FORT WORTH, Texas — Just as BYU is re-establishing its longstanding reputation for producing stellar quarterbacks and explosive offenses, TCU has made its mark defensively under coach Gary Patterson.
The Horned Frogs are widely regarded as the best defensive team in the nation, at least statistically. They boast a defense that currently ranks No. 1 in the country in total defense, rushing defense and sacks. They are No. 6 in turnovers gained and No. 9 in scoring defense.
Yet this year's performance is no fluke. Since 1999, TCU has been ranked in the top five nationally in total defense four times.
For a Cougar offense that is ranked No. 8 in passing offense yet sputtered in its last two games, against Utah State and New Mexico, the TCU defense presents a major obstacle when the two Mountain West Conference heavyweights collide Thursday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
BYU quarterback Max Hall is eager to face the top-rated defense in the country.
"I love it. It's a challenge," he said. "They're a very good football team. I'm not out to prove anything. I just want to win the game. We're going to do what we have to do to win."
San Diego State entered its game against the Frogs on Oct. 4 ranked No. 10 nationally in passing but gained only 98 yards through the air in a 41-7 loss. The Aztecs had only 85 yards of total offense after rushing for minus-13 yards.
"They play together so well," SDSU coach Chuck Long said of TCU's defense. "I've been in this league three years — that's the best defense I've seen yet. And I've seen some good ones."
The heart of TCU's defense is in its linebacking corps, led by seniors Jason Phillips and Robert Henson, who are three-time All-MWC selections. Phillips has started 45 games in his career.
"He is as good as advertised," Long said of Phillips.
Another linebacker, Daryl Washington, is also emerging as an impact player. Junior defensive end Jerry Hughes has racked up seven sacks, while cornerbacks Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders are three-year starters.
What makes TCU's defense so strong?
"They've played together for a number of years. That's significant," Long said. "They haven't had any injuries, and that helps. They have a solid scheme. One thing you see with them is they play with confidence. That makes all the difference in the world."
The Frogs play a 4-2-5 alignment designed to put pressure on the quarterback. They have enough team speed to load up in the box to stop the run and then defend the pass with what BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall refers to as "recovery speed."
Mendenhall admitted it is difficult simulating TCU's defensive speed in practice. For the Cougars to handle that speed, "It's got to be our execution versus their athleticism," he said. "They have great recovery speed. They're toward the top in the country in almost every statistical category. When you play a team that outmatches you physically, then your identity and execution has to counteract their advantage in terms of athleticism. Our execution is the answer."
"They're an athletic defense and they have a lot of team speed," said Cougar tight end Dennis Pitta. "They're very well-coached. It's a short week, so a lot of it comes down to who can execute on Thursday and who's got more heart and who's got more will to come out on top."
Much of the onus to move the chains and get into the end zone is on Hall.
"Max will have to deliver the ball with great accuracy," Mendenhall said. "Anytime you face an opponent as skilled as TCU, the burden shifts to the quarterback."
"I have to be efficient. I can't turn it over to them," Hall said. "If we do that and just play our game, as you saw in a couple of drives against New Mexico, methodically move the ball and take what they give us, we're hard to stop."
The Cougars need to be well-balanced, Hall explained.
"We have to establish the run game against TCU in order to be successful. I think we can do that. Our O-line and our backs are top in the nation and are very capable. So if we can do that and keep them worried about that, we'll open it up through the air."
Only one team has enjoyed success against TCU's defense this season — Oklahoma, which spent a couple of weeks ranked No. 1 before falling to the current No. 1 team, Texas, last week.
The Sooners rolled up 222 yards in the first quarter against TCU and scored 28 points in the first half. Quarterback Sam Bradford ended up passing for 411 yards and four touchdowns.
"Against Oklahoma, TCU did very good against the run but not so well through the air," Hall said. "There are things we can look at and parts of their defense that we can attack. We've got to be ready for anything and we've got to be capable of making adjustments early in the game.
"TCU will mix it up. They'll play cover-two, they'll blitz. They'll mix it up more than New Mexico did against us, I'm sure. They're good, they're fast and our execution needs to be precise if we want to move the ball and be consistent against them."
Hall added it's important for the offense to keep the tempo high to speed up the game and keep TCU's defense off-balance.
Since scoring 59 points against UCLA, the Cougars' offensive output has declined in each successive week against Wyoming (44), Utah State (34) and New Mexico (21).
Patterson, of course, watched carefully what the Lobos did last week against the Cougars.
"They controlled the ball and ran it 50 times and kept (BYU's offense) off the field. That's as good a defense as I know how to do," he said. "The key is you've got to tackle in the running game and make sure you don't let them throw it over your head. They have a way of being able to do that to you with precision passing. You sit on them, then they throw it deep."
Cougars on the air
No. 9 BYU (6-0, 2-0)
at TCU (6-1, 3-0)
Thursday, 6 p.m.; TV: Versus
Radio: 1160AM, 102.7FM
Live game blogs:deseretnews.com/blogs
Horned Frogs' defense never rests
Here's where TCU's defense ranks nationally in the following categories:
• Total defense — No. 1 (207.43 yards allowed per game)
• Rushing defense — No. 1 (20.7 yards allowed per game)
• Sacks — No. 1 (27 sacks)
• Turnovers gained — No. 6 (17 total)
• Scoring defense — No. 9 (11.2 points allowed per game)
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com