Georgia-TCU Q&A: Jamie Plunkett of Frogs Today

LOS ANGELES — DawgsHQ has been in California for a few days now, and today’s the day that’s the reason why we’re here. Georgia takes on TCU for a national title tonight at SoFi Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN). But the Georgia beat isn’t the only one here… TCU has travelled well too, and DawgsHQ was able to catch up with Frogs Today from the Fort Worth market to preview the National Championship Game. Here’s what their Jamie Plunkett had to say in this week’s opponent Q&A.

Q: Georgia fans got to familiarize themselves with Max Duggan’s story some during the Heisman Trophy ceremony that featured both him and Stetson Bennett. What is it about Duggan’s game that made him so successful this season?

A: His toughness. Max Duggan has shown time and time again that he’s willing to take hits, deliver hits, and put his body on the line to help TCU win ball games. Other players have noted throughout the year that when they see him doing that, it inspires them to play a little harder and to get back up after taking a big hit. But beyond that, he’s truly one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. If you take away the pass, he’ll hurt you with his legs. If you try to get after him, he’ll extend plays and get the ball to a playmaker. If you sit back, he’ll stand tall in the pocket and deliver strikes all over the field. 

He didn’t have his best game against Michigan, which he’s brought up several times this week, so expect him to come out dialed in and ready to go. 

Q: Looking at a stat sheet, the strength of this TCU defense certainly seems to be on the second level with its linebackers. Do you think that’s true, and what would you say the identity of the group is?

A: TCU’s defense shifted from a 4-2-5 base to a 3-3-5 base this season, which definitely brought the linebackers more into the spotlight. Jamoi Hodge, Dee Winters, and Johnny Hodges bring a level of toughness and intelligence to this defense that can’t be understated. You saw it with Winters’ play in the Fiesta Bowl with seven tackles. He has the green light from Joe Gillespie to make a play if he sniffs one out, and he’s been able to do that for most of the year. 

Meanwhile, Hodge has a huge chip on his shoulder. TCU was his only offer out of the transfer portal. Northwestern told him he wasn’t good enough to play for them, and they were the only other Power 5 school that even responded when he reached out. Now he’s one of the leading tacklers on a national championship contender, but he still feels wronged by how he was treated by some schools. 

Q: What’s the matchup in this game that has you most intrigued?

A: Quentin Johnston vs. Kelee Ringo will be a wildly fun matchup to watch. Johnston is a big body that runs a 4.4, but Ringo’s athleticism will have him running alongside Johnston step for step. Another one is TCU’s interior OL against Jalen Carter. That group held up really well against Michigan’s front, but Georgia is a whole different monster along the defensive line. 

Q: What would you say the biggest strength and weakness are for TCU on both sides of the ball?

Offensively, TCU’s biggest strength are it’s skill position players. The Frogs have some of the best team speed in the country, which Michigan didn’t believe and found out about the hard way. I said it to several Michigan beat writers before the game, but TCU has more team speed than Ohio State. That should give them an advantage, especially in the passing game. Johnston, Taye Barber, and Derius Davis are all 4.4 or better guys, and if they get the ball in space they can do some damage. 

Weakness-wise I’d say offensive tackles. Brandon Coleman and Andrew Coker had one of their better games against Michigan, and they’ll need to do the same to give Duggan time in the pocket tonight. 

Defensively, TCU’s strength is in the run fit. The benefit of the 3-3-5 is that you can bring defenders from unexpected places and confuse blockers. Look for that to happen a couple times on Monday night. The weakness is probably TCU’s safeties in the passing game. That could be a huge problem against an elite tight end group for Georgia. 

Q: If TCU is going to pull off the upset, what MUST the Horned Frogs do?

A: They have to start fast and protect the football. TCU turned it over three times against Michigan, and that simply can’t happen on Monday night. If TCU protects the ball and gets Georgia out of its game script, the Frogs could make some magic happen. 

Prediction: Screw it, they’re here. Why not TCU? Frogs 35, Dawgs 31