July 12, 2007

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Can history repeat itself in 2007?

University of Houston head football coach Art Briles sure hopes so.

Now entering his fifth season at the helm of the Cougar program and coming off an epic 2006 campaign, Briles looks to guide Houston to another Conference USA title and make history in the process. The Cougars have won back-to-back league titles only twice - the 1956-57 Missouri Valley Conference and the 1978-79 Southwest Conference crowns - so bringing home the C-USA hardware again in 2007 is history-making in itself. Plus, no C-USA team has repeated as league champs since Louisville won consecutive titles in 2000-01.

In attaining its first outright conference championship since 1978, the Cougars took down five straight league foes to end the regular season, including critical home wins over UTEP, UCF and Tulsa and road wins over SMU and Memphis. In the Conference USA Championship game Houston redeemed itself by knocking off Southern Miss, 34-20, after suffering its only conference loss to the Golden Eagles, 31-27, earlier in the season.

The 2006 season was a year of streaks, for the Cougars started 4-0, with conference wins over Rice and Tulane and non-conference victories against Grambling State and Oklahoma State. That was followed by three straight losses by a combined total of eight points. Houston's season turned around with the 34-17 home win over UTEP.

For the third time in the last four seasons, the Cougars went "bowling," taking on South Carolina in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Despite losing in a shootout, 44-36, the game was considered by many to be one of the Top Five bowl games of the 2006 season.

As for Briles, he became just the second coach to guide the Cougars to at least three bowl games, and his four-year postseason stretch (three bowl games) had not happened in 25 years, when UH participated in four straight postseason classics from 1978-81.

The Cougars return the nucleus of last season's championship squad, returning 51 lettermen and 17 starters that finished 10-4 overall and 7-1 in winning the West Division. On offense, Houston has three of its five offensive linemen coming back as well as its No. 1 running back, No. 1 tight end and its No. 2 and 3 wide receivers. On the other side of the ball, eight starting defenders return with loads of depth lined up behind the starting 11.

With many answers provided for 2007, there are several questions to be answered as Briles and his charges embark upon the campaign. How do you replace the school's all-time leading passer (Kevin Kolb) and receiver (Vincent Marshall)? Who fills in for Sterling Doty, who not only rattled off 37 straight starts at center but also was a consensus First-Team, All-Conference USA performer? Finally, how do you find ways to make up for the loss of the on-the-field and off-the-field leadership of cornerback Willie Gaston and safety Will Gulley, who played in a combined 95 games?

QUARTERBACK
The biggest question entering the 2007 season is how do you replace someone who virtually holds every passing and total offense record in the school's history? Kolb started 50 straight games in his career, third-best all-time in the history of Division I-A football. He led the Cougars to three bowl appearances and the 2006 C-USA Championship, and he was a unanimous selection as the league's Offensive Player of the Year. But, as Briles knows, it is time to move forward.

Stage 1 of the signal-caller battle occurred this past spring with sophomore Blake Joseph and redshirt freshman Case Keenum going head-to-head for the right to replace Kolb. Joseph spent two seasons as Kolb's backup and saw action in two games in 2006. He has Briles' intricate system down and should have the inside track to the starting role.

Keenum is coming off his redshirt season but has the moxie and the work ethic that the coaches love, lacking only time behind center in a Bowl Subdivision environment.

The Cougars have an "X" Factor as camp approaches. Former Oklahoma State quarterback Al Peña has transferred to the University of Houston with hopes of playing for the Cougars this fall. If the NCAA grants his waiver, his experience at the collegiate level should give him a say in this quarterback battle.

RUNNING BACK
Anthony Alridge showed the league why his nickname is "Quick Six." In just the second game of the season against Tulane, Alridge had an 87-yard touchdown run and 155 yards on just five carries, and this was in a backup role. Alternating between wide receiver and running back for the first half of the year, Alridge stepped into the limelight in the second half of the UTEP game and never stepped out of it in rushing for 956 yards on just 95 carries, leading the nation with a 10.1 yards per carry average.

Alridge combined with Jackie Battle to give the Cougars one of the more potent rushing attacks in Conference USA. With Battle leaving for the NFL, the rushing load falls on to the shoulders of Alridge, and despite his 5-9, 175-pound frame, he is up to the task.

The Cougars will use Alridge in many different ways: runs out of the backfield, reverses from the wing, inside traps and catching balls in open spaces. He also will return kicks, so there is a potential for an all-purpose yardage extravaganza if everything falls into place.

The depth behind Alridge is young and inexperienced, but the coaching staff feels that this is not a detriment but an attribute to the UH rushing attack. Redshirt freshmen Randall Antoine and Andre Kohn have shown glimpses of greatness during practice time, and both should see plenty of action this season. Kohn is coming off a knee injury but is expected to be at 100 percent this fall.

Two true freshmen could be in the mix, too. Terrance Ganaway and Justin Johnson bring athleticism and explosiveness to a very talented backfield. The Cougars should not skip a beat when Alridge takes a breather.

At fullback, the Cougars will look to a pair of converted runners in senior Kenneth Atkins and junior Jake Ebner. A former linebacker, Atkins stepped in during the spring and showed that he has no issue in mixing it up inside to provide running lanes for the Cougar running backs. He also showed skill in running and catching the ball in the flats.

Ebner has two years under his belt in this role after being recruited as an offensive lineman. Last season, Ebner saw action at fullback, big slot and tight end, and even started a game at guard when injuries forced a starter to the bench. An extremely athletic big man, Ebner has soft hands and quick feet. Plus, as a former O-Lineman, his blocking skills are excellent.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Even with the departure of the school's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards in Marshall, the Cougars are well-equipped to inflict some damage from their wide receiving corps. The senior tandem of Donnie Avery and Jeron Harvey return, and both strike fear in different ways. Avery is a burner, one of the fastest players on the team and in the league, and when he gets behind the secondary, it usually means bad news for the defense.

Harvey provides a big, strong target that can jump and run. As much as he can work the middle of the field and is effective in end zone fades, Harvey has deceptive speed and can go the distance on a short pass if the defense doesn't stop him. Whoever takes snaps this season for the Cougars will look for No. 1 and No. 2 on a regular basis.

The battle to take over Marshall's spot in the slot looks to be between senior Perry McDaniel and sophomore Chris Gilbert. McDaniel has seen plenty of action during his three years in the Red and White and has experience and great hands on his side. Gilbert is a playmaker in the mold of Marshall, creating plays in spaces and coming up with big plays on third-and-long.

Depth at wide receiver needs to available for Briles' explosive offense to click, and the Cougars have plenty of capable bodies (and hands) to turn to. Junior Brennan Gleason has only one catch in his career but has seen significant action in two years. A strong and gifted receiver, Gleason should come into his own this season and have significant catches in crucial situations.

Senior Jordan Brown and sophomore Tim Monroe also are very capable receivers, with Brown being the sure-handed bulldog on third downs, while Monroe will work the middle and sidelines for significant yardage. Converted quarterback L.J. Castile could be the surprise of the bunch. Considered to be one of the best athletes on the team, Castile can do damage in a multitude of ways with speed, size, strength and determination all working in his favor. Plus, he is a former quarterback, so trickery certainly is not out of the question when he is on the field.

At tight end, junior Mark Hafner elevated his play in 2006 and enters this season as one of the top at his position in Conference USA. With each snap last season Hafner improved his blocking skills, which meshed well with his exceptional receiving ability. Once he catches the ball in the open field, he is a load to bring down.

His backup this season is redshirt freshman Wesley Scourten. At 6-6, Scourten provides a large target, and, though he arrived on campus a year ago at around 200 pounds, he has bulked up to 225 and should be very active in the Cougar passing attack.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Houston returns three starters from last season's Conference USA offense, one that averaged 446.1 yards and 33.0 points per game. Seniors Jeff Akeroyd, a preseason member of the Outland Trophy Award Watch List, and Dustin Dickinson as well as junior Michael Bloesch continue the tradition of versatile, athletic linemen that Briles and his coaching staff crave.

Akeroyd started last season as a guard but moved to left tackle when SirVincent Rogers was lost for the season (Rogers will sit out all of this year and be back in 2008). He didn't miss a beat, solidifying the quarterback's blind side in the process. Despite missing most of the 2005 season, Akeroyd rebounded and was a Second-Team, All-C-USA selection.

Dickinson, too, spent last season out of position, but it didn't prevent him from picking up postseason accolades. A natural guard, Dickinson started all 14 games at right guard and was an inspirational leader on and off the field.

After missing the first two games of the season, Bloesch became a starter at left guard against Miami (Fla.) and remained there for 10 straight games. A solid inside run blocker, Bloesch is one of the hardest workers on the field and the weight room, and the coaches like his non-stop determination.

In 2007, Akeroyd shifts to left guard while Bloesch moves to right guard, taking the spot vacated by Byron Alfred, who graduated early and is now enrolled in law school. Junior Sebastian Vollmer, who missed all of last season with a back injury, should fill Akeroyd's spot. Vollmer is at 100 percent as fall camp approaches, and if healthy, the Germany native could evolve into one of the top linemen in Conference USA.

If Vollmer's back acts up, sophomore Matt Hart is waiting in the wings.

The most glaring hole on the offensive line is at center, where the Cougars must replace Doty, a All-Conference USA First-Team performer. Sophomore Carl Barnett has the inside track to replace Doty, but Dickinson could get moved here if things don't work out for Barnett. Barnett also can play guard.

Junior Isaiah Agson, sophomore Jerrod Butler and a pair of redshirt freshmen, Jared Lindsey and Jordan Shoemaker, are next in line. All could see action this season, especially on special teams.

DEFENSIVE LINE
With the return of Second-Team, All-Conference performer Phillip Hunt and the emergence of transfer Ell Ash, the defensive line could be the strength of this year's defense. Hunt keeps getting better with each snap, a relentless presence that can shed his blocker and rush the passer in a nano-second. Another year of improvement should place Hunt on the league's first-team in 2007.

A former Tennessee standout, Ash emerged during the second half of the season as a complement to Hunt on the other side of the line. Tall, rangy and strong with long arms, Ash will be even better this season with a season under his belt. Teamed with Hunt, this duo will give opponent's nightmares.

Squeezed into the middle could be either Cody Pree or Tate Stewart. Replacing Marquay Love is a tall task, so Pree and Stewart have been battling since spring for the right to step into Love's shoes. Pree is physically imposing and has shown flashes of brilliance, while Stewart is very workman-like, making up for his deficiencies with a non-stop motor.

Auburn transfer Brian West also is in the mix. At 6-4, 265 pounds, West is a physical specimen that can play either tackle or end. Heading into fall, West is listed as Hunt's backup and will certainly see plenty of time in the regular rotation.

The D-Line depth also includes two returning veterans and two fresh faces. Fred Agho and Billy Hartford logged significant minutes last season in a reserve role, and both should be in the mix come September 1 against Oregon. As for the youngsters, Raymond Alake and Isaiah Thompson bring two different styles to the Cougars: Alake, a cat-like quick rusher while Thompson is a solid run stuffer.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
In 2007, the Cougars plan on pressuring the quarterback more than they did they did the year before, so the role of the UH outside linebackers has changed. One side will be the "Drop" linebacker, a player more suited for coverage and run stopping, while the other side becomes the "Rush" linebacker, a quick defender who will pressure the quarterback depending on the defensive call.

Former safety standout Rocky Schwartz heads into fall as the starter at the Drop Linebacker, a season removed from missing 11 games after suffering a knee injury against Grambling State. Schwartz should excel in this new role, where he can get closer to the line and use his strength - stopping the run - to his advantage. His backup is James Francis, a lightning-quick hitter who always makes plays. Francis should be on the field a lot in 2007.

On the opposite side senior Brendan Pahulu, a four-year starter, transitions into the Rush Linebacker slot with ease. A tremendous athlete, Pahulu runs from sideline to sideline better than any other Cougar defender, so this new role of rushing the quarterback should be second nature to him. Sophomore Shomari Williams will serve as his backup.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS
The Dynamic Duo of senior Trent Allen and junior Cody Lubojasky return again as starters, and the tandem lines up as starters for the third straight season. Allen is a ferocious run stuffer who is a hit away from forcing a turnover. He was second on the team in tackles last season with 94 and was named to the C-USA Third Team.

Lubojasky is extremely quick for his size (6-3, 230) and is one of the best at cutting off lanes and reaching the point of attack. Lubojasky finished third on the squad in total tackles with 90.

Junior Rodney Rideau backs up both Allen and Lubojasky and should see plenty of playing time in 2007. Rideau has speed, strength and the knack for the big play. Junior Chris Pilot has moved inside this season, while former walk on Matt Nicholson has earned a backup role in the inside.

SECONDARY
The loss of Gaston and Gulley is a hard hit to the secondary, but Briles feels has strength in numbers to make up for loss of these two seniors. Junior cornerback Kenneth Fontenette is at the top of the numbers, returning as a starter for the second straight season. A starter at free safety as a freshman in 2005, Fontenette easily made the transition to corner and was one of the top lockdown defenders in the league.

Junior Ernest Miller is the other returning starter, nailing down the strong safety spot after stepping in for an injured Schwartz last season. Miller is a prototypical safety: ferocious enough to lay the hit and smart enough to stop the run.

The two other spots are up for grabs. In the cornerback spot opposite of Fontenette, a pair of juniors will duke it out for the right to start. Quinte Williams has been a spot starter in his career, but Harry Simon is a hard worker and it translates on the field. There is a good chance that whomever doesn't get the starting nod will be slated for the nickel back role.

At free safety there is a battle brewing between sophomores Brandon Brinkley and Carson Blackmon. Brinkley, a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman Team last year, has the inside track and has extensive experience in crucial situations. But, Blackmon is a tremendous athlete who just finds ways to make plays.

Senior Kellan Yancy and freshmen Loyce Means and Teric Williams are penciled in as backups at cornerback. All three of them should see action in 2007.

Hard-hitting Broderic Bean and three-year standout Joseph Gonzales are the reserves at safety. Bean is a monster on the field and could play outside linebacker if needed. Gonzales is extremely steady and can play both safety spots. He started a few games last year before being injured.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior kicker Ben Bell is like the Energizer Bunny. He keeps going and going and going... In 2005, he walked on and won the PAT and short field-goal job, grabbing C-USA All-Freshman honors along the way. Last season, he lost a preseason battle for kicker, sat out the Rice game, won back the kicking job prior to Tulane and finished the year with 93 points on 51-53 PATs and 14-of-18 field goals.

A Second-Team, All-C-USA pick in 2006, Bell returns with no doubt about his status this year. His backups are senior T.J. Lawrence and redshirt freshman Jonathan Gibson.

Sporting a strong leg, Lawrence looks to handle kickoff chores this season and will battle Bell for the placekicking chores. Gibson will attempt to wrest away the kickoff chores from Lawrence.

With the graduation of Justin Laird, the Cougars are searching for a punter for the first time since 2004. Walk-on Tommy Skinner held the job during the spring and exhibiting a strong leg and above-average accuracy. The versatile Castile came out of spring drills as the backup punter.

For the third straight year junior Norbie Juist appears to be the short and long snapper. Despite missing the spring with a groin injury, Juist still has the edge over Ebner in this role.

Looking for explosiveness from the return game, Briles has turned to veterans Alridge and Avery and youngsters Antoine and Teric Williams. Any time Alridge and Avery get their hands on the ball, a big play is just around the corner. Both have 4.2 speed in the 40-yard dash and have a penchant for long, back-breaking plays.

Antoine and Teric Williams have the speed and elusiveness that Briles craves in his punt returners. Both also will take a stab at returning kicks behind Alridge and Avery.