In spring, hard to say what Horned Frogs football will be like this fall

Spring football games have changed. Coaches, it seems, haven't.

Nick Saban's first spring game as Alabama coach in 2007 attracted a loyal Crimson Tide audience of 92,138.

For a spring football game.

They must have been expecting Saban to multiply some loaves and fishes.

ESPN televised this year's Texas spring game. North Carolina got the star treatment Saturday.

Coming soon, no doubt: Hard knocks: Spring break with the USC Trojans.

And then there was LSU two weeks ago, having players switch teams in the middle of its spring game. Good luck with that scouting film, opponents.

But coaches haven't changed. Gary Patterson's 10th spring game as TCU head coach Saturday wasn't as much a game as it was a chance for the Horned Frogs to walk the Hollywood red carpet. Most of the estimated 7,500 spectators seemed to just be happy to see the Frogs playing football again.

If there were any trick plays or secret formations, forgive me. I must have been out buying a hot dog.

Patterson admitted that the Frogs were only serving from the 4 p.m., 65-and-older menu. And even that, he confessed, he only half-watched.

"I won't have anything to say until I watch the film," the coach said.

Me neither. But I did see Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Andy Dalton throw several passes, some of which his talented receivers actually caught. Senior-to-be Jimmy Young appeared comfortable, it seemed, in his new position as a slot receiver.

And if you're worried about Marcus Cannon moving over from right tackle to the left side, don't be. Dalton isn't.

But enough about the TCU offense, which will return nine starters from a unit that finished fifth in the nation in scoring and rushing.

The real drama of TCU's 15 spring practices is -- and will always be -- the defense.

Concern about his defense a year ago prompted Patterson to summon a special meeting.

"We thought we were terrible on defense last year at the end of spring," Patterson said. "We knew we had speed, but we didn't hunt together."

That defense, as it turned out, ended up leading the nation for the second year in a row and took the Frogs to the Fiesta Bowl.

And this spring, Patterson suggested Saturday, he is just as displeased.

"We're little bit old," he said, "even though we lost some players. But we're not where we want to be.

"If I thought we were where we're supposed to be, I wouldn't have gone 140 plays today. So we still feel like we have positions that have to grow up."

Without doubt, two lingering concerns are going to be the health of linebackers Tank Carder and Kris Gardner. Both sat out Saturday with shoulder injuries.

As for Carder, Patterson said, "He'll be back in the fall. They did surgery, but he'll be back by August."

The Frogs lost starting cornerbacks Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders, but there was plenty of talent already waiting on the depth chart. Greg McCoy and Jason Teague seem ready to step in.

In the meantime, there will be no shortage of motivation, Patterson said, even after last year's undefeated regular season.