Houston’s offense has carried plenty of weight through the first month, and the Cougars’ 42-28 win over Georgia Southern only sharpened the contrast with the one area still begging for cleanup: the pass defense.
That issue is staring Houston in the face heading into Saturday’s Big 12 opener against UCF. The Cougars climbed five spots to No. 20 in the AP Poll after the win, but the secondary again gave up too much, too easily.
Georgia Southern piled up 355 total yards, and 289 of them came through the air. The Eagles averaged 10.7 yards per completion, which is far too much damage for Houston to be taking from a Sun Belt opponent.
The most glaring part is that this hasn’t been a one-game blip. Houston hasn’t really shown improvement in stopping the deep ball since the opener, and Georgia Southern junior wide receiver Alex Taylor took full advantage with six catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cougars did hold Texas Tech to 28 points, but 28 against Georgia Southern is a different story. The bigger picture is the same one that has followed Houston all season: a defense that sits 15th out of 16 Big 12 teams in passing defense, allowing just over 262 passing yards per game, barely ahead of West Virginia.
The reasons keep showing up in the same places. Busts in coverage have been a recurring theme, something coach Willie Fritz has pointed to in almost every postgame press conference so far.
So have the missed chances on the ball. Houston had a couple of interceptions against Oregon State that slipped away, and the same thing happened against Georgia Southern.
The Cougars have been around the football, but they haven’t finished the play.
And when it came to getting off the field, Houston struggled there too. Georgia Southern converted 3 of 4 fourth-down tries and went 7 of 13 on third down.
That’s a problem because this was supposed to be one of Houston’s strengths. The secondary was expected to help drive the defense, but so far it’s been the part lagging behind. The Cougars do have the No. 1 scoring offense in the Big 12 and the conference’s top run defense, and there’s no shortage of experience or talent back there.
Redshirt junior cornerback Will James was viewed as one of the better corners in the Big 12. Fifth-year corner Jalen Mayo arrived as a transfer and has made plays.
But James has missed some chances, and the fifth-year safety duo of Kentrell Webb and Jordan Allen hasn’t consistently prevented the explosive plays over the top. Junior Javion White has also shown versatility.
The pieces are there. They just haven’t snapped together yet. Houston could also use more help from the pass rush, because the coverage is being asked to hold up too long on too many snaps.
For now, that has to be the focus. The schedule is only getting harder, and the pass defense has to come around.
In Other News...
Houston Ranking Faces Real Pressure Before Schedule Gets Tough
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Houston has avoided the kind of national embarrassment that can tank a season, but the performances have not yet settled every question around how real the ranking is. USCs defensive issues and Indianas tight escape against Northwestern are reminders that perception can change quickly in September, and the Cougars are headed toward upcoming matchups that should say much more about their place in the picture. For now, the ranking is still there, but the pressure around it is getting harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Secondary Faces A Different UCF Test Than Expected
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For Houston, the challenge is not just replacing one name on the UCF side with another, but adjusting to how the Knights may lean on their offense with Jenkins under center. The game still carries the usual conference stakes, and the Cougars secondary will be part of the test as Houston looks to handle UCFs attack while keeping its own defensive plan intact. It is the kind of midweek wrinkle that can alter how a whole defense plays, even before the first snap is taken. [Read more 🡒]
Yordan Alvarez Just Cemented His Place In Astros History
Yordan Alvarezs season gave the Astros a rare individual milestone to celebrate in a year that kept Houston hovering around the middle of the standings. Over 158 games, Alvarez hit .316, the best average in Major League Baseball this season, and in the process added his name to a small and impressive chapter of franchise history.
Only Jose Altuve and Yuli Gurriel had previously won a batting title for Houston, which puts Alvarez in elite company inside an organization that has leaned on offense for much of its success. His production was a major reason the Astros were able to get back to the postseason despite finishing 81-81, and it offered a reminder of how much one bat can shape the feel of an entire season. [Read more 🡒]