Teams with best combined record in 2015 faceoff in Houston
A battle of top 15 teams starts the opening Saturday of college football when the Oklahoma Sooners face the Houston Cougars at 11 a.m. on ABC.
The Sooners, ranked No. 4, and Cougars, ranked No. 15, had a combined record of 24-3 last season.
“We have a big challenge this week,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “Houston is an excellent football team. Coach (Tom) Herman and his staff have done a good job. When you watch them there’s a lot of excellent football players making plays.”
Houston is looking to build off a season that ended with a 38-24 win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl. After being chosen for the College Football Playoff, Oklahoma lost to Clemson 37-17 in the Orange Bowl to end its 2015 campaign.
The Cougar offense is led by quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1,108 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, 2,828 passing yards, 17 scores, six interceptions). Herman said he is looking for Ward to improve in vocal leadership and overall control of the offense.
“He wants more control of the offense, and up to this point he has earned it,” Herman said. “I would expect to see a player that is more comfortable behind center. This is the first time that he has had back-to-back offenses that he’s playing the same position. This off season he had the opportunity to dive into the offense and take control.”
Also in the backfield are running backs Mulbah Car and Duke Catalon, a Texas transfer.
“Mulbah sat out for a few days, and that set him back a little bit, but lucky for him, while he was out none of the other players stepped up,” Herman said. “If we had to play tomorrow and Duke went out for whatever reason, then Mulbah and Kevrin Justice would rotate with Kaliq.”
The Cougars will be without receivers Marquez Stevenson, who suffered a concussion, and Demarcus Ayers.
So they’re turning to Linell Bonner.
“Linell will start the game and although (he) doesn’t quite possess the same explosiveness for that position, I am more comfortable with putting him in that position right now over D’Eriq King, but for other positions D’Eriq is a fantastic play maker,” Herman said. “He is just now learning that position, which is a difficult position to learn, and he is good at manufacturing ways to get him the football.”
Stoops complimented Ward, noting he can run and pass equally well. He noted the Cougars have different formations and numerous options out of each that challenge defenses.
The Sooners are replacing four of five starters who earned All-Big 12 honors last season. But linebackers Devante Bond (43 tackles, seven for loss) and Jordan Evans (second on the team with 83), safeties Steven Parker (60) and Ahmad Thomas (75) and cornerback Jordan Thomas (five interceptions), and defensive lineman Charles Walker (10 tackles for loss, six sacks) will pace the defense.
Herman is impressed with Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (3,700 yards, 36 touchdowns, seven touchdowns) and running backs Joe Mixon (1,349 yards, 16 scores) and Samaje Perine (753 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, four receiving scores).
“Everybody wants to talk about Baker Mayfield, and rightfully so, a tremendous player that can extend plays with his feet and his brain,” Herman said. “But you look at the backfield, and if there’s a better one-two punch in the country, you’re going to have to prove it to me. Those two guys are the real deal.”
Oklahoma is replacing two receivers from last year’s squad. But last season’s Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Dede Westbrook (46 receptions for 743 yards and four touchdowns) was second on the team in catches and yards. Mark Andrews caught 19 passes for 318 yards and seven scores.
“I remember recruiting Mark Andrews,” Herman said. “I thought he was the best tight end in the country coming out of high school. He’s 6-5 or 6-6 with unbelievable athleticism.”
Stoops noted the Cougars are returning five defensive starters with the aim of confusing and disguising various blitz packages.
“The way they play defense, they give you a lot of pressure, weakside, small side,” he said. “Really they created a lot of turnovers a year ago. They’re real aggressive defense in how they play.”
Love it? Hate it? Want to tell me to take a hike? Let me know!
