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Herman says offense has to get better

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At 10-0, Houston remains the only undefeated team in Texas. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

During his weekly press conference Monday head coach Tom Herman said he’s ready to move on from Houston’s comeback win over the University of Memphis and focus on the University of Connecticut.

Herman said the team has to get better on offense because he felt they have regressed in the last couple of weeks.

“You can point to injuries or this and the other all you want, but we’ve got to play better,” Herman said. “They don’t give you a hall pass or a sick day, we have four offensive linemen hurt, but you’ve got to play the game.”

As for the injury junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. suffered on Saturday, Herman but said they should know more by Tuesday.

“He jogged around practice a little bit yesterday,” Herman said. “He has minimal swelling. The ankle is still pretty sore, so (Monday), other than going to class, his job (was) to get the ankle right.”

Herman said he expects Ward to be able to play against UConn on Saturday, but he won’t know for sure until Thursday or Friday.

“Now, is Greg Ward, with a 70 percent ankle, better than a Kyle Postma? We’ll have to make that decision if that is the case on Thursday or Friday,” Herman said. “If Greg Ward is 100 percent, then he’ll play.”

Saturday was a less than stellar game for Ward. Herman attributes Ward’s bad playing to the higher level of opposing defenses Houston is playing later in its schedule.

 

“For whatever reason, (Ward) did look a step slower to me against Memphis, but not against Cincinnati or Vanderbilt,” Herman said. “I think there are all sorts of different reasons, but we’re going to control the ones that we can control. And that’s him and his mental capacity and his ability to go out there and lead us from an emotional and mental standpoint.”

The Cougars will head to Connecticut Saturday to play the UConn Huskies, who are coming off a bye week. Herman described the matchup as a trap game, and the fact that UConn is a win away from being bowl eligible makes them more dangerous.

“This is the part of the season where you won’t take your foot off the gas,” Herman said. “You put it on even harder.”

The forecast for Saturday in Connecticut is mostly cloudy with 40-degree weather, but Herman said unless it’s sub-freezing temperatures, he’s not worried about it.

“That is why they make long sleeves and tights right?” Herman asked. “We’ll be OK.”

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