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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

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TCU Football Starts Camp with a Learning Curve

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With temperatures reaching over 100 degrees the Horned Frog Football Team hit the practice field to start preparing for their third season in the Big 12.

“Another day in paradise.”

That’s how Head Coach Gary Patterson described the first day of camp. He was in a good mood.

At the time, TCU’s most feared defensive player, Devonte Fields, was surrounded in controversy due to domestic dispute allegations.

With that saga now behind the Horned Frogs, Coach Patterson can get back to business in “paradise.”

The first thing on the agenda is to learn the new offense.

“They are fired up and ready to do the things they have to do to win ball games,” said Patterson. “It is all about a mindset.”

TCU fans can only hope that this new mindset comes with results.

According to ESPN. Com the offense finished 75th in passing yards and 89th in points scored.

They finished 112th in country for rushing yards with just 118.6 yards per game.

Coach Patterson can already see improvement.

“We are already throwing the ball a lot better than we were at the end of the Spring,” said Patterson. “The five running backs are all getting good reps and holding on to the football.”

Matt Joeckel, a Texas A&M transfer, comes to training camp with an advanced knowledge of the new offense.

Patterson said that Joeckel’s previous experience of running this offense for the Aggies is showing at practice.

“When you add a guy like Joeckel into the mix, he can come out on his own time and teach the offense,” said Patterson. “It really helps us be ahead of the curve.”

The training camp road is longer than it looks. The team meets everyday in the morning for meetings and sometimes they don’t get out till 10 p.m.

“Lot of learning and a lot of teaching,” said Patterson.

Injuries are always a concern in hot weather and when you combine that with the intensity of practice, hydrating is key.

“Guys are cramping up, but they continue to go hard,” said Patterson. “We have had our best middle drill that I have seen in two years.”

The team will wear full pads for the first time tomorrow and scrimmage on Saturday.

The weather forecast for Saturday in Coach Patterson’s “paradise” is expected to be a high of 102 degrees.

Paradise indeed.

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