TCU coach Sonny Dykes spent Tuesday morning sounding like a man who knows exactly what his team needs to clean up before heading to Waco.
Coming out of the bye week, Dykes said the Horned Frogs used the extra time to get a better handle on where they stand and what still needs work. He declined to get into the specifics of what came out of that deep dive, but the message around the program was clear: the focus has been on sharpening execution and tightening up details before Baylor.
Dykes also said the team’s confidence remains in a good place, and that the bigger-picture goals haven’t changed. That confidence will be tested this week, especially with the offense still searching for more consistency and more big plays.
At receiver, Dykes addressed the status of Jordan Dwyer and Jeremy Scott, along with the group as a whole, as TCU prepares for another conference matchup. He also said he’s been encouraged by what he sees in the room, though the bye week gave the staff a chance to take a hard look at the whole operation.
Baylor, meanwhile, has not been hard to study. Dykes said he’s seen plenty on film and pointed to the scheme tendencies and overall characteristics of Jake Spavital’s offense. He also noted the challenge that comes with facing an opponent whose best receiver works from the slot, which shapes how TCU has to approach the matchup.
The quarterback conversation came up as well. Dykes was asked what he’d like to see from Jaden Craig, and he said he wants more explosive plays to show up. That tied into a broader point about what would make Saturday feel like a successful day for the offense: more efficient execution, better production, and more chances to stretch the field.
Dykes was also asked about DJ Lagway, and he shared what he’s seen from him this season. On the flip side, he addressed the issue of one-score games that TCU has dropped this year, a sore spot that has helped define the season so far.
The coach didn’t shy away from bigger-picture questions either. Asked about handling being on the hot seat, Dykes offered his thoughts on that pressure. He also said he has confidence the team can make the changes it needs and execute them on game day.
Up front and on defense, Dykes pointed to the progress of Zach Chapman and the impact of Ansel Din-Mbuh, both of whom were part of the discussion as TCU works through the stretch run. The bye week may have slowed the schedule, but it clearly didn’t slow the evaluation process.
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