I have a hunch.  Call it a hunch because it may not be worth much.  I have a hunch that we will see TCU light it up on offense this year.  Not only that, but I have a hunch that Andy Dalton will pass for 3000 yards.  It’s just a hunch.  I have no real empirical evidence.  The Horned Frogs have always been fairly balanced in the Gary Patterson era, but a little more to the run (See Hobbs, Tomlinson, and Merrill).  Dalton is a good passer, and while we won’t accuse TCU of running a Spread Offense, we just might see it be much more explosive this year.  Therefore, I offer my Top Ten Reasons TCU’s Offense Will Be (More) Explosive in 2008.

10.  Blake Schlueter–For the Frogs, it all starts up front.  Don’t underestimate his importance.  He is the QB of the Offensive Line which returns 4 starters.  He makes all the calls.  And, he is the first guy to touch the ball.  Have you seen this guy?  I wouldn’t want him to be upset with me.

9.  Aaron Brown–If Brown is healthy, he has the ability to have over 1500 all purpose yards.  As a

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Sophomore he had 1256 yards.  Brown is not just a great back on the edge, he is a great receiver out of the backfield.  All you have to do with Brown is get him the ball in space and he can make plays.  I can envision Brown lining up in the slot with Joseph Turner in the backfield along with And Dalton.  Who would the defense focus on?

8.  Young Receivers–The receivers are young, but they are fast.  They also are carrying a little bit of a swagger into fall practice.  These receivers did play last year even though they were not starters.  Walter Bryant, Jimmy Young, and Jeremy Kerley will be looking to make a big impact.  Also pay attention to Bart Johnson, John Brown and Antoine Hicks.

7.  Marshall Newhouse–If Dalton is to pass for 3000 yards, it will be up to Newhouse to keep him upright.  Newhouse led TCU in Knockdowns last year.  He also will be Dalton’s first line of defense at the Left Tackle spot.

6.  Jason Phillips–If I practiced against a Jason Phillips led defense in practice every day, I’d probably get better too, and faster.  There is another plus too.  The TCU defense has the ability to get lots of turnovers.  In fact, in the Spring practices, the defense focused on that (see Dave Campbell’s Texas Football).  If they aren’t getting turnovers, then they will surely be getting stops giving the TCU offense plenty of opportunities.

5.  Randy Galloway–What other sports journalist could inspire that kind of success?  Galloway is a legend.  If Coach Patterson needs tips, all he has to do is call Galloway and he will lend him a hand.  He is always thinking about ways to improve each local team with his brilliant mind.  Who else would I list, Dale Hanson?

4.  Marcus Jackson–During the Gary Patterson era, TCU has always needed a second QB.  First it was Tye Gunn, then it was Brandon Hassell, and then it was Jeff Ballard.  Jackson doesn’t just represent that good second QB, but he also represents a change of pace.  Jackson is a better runner, and TCU can line up and run the option with him in the game.  Jackson has also been a fairly accurate passer.

3.  Shae Reagan–At 6-4 261 lbs., Reagan provides a big target for Dalton and Jackson.  If Reagan can remain healthy, he should be a mismatch in almost every situation.  Reagan has a TCU high of 19 yards per catch.

2.  Coach Mike Schultz–Coach Schultz has been a great Offensive Coordinator for TCU.  His offenses have been among the best in TCU history.  Coach Schultz offenses do not remain ineffective, and Schultz seems to have the players to work with to make this year’s offense explosive.

1.  Andy Dalton–Dalton set all kinds of records for TCU freshmen, and he is poised to become even better.  He had over 2400 yards passing, and became increasingly effective as a passer later in the season.  Many of the INT’s Dalton suffered were during the first half of the season, and Dalton had a great game at Stanford when he passed for 344 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 INT’s.  If TCU’s offense is to be explosive, Dalton will have to be the catalyst.

For the Horned Frogs offense to improve on the 26.1 points per game, the Frogs will have to be lead by So. QB Andy Dalton.  Dalton was the Texas Bowl MVP last year and Honorable Mention Freshman All American by the Sporting News in 2007.  Dalton managed the TCU offense with increasing efficiency ending the year with 2459 yards passing with 10 TD’s and 11 INT’s as well as 232 yards rushing.  Dalton’s TD/INT ratio has to be better, but last year Dalton threw just 2 INT’s in his last 96 attempts.

TCU also needs to have its two best running backs healthy for 2008.  Sr. Aaron Brown returns from injuries which slowed him last season and looks to return to the form that he had his Sophomore season where he generated 1256 yards of total offense (801 yds. rushing, 455 yds. receiving).  The Frogs are also hoping that Jr. Joseph Turner (597 yards, 6 TD’s) will be healthy and ready to go in the fall.  Turner is a big, powerful back that complements Brown’s style of speed and receiving out of the backfield.  Turner has the bulk to run between the tackles and has a career average of 5.48 yards per carry.  Both backs have the luxury of running behind an experienced line as 4 of 5 starters return.  The Offensive Line is anchored by Sr. C Blake Schlueter (6-3, 272) and Jr. LT Marshall Newhouse (6-3, 317).  Schlueter was a 2007 Second Team All Mountain West selection and currently on the Rimington Trophy Watch List which is awarded to the nation’s top center.  Newhouse was an Honorable-mention All Mountain West selection in 2007.

Dalton’s options became a little more limited at receiver when it was announced that TCU receiver Donald Massey would not return this fall.  Also gone is last year’s leading receive Ervin Dickerson who was a Sr.  However, Dalton returns receivers Walter Bryant (27 rec. , 337 yds), Jimmy Young (23 rec., 325 yds.), and Jeremy Kerley (9 rec., 97 yds).  In addition, Aaron Brown (24 rec., 161 yds.) is a great receiver out of the backfield and RB/WR Ryan Christian (18 rec., 139 yds.) is a versatile player who is a capable receiver either out of the backfield or in the slot.  Finally, Sr. Shae Reagan is a big play TE who has a career average of 19.7 yards per catch.

With the presence of a balanced attack and a more experienced QB, TCU is primed to have an explosive season on offense.  Dalton came up big on the road at Stanford last year when he was 23 for 34, 344 yards, 2 TD’s and no INT’s.  Dalton has the ability to play under center or out of the shotgun.  And, with a healthy backfield to keep the offense balanced, we may see even more passing yards from Dalton in 2008.

You can learn more about TCU Football at Gofrogs.com.