The Daily Cougar
6 \\ Monday, August 27, 2012
OFFENSE
Nesbitt takes command of air-raid attack Andrew Pate Sports editor
Despite all the changes in the Houston Cougars’ offense this season — new quarterback, offensive coordinator, receiving corps, even uniforms — don’t be surprised if it still looks familiar. “Somebody who’s been out of town since last December and comes to watch us play Sept. 1, they wouldn’t necessarily know there’s been a change,” said firstyear head coach Tony Levine. “What we’ve been doing here is what we (look for while recruiting), so I wanted to find somebody in that shared philosophy.” Under new Offensive Coordinator Mike Nesbitt, who subscribes to the same fast-paced, air-raid philosophy of his predecessors, the Cougars are expected to appear similar to last season. “I think we’re going to have the same strengths we had last year,” said junior running back Charles Sims. “We’re basically running the same offense, just with a lot of different signals.” That’s where the parallels end, though. Under center, redshirt
Offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt will seek out ways to get the ball to play maker Charles Sims. Against Tulane last season, Sims averaged 20.7 yards per carry, breaking a 58-year school record. | File photo/The Daily Cougar sophomore quarterback David Piland will take the reigns, two years following his appearance during season-ending injuries to Case Keenum and Cotton Turner. “I think we’ve got a unique situation in our program in that
when you lose your quarterback to graduation, the guy replacing him really has no game experience,” Levine said. “We’ve got a young man who has eight games of starting experience under his belt and is unique in the situation as well
DEFENSE
— that we were able to redshirt him this past year.” The normally pass-happy Cougars, who threw the ball 682 times and averaged 450 yards passing per game a season ago, will see significant contributions from a
largely new-receiving corps. “I’m not sure what it costs to buy a game program when you enter Robertson Stadium, but I recommend that fans in September at least pay the couple dollars and pick up one on the way in,” Levine said. “We’re going to have a bunch of guys catching footballs and scoring touchdowns for us, and you might need to match their jersey numbers with their name and picture in the program.” The mix of inexperienced players, an offensive line of four returning starters and Sims — who can break one at any moment — has the pre-season predictors playing the guessing game on where the Cougars will finish. “We’re really not concerned with what people think we’re going to do this season,” Levine said. “Some people have us doing real well, and a lot of people have us rebuilding and struggling this season. We’ll look back in December and find out how our regular season went and hopefully look back in January and have a successful bowl game.” sports@thedailycougar.com
SPECIAL TEAMS
Cougars explore new defensive scheme Christopher Shelton Assistant sports editor
In order for the Cougars to compete for a Conference-USA title, the defense has to have a great impact, and there are challenges ahead. The Cougars are switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Former linebacker coach Jamie Bryant will take over as defensive coordinator for Bryan Steward Stewart, who departed for Maryland. Bryant is looking to turnover a new leaf and trot out a competitive defense on opening day. “(I’m) not interested in last year,” Bryant said. “All I’m interested in is how good of a defense we can be this year and worry about what’s ahead of us.” Linebackers were the strength of the defense last year. Unfortunately, two key parts of the line backing core are no longer eligible. Gone are Marcus McGraw, who led the team in tackles with 141, and Sammy Brown, who led the nation in tackles for loss.
In steps a new crop, headlined by returning senior starter Phillip Steward, who led the nation in interceptions as a linebacker last year. Steward will be flanked with Derrick Mathews and fellow senior, Everett Daniels. Daniels will attempt to fill the heavy cleats of McGraw, starting as middle linebacker. “Quite frankly, out of the three linebackers this spring, Everett has played the best,” Tony Levine said at media day. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he does this year.” Steward, who had six interceptions last season, says he pushes the secondary to get better. “I like to challenge them; saying I’ll have more picks than you this game so we can go out there and compete,” Steward said. With a push from Steward and some real talent, the secondary should be a strength of this defense. The Cougars are in a good position at corner with Thorpe Award Watch List recipient D.J. Hayden and Zachary McMillian manning receivers on the outside. Chris Cermin and Jeffery Lewis will start at the safety positions. The defensive line is chocked
full of veterans who will rotate along that four-man front. Line coach Carlton Hall likes to keep his team fresh. Dominic Miller, on the inside, is a name to watch. The Blinn College transfer had 25 tackles from the nose guard position last season. Radermon Scypion “had as good a spring as anyone in our program,” Levine said. Scypion and Joey Mbu will split time from the tackle position. From the defensive end positions, Zeke Riser and Eric Braswell will supply pressure to opposing quarterbacks. Efrem Oliphant, Jon Witten and Desmond Pulliam converted to defensive ends since less line backers are needed to run the 4-3. Bryant says he knows that it takes a team effort to field a great defense. “We better have 11 guys that are the strength of this defense and hopefully 22,” Bryant said. The Cougars will look to continue improving on last season’s fifth place C-USA finish in total defense (380.29 yards per game) and seventh place finish in rushing defense (171.57 yards). sports@thedailycougar.com
UH will face the task of replacing dynamic return man Patrick Edwards who signed with the Detroit Lions this summer. | File photo/The Daily Cougar
Competition, experience highlight special teams fall preparations Christopher Shelton Assistant sports editor
The most often overlooked phase of the game is special teams. Not so at UH, especially with a head coach who has been a special team’s coach at four different destinations. Last season, the Cougars were among the nation’s best including Tyron Carrier’s three returns for scores — marking his seventh career return for a touchdown matching an NCAA record. “Special teams is one of the most important aspects of the game. You can win or lose it there,” kicker Matt Hogan said. “I think (Levine) really knows that and puts a lot of emphasis into it and it shows on the field.”
There is turnover due to graduation on the unit and the team is still searching for replacements. “When you talk about special teams, the big question mark, at least publicly, is who the returners are going to be, replacing Carrier as a kick-off returner and Patrick Edwards as a punt returner,” head coach Tony Levine said. At kick returner, Isaiah Sweeney and Jeffery Lewis will compete for the starting job. Both have experience in that arena so it is an interesting position battle. At least initially, Lewis and Sweeney will see time at kick returner. SPECIAL TEAMS continues on page 10