TCU football notebook: Sonny Dykes provides update on fall camp, injuries before final scrimmage

With just one scrimmage remaining on Saturday, TCU football is in the final stage of training camp.

Next week, the focus will turn to game planning against Stanford in the season opener on Aug. 30. The Horned Frogs have made strides on both sides of the ball with Andy Avalos’ new defense still looking formidable while the offense began showing flashes in the final week or so of camp.

Head coach Sonny Dykes said he’s been pleased with the progress of the team, especially the physicality TCU has displayed over the last week of practice on and off the field.

“I think we’ve grown in understanding, appreciating and holding the standard,” Dykes said. “I think we’ve talked about that at times in the past and I don’t know if guys understood what we were talking about. That was my fault.

“Our job is to exceed the standard, we haven’t done that always, but we have done it to a very high level this camp.”

Thursday was a great example of what Dykes was referring to as that practice featured the best team period of camp with there being a healthy back and forth between each units of the offense and defense. Focusing on red zone offense, Josh Hoover started the period with a 25-yard touchdown to Savion Williams.

Then the second team offense also scored a touchdown when Ken Seals connected with Blake Nowell for a one-handed touchdown grab after completing a pass to Jack Bech for a nice gain.

Hauss Hejny also got into the scoring mix with the third team offense as threw a 25-yard touchdown to Braylon James on a corner route on the first play of the drive.

These type of plays were rare for the offense at the beginning of camp, but over time the offense began to show its firepower as Hoover and his receivers got settled in.

But the defense responded after the scoring drives by keeping the offense out of the end zone. JaTravis Broughton broke up a potential touchdown to Dylan Wright on a back shoulder throw and the defense limited the run with the first team group.

The second group was even more tenacious with Zach Chapman blowing up multiple plays in the backfield, Max Carroll had a sack and Markis Deal deflected a Seals pass at the line of scrimmage.

Hejny’s unit didn’t manage a play over five yards in their second go round. You never want to see one unit dominating the other as the defense had done at times earlier in camp.

“When the offense has gotten the upper hand at practice the defense always rallied,” Dykes said. “That’s what you want to see and it’s very encouraging.”

Now, it seems like the Horned Frogs have found a healthy balance between its aggressive, attacking defense and it’s explosive offense.

“If you asked me what the best thing was about this camp, that would be on the list,” Dykes said of Thursday’s practice. “It seems within a practice that guys can recover... I think we’ve done a really good job of doing that.”

Injury update

The Horned Frogs have gotten through camp mostly healthy, but a number of projected starters have been limited. Let’s start with cornerbacks Avery Helm and Vernon Glover, who suffered lower body injuries two weeks ago.

Dykes said both players would be out indefinitely, which obviously doesn’t bode well for either returning this season. On the bright side LaMareon James and JaTravis Broughton have stepped up and played well at corner recently. TCU has two legitimate starters with them, but another injury could set the unit back.

Cam Cook has missed the last three practices, but Dykes said the issue wasn’t serious.

“Cam has a little bit of a hamstring,” Dykes said. “He could have practiced the last few days, but our intent was to rest him. The thought before the injury was we were going to scale him back, so it just kind of sped up the process a bit.”

Cook has cemented himself as the starting running back, so it’s wise for the Horned Frogs to ensure his health with a number of running back injuries across the country.

Finally, defensive end Paul Oyewale could be returning to action soon. Oyewale was dressed out of all fall camp, but didn’t participate in any team drills. Dykes is hopeful that changes next week.

“Good thing is we’re two weeks out (from playing Stanford) and we’ll start to ramp him up Monday,” Dykes said. “You’ll start to see him do more and more to see how he responds.”