With TCU opening fall camp, local media were granted access to several players and coordinators before the Frogs took the field. Quarterbacks Foster Sawyer and Kenny Hill were available to the press for the first time this offseason, and the storyline of their battle was one of many discussed on Wednesday. Here are five things you need to know from TCU's news conference.

1. The defense is primed to have a return to form. Coach Gary Patterson said the defense may have to carry the offense for the first few games, a marked change from last year when the Trevone Boykin-led Frogs provided points in bunches. But with a quarterback battle raging in camp and several defensive stars set to return from injury, TCU will rely on its defense to win some games early in the year. The Frogs have the talent to do it, especially with freshman linemen Brandon Bowen, Isaiah Chambers and Ross Blacklock already showing promise during the summer. Defensive end James McFarland said the group of freshmen is "committed" to making an early impact.

2. The quarterback battle is extremely close. At Big 12 media days, the prevailing sense was that junior Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill had a slight edge in the race to replace Boykin. But redshirt sophomore Foster Sawyer and Hill may be dead even, and Gary Patterson refused to let on which one has an advantage. It'll be around nine days before the opening game when TCU finally names a starter, Patterson said. The rest of the Frogs didn't let out any state secrets, either. Co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie said he's "excited about whichever guy gets the job," while the quarterbacks themselves each talked about the competition for the job being a positive rather than a negative. "Kenny's a great guy, and I wouldn't want to compete against anybody else," Sawyer said. That competition, it seems, will go right to the wire.

3. The wide receiver position has the deepest talent pool. There's a "good problem" facing TCU, according to co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham. "You really have to do a good job trying to fan out some of the plays so [all the receivers] get touches," Meacham said. Receiver Ty Slanina said his group is "three or four deep at every position," and with Deanté Gray, Emmanuel Porter, KaVontae Turpin and a host of other playmakers, whoever emerges as the starting quarterback will have a wealth of options to throw to.

4. James McFarland is ready to wreak havoc on offenses. The defensive end missed all of last year with a broken toe, but Patterson said McFarland is in the best shape he's ever seen him. The senior said he "fine-tuned his craft" during his medical redshirt year and became "leaner, quicker, and stronger." He also set out to develop his leadership skills, as the majority of his recruiting class has graduated TCU. "I feel like any time you get a chance to stay around here and work with coaches like this ... you can definitely benefit yourself as far as becoming a leader," McFarland said. He'll be expected to return to his 2014 form, when he lead the Big 12 in sacks.

5. Expect to see freshmen in big roles. Patterson lauded several freshmen in his news conferences, including wide receiver Isaiah Graham, who he called "the surprise of the spring." Blacklock and Bowen also earned love from the coach, as did cornerbacks Jeff Gladney and Vernon Scott. Sewo Olonilua may have an opportunity to fill in at running back in spots, especially since Patterson thinks Michigan transfer Derrick Green is still adjusting to the TCU system. This was one of TCU's highest-ranked recruiting classes, and Patterson is ready to utilize his newcomers to the fullest. As he reminded the reporters, "there's not anybody that's walking back in as a starter."

Twitter: @GrantMcGTCU