The white team that consisted of defensive players had the upper hand over the red team and the offense at Saturday’s annual Red and White game at Robertson Stadium. Football season officially returns to campus in 145 days. | Jack Wehman/The Daily Cougar
The Cougars know they can beat most teams in a foot race, but one of the most visible flaws in recent seasons has been their lack of size.
That criticism could be a thing of the past as the Cougars fielded a larger team on both sides of the ball, and the defense (white team) outscored the offense (red team) 43-34 at the Red and White game Saturday at Robertson Stadium.
“I told the guys I was tired of being the tallest guy in the huddle,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We’re trying to get better and really increase the size of our football team as a whole. Not only with weight but height — with that height you get the ability to be a larger football team. But we don’t ever want to ever sacrifice our main advantage, which is speed.”
To avoid injuries the majority of the starters were rested, including running backs Bryce Beall and Michael Hayes. This made way for running backs Randall Hollimon and Braxton Welford.
Hollimon is a redshirt freshman and Clear Lake product. He was the leading rusher with 62 yards on 19 attempts, and caught five passes for 24 yards.
Welford was effective making cuts and picking up yards after contact. He rushed for 40 yards on eight attempts. He also was a receiving threat out of the backfield, catching three passes for 33 yards.
Welford is a walk-on and was not listed on the Cougars’ spring roster. The 25-year-old redshirt junior transferred from San Diego Mesa College and was ineligible during the 2010 season.
“He’s been working hard in the program,” Sumlin said. “He’s been lifting and doing all the things we need him to do; he did an excellent job.”
Quarterback by committee
On offense the Cougars switched between senior Cotton Turner, sophomore David Piland and junior Crawford Jones. Turner was the sharpest, completing 16 of 24 attempts for 162 yards and two touchdown completions to Marcus Williams for 12 yards and Ronnie Williams for 21 yards.
Piland made 14 of 20 passes for 127 yards, along with a touchdown to Isaiah Sweeney for 34 yards. Jones connected on 16 of 30 passes for 157 yards, but also received the most duress. He was sacked four times and threw the game’s only interception to cornerback D.J. Jones.
Sophomore Drew Hollingshead received minimal playing time, hitting the mark on five of nine passes for 61 yards. He was sacked once.
Darian Lazard led all receivers with nine catches for 74 yards. Ronnie Williams had 79 yards on seven receptions.
Defense clamps down
The secondary ranked toward the bottom of the NCAA in 2010 in passing yards allowed, but a crew of young players and transfers will be out to change that reputation.
Sumlin said the defensive line remains the biggest unsolved issue heading into the summer.
“We put our young guys in some situations like we wanted, we got some of the older guys off the field,” Sumlin said. “You can see our new defensive backs Chevy Bennet and D.J. Hayden bring some attitude. Colton Valencia and Kent Brooks are coming along. I like the energy of our defense right now.
“We had some personnel changes with the addition of four new defensive backs,” Sumlin said. “Our linebackers are bigger and stronger now and more comfortable in the system. We’ve got to be able to develop a little more depth in the defensive line and we’ll be all right.”
Linebacker Phillip Steward kept pressure on the pocket, recording a game high of two sacks. Defensive back Alex Tillman and linebacker Kris Johnston led the defense with eight tackles apiece.
On special teams, kicker Matt Hogan showed off his leg strength nailing field goals of 52 and 57 yards, but missed from 42 yards out.
Sumlin will now hand his players off to Larry Jackson, the director of sports performance. Per NCAA rules, coaches cannot engage in football-related activities until the fall practices begin in August.
While he is concerned about the time away, Sumlin said the Cougars will be in good hands with Jackson.
“I’m always worried,” Sumlin said. “I always worry about the development of our guys, we always want to get better. He (Jackson) is going to do a great job with them.
“We have to get some of these young kids who come in June up to speed without really overtraining them. We don’t want to push them so much where they don’t have a chance to get acclimated.”
The Cougars will open the season in less than five months on Sept. 3 against UCLA at Robertson Stadium.
