|
DB
Rocky Schwartz |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Art Briles
26-24,
4 years |
2006
Record: 10-4 |
|
at
Rice |
WON
31-30 |
TULANE |
WON
45-7 |
GRAMBLING |
WON
42-22 |
OKLAHOMA
STATE |
WON
34-25 |
at
Miami FL |
LOST
13-14 |
UL-LAFAYETTE |
LOST
28-31 |
at
Southern Miss |
LOST
27-31 |
UTEP |
WON
34-17 |
UCF |
WON
51-31 |
TULSA |
WON
27-10 |
at
SMU |
WON
37-27 |
at
Memphis |
WON
23-20 (OT) |
C-USA
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME |
SOUTHERN
MISS |
WON
34-20 |
LIBERTY
BOWL |
South
Carolina |
LOST
36-44 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-31, BCS-UR
|
2007
Outlook |
There’s
a lot working for head coach Art Briles
and his Conference USA champions heading
into this season. After the Cougars three
early regular season losses were by a total
of eight points, they rode a six-game winning
streak until South Carolina tamed them in
the Liberty Bowl. Seventeen starters return,
and with no major changes to his staff,
Briles has almost every component to assure
Houston of improvements across the board.
But all of this means little if the new
quarterback cannot handle the responsibility
of leading this CAB offense. Basically,
Houston spreads foes out and takes advantage
of mismatches and other defensive weaknesses
by making audibles/adjustments. For a team
that seems lined up to throw most of the
time, they actually run it more, and the
run should be leaned upon even more with
this many quality backs ready to keep defenders
busy so the new QB can settle in comfortably.
The candidates for field general –
two youngsters and one experienced transfer
– each look like they can run the
CAB system well enough. And the only concerns
on defense surround the secondary; the talent
is there, and local hero Bubba McDowell
(Miami Hurricanes 1985-88, Houston Oilers
1989-94) has been brought in to have them
reach their potential(s). They seemed to
tighten at the right times last year, but
without a QB who can guarantee results (like
Kevin Kolb) to bail them out, by season’s
end, the DBs (and maybe net punting results,
which go hand-in-hand) will be, if anything,
why Houston whiffs at another conference
crown. Oregon and ‘Bama, two teams
the Cougars have never beaten, are both
tough early away tilts, but on the other
hand, revamped Tulsa is the only league
road game against an above-.500 opponent
and Southern Miss is not slated. At Houston,
Briles is 3-9 versus BCS-aligned foes, but
his 7-1 C-USA mark last year signals how
far above this league he is capable of elevating
his team. With mostly two-star prospects
that excel due to teamwork more than due
to superior individual ability, these Cougars
are probably a few years from getting back
to where they just were. But that doesn’t
mean UH now has much less of a chance to
win each week. A tactician like Briles is
what makes college football the sport we
love.
Projected
2007 record: 9-3
|
|
|
OG
Jeff Akeroyd |
HOUSTON
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Blake Joseph, 6-8-1, 56 yds., 0 TD
Rushing: Anthony Alridge, 95 att.,
959 yds., 8 TD
Receiving: Donnie Avery, 57 rec.,
852 yds., 5 TD
Scoring: Ben Bell, 14-18 FG, 51-53
PAT, 93 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Ben Bell, 14-18 FG, 51-53
PAT, 93 pts.
Tackles: Trent Allen, 95 tot., 49
solo
Sacks: Phillip Hunt, 8 sacks
Interceptions: Ernest Miller, 2 for
11 yds.
Kickoff returns: Anthony Alridge,
27 ret., 22.3 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Perry McDaniel, 1 ret.,
12.0 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7
|
----RETURNING
STARTERS----
|
DEFENSE
- 7
|
|
KEY
LOSSES
|
OFFENSE:
Kevin Kolb-QB, Byron Alfred-OL, Jackie Battle-RB,
Sterling Doty-C, Vincent Marshall-WR |
DEFENSE:
Willie
Gaston-CB, Will Gulley-FS, Wade Koehl-OLB,
Marquay Love-NT, Justin Laird-P |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE
|
Let’s
just clear up this misconception right away –
true or false: the Cougars run the ball more times
than they pass it. Here’s a hint –
they ranked 28th in rushing and eighth in passing
last year under the league’s now-departed
top hurler Kevin Kolb (Philadelphia Eagles, 2nd
round). Most of you likely remember the aerial
prowess Kolb displayed for four years in UH’s
CAB system (simply named after Coach Art Briles),
but the answer is, in all of Briles’/Kolb’s
campaigns, it’s true, they ran it more.
This will be the first year here for coach Art
without his QB phenom, and, like seen in KK’s
freshman year (’03), they could wind up
running it twice as much as they throw it. The
one-back looks usually seen will again feature
senior “utility back” Anthony Alridge.
Switched from receiver (where he led the team
with 22+ yards per catch in ’05), the Denton
drummer led the nation with his 10.1 yards per
carry average (only lost six total yards during
his 95 attempts). His lightning affect was also
impacting because Alridge flew under many foes’
radar - hulking Jackie Battle was the team’s
workhorse, but there will now be more focus on
stopping Alridge. RS freshmen Randall Antoine
and Jessie Harrison are the new rotating backs
– both proved this spring they can also
find ample holes as defenses are forced to respect
UH’s passing prowess. The holes come care
of a line that uses footwork and group effort
to highlight their athletic tendencies. No one
exemplifies this more than All-CUSA guard Jeff
Akeroyd, the Outland watch list member who returns
inside after starting at left tackle (out of need)
in ’06. Mike Bloesch stepped in for Akeroyd
admirably inside, so these two form a solid presence.
Moreover, Carl Barnett’s mobility at center
will be key for those laterally developing play
calls, especially when there is no TE/H-Back to
lead the way. Dustin Dickinson is solid at right
tackle (26 consecutive starts there), but bookend
Matt Hart has to realize his upside for the line
to stay strong. German-born junior monster Sebastian
Vollmer was held out of full-contact drills in
spring practice (back surgery), but he will push
Hart for the LT start once back this fall. Three
freshmen backups on the line exemplify how important
the starters are for this offense to reach a healthy
performance peak. The end can also be sealed with
the help of junior tight end Mark Hafner, though,
he is better suited over the deep middle than
for serious blocking assignments. A huge boost
for the new QB is how the Cougars lose only one
major receiving component. Big Jeron Harvey wins
jump balls at will, while all-conference senior
Don Avery likely becomes the main target underneath
(ala Marshall). Ex-sprinter/hurdler Chris Gilbert
is guaranteed YAC from his new starting “slot”,
and senior fourth-receiver Perry McDaniel could
start on most I-A teams. Like usual, the Cougar
QB(s) only have to deliver it to find out just
how deep the corps goes. And that brings us to
the $64 zillion question: who will be found under
center when they journey to Eugene? The answer
seemed clear after spring – the modest,
methodical ways of more experienced Blake Joseph
won out over the flashier arm and quicker feet
of RS frosh Case Keenum. Joseph can motor, too,
and the solid effort of each during the inclemency
of the Red-White closing scrimmage has coaches
feeling good about either at the helm. Then Alex
Peña, who was to be a second-string senior
at Oklahoma State, decided to transfer after receiving
a waiver from the NCAA that says he can play here
without waiting a year. It would be naïve
to think Peña came to Houston without some
sort of guarantee to see reps (if not to start).
Simultaneously, he will have to be heads above
Blake for coaches to think a one-year-and-done
senior is more worth procuring for ’07 than
Blake and/or Keenum and their implications beyond
just this campaign. Nonetheless, his arrival reopens
the QB race. Coach Briles can seemingly put any
of the three in place and still finish over .500
with such a strong supporting cast in his innovative
system, so expect more of the same from Houston’s
balanced production machine.
|
|
RB
Anthony Alridge
|
|
|
HOUSTON
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Blake
Joseph-So (6-2, 215) |
Case
Keenum-Fr (6-1, 205) |
RB |
Anthony
Alridge-Sr (5-9, 175) |
Randall
Antoine-Fr (5-10, 190) |
WR |
Jeron
Harvey-Sr (6-5, 215) |
Tim
Monroe-So (6-2, 185) |
WR |
Chris
Gilbert-So (5-9, 175) |
Perry
McDaniel-Sr (5-9, 175) |
WR |
Donnie
Avery-Sr (5-11, 190) |
Brennan
Gleason-Jr (6-0, 195) |
TE |
Mark
Hafner-Jr (6-3, 230) |
Wesley
Scourten-Fr (6-6, 225) |
OT |
Matt
Hart-So (6-6, 305) |
Sebastian
Vollmer-Jr (6-8, 290) |
OG |
Jeff
Akeroyd-Sr (6-3, 295) |
Jerrod
Butler-So (6-2, 330) |
C |
Carl
Barnett-So (6-3, 285) |
Matt
Parker-Fr (6-2, 265) |
OG |
Michael
Bloesch-Jr (6-2, 295) |
Jared
Lindsey-Fr (6-3, 280) |
OT |
Dustin
Dickinson-Sr (6-3, 290) |
Jordan
Shoemaker-Fr (6-3, 275) |
K |
Ben
Bell-Jr (6-0, 175) |
.. |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE
|
From the first year of coordinator Alan Weddell’s
tenure here through year two (’06), the
run defense improved while the Cougar’s
ability to stop the pass devolved. Five of the
front seven’s starters return, and all indications
through spring are that they have taken it up
even another notch. The line plays big, with large
“ends” to bolster their group effect
in the 3-4 (they actually list having two tackles).
All-CUSA junior DE Phil Hunt is the smallest lineman
on the two-deep at 250 lbs., exemplifying how
many opposing bigmen they occupy so the LBs can
clean up. 6’5 DT Ell Ash led the team in
QB hurries (nine) as a reserve, so his promotion
should help Hunt keep his stat-line bulging, too.
The biggest shoes that need filling are at nose,
where they lose three seniors and where Cody Pree
has inched ahead of senior Tate Stewart. Though
their rotation looks good so far, they are more
hybrid DE/DTs than truly sized NTs, and bigger
lines should be able to regularly handle each
without needing many double-teams. Like on the
line, the linebackers only lose one starter. Playing
now almost like a safety pulled into the box,
junior OLB Stephen James (unlike Peña)
sat out ’06 upon transferring (from Oklahoma
State, too). His experience in a BCS-aligned conference
will surely keep the corps strong as he lines
up against extra receivers. Senior Brendan Pahulu
compliments James well since he seems stronger
against the run. The biggest reason Houston will
probably keep improving against the run is due
to insiders Allen and Lubojasky. Better communication
(leading to more fluidity as a group) will help
the entire defense move together with tightened
results. The secondary is the defense’s
marginal link, and following their statistical
plight will likely reflect the entire team’s
destiny. Consistency is the key – junior
corners Keith Fontenette and Quinte Williams both
have starting experience and strong stat lines,
so it is just a matter of fine tuning a few things
so every play sees their best effort(s). There
is some drop-off when the reserves are in, so
health on the outside is important. Rocky Schwartz
apparently has no ill affects from the knee surgery
needed after he was lost in just the third game
last year. He still earned third-team all-conference,
but he will have to share the strong safety slot
with Ernest Miller, who went over and above as
adjunct starter. FS Joseph Gonzales just needs
to return from the shoulder surgery that held
him out of spring action to get the well-earned
start. Backup Brinkley can hold the fort and should
have a breakout year as the oft-used heir-apparent
to Gonzales. Stats of concern include allowing
foes to convert 47% on third-downs and letting
211 of the 329 points they allowed to be scored
in the first half. Like the secondary’s
ranking(s), follow how well UH can affect these
numbers to see if they are ready to take the next
steps and field a defense that is as strong as
their offense.
|
|
DE
Phillip Hunt
|
|
|
HOUSTON
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold |
DEFENSE |
DT |
Ell
Ash-Jr (6-5, 293) |
Billy
Hartford-Jr (6-2, 260) |
NT |
Cody
Pree-Jr (6-3, 290) |
Tate
Stewart-Sr (6-3, 285) |
DE |
Phillip
Hunt-Jr (6-2, 250) |
Brian
West-So (6-4, 265) |
LB |
Brendan
Pahulu-Sr (6-3, 239) |
Shomari
Williams-So (6-2, 245) |
LB |
Cody
Lubojasky-Jr (6-3, 230) |
Rodney
Rideau-Jr (6-1, 230) |
LB |
Trent
Allen-Sr (6-2, 244) |
..
|
LB |
Stephen
James-Jr (5-10, 205) |
James
Francis-Jr (6-1, 215) |
CB |
Quinte
Williams-Jr (5-11, 170) |
Carson
Blackmon-So (5-11, 180) |
CB |
Kenneth
Fontenette-Jr (6-0, 185) |
Kellan
Yancy-Sr (6-0, 185) |
SS |
Ernest
Miller-Jr (6-0, 195) |
Rocky
Schwartz-Sr (5-10, 200) |
FS |
Joseph
Gonzales-Sr (5-11, 200) |
Brandon
Brinkley-So (6-0, 175) |
P |
Tommy
Skinner-Fr (6-4, 215) |
.. |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
Ben
Bell provides three points from inside the 40 with regularity,
but he only converted one last year from beyond that.
Another field-position inconvenience is a new punter
with UH’s weak coverage team that finished 114th
in net results. Walk-on Tommy Skinner has to step up
after Garrett LeFevre left school, and Skinner has the
leg to adequately give the Cougars a chance to improve
this dimension. Young Teric Williams is a speedy DB
who impressed enough this spring to take over the punt
return duties. Avery and Alridge are serious weapons
to have out for kick returns, but hey…high risk,
high reward in this case.
|
|
|
|
|