UTEP @ Houston

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this fall to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA football coverage. Today, our UTEP Correspondent Carlos Silva Jr. gives you a preview of the UTEP Miners visit to Houston scheduled for October 21st.

UTEP @ Houston Game Info

Date: Saturday, October 21st, 2006 @ 5:00 p.m. MST
Location: Robertson Stadium (32,000), Houston, TX
Television: Time Warner Cable MetroSports Southwest Ch. 24, (El Paso, TX)
Last Season: UTEP (8-4 Overall, 5-3 C-USA), Houston (6-6 Overall, 4-4 C-USA)
Current Team Records: UTEP (4-2 Overall, 2-0 C-USA), Houston (4-3 Overall, 2-1 C-USA)
All-Time Series Record: UTEP leads 3-0, which began in 1946.

Injury/Personnel Report

UTEP:
WR/QB: Lorne Sam – Torn MCL (Out for a month)
WR: Chris Marrow – Slight MCL Tear (Probable)
LB: Jeremy Jones – Broken Right Leg (Out for the Season; Medical Red shirt)
LB: Josh Chamois – Broken Right Thumb (Will play with cast)
RB: Marcus Thomas – sore shoulder (Day-to-day)
DB: Tim McCullouch – sprained neck (Day-today)
OL: Tim Ford – Unknown, (Out for the Season)
OL: Cameron Rasche - Knee (Out for the Season)
OL: Jake Belshe - diagnosed with a brain lesion (Career Ending)

Houston:
DE: Cody Pree - Ligament damage in right leg (Out one month)
OT: Sebastian Vollmer - Back (Day to day)
OT: Sir Vincent Rogers - Knee (Out for season)
S: Rocky Schwartz - Torn knee ligaments (Out for season)
OT: Mark Kimmey - Concussion (Day to day)

UTEP @ Houston General Overview

Houston comes into Saturday’s match up after their third consecutive loss (31-27) to conference rival Southern Miss, but Houston Head Coach Art Briles is optimistic despite the losing streak.

"After viewing the tape, I think the Southern Miss game was the hardest our football team has played since I have been here" said Briles in a Tuesday press conference. "It was a very inspiring effort because we had people across the board playing as determined and as hungry as any team we have put on the field in the last four years.

The Cougars will definitely have to put their best effort with the red hot Miners coming to town. UTEP just completed a three game sweep at home and are looking to stay perfect in Conference USA play. Senior quarterback Jordan Palmer is starting to get a feel for the offense and Head Coach Mike Price feels he is doing the small things that help you win.
"I think this year is the best Jordan has looked since I’ve been here, whether it’s this game or I think he has been playing well most of the season" said Price at his Monday Media Luncheon. "He’s got the basic stuff down, so now he can add those things.

Looking toward the future both teams know this game will position them for a conference championship, and because of this Houston and UTEP fans can expect another thriller. Houston lost last year at the Sun Bowl, can fortunes change with the game being at Robertson Stadium? Read on to find out.

Houston Offense vs. UTEP Defense

Advantage: Houston

The Houston offense is run by preseason Heisman trophy candidate Kevin Kolb. Kolb, who is Houston’s All-Time passing yards leader with 9,378 currently, will add to that total against a porous Miner defense that has lost senior linebacker and defensive leader Jeremy Jones. Houston fans should not expect a great game passing wise from Kolb because he threw five interceptions the last time the two teams met. Although Kolb did look terrible, you can expect him to bounce back because the Miner defensive backs are not playing as well as they would like.

"We don’t want to get someone behind our defensive backs because he’ll (Kolb) strike" said Price.

The Cougars average 31 points per game which puts them at the top in Conference USA. They have a pass oriented offense with Kolb at the helm, but many Houston fans fail to realize they have a three headed monster at tailback. Senior Jackie Battle (6-2, 245 lbs), junior Anthony Alridge (5-9, 170 lbs) and senior Roshawn Pope (5-11, 195 lbs) have combined for 785 rushing yards. This equates to 26% of the Houston offense but they may receive more carries against the Miners, who gave up 152 yards to Tulane running back Matt Forte. Coach Briles would like to run the ball more, rather than passing but he knows it gets him wins.

"It's something that is a priority because I would much rather rush for 250 yards and pass for 150 yards every time out because I like running the football" said Briles. "The bottom line is you have to do what makes your team productive to give you the best chance to get the ball in the end zone."

The real battle will be between Houston’s offensive line which averages 302.5 pounds, and UTEP defensive line that averages 268.8 pounds. Can the defense get a push and pressure Kolb, or will he have all the time in the world to pick apart the Miner defensive backs.

"He’s a smart quarterback, he (Kolb) gets rid of the ball real quick and he knows what he’s doing" said Price. "We’re going to have to blitz him a little bit."

UTEP Offense vs. Houston Defense

Advantage: UTEP

Senior quarterback Jordan Palmer is coming off one of his best games this season (22-29, 230 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs) and is looking to stay on that course as the Miners travel to Houston. Unfortunately one key element of the offense will not make the trip to Houston.

"It’s not good. He has a tear in his MCL" said Price in reference to Lorne Sam. "It’s very disappointing."

Sam accounted for 295 total yards and two touchdowns, but the yards don’t tell the story because he gave the team a different look on offense. Safeties and defensive backs, who normally played back for the less mobile Palmer, would have to cheat because of his dual threat capabilities. This allowed for the running game to get jump started if it was ever stagnant, and that is what will be missed most.

"He’s given us just that little added spice in there" Price said. "It’s the little things that add up to the big things."
Fortunately for the Miners, they have two big offensive weapons other than Sam in senior WR Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr. and junior RB Marcus Thomas. Higgins is ranked third in the nation with a 103.8 ypg receiving average, and Thomas is finally starting to run the ball better, although he is still suffering from a bruised shoulder. The additions of freshmen Donald Buckram and Jason Williams have taken carries away, but he is still the starter.

The running and passing game will rely on the blocking provided by the offensive line which has been improving, but must open lanes for Marcus Thomas to run through. Lately this has been a problem and will show up against Houston because they have one of the better run defenses in Conference USA.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Advantage: UTEP

Kicking

Reagan Schneider is rolling as the season goes along. He’s made 9 of 11 field goals; 2-3 over 40 yards, and missed two extra-point attempts out of 21 in his senior season. If the Miners need a clutch kick Mike Price may think twice because of his crucial miss last year that could have ended the game.

Houston has a sophomore kicker in Ben Bell, who is reliable. He is 5-8 on field goals, and has made all of his extra point opportunities (24-24). Expect for him to get a workout on extra points in this game.

Punting

Ryan Hotchkiss has found his groove. The Newport Beach native is averaging 38.7 yards per punt. He was averaging 36 yards a punt in previous games.

Houston returns senior Justin Laird who is averaging just below 40 yards a punt. Field position may become a factor in this highly contested match up, and Laird could play a huge part.

Returners

Senior speedster Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. has given fans a reason to cheer and get off their seats with two punts returned for a touchdown. Quintin Demps and Josh Ferguson are the other options. Demps has returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Anthony Alridge is the kick return man for Houston, and averages over 26 yards per kick return which provides great starting field position. Vincent Marshall is the reliable punt return man, who averages 8 yards per return.

Intangibles

Advantage: EVEN

Advantage: Even
Houston has a three game losing streak, and is in a must win situation for the rest of the season. This is the most crucial win of all because it is about pride. Look for Houston to come out firing because they want to protect their home turf, and what better way then defeating a conference foe at home.

"We are going to play hard. That's one thing I know about this football team" said Briles. "They have a lot of pride and they give great effort."

UTEP may have a three game winning streak, but they must careful at this crucial point of the season. A loss could put them on another downward spiral, which they experienced last year, after losing to UAB. Houston is good team, and UTEP must remember that they are playing for more than a conference championship.

"We have to play our tail off and beat UTEP." said Briles. "We are holding one more card than they are in the deck and that's being at home so we have to take advantage of being at home."

If the Cougars sellout Robertson Stadium the Miners will need their four stars: Palmer, Higgins, Thomas, and Demps to step up on the road because every good poker player knows that four of kind always beats a full house.

Carlos’ Prediction

UTEP: 35
Houston: 34

Jordan Palmer must carry his team this week without Lorne Sam, and Marcus Thomas not playing at 100%. Higgins Jr. will get his 100 yards and add a touchdown.

Houston will have to rely on their injury riddled line to protect their Heisman worthy quarterback Kevin Kolb. He will be much sharper and will not throw five interceptions. Fans on both sides can expect a high scoring affair.

The difference in this game will be turovers. The Miners made good on the five Kolb interceptions and the fact that 50,500 Miner fans were truly a 12th man certainly helped. Fortunes have changed since the game will be at Robertson Stadium, but I expect the Miners to keep their winning ways.