Cougars stress rushing attack
Coaching staff hoping better depth pays off
Kenith Pope is smiling right now, which wasn’t always the case last season as the University of Houston struggled to find an option in the backfield not named Greg Ward Jr.
For all the tackle-eluding spin moves by Ward that turned apparent losses into big gains, the Cougars came to rely heavily on the dualthreat quarterback.
Some of it was improvising; Ward became known for picking up big yards even with the pocket crumbling around him. Some of it was out of necessity with the offensive line undergoing constant changes. Top back Duke Catalon missed a considerable chunk of the season with injuries.
Now, with less than three weeks until the Sept. 2 season opener at UTSA, the Cougars are placing a renewed emphasis on the running game with as many as five candidates challenging for playing time in the post Ward offensive era.
“Right now this is the most depth I’ve had,” said Pope, UH’s third-year running backs coach and 38year college football coaching lifer. “I’m not saying it’s all polished, but numberwise we are in very good shape.
“I’m smiling right now with the depth we have at the running back spot.”
Struggles in 2016
In 2015, the Cougars just missed Kenneth Farrow joining Ward as a 1,000yard rusher during the Cougars’ Peach Bowl run. Even with Ward, the Cougars took a step back last year, with Ward slowed by nagging injuries.
UH averaged 147.1 yards per game on the ground, which ranked 99th out of 128 FBS schools. The Cougars had at least 200 rushing yards just twice, and the longest run of the season was 46 yards by walk-on Dillon Birden. Catalon’s 528 yards were the fewest by UH’s leading rusher since Lamar Smith (417) in 1993.
“There were a few times, not near enough, last year that we could run the ball from the tailback position and feel comfortable calling the run game when it didn’t go through Greg Ward,” coach Major Applewhite said. “Can we run the ball from the tailback position on a consistent basis? The rubber needs to meet the road, and we need to do that to be an effective offense.”
The run game starts with Catalon, the former University of Texas signee who transferred to UH in 2015. The Cougars’ big plans for Catalon, however, were shelved early last season when he missed four games with ankle problems and concussion symptoms.
“I want to give people what they expect and what the coaches expect out of me,” Catalon said. “It was real frustrating (being on the sideline). I was trying to do everything possible to get back. But I could not rush it.”
With Catalon out, Birden, a walk-on who began at Blinn College, provided a lifeline with 289 yards and six touchdowns.
“We took everything from last year and learned from it,” Birden said.
So far in pres ea son camp, Pope said Catalon is “a step ahead” and is “locked in and focused.” Birden, an unlikely contributor last season, “works to perfection every day.” A third candidate the Cougars hope can make strides is Mulbah Car, who struggled at times to adjust as a freshman.
“Mulbah is much improved from being a freshman a year ago,” Pope said. “Every day he is getting more and more physical.”
Building the backfield
Other candidates: Patrick Carr, a transfer from Colorado, had 122 yards and a touchdown in the spring game; Josh Burrell, a strong inside runner; and freshman Davion Mitchell has impressed the coaching staff in camp.
The running game stands to improve with consistency up front on the offensive line, which returns mostly intact. There are seven returners who made at least five starts a year ago.
“We didn’t have that many good games where we ran the ball,” left tackle Josh Jones said. “This year we got better. We are able to knock some one back and actually move the ball on the ground.”
Pope credits the work of UH’s offseason strength and conditioning program for preparing the team for camp and the start of the season.
“If we can stay healthy, stay fresh … right now we’re in the best shape we can be in,” Pope said. “I have to give ownership to our strength and conditioning staff.
“They did an outstanding job this summer with our guys. I can tell on the field how we are responding to do things.”
And in the meantime, Pope keeps smiling.