COUGARS HOPE THEY HAVE VOICE MALE
Applewhite really wants ILB Adams to speak up, take charge on defense
Matthew Adams has the same title, same job description but an increase in responsibility this season.
“You get a promotion,” the University of Houston senior inside linebacker said. “I got a bigger role.”
With the graduation of tackle machine Steven Taylor, Adams enters this season with the most experience (17 starts) of any linebacker on the roster and is likely to be named a team captain.
With that comes a need for the sometimes reserved Adams to be a more vocal leader on the field. He admits it’s time to “come out of my shell.”
“It’s not where it needs to be,” coach Major Applewhite said. “I think (being a vocal leader) is vital if he wants to continue to play. At that role, middle linebacker, you’re the core, you’re the guts of the defense.”
Comparable to Roberts
So far, Adams has preferred to do his talking with big hits. Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio calls Adams “one of the more explosive tacklers” he has been around.
“It’s just the way I was taught growing up,” Adams said. “My dad and older brothers were big on hitting. One point my dad always made was that it was not a tackle unless you put your face on them, so I try to put my face on every ball carrier.”
As an example, senior strong safety Garrett Davis recalls a fourth-and-1 play at Cincinnati last season.
“I saw him do what hardnosed linebackers are supposed to at that position,” Davis said. “He just ran through and shot the gap and smashed right through the running back. That’s the play that I remember I fell in love with his style of play.”
Adams was one of four freshmen to play in all 13 games during UH’s conference title run in 2015. He had 11 starts last season, leading the team in tackles with 82.
Inside linebacker has traditionally been a production-heavy position for the Cougars’ defense, most recently with Elandon Roberts’ 142 tackles in 2015 serving as a springboard to being selected in the sixth round by the New England Patriots. Taylor wrapped up his career fifth on the school’s all-time sacks list with 25½. Since 2011, Efrem Oliphant, Derrick Mathews, Everett Daniels and Marcus McGraw all posted 100-plus tackles.
“I’m looking to pick up that production,” Adams said. “(But) at the end of the day, it’s about getting better. I can’t really go off what somebody else did.”
Applewhite, who was UH’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons, sees Adams taking a similar path as Roberts in becoming a more vocal leader.
“In spring practice going into his senior year there were times Elandon Roberts didn’t finish practice,” Applewhite said. “I saw what he did in terms of the offseason trying to create his stamina so he could practice longer and he could be out on the field more. Elandon developed into that leader by the end of the season. He was not that guy in the second week at Louisville. Throughout the season that kind of evolved.”
By late in the 2015 season, Applewhite said Roberts had emerged as that leader, which became evident when he was lost early due to a targeting call in an upset at Connecticut.
Likes to get physical
Applewhite said UH coaches have discussed with Adams about not waiting so long to grab his new role.
“We talked to Matt about we know what it is, let’s speed up the process,” Applewhite said. “We don’t have to have the same growth pattern as the other guy.”
One thing working in Adams’ favor, Applewhite said, is he has that “alpha dog-type mentality” in terms of physical style of play, desire and eagerness to learn.
Adams’ teammates have noticed a slow change.
“He doesn’t say much, but he’s a workaholic,” senior inside linebacker D’Juan Hines said. “He goes about his business. He likes to put in work on and off the field. All I’ve got to say is y’all have a lot coming from Matthew Adams. He’s a leader. He’s a team captain. He’s the rock of the defense.”