Football

Turnovers become a new normal for UH defense

If it’s not a fumble recovery, it’s an interception. However you slice it, the abundance of turnovers forced by the UH defense has become just another day on the job.

By now, UH fans have seemed to have gotten used to the tenacious defense that has a 2.86 turnover margin and has topped the nation in forced turnovers (27). It has been the staple that helped propel the Cougars to a 6-1 record, allowing them to sit tied for the American Athletic Conference lead.

Defensive coordinator David Gibbs’ coaching methods have helped turn a horrendous defense that was ranked 118th in the nation a season ago to arguably the most opportunistic.

The Cougars defense have bought into defensive coordinator David Gibbs’ system and leads the nation with 27 forced turnovers. | Rebecca Stearns/The Daily Cougar

“Gibbs has changed a lot. He’s just a positive guy,” said sophomore defensive back Trevon Stewart. “If you do something wrong, he doesn’t fuss at you. He’ll say things like, ‘If I was you I would have done this,’ or, ‘You did this right, but you could’ve done this to make a play.’ He makes everything so easy.”

Their “Turnover Tuesdays” drill, a practice sequence in which the defense primarily focuses on forcing turnovers, was implemented by new defensive coordinator David Gibbs and has been one of their ingredients for success, as was exhibited Saturday when the team forced a season-high six turnovers at Rutgers.

Even though the Cougars don’t normally have practice on Mondays, they still manage to put in the necessary work to help them capture a win by the end of the week. 

Mental Mondays

Gibbs’ implementations of Mental Mondays are predicated to players showing up to the Athletics/Alumni Center to go over films and talk to their coaches about the game plan.

“It gives them a theme of the day. The truth of the matter is that every football coach in the country has their methods of getting the job done,” Gibbs said. “You’re always trying to emphasize certain aspects of the game. The players have bought into it and it’s been a reason why they’re doing what they’re doing.”

Beneficiary to the offense

Through its first seven games, the defense’s consistency of forcing turnovers has set up the offense with a short field.

The average staring field position through seven games for the offense has been on its own 35-yard line, as opposed to last season where the average was at the 25-yard line.

In their lone loss to BYU, the Cougars didn’t win the turnover battle, nor was the offense’s starting field position greater.

Second-half surge

Of the average 22 points allowed, the defense has buckled down in the second half, as they have allowed only six points — including two second-half shutouts at Temple and Rutgers.

“We’ve done a great job in the first half of seeing what (the opponent’s) game plan is and making those adjustments: whether it is a different call, having to fit our gaps differently or alignments,” said head coach Tony Levine. “From the start of the season until now, it’s been our defensive coaches going into the locker room and taking the first eight minutes to talk among themselves, making adjustments and then presenting those changes to our student athletes.”

Gibbs credits his players’ buying into the system and constant coaching throughout the game for the success.

“I think it takes (the players) a while to get comfortable and figure out how the opposing team is attacking them. But to their credit, they do make adjustments and they do understand. The truth is, when you’re coaching, you coach throughout the game and can make adjustments on the sideline and in between series,” he said.

USF, the Cougars’ next opponent, has been shut out three times in the second half this season.

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4 Comments

  • I definitely don’t like the penalties, mainly on the offense for holding and movement; but, if John and co. can continue to score like they did at Rutgers, then it’s seems to be a minor factor. On defense, I don’t like the number of yards being allowed; but, with the major, significant plays being made to prevent scoring by the opposition, then that factor appears to be overcome. All in all, I love the major turnaround from last year.

  • That the defense makes adjustments depending on what the opponent is doing in the first few minutes was very obvious in the Rutgers game. On their first couple of possessions, it looked like Rutgers was going to gain 350 yards on the ground, but soon our D figured out how to stop their running game and they were forced to start throwing more- and that was clearly not their comfort zone.

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