TCU has two weeks to regroup after a disappointing start to the season. The Horned Frogs fell 15-10 to North Carolina in Dublin, leaving the team with more questions than answers heading into the bye week. Here are three areas that need fixing:
With TCU losing by just five points, those mistakes proved even more costly. Dykes said the team needs to develop a more disciplined mindset moving forward.
“We have to keep pushing and develop a physical mentality and discipline mentally. Those are things I think will carry this team,” Dykes said.
The offense line was inconsistent against UNC in new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis’ debut with the Frogs.
TCU showed some positive signs up front, particularly in the running game. Sonny Dykes said he was pleased with the way the team ran the ball but emphasized that the Frogs need to be more consistent in doing so.
Dykes also said the offensive line played physically at times and that he saw improvement in the group’s mentality. Still, TCU struggled to maintain that physicality throughout the game as the offense failed to score after its first two possessions.
Dykes said there are no updates on wide receiver Jordan Dwyer’s status, but he is considered questionable for TCU’s next game against Grambling State.
Dykes said the Frogs practiced well leading up to the game but failed to play at the same level against UNC.
“We practiced really well and just didn’t play particularly well, and so we got to figure out why,” Dykes said.
One of the unexpected mistakes came on special teams when a botched snap resulted in a safety. Dykes said the mistake was something TCU had not seen in practice.
“The snap was something that came out of nowhere. We punt a lot and snap a lot and had never seen that before,” Dykes said.
TCU now has a bye week to address those mistakes and close the gap between its preparation and performance before the team’s home opener against Grambling State.