Before we begin, let’s go ahead and preface this entire article with the following: Houston looked impressive, but it was against Grambling State.
Got it? Good.
After getting embarrassed by UTSA in the opener, the Houston Cougars took out their frustrations on one of the worst teams and programs in football. The 47-0 shellacking was expected. Anything else would have been a let down and led to even more questions asked about this year’s team.
John O’Korn was more O’Korn-like, going 14-of-24 for 200 yards and a touchdown; and more importantly, no interceptions after the four-INT game against UTSA.
The defense was stout, allowing only 238 yards and forcing a whopping six turnovers.
Ah, but before I make another disparaging “like taking candy from a baby” remark against this win, there is a glaring bright spot for Houston this team so desperately needed: a running game.
Yes, a running game. The Cougars were known last year for tossing the ball over the field with great success. This year’s team was, by all accounts, going to use a pass-first, let’s-worry-about-the-running-backs-later offensive approach. But let’s give coach Tony Levine and his staff credit; the offense was dismal against UTSA because there was no balance. Everyone in the stadium knew what was coming.
So there were some changes made. Houston ran the ball 40 times against Grambling State, which is nearly twice as many times as it threw it. That didn’t happen last year – not even close. There were two games the Cougars had 40-plus carries in 2013, but they also threw the ball a bunch and this was before O’Korn took over.
On Saturday, UH not only ran the ball, it did it in a variety of formations with a variety of players. There were seven guys with a rushing attempt and three Cougars got into the end zone, including Greg Ward, Jr., who scored the game’s opening touchdown while he was in at quarterback on a designed run. Kenneth Farrow was clearly the go-to guy, with 133 yards. 55 of those yards came on the FIRST PLAY OF THE GAME.
The Cougars will never be mistaken for a team who doesn’t love to spread you out with the passing game, but Saturday’s game plan (despite the opponent), has to give Houston fans hope Levine knows this season can’t rest solely on the arm of O’Korn.
Now let’s snap back to reality. Houston is staring down a showdown at No. 25 BYU this week. This could be the best team they play all year. So we will see what kind of lessons the Cougars took from the first two games and how they apply them in Provo.
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