Last season, UH usually wilted in the 3rd quarter. The Cougars were outscored 116-55 in the 3rd and in eleven of 12 games, UH scored 7 points or less (shutout 4 times). One way or another, Houston was outcoached or outplayed or just worn down. With a laundry list of things to choose from, it was one of the most damning things about the 2019 team.
But in the 3rd quarter of the 2020 opener, the Cougars looked much different. UH outscored Tulane 21-7 in the period. How different is that? In exactly four years (10/8/2016 – 10/8/2020), UH outscored just one team by 14 points in the 3rd quarter (Navy 2018).
What changed? Coming out of the half in the Tulane game, the Cougars were poised, had a game plan, and executed it. They scored on both offensive drives and on a 97-yard kickoff return.
As important as any of it was the play of Clayton Tune. Tune went 7/7 in the third, finding seven different receivers, and picked up a first down on four of his throws. And he did it without going to Marquez Stevenson, who he seemed to lock-in on at times last year.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Tune after going 12/24 in the first half with two INTs and a strip-sack for a Tulane TD.
In the quarter, the Coogs went 3 of 4 on third and fourth downs and, discounting the two rushes inside the one-yard line, ran it 9 times for 45 yards in the quarter (5 ypc). On seven first down snaps, the offense picked up 72 yards.
Here is Clayton Tune’s spray chart for the third quarter. On our spray charts, we look at how far the ball is thrown and not the ultimate distance of a play:
And here are the seven passes and the full context including the total distance of the play:
| Receiver | Total Yards | Context | Att/Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corbin | 16 | 2nd & 11 | 13/25 |
| Bradley | 6 | 1st & 15 | 14/26 |
| Singleton | 17 | 1st & 10 | 15/27 |
| Car | 2 | 2nd & 6 | 16/28 |
| Trahan | 3 | 3rd & 4 | 17/29 |
| Smith | 6 | 4th & 1 | 18/30 |
| Dell | 26 | 1st & 10 | 19/31 |
Tune didn’t throw a TD in the quarter as UH ran it at the goal line both trips. But he made progress, both from last year and early in this game: he saw the field, accepted what was given to him, and extended the play where needed. He also got the ball out quicker and didn’t force balls down the field as he has in the past. Nor did he sit in the pocket allowing the defense to tee off on him.
This third quarter might get overlooked but it was significant for the growth of #3.
Tune’s seven completions in the 3rd traveled 42 yards in the air and his receivers picked up 34 yards after the catch. That’s a 55/45 mix on thrown yards vs. yards after the catch. Tune and the offense flipped from a deep-ball focus to getting completions and moving the chains. With talented, fast receivers, this change in the offense could be better for Tune long term if he can be more consistent in leading a receiver in order to improve those YAC numbers.
Against a BYU defense that wants to keep the ball in front of them, a mindset of taking what they give you and being precise on the shorter routes will pay dividends.
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