miss his third straight game with a foot injury, which has not helped the situation. But Patterson says he has seen incremental progress in three games so far.

TCU gets Portland State this weekend before a huge test against a passing team next week in SMU.

"Here's how I look at it," Patterson said. "In the San Diego State game (last year), we gave up three or four touchdown passes. But we won the Rose Bowl. For us, you've got to keep things in perspective. We're playing so many read-option teams, there's so many other variables we have to work on. I thought we played the pass a lot better in the Air Force game. ULM dinked and dunked. We've made some tremendous strides, but have some good throwing teams coming up."

TCU in NCAA total defense rankings under Gary Patterson:

2010: 1
2009: 1
2008: 1
2007: 15
2006: 2
2005: 25
2004: 99
2003: 38
2002: 1
2001: 24
2000: 1

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/47799/tcu-defense-struggling

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