University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Conclude Spring Practice With A Controlled Scrimmage
4/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 16, 2005
Houston, Texas - The University of Houston football team ended its spring practice with a controlled scrimmage that featured its first team offense and defensive units playing in different scripted game-like situations.
"The main thing we wanted to do today was come through our last practice healthy, and we accomplished that goal," Houston head coach Art Briles said. "I was really pleased with the way we executed at a fast pace during the early part of practice."
Briles also was pleased with the play of his reserve players in game-like conditions during the scrimmage.
" We also had excellent pursuit on defense and cohesiveness in our offensive line," Briles said. "We are starting to show that we have the depth we need. The only area of concern with regards to depth on our team is the offensive line where we had some injuries this spring."
Two reserves who Briles paid close attention to were freshmen quarterbacks Blake Joseph and Clint Walraven, who practiced this spring after graduating early from high school last December.
"It has been good to get them some reps today and it is a huge advantage for them to be able to practice with us this spring," Briles said. "They have had a chance to learn our offensive system, and that will certainly help them this fall."
Briles also was pleased with Houston's offensive execution and transformation from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense this spring.
"We are executing much better as a team this spring," Briles said. "If you consider the whole spring practice, (two-year starting quarterback Kevin Kolb) has completed 72 percent of his passes.
"The new defense really allows us to attack and have greater pursuit to the ball." Saturday's scrimmage concluded Houston's on-the-field practices until early August.
Houston returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense from the 2004 season. Highlighting the offensive starters are Second-Team, All-Conference USA wide receiver Vincent Marshall, two-year starting quarterback Kevin Kolb and senior running back Anthony Evans, who also is a two-year starter.
On defense, Houston returns Third-Team, All-C-USA defensive lineman Kade Lane. Lane has started the last 36 games for the Cougars. D.J. Johnson also returns on the defensive line as do two starting linebackers, Wade Koehl and Brendan Pahulu, as well as three members of the secondary in Willie Gaston, Will Gulley and Rocky Schwartz.
The Cougars kickoff the 2005 season against Oregon in a nationally televised home game on ESPN2 that will be played on September 1 at Reliant Stadium. The Cougars play their first home game on John O'Quinn Field against Sam Houston State on September 10.
