Cougar QBs not the only concern for Tide coaches

TUSCALOOSA | For the second straight week, the University of Alabama football team’s defensive coaches know they are likely to face two quarterbacks. But even Houston coach Art Briles isn’t certain which one will start the game.

The Cougars, who bring a 2-2 record into Saturday’s 2 p.m. game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, had been using freshman Case Keenum. However, a hand injury sent Keenum to the sidelines in last week’s Houston-East Carolina game and his replacement, Blake Joseph, had a strong game. Joseph, a sophomore, completed 24 of 29 passes for 250 yards and twice had Houston in field goal range in the fourth quarter. The Cougars missed both kicks, however, and lost 37-35.

“All I can say is that both of those guys have done equally well,” Briles said at his Tuesday press conference, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. “I feel real good about both of them. I feel real confident in Case, but I feel real confident in Blake, too. I thought he did a real good job [against ECU].

“As far as I know, Case’s hand is healthy,” Briles continued. “I would think that early in the week Blake will get most of the reps, but we’ll see how the week plays out. I thought Blake played really well last week, so we’ll see how it rolls this week.”

It’s Houston’s wide-open attack, not just the quarterback who guides it, that concerns the Crimson Tide coaches.

“We will probably see both quarterbacks,” Tide coach Nick Saban said Wednesday. “They are both big and athletic, and either one will present some problems.”

Saban said the system that Briles has designed — one that is similar to the offense at Texas Tech, where Briles was an assistant — is hard to slow down.

“I met Art Briles once when he was a very successful coach at one of the top programs [Stephenville] in Texas,” Saban said. “He’s a very impressive guy. Their offensive concept is all his stuff. It’s very difficult to prepare for. It’s well conceived. They have great skill players, they get them in space and they get them the ball.”

The two most explosive Cougar skill players are running back Anthony Alridge and wide receiver Donnie Avery.

Alridge has rushed for 443 yards and three touchdowns in Houston’s four games this season, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Avery, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior, has 29 catches for 434 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return against East Carolina.

The problems for Houston so far have been on the defensive side of the ball. The Cougars gave up 48 points to Oregon in a season-opening loss and are allowing 30.5 points per game thus far. (The two Cougar wins this season have come against Tulane and Colorado State.)

Briles said that his team’s priority this week has been setting aside the tough loss to ECU.

“It was very frustrating and very disappointing but you have to get over it and move on,” Briles said. “That’s what we’re doing. This week is about us, it’s not about anyone else. We’re going to play cleaner football, start to finish, on both sides of the ball and on special teams. That’s going to be our main focus throughout this week and, hopefully, through the rest of the season.”

Briles said making this week “about us” in Houston did not mean the team was overlooking Alabama.

“I know it’s going to be a great atmosphere, a good environment and we’re looking forward to it.”

“Our football team will bounce back. That’s not a concern. We have a tough football team, mentally and physically, and we’re going to play with a lot of passion. That’s not an issue at all.”