The Houston offense has driven their 3-1 start, but the defense has shone at times. In the Oregon State game, PFF says the defense generated 16 QB pressures and converted four into sacks. In their last two games, they generated a combined 22 pressures but produced only two sacks.
“I think we’re on the cusp of… a breakthrough,” edges coach James Ross III said in an interview after Wednesday’s practice. “If we make some of those plays this last game, this wouldn’t be the way we feel. But the reality is, we didn’t.”
Ross is expected to say those things, but the game film shows he’s right. Against Georgia Southern, the defense had several chances to “shut the door,” as Willie Fritz mentioned in Monday’s press conference.
Film Study
This first play shows soft coverage that lets the receiver get free to the outside for an easy completion. The pass rush doesn’t have time to affect the quarterback. Easy first down on second and 12.
DK Mays got around the edge and may have influenced the passer with tighter coverage. Probably a conservative call due to the long distance on second down. This wasn’t ideal, but I also think there’s something to not overplaying your hand in a non-conference game early in the season. Ross told me that “rush and coverage go together,” something Austin Armstrong said to Ryan Monceaux at the exact same time.
Ross added that, if “they’re getting the ball out, we’re not getting there fast enough.” I think that’s a fair assessment, but in this case the coverage could’ve helped the pass rush a bit.
These next few clips show close plays that could’ve flipped the game for the Coogs. The pass rush didn’t get all the way home, but it forced a throw into coverage or a jump-ball type situation. The rush created opportunities, but the back end couldn’t finish the play.
You can see the quarterback float the ball up dangerously before getting hit, giving the secondary a 50/50 chance at a turnover. Off-balance, fade-away throws into traffic are what you want to see. If the pass rush keeps forcing this kind of play, the luck will eventually turn to Houston’s favor.
These two plays are not meant to pick on Will James. If anything, it points out that he’s seeing the ball and generating opportunities. But he just hasn’t been able to secure several interceptions this season. In this game in particular, he had at least two chances. This is also an example of the secondary doing their part even without pressure on the quarterback.
On one play, he does a great job of baiting the quarterback into thinking there’s an opening near the sideline. He comes from underneath to make a play on the ball. On another play, he stays in good position near the receiver and gets his hands on the ball. Unfortunately, teammate Javion White’s aggressive play creates a collision, preventing the catch.
This next clip shows the coverage and rush working together. It’s an obvious passing situation near the end of the first half. The safeties bracket the deeper routes, and the underneath throws are covered, too. Ashton Porter makes a quick hesitation move to get the tackle off balance and finishes with a sack.
This is what you want to see when your edge rushers are given opportunities. Porter wins his one-on-one and ends the half. Defensive line coach Oscar Giles said that some of what they do up front is creating isolation plays for their edge players to hunt the quarterback. Sione Fotu occupies the running back here, while the interior guys absorb bodies in the middle.
“We do have exceptional pass rushers on the edges,” Giles said. “We like to try to cover those guys up and, they’re like Lamborghinis, let those guys go.”
I’d say the best player on the defense through four games has been Javion White. He’s been UH’s most effective pass rusher, generating 8 pressures on just 28 pass-rush reps, per PFF. He is also tied for the team lead with 2 sacks. Here’s a look at how he’s been used as a weapon to get to the passer.
The second play here is a good example of pass rush and coverage working together—Jaden Yates and White’s blitz forces a quick throw in the middle of the field. Kentrell Webb times his break well and meets the ball at the receiver, forcing an incompletion.
Another positive from the Georgia Southern game was DK Mays’ play. He logged 18 snaps and showed the ability to win in pass rush. Ross mentioned that if Mays can take 15-20 snaps to relieve Porter as the game goes on, it can make Porter more effective later in the game.
There’s reason for optimism with the defense. The play calling has shown it can put players in position to make plays, and the players are close to the finish line. Securing some of these interceptions prevents teams from getting garbage-time stats and points. It will also help ease any concerns about how the unit has performed.
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