Gundy on Facing Frogs Offense and How Healthy are the Pokes

STILLWATER – Life in the Big 12 is tough for head coaches and defenders as quarterback play has risen again. Gundy said today at his news conference that it is back like it was from 2011 to 2018 when there were multiple future NFL quarterbacks roaming the Midlands like Weeden and Rudolph in Stillwater, Mayfield and Murray in Norman, RG3 in Waco with Baylor, Patrick Mahomes in Lubbock, and others like Collin Klein at K-State. Oklahoma State saw a third-team quarterback rise to the top for Texas Tech in Behren Morton last weekend and that’s the best third-team quarterback I’ve seen in awhile and now here comes TCU with their back-up Max Duggan that has taken over and has the Horned Frogs 5-0 and is second in the nation in passing efficiency

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Duggan last week at KU.

“Well, this team’s good on offense. I mean, they’re throwing the deep ball really well,” Gundy said of Duggan and the Frogs offense. “The quarterback has come into this own in the last three or four weeks. He’s experienced now, I think this is what, his third year maybe? He’s been around a while. Playing well. You know, they’re averaging 6.6 (yds. per carry) rush. The running backs are averaging over eight yards a carry and then he’s throwing the deep ball really well. He can run. I don’t know that we have maybe one or two guys on the field on defense that can catch him. I think he’s that fast and is playing good. So, we’ll have to really have a good game plan. Our guys (will) have to play well. They’re playing good football right now.”

Actually, Duggan has been the starter most of his time in Fort Worth. The Council Bluff, Iowa product was widely recruited. He was at “The Show” camp at Oklahoma State in June of 2018 and then Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was crazy about him. Yes, Oklahoma State had Spencer Sanders, but you recruit a quarterback each season.

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Duggan threw three interceptions in the 2019 game at OSU.

“I don’t remember what year that was now. Spencer (Sanders) was here with us for maybe a year at that time,” Gundy said of recruiting Duggan. “I can’t even remember who we were recruiting, or what. Might have been (Brendan) Costello back then, but, we liked him (Duggan). He’s a good player. His athleticism has been there from the start. I think he’s really developed as a thrower now, in my opinion. That’s where his game has gone to another level.”

Duggan threw three picks in his first start against Oklahoma State in 2019 as Sanders, who threw for three touchdowns and the Cowboys won 34-27 in an important game. In the 2020 game, TCU won 29-22 and Duggan threw for a touchdown and rushed for 104-yards and two touchdowns in a 29-22 roller coaster game in Fort Worth. For Duggan, Spencer Sanders, and the Cowboys this will be the rubber match.

Now, with Oklahoma State being beat up coming out of Saturday, will the Cowboys have receiver Braydon Johnson (head injury), cornerback Korie Black (hamstring), center Preston Wilson (lower leg), and cornerback Demarco Jones (arm) back? Gundy was asked and you could have guessed the answer.

“Well, the first thing is, I wouldn’t tell you anyway, but you’re doing your job,” Gundy said to Marshall Scott, who asked the question. “I like it. Second thing is, I’m expecting them to play, OK? They’re not a guy (that’s out) when we get a guy that’s out, I’ll tell you they’re out. But, they should be practicing middle of the week.”

More time on the roller coaster going into Saturday and likely throughout the game on Saturday.