TCU's post-Josh Hoover era has shaky start in loss to North Carolina, Belichick as passing game struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
TCU still has plenty of work ahead in its effort to replace star quarterback Josh Hoover.
The Horned Frogs passed for just 175 yards in a 15-10 loss to North Carolina on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland.
Jaden Craig completed 20 of 32 passes for TCU, but he couldn't convert at critical times. Worse yet, the Horned Frogs were held scoreless after the first quarter, wasting a solid defensive effort. TCU held North Carolina to 322 yards and kept the Tar Heels out of the end zone after the first quarter.
Craig was under the microscope. Hoover passed for 3,472 yards with 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season before transferring to Indiana, where he is considered a strong Heisman candidate for the top team in the Sporting News rankings .
Things looked promising early for the new starter. TCU scored points on its first two drives and moved the ball at times after that. But the Horned Frogs turned the ball over on downs and the North Carolina 10-yard line and 6-yard line on its final two possessions.
There were some positives. Ed Small caught a career-high nine passes on 11 targets. But they went for just 65 yards with a long of 17. And only two other receivers caught more than one pass.
More: Hoover following Mendoza as Indiana QB mirrors Frost replacing Frazier at Nebraska 30 years earlier
It was a far cry from last season, when Hoover passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns in TCU's 48-14 win.
The Horned Frogs have a bye week and two games to get the kinks worked out of their passing game before Big 12 play begins. They have a week off before home games against Grambling State and Arkansas State.
