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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 3-8 (2-4) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Kim Helton Returning starters: 18 (offense 8, defense 9) Outlook Houston's hopes of a winning season were scuttled last year by a gruesome 0-4 start. Of course, scheduling UCLA and Tennessee in back-to-back weeks won't make anyone feel too good. This year the Cougars scheduled a little more intelligently, spacing out big-time opponents Alabama, North Carolina and LSU throughout their schedule. Very few holes needed to be filled from last year's squad, but bringing in new coordinators Les Koenning Jr. and Dick Bumpas mean the returning starters will be learning new formations during summer practices Offense The only spots which need to be filled are tackle and fullback. Jabari Beauford saw plenty of time last year and should have little problem stepping into a starting role. The Cougars won't need a true replacement at fullback because the new offense is a one-back system. That one back will be Ketric Sanford. One of CUSA's best backs when healthy, Sanford rushed for 1,054 yards in '98. He'll need to find the end zone more than the six times he did last season if Houston wants to finish over .500. Sanford needs 810 yards in 1999 to break Chuck Weatherspoon's UH record for career rushing yards. Jason McKinley returns at quarterback but needs to improve his 18-13 TD-INT ratio. Orlando Iglesias returns at wideout, but he managed just 12.3 yards over his 63 receptions. The other starter, Jerrian James, was lost during two-a-days with a season-ending ankle injury. Scott Regimbald returns at tight end, allowing CUSA All-Freshman tight end Jonathan Pritchett to move to defensive end. The line features standout Josh Lovelady (6-3, 327) at tackle. Center Jeff Medford (6-4, 290) is the only projected starter who weighs less than 300 pounds It's a good sign if: The offense develops a real downfield threat in the passing game.It's a bad sign if: McKinley struggles in taking in the new, expanded playbook. Defense The switch to a 4-2-5 scheme will put three safeties (free, strong and weak) on the field at the same time in hopes of shoring up a pass defense which allowed 368 yards a game. That puts plenty of pressure on returning linebackers Wayne Rogers and Jeremy Maxon to plug holes in the line. Micah Malone, who played outside linebacker last year, drops back to fill the strong safety slot but the 6-2, 224-pound senior will play a big role in policing the middle of the field. Malone can handle tight ends as well as support the run. The only starter off last year's line expected to see a lot of action this season is tackle Adriano Bell. Mike DeRouselle was pushed into a backup role by the strong play of Kevin Payne, and JC transfer Grover Thompson was slotted for the starting end spot as soon as he signed. If William Fields can stay healthy, he can be one of the conference's best cover men. Mike James, the team's leading tackler last year, moves from strong to weak safety but will see plenty of time near the line of scrimmage, giving the Cougars eight men in the box on occasion. It's a good sign if: The talented Thompson (6-4, 288) is as good as advertised.It's a bad sign if: An injury-prone secondary can't keep its best players on the field. Special Teams Jeff Patterson needs to do better than the 36.5-yard average he set last season. Freshman Zack Waddell hopes to follow in his brother Mike's footsteps as the Cougars' placekicker. If Sanford can stay healthy, he can be a remarkable kick returner. Along with closing in on the school's career rushing record, he's 1,487 yards away from breaking Weatherspoon's all-purpose yardage record of 5,715 yards. -- Greg Collins |
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