|
RB
Bryce Beall |
2009
Schedule |
9-5-09 |
NORTHWESTERN
STATE |
9-12-09 |
at
Oklahoma State |
9-26-09 |
TEXAS
TECH |
10-3-09 |
at
UTEP |
10-10-09 |
at
Mississippi State |
10-17-09 |
at
Tulane |
10-24-09 |
SMU |
10-31-09 |
SOUTHERN
MISS |
11-7-09 |
at
Tulsa |
11-14-09 |
at
UCF |
11-21-09 |
MEMPHIS |
11-28-09 |
RICE |
|
Coach:
Kevin Sumlin
8-5,
1 year |
|
2008
Results: 8-5 |
SOUTHERN |
WON
55-3 |
at
Oklahoma State |
LOST
37-56 |
vs.
AIR FORCE |
LOST
28-31 |
at
Colorado State |
LOST
25-28 |
at
East Carolina |
WON
41-24 |
UAB |
WON
45-20 |
at
SMU |
WON
44-38 |
at
Marshall |
LOST
23-37 |
TULANE |
WON
42-14 |
TULSA |
WON
70-30 |
UTEP |
WON
42-37 |
at
Rice |
LOST
42-56 |
ARMED
FORCES BOWL |
Air
Force |
WON
34-28 |
|
|
2008
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-40, BCS-UR
|
2009
Outlook |
Entering
his second year as the
head football coach, Kevin
Sumlin has already put
his stamp on the program.
The Cougars just wrapped
up a successful season,
which culminated in the
program’s first
bowl victory in 28 years.
Sumlin’s best move
to date has been the hiring
of offensive coordinator
Dana Holgorsen away from
Texas Tech, where he served
as offensive coordinator
for three seasons while
under the tutelage of
legendary offensive coach
Mike Leach. His eight-year
stint in Lubbock has now
translated at Houston,
and boy, howdy, has the
offense taken off. The
Cougars posted 25 scoring
drives of five plays or
less in ’08. In
the process, QB Case Keenum
has emerged onto the national
stage. The numbers are
now becoming just as mind
boggling here as the ones
being posted at Texas
Tech, which, by the way,
also has sent former QB
legend Kliff Kingsbury
over to the Houston coaching
staff to be in charge
of offensive quality control.
The
word synonymous with Houston
football is offense. The
running back and receiver
positions are deeper than
just about at any program
across the country. Throw
in CUSA Player of the
Year Case Keenum spreading
the ball around and stadium
scoreboards may have to
find a way to implement
a triple digit scoring
category to keep track
of the points. Keenum,
Beall, Carrier and Edwards
are names capable of leading
the NCAA in every major
offensive statistic, including
passing, rushing and receiving,
given the efficient system
from which they operate.
What really makes these
statements even more remarkable
is that the latter three
all established themselves
in their stellar freshman
seasons of a year ago.
Not one single offensive
skill position boasts
a senior starter. So expect
some mistakes to still
play a part of the process
as the assault continues
to evolve.
So
what is holding Houston
back? An offense this
good can only be stalemated
by its own team’s
lacking defensive efforts,
and that is exactly what
is still taking place.
If you are a fan of high
scoring affairs, tune
into a Cougar game in
2009. The numbers don't
lie; Houston has a problem
stopping both the run
and the pass. Making future
prognostications worse
is a defensive line that
is undersized, unproductive
and undetermined. New
faces enter the fold and
will have to work without
the nation's second leading
sack master, Phillip Hunt.
Without
a proven pass rush, the
secondary has to be concerned.
No unit could perform
any worse than it did
a year ago defending the
pass. Maybe the good news
is that the jest of the
secondary will be retooled.
The problem is this -
those capable of topping
the depth chart won’t
be in town until summer
camp arrives. Quality
JUCO transfers and incoming
freshman will be counted
on to plug many of the
leaks, so there are no
guarantees, good or bad.
What
really hampers any early
hopes of top 25 love is
that both Texas Tech and
Oklahoma State dot the
September schedule...not
exactly the types of offenses
Coach Sumlin wants to
see right off as he reassembles
a defense struggling to
find identity. Fortunately
this offense is good enough
to bail them out when
it comes to CUSA competition.
It's also good enough
to put them on our Top
50 preseason map. If Case
Keenum stays healthy all
season, he will push the
records set by former
Houston QBs Andre Ware,
David Klingler and Kevin
Kolb. Do not be surprised
if this youngster makes
his way to the Heisman
ceremony before his career
is over.
Projected
2009 record: 8-4
|
|
HOUSTON
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4.5 |
DL
- 1 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 1.5 |
OL
- 3 |
.. |
|
HOUSTON
2008 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
47 |
5 |
Passing: |
2 |
1 |
Total
Off: |
2 |
2 |
Sacks
Allow: |
71 |
7 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
94 |
8 |
Passing: |
91 |
6 |
Total
Def: |
100 |
7 |
Sacks: |
64 |
4 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Case Keenum, 397-589-11,
5010 yds., 44 TD
Rushing: Bryce
Beall, 198 att., 1247
yds., 13 TD
Receiving: Tyron
Carrier, 80 rec., 1026
yds., 9 TD
Scoring: Bryce
Beall, 17 TD, 102 pts.
Punting: Chase
Turner, 41 punts, 45.5
avg.
Kicking: Ben Bell,
10-15 FG, 48-50 PAT, 78
pts.
Tackles: Marcus
McGraw, 103 tot., 48 solo
Sacks: Tyrell Graham,
1.5 sacks
Interceptions:
Loyce Means, 4 for 160
yds., 1 TD; Brandon Brinkley,
4 for 32 yds., 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: Tyron
Carrier, 27 ret., 22.3
avg., 1 TD
Punt Returns: Tyron
Carrier, 8 ret., 9.6 avg.,
0 TD
|
|
|
WR
Tyron Carrier |
HOUSTON
TOP NEWCOMERS |
OT
Roy Watts
- At 6-6 and 300 pounds,
the Houston native
did not allow a sack
in 2008 at Navarro
(Texas) College. He
originally signed
with Texas. |
FS
Jacky Candy
- The Most Valuable
Defensive Player at
Coffeyville (Kansas)
Community College.
|
WR
A.J. Dugat
- A Parade All-American
that piled up 1,755
receiving yards, 642
rushing yards and
28 TDs at Dayton High
School in Texas. |
|
|
|
|
|
HOUSTON
2009
College Football Preview
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 4 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Mark Hafner-WR, Sebastian
Vollmer-OT, Michael Bloesch-OG,
SirVincent Rogers-OT |
DEFENSE:
Tate
Stewart-DE, Cody Pree-NT,
Jake Ebner-DT, Phillip Hunt-DE,
Cody Lubojasky-MLB, Quinte
Williams-CB, Ernest Miller-SS,
Kenneth Fontenette-FS |
|
|
2009
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
The past two decades have produced
a handful of high-flying QBs.
Andre Ware, David Klingler and
Kevin Kolb...but now there's
a new Cougar in town with similar
credentials, and his name is
junior-to-be Case Keenum. He
finished the 2008 season as
the nation's leader in total
offense at 403.2 yards per game.
He has remarkable instincts
in terms of decision-making.
His errorless string of 219
attempts without throwing an
interception was broken back
in September, only two games
into his sophomore year. He
needs only 5,685 yards to become
the school's all-time leading
passer. What Keenum brings to
the table does not end with
his passing skills. In this
wide-open, one-back offense,
he has provided a major boost
with his feet. His 633 combined
yards rushing over the past
two seasons is not going to
get Keenum labeled as one of
the best rushing QBs in college
football, but his opportunistic
gainers do much more than just
keep defenses honest. Keenum
was a semi-finalist for the
NationalChamps.net Underdog
Award in 2008, which goes to
the nation's best mid-major
player, and he has the talent/ability/numbers
to possibly push for Heisman
consideration. The only question
is who will be his backup. Blake
Joseph has departed, leaving
Cotton Turner, walk-on Austin
Elrod and/or Crawford Jones
to assume the role. Turner is
the frontrunner and was the
Houston area prep passing leader
before spending a growth year
at Blinn Junior College.
RUNNING
BACK
The offensive backfield continues
to be a major strength for the
team. All three players listed
on the depth chart earned at
least four starts a year ago.
Bryce "Brick" Beall
is an All-CUSA back who started
his true freshman season ('08)
as the backup to Andre Kohn.
After an injury to Kohn forced
him out of the lineup in early
September, Beall took over and
wound up setting a Houston record
for freshman rushing with his
6.3 yards per carry rate. He
is also a top receiving threat
with a nose for the end zone
(17 total TDs). If the roles
reversed again (with Kohn carrying
the load), the offense would
still be in very capable hands.
However, with incoming frosh
Charlie Sims entering the picture,
Kohn's future may include other
(receiver) duty. Justin Johnson
returns as the best Cougar blocking
back. Few other mid-major programs
can boast as much backfield
firepower from top to bottom
as Houston can.
RECEIVER
When a passing attack like this
puts up its superior numbers,
a list of awards usually are
getting handed out to the men
catching the pigskin. Ultimately,
this means that Houston is loaded
at receiver. Ten quality snarlers
that lettered a year ago are
back. The depth chart does not
have enough room to list them
all. It still remains to be
seen if a ‘go-to’
guy can step up to take the
place of the departed Mark Hafner.
Fortunately, Tyron Carrier is
a game-breaker with elusive
skills that looks to fit the
bill. He demonstrates the same
ability to be a possession receiver
after racking up 80 grabs last
fall, his first year on the
collegiate field. He also placed
third in the 200-meter dash
at the Conference USA Indoor
Track Championships. Hopes are
that Patrick Edwards will return
hungry from his infamous cart
accident of a year ago, when
his season was ended after running
into a cart parked out of bounds
(at Marshall) that broke his
leg. Edwards was another frosh
that started to show signs of
being a big time contributor
(prime kick return specialist).
Other major contributions will
come from upper classmen Chaz
Rodriguez and Kierrie Johnson.
Cougar fans still await the
breakthrough of super talent
L.J. Castile. The future is
still not clear; will coaches
continue to use the ‘big
slot’ position (as a glorified
H-back)? This is the position
that Hafner embraced. A true
four-receiver set could be the
new order. If the big slot continues
to be a part of the process,
Wesley Scourten’s large
body and great leaping ability
shoe him in. Keep an eye on
JUCO transfer James Cleveland,
who was a former Freshman All-Big
Ten selection two years ago
while playing at Iowa. Parade
All-American A.J. Dugat was
the gem of a solid recruiting
class and is way too talented
to ride the pine. Whew, this
is truly one of the deepest
receiving corps found anywhere
and will only bolster what has
become a prolific offense.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
The raw talent to shape is already
here. A good place to find a
leader is at center; senior
three-year starter Carl Barnett
will be handling the snaps.
However, this unit is extremely
short in terms of full-time
experience. To demonstrate the
line’s youth, at one of
the guard spots is Chris Thompson
who earned the second most amounts
of starts a year ago behind
Barnett. The learning curve
has to kick in for the (now)
sophomore. The health of guard
Jordan Shoemaker, who started
to close out his 2008 campaign,
leaves lingering questions as
he is sitting out the spring
with an injury. His return will
likely force a few more changes
such as what happens to big
325-pound Jarve Dean, a more
formidable tackle who currently
is working in his place. Locating
a fulltime tackle has to be
the priority. Fifth year senior
Josh Bell, a former prep Top
100 player out of Texas, fits
the description and has the
athletic ability to make quite
a difference. A former tight
end, he’s got the skills
to be fine tackle. But his health,
too, has become an issue, leaving
concern as to who will protect
on the outside. The answer will
have to come from a new face,
which makes the job of first
year line coach B.J. Anderson
a work in progress. Look for
Roy Watts, one of the top JUCO
transfers, to see plenty of
time on the field. Getting a
group that can find cohesiveness
will prove difficult if the
health of a few key players
is shaky. Anderson is dealing
with trying to mix in newcomers
while not being sure who is
going to be healthy and ready
to go.
|
|
|
HOUSTON
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Case
Keenum-Jr (6-2, 210) |
Cotton
Turner-So (6-0, 190) |
RB |
Bryce
Beall-So (5-11, 205) |
Andre
Kohn-Jr (5-11, 195)
Justin Joseph-So (6-1,
220) |
WR |
Patrick
Edwards-So (5-9, 175) |
L.J.
Castile-Jr (6-3, 210) |
WR |
Tyron
Carrier-So (5-8, 162) |
James
Cleveland-Jr (6-1,
205) (incoming)
A.J. Dugat-Fr (6-0,
188) (incoming) |
WR |
Kierrie
Johnson-Jr (5-10,
175) |
E.J.
Smith-So (6-1, 185) |
WR |
Chaz
Rodriguez-Jr (6-2,
185) |
Tim
Monroe-Sr (6-2, 185)
Wesley Scourten-Jr
(6-6, 240) (TE/Big
Slot) |
OT |
Josh
Bell-Sr (6-5, 315) |
Jacolby
Ashworth-Fr (6-3,
275) |
OG |
Jordan
Shoemaker-Jr (6-3,
270) |
Jaryd
Anderson-Jr (6-4,
280) |
C |
Carl
Barnett-Sr (6-2, 285) |
Blake
Sargent-Fr (6-3, 275) |
OG |
Chris
Thompson-So (6-2,
295) |
Jarve
Dean-Jr (6-3, 325) |
OT |
Matt
Hart-Sr (6-6, 310) |
Roy
Watts-Jr (6-6, 315) |
K |
Jordan
Mannisto-So (6-1,
185) |
Ben
Bell-Sr (6-0, 175) |
|
|
|
2009
DEFENSE |
DEFENSIVE
LINE
The biggest questions are obviously
on defense and the front line
will have as much difficulty
making improvements as any group
on this side of the ball. No
area of the team was hit harder
by graduation. Three starters
are gone including Phillip Hunt,
the NCAA second leading sack
producer, which leaves the overall
prognosis on the outside somewhat
scary. Former Arkansas transfer/linebacker
Tyrell Graham has played quite
a bit but has only logged one
full season at end. He has the
speed necessary to apply pressure,
though, at only around 230 pounds,
he’ll get pushed around
by bigger blockers. The other
DE spot is up for grabs and
could possibly be filled by
a true freshman. UH needs at
least one of the players battling
for this spot to step up in
a big way, or such could spell
titanic problems. Starting tackle
Isaiah Thompson has a frame
worthy of holding ground, yet
does not excel at getting penetration
(0.5 tackles for loss). David
Hunter has a bright future,
yet he, too, has a long way
to go before being considered
a reliable cog. This defensive
line is undersized, especially
the ends, and depth is paper-thin.
This bunch will have to hang
their hat on quickness. Expect
opponents to test this unit
immediately via runs up the
gut. Their run stopping efforts
were ranked at the bottom of
the conference list and nothing
on paper suggests the results
will be much different.
LINEBACKER
The linebackers, while needing
to address a few issues, more
than likely will boast the best
talent/experience on the defensive
side. The bad news is that promising
veteran Matt Nicholson suffered
a torn ACL knee injury in the
ninth game of the year against
Tulane and will likely have
to take a redshirt season in
2009. During his ’08 absence,
walk-on C.J. Cavness filled
the role admirably, finishing
fourth on the team in tackles.
Cavness will continue to man
the strong side while former
JUCO signee Nicholas Thurston
attempts to secure the spot
in the middle vacated by prominent
four-year starter Cody Lubojasky.
Either Thurston or another JUCO
signee in A.J. Johnson will
have to make their presence
known before this group can
start to take up some of the
slack left by an undersized
DL in front of them. A few incoming
freshmen will be given the opportunity
to play in the middle immediately;
redshirt frosh Anthony Lewis
has shown some ability in terms
of earning a starting role.
On the weakside coaches will
hope that Marcus McGraw can
improve on his spectacular freshman
campaign, where he rarely ever
came off the field. In the process,
McGraw led the team in tackles
while going over the century
mark (103 total tackles).
DEFENSIVE
BACK
A major overhaul is in store
for the secondary, and after
all may not be such a bad thing
considering how the group’s
performances of the recent past
have crippled exploding offensive
efforts. If there’s one
dimension that could not look
any worse at this early juncture,
this is it. Making matters more
complicated, the starting lineup
will not likely be set until
well into August camp, if ever.
Two JUCO transfers are expected
to make a big push here - safety
Jacky Candy, a former Florida
athlete who also doubled as
a basketball MVP, and Devin
Mays who has recorded a 4.4
40-yard dash. Mays will not
report until August. Other newcomers
will include redshirt frosh
Jackie Hinton (maintains solid
athletic skills) and sophomore
Nick Saenz. How these names
fit into the scheme will take
some time. There is a wide range
for this group’s results.
The lone returning starter is
Brandon Brinkley, a question
mark a couple of years ago that
has now become the closest thing
to a lockdown corner through
his three years of trials and
tribulations. Who lines up on
the other corner is anyone's
guess. Veterans Loyce Means
and Carson Blackmon both saw
a fair amount of action, but
neither has been consistent
enough to win the starting job.
None of these jobs are secure
outside of Brinkley’s.
|
|
CB
Brandon Brinkley
|
|
|
HOUSTON
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Mohammed
Usman-So (6-1, 235) |
Doran
Guillory-Fr (6-3,
245) |
NT |
Isaiah
Thompson-Jr (6-4,
295) |
Doug
Winfield-So (6-1,
260) |
DT |
David
Hunter-So (6-2, 285) |
Demarcus
Lattier-So (6-2, 265) |
DE |
Tyrell
Graham-Sr (6-3, 235) |
Michael
Ray-So (6-3, 250) |
SLB |
C.J.
Cavness-Sr (6-1, 220) |
John
McIntyre-So (6-0,
230)
Matt
Nicholson-Sr (6-3,
255) (inj.) |
MLB |
Nicholas
Thurston-Sr (6-1,
255) |
A.J.
Johnson-Sr (6-2, 240) |
WLB |
Marcus
McGraw-So (5-11, 220) |
Britton
Maxwell-Jr (6-0, 235) |
CB |
Brandon
Brinkley-Sr (6-0,
180) |
Loyce
Means-Jr (5-10, 175)
Devin Mays-Jr
(5-11, 170) (incoming) |
CB |
Carson
Blackmon-Sr (5-11,
185) |
Jamal
Robinson-Jr (5-10,
185) |
SS |
Nick
Saenz-So (5-11, 185) |
Roisean
Haynes-So (5-11, 185) |
FS |
Jacky
Candy-Jr (5-11, 205) |
Jackie
Hinton-Jr (5-11, 187) |
P |
Chase
Turner-Sr (6-4, 229) |
Jordan
Mannisto-So (6-1,
185) |
|
|
|
|
2009
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Not
too many questions exist here. Chase
Turner is one of the best punters
to wear a Houston uniform in quite
some time after stumbling through
an inconsistent '07 campaign. Turner
managed a monstrous 45.5 yards per
punt and had several boots go beyond
60 yards. PK Jordan Mannisto came
on strong at the end of the season
to wrestle the starting job from Ben
Bell. Mannisto will need to work more
on his accuracy and consistency, but
his leg started to show its power
with booming kickoffs that culminated
his campaign last fall. The return
men look more like a qualified 440
relay track team. Tyron Carrier has
predominately handled both the punts
and kicks, but Kierrie Johnson brings
just as much speed to the table. If
Patrick Edwards can return healthy
from the Marshall cart mishap injury,
he has potential to be one of the
league's most electric return men.
|
|