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No. 3 TCU needs all hands on deck Saturday to defend Texas Tech's explosive spread offense, but for the Horned Frogs' defense there just aren't many hands to choose from right now.
Rocked by injuries, the unit will welcome the season debut of senior defensive tackle Davion Pierson, who missed the first three games with concussion symptoms.
The most experienced player on TCU's defense, Pierson won't start, but he is expected to play a major portion of the Big 12 opener.
"It's big just for the locker room," TCU coach Gary Patterson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "You have leadership and you have energy from those guys and they know how to do it. Young guys have an example."
Just how bad has it been for the Frogs through three games? The injured list takes as long to read as Moby Dick. TCU is without cornerback Ranthony Texada, safety Kenny Iloka, linebackers Mike Freeze (indefinite leave of absence) and Sammy Douglas, and defensive ends James McFarland and Terrell Lathan. There are more injured starters than healthy ones.
This for a defense that was already replacing six starters from the last year's team that demolished Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl. A loss at Tech and TCU's playoff hopes could be doused early. A win, and Patterson's legend for coaching up his unit under any circumstances only grows.
(h/t Star-Telegram)
