Making the Grade
Compiled by Carlos Alvarado

Quarterback: B+
Two early interceptions did not prevent Brandon Hassell from having another solid performance. He finished with less-than-stellar numbers (200 total yards), but no one can question his value to the offense. His toughness, versatility and consummate team attitude are the reason for the offense’s breakout.

Running Backs: B
Robert Merrill and Lonta Hobbs carried the ball only 18 times for 78 yards, and it had nothing to do with their performance. The option was well defended by Cincinnati, forcing Hassell to run the ball. They took advantage of every opportunity and gained the yards necessary to keep the offense balanced.

Wide Receivers: B
Losing Reggie Harrell to an ankle injury early did not prevent the receivers from putting in a solid performance. Once again, their contributions in the running game proved to be invaluable. Their numbers as a whole were unimpressive, but their contributions were important. Bruce Galbert and Matthew Grimmett were the leading receivers, with two catches for 28 yards each.

Offensive Line: C
The tackles struggled with the quickness of the Cincinnati’s ends pass rush all afternoon. They shuffled in two sets, and both sets were largely ineffective. The running in between the tackles improved tremendously from last week, as they often were able to push the Bearcats line two to three yards off the ball.

Defensive Line: B-
The pass rush was inconsistent, but able to make plays. Bo Schobel’s sack in the Cincinnati end zone led to a touchdown by Martin Patterson. Ranorris Ray played another solid game in place of the injured Brandon Johnson. The unit helped hold the Bearcats to just 89 total yards on the ground.

Linebackers: B
Josh Goolsby and company made some nice open field tackles that set the tone for the linebackers performance for most of the day. Goolsby also excelled at covering swing passes to the running back, rarely missing a tackle; he finished with nine. They did blitz with a little more regularity and were able to get better pressure than in the past few games.

Secondary: B-
The Frogs had some mishaps and gave up another big passing yardage day, but kept Cincinnati at bay for most of the afternoon. Chris Peoples picked off two passes and Brandon Williams got loose a few time for a sack and a couple of hurries.

Special Teams: A+
A blocked field goal, a blocked punt which led to a touchdown, and some key field position victories were the highlights of this unit’s domination of Cincinnati. Cory Rodgers had a fine 44-yard return, and Nick Browne tied a school record with a 5-for-5 kicking afternoon.

Overall: A
The Frogs played their best game, as a team, of the season. While they didn’t dominate any one phase of the game, each unit contributed a touchdown, and the Frogs were able to put Cincinnati away early and keep them down. With all the distractions, the coaches and players showed a lot of fortitude because even the best of teams fall prey to all pressure and attention that has surrounded the Frogs this past week. They carry the hopes and dreams of more than just their fans and themselves on their shoulder, but that of the non-BCS schools who want TCU to make a statement.