Sonny Dykes hopes TCU’s team speed can run past Michigan
Michigan football is still a few days away from arriving in Phoenix in preparation for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal. But TCU is getting a bit of a head start.
The Horned Frogs arrived at Sky Harbor International Airport on Christmas Eve a full two days before the Wolverines. And there, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes offered his opinion of the challenges that facing Michigan presents.
“Yeah, I think when you look at Michigan, obviously you’ve got the Big Ten champion, which typically Big Ten football is big, strong people. You get games typically won and lost up front. Michigan has got all that,” Dykes said “They have also got really good skill players as well. The quarterback (J.J. McCarthy) is a really good player. Very impressed with him.
“They are going to try to run the football. It’s going to be important for us to do everything we can to get the run game stopped.
“Defensively, same thing, built up front, very powerful football team. Two outstanding defensive tackles. Really good pass rushers off the edge. Linebackers are good, and a long athletic secondary. So very good football team.
“A little bit of contrasting styles. We’re a little bit more of a team that relies on speed. But I think the one thing that has made our team special is we’re a fast team, and we’re also a very physical team. Our goal is to always try to dominate the line of scrimmage and win the line of scrimmage.
“It will be a big challenge for us on Saturday. But we look forward to the challenge. I think it’s going to be really critical for us to be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. It will be a challenge. But, again, our guys are looking forward to it, excited about it.
“I think, as I said, our team is kind of known for its speed. But I really do think that this team is a physical, tough, tough-minded football team, and we’ve had a lot of success this year.”
While Dykes acknowledges Michigan poses particular threats in terms of physicality, as noted, he feels confident that TCU’s team speed as well as receivers’ ability to make contested catches, could spell the difference for the Horned Frogs.
“Yeah, as I said earlier, two outstanding defensive tackles. Guys who look good up front, do a nice job of playing with their hands,” Dykes said “Really do a good job, big, strong guys, of staying in gaps. Really gap-style defense.
“The thing I like about their defense is the guys really play well together. They do their job consistently. They’re in the right place at the right time. They play with good technique. Got a good scheme. They’re a very sound defensive football team. They don’t give up a ton of big plays. They try to make you earn everything you get.
“For us, it always starts with our ability to be able to run the football. It’s going to be important for us to do that. Got a lot of confidence in the offensive linemen, guys like Wes (Harris) here to be able to play physical up front and open the holes. If we do that, typically, our passing game has a chance to get the ball down the field and get it to some guys who can make plays.
“As I said earlier, we’re a fast football team. Our guys enjoy taking shots down the field. And we’re going to have to make a lot of one-on-one contested catches in this game. That’s what big football games usually come down to, is which team can win the one-on-one battles and make the defensive catches and defensive plays.”
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is set for Dec. 31 with a 4 p.m. EST kickoff.
