Leading up to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio between No. 11 TCU (10-2) and No. 15 Oregon (9-3), we'll examine the matchups within the matchup and predict how each position group could fare Jan. 2.



Today: Oregon's receivers against TCU's secondary



This has not been a vintage season for TCU coach Gary Patterson.

The architect behind five teams to lead the country in total defense since 2000, three of which came consecutively -- a feat matched only by Toledo (1969-71) and Oklahoma (1985-87) -- Patterson has dealt with massive attrition this fall.



The No. 11 Horned Frogs finished 65th in total defense as a wave of injuries and new faces attempted to fill gaps, and not always successfully. According to TCU, safety Derrick Kindred is the only defensive starter from 2014 who didn't graduate, leave for the NFL, get hurt or suspended this season. And that doesn't take into account freshman linebacker Mike Freeze, who started the season opener and then promptly left the team.



If that would seem to open possibilities for Oregon's dynamic offense to pounce, it's true. The Ducks' deep, talented corps of pass-catchers will have its chances against a TCU secondary whose story represents that of the entire defense after suffering injuries and uncertainty only to fight back for a respectable statistical finish.





Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) is tackled by TCU safety Derrick Kindred (26) on Nov. 21.

TCU ranks 20th in passing efficiency defense and 23rd in yards allowed per attempt despite ranking just 106th in interceptions.



Kindred, whose 79 tackles are second-most for TCU, was a first-team all-Big-12 selection, and safety Denzel Johnson made the second-team in a vote of conference coaches.



Respect for TCU's ability to pull off the big play is due: Trailing by 18 points against Kansas State, Kindred returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown in the Frogs' comeback win.





More often, however, the secondary is on the other side of the big play, allowing 32 completions of 25 or more yards allowed, which ranks 102nd nationally. Because Gary Patterson's 4-2-5 defense often leaves its corners in man coverage to allow linebackers and safeties to defend the run, TCU's corners have little help. A byproduct has been a large number of pass interference penalties.

Corry O'Meally, a senior with 37 tackles and a team-leading 10 pass break-ups, and Nick Orr, a sophomore with 45 tackles and nine break-ups, are atop the depth chart at cornerback.

The defensive backs will have their hands full, then, with an Oregon passing offense that led the country in yards per attempt and is uncommonly deep. After Bralon Addison's team-leading 58 receptions, five have at least 15, led by Dwayne Stanford's 27, Darren Carrington's 25 and running back Royce Freeman's 24. They've made big plays in critical scenarios regular events, with 11 receptions of 25 or more yards on third down, which ties for eighth-most nationally.

Coming Wednesday:

Oregon's running backs against TCU's linebackers.

-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com