FWST: TCU can’t allow Kyle Hicks to take so many hits, Patterson says

TCU ran for 223 yards at 6.0 per carry in the season opener last week. Those are good numbers, but not entirely pleasing for coach Gary Patterson.

“We’ve got to be more physical,” he said.

That means getting people away from Kyle Hicks. The junior running back rushed for 59 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns.

But …

“He took a lot of hits, I thought,” Patterson said Tuesday at his weekly media luncheon. “Harder hits than what you want your running back to take when you’ve got it all spread out. We’ve got to get to where he doesn’t take the hits.”