Thoughts from the Poinsettia Bowl

Tuesday's Poinsettia Bowl did not disappoint, as #11 TCU edged previously-undefeated #9 Boise State 17-16 in San Diego.  Some observations from Qualcomm Stadium...

- TCU's defense is fast.  Really fast.  Awesome athleticism.  Their linebackers are everywhere.  They led the nation in fewest rushing yards against (48) per game, and limited the Broncos to half that total.  20 of Boise State's 28 total rushing yards came on the Ian Johnson touchdown around the right end.

- Speaking of Johnson, congratulation to him from scoring his 58th career touchdown, a new WAC record.  He's famous for having converted the two-point conversion on the "Statue of Liberty" play against Oklahoma in 2006, and then kneeling and proposing to his then-girlfriend, Chrissy, who was a cheerleader on the sideline.

- But other than that run and another that was called back due to a holding call, Johnson had no room to run.  And he didn't exactly break many tackles.

- TCU can mash defenses with their running game.  QB Andy Dalton (14 carries, 74 yards), RB Aaron Brown (14 carries, 102 yards, TD), and RB Joseph Turner (16 carries, 83 yards, TD) had all sorts of holes to run through, especially as the game progressed.  TCU's o-line wore down Boise State beginning in the second quarter.  The Broncos may have jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, but credit the Horned Frogs for sticking to the run.  Brown and Turner had gaping holes to plunge through after halftime.  No wonder why TCU leads the nation in average time of possession.

- And it's a good thing that they can run so effectively, because it's not pretty watching that team try to throw.  Let's just say, not impressed by the arm strength of Mr. Dalton.

- Boise State didn't really have much by way of their typical bag of tricks.  Sure, they used a cross-field backwards pass while returning the opening kickoff, to net an extra twenty yards.  And they tried some double-reverse, WR option pass trickery once.  But after moving the ball at will in their first two drives, TCU's team speed negated their high powered offense.  Clearly, the Broncos had not faced a team with this much speed in their weak WAC schedule.

- This was billed as, and will likely turn out to be, one of the best bowl games of the season.  Close all the way, result in doubt until the end, and high energy from each team's crowd at the stadium.  The only bummer is that somehow only 34,000 and change showed up.  We're not talking about elite BCS teams here, but fans of college football should have been out watching that game.

- Then again, I think each of these teams would get killed by the Floridas and Oklahomas of the world.  Ask TCU, they know.

- TCU's band is pretty damned good.

- Finally, a shout out to the Boise State fans.  Your players look like they've never seen the sun in their lives, but your crowd in attendance was, well, smokin'.  Lots of guys who apparently have nothing else to do in Idaho but hit the gym.

Images courtesy Getty

Comments

[Joe Moag]

MAN! Bowl season is off to a CRAP start, with 3 of the 1st 4 of my bowl picks going down...

Just sol long as Notre Dame LOSES tonight and Northwestern WINS on the 29th, I will be a happy little fag!

[JD]

TCU's defense can hang with the best of them, their offense is not powerful enough. Sorry your picks are going bad Joe, guess who is 6-0, ha!