[Music] if they do that they're going to be the will be very very very very tough to beat off the window no Roberts tried to get it shed for the win got it fin with 14 points he just look the way that he dominated the game was in controling the pace and making smart decision after decision call go to pizza spot before or after the dream is alive for Houston goou let's [Music] go welcome in welcome in to another episode of let's rage cougs presented by the sexian family we're coming off the hill of a very intriguing game between the number 15th ranked opponent in the country the Oklahoma Sooners and of course your Houston Cougars U ofh Falls to Oklahoma in Norman 16 to 12 and d u ofh had a lot of opportunities to pull off the upset they entered the game I think by the time we got the kickoff to spread was damn near close to 28 points I think the final number was 27 and a half points give credit to the defense uh uh's defense was phenomenal they really made Oklahoma onedimensional they were really effective at stopping the Run game and at the end there they showed they started showing a little bit some some cracks there the UND discipline with with the jump uh offsides that that really allowed Oklahoma to waste an additional D two minutes um and then they they got bit on the play fake a little later um but Houston got a lot of opportunities I think the this is this is the type of game where we get to see what type of person you are in terms of you're a half glass uh full or half empty I think Houston definitely had a lot of opportunities much more encouraging uh far better performance than a week ago on the season opener against UNLV uh but damn it kind of feel you kind of feel a little bit because the game was right there for the taking I think Oklahoma was frustrated with they just were not able to put away Houston we saw it at at the their last offensive play uh it looked like Houston the game was over it would have had eight seconds left um you know difference between the game clock and uh when when Oklahoma would have punted we saw the offensive lineman get flag for no Sportsman like penalty and and U ofh had an outside chance but uh to the credit at the end of the day the offense just wasn't able to generate enough points they had 12 they had one touchdown two field goals failed on a two-point conversion um but let's let's break it down let's welcome it each and every single person that's joining us there's a lot whether you're joining us on Twitter x.com or formerly known as Twitter or Pama Jama YouTube channel the Houston rall review YouTube channel um we're expected to be joined by Bryce Beal in a few minutes of former Houston Cougars running back but Dan how are you sir before we get into this game I'm doing well man it was a great day of college football enjoyed a great competitive game by the Cougars um last week I wanted to see progression saw progression in many areas but that defense I think is something to build on man they're flying around the second area play really well the dline just whole as a whole unit they play really well offense play really well uh it's definitely some bright spots for Houston definitely some confidence going to rice for sure yeah I think you feel much more confident about going into that game and getting your first win of the season but I think what we just saw today though um there there are no guarantees in college football just look at Notre Dame um so I mean just look at last year when when the rice hours were able to to upset Houston but before before we even look ahead obviously we'll do that a little bit later on the show I think let's just get this out of the way first and foremost when I saw it live I personally thought you know I I didn't agree with the safety call I thought Stacy Sneed was it wasn't close but I would say he was at least at like the 6 in yard line I think it was clear his foot was first made contact he was outside theend outside theone his for momentum yep but the officials ruled it that that it was a safety they reviewed it they clearly didn't see enough evidence to to confirm the call but they Houston kind of got screwed in terms of what the original play call was and and now that's not the reason Houston didn't win the game there was a lot of different uh instances that the Cougars just could not capitalize but there was obviously the very first Oklahoma had ball first they had to punt um and it looked like Muse it was a questionable call at the beginning too right like did he touch the ball did he not and my opinion when I angles the one that was straight ahead it looked like he didn't touch it and if you want to go based off reaction he didn't know go after the ball um but again Houston kind of got screwed with what was the call on the field the officials said it was a fumble they looked at it they didn't find a clear enough angle to be able to overturn it they and they they stood with the call they didn't confirm it but they didn't have enough evidence to overturn it and at the end of the day that resulted in nine points for Oklahoma and well Houston ends up losing by Four Points so it is what it is you you kind of hate that that you know the points are decided in such a uh ambiguous way but at the end of the day there was a lot that happened in between those two plays that Houston could have converted they could have taken advantage of and they just did not do and that's the reason why they fell to Oklahoma in this game 16 uh to 12 but let let's get into some of the specifics where do you want to start Co did you want to start let's I mean let's start with up front I mean I think last week we started with the o line and how they were inable to to protect Donovan Smith and I think today was a complete turnaround they was able to protect him give us some time and he was able to get into a rhythm I mean he had a really good game and most of the game he was the best player on the field I mean he was very officient 24 28 passing did have an interception with that touchdown to Joseph manjack but just one of those throws that stick out to me was when the um quarterback fell down and um and the ball just sell and but just overall I I think Donovan was very poised and I think the offense kind of played off of his leadership and his Poise and he distributed the ball well Houston caught the ball well some good play calling just to get him in the Rhythm some quick short passes he was able to sustain extend some plays but I think got to give the big guys up front I think they communicated well they they played well and was unable to establish the Run kind of made Houston one dimensional but overall they were able to move the ball just in sustain those drives and turn them into points into touchdowns but it was improvement from last game for sure yeah when we look at Donovan Smith um I think I I agree 100% the offensive line played much more definitely much better than they did last week against unov and there was there was quite a few times when Donovan Smith had had a lot of time in the pocket a lot of time they give credit to Houston's play calling with the play action um there were a lot of instances when when Smith had a clean PL pocket he had a lot of time to throw and for the most part he he took advantage of it and you look at the numbers he was 24 for 28 on his passing 260 yards he threw for the one touchdown he did have that one bad throw in the um in the fourth quarter where he he was intercepted but again the Houston defense was kind of able to step up and and save um hold Oklahoma to to Long field go and the Sooners ended up missing the attempt anyways um but I there there there is some room for uh for optimism but now it's about being able to sustain those drives because there were still bits especially you look at majority of the second quarter where they they really struggled I think that was three straight or two straight drives where they only generated nine total yards um and it's a matter of just being a little bit more consistent in that aspect but quite frankly to they did a good job taking care of the ball outside of that uh one interception we were talking about during our week show uh with Jack Freeman about how they forced Temple to turn the ball over six times I only turned it over one time and it was a one possession game um but on that note let's add our third member for today's tonight's show now 10:30 here central Time former Houston Cougars running back Bryce beel joins us Bryce how you doing sir man I'm good how about you guys man I see the excitement and the disappointment all at once from tonight's game and ready let's talk about it man let's get after it yeah one of the things we we kind of started was to upfront like we started last week what you seeing the difference from upfront they was able to give Donovan times and he was able to get and communicate it was effort and communication that's the biggest thing uh what they lack La last week which has me excited about Coach uh Fritz man because he saw he saw the glaring weakness last weekend and and and they attacked it during the weekend they made the adjustments needed and and it was just effort in communication and with that man I that gets me excited about the coming season I I in my mind I thought this game would be completely different what it was from last week but uh very surprising uh by the outcome I know a lot of people going to complain about the offense not scoring points but when you're on the road and you're environments like that I'm telling you communication is the biggest thing to do a lot of times when we went we went account which which made a little different for us because uh especially crowds like Oklahoma 880,000 plus people you have to be able to communicate because you're not hearing as well as you are especially in empty TDC stadium that we have so I was excited to see the the difference in communication especially being on the road and hectic ging like that one of the players who who seemed poised was Donovan I think we talked about that last week with his experience and with that protection he seemed poised seem in the Rhythm even when the offense didn't move the ball well he he he still have a certain pois and preses about themselves when the offense got back on the field made a few plays made a few throws I think um I think just for the offense I was just really in shock I mean we're not in shocked I was happy to see an improvement like you said because that's really what we wanted to see but defensively man I I I'm I'm happy I'm excited for this defense and going forward for the Big 12 and some of the offense that I've seen so far I think this this defense can be one of the best in the Big 12 this year no question if you man look at it two points came from the offense really you eight points they got the formable at the beginning the start the game off like put we put a defense in the best our defense this year has been playing lights out and that's something we can hang our hat uh on to going into the Big 12 Play if they play like this man eventually we have enough talent and like you said Donovan played well to me if the line plays better we have World we're going to be able to score more points and and who knows I mean I'm not saying bold eligible team but it's looks a lot better with the effort and the coaching adjustment they made one I think we we're all in agreement there's a lot of room for optimism for this Houston Cougars team and it's something that we kind of touched on last week um after the unlb game something Chris and and I know honestly a lot of us had mentioned was that the you want to see that improvement from week to week and we saw that and like you mentioned Bryce there was a lot of different areas that Houston struggled in last week and you could tell they had attacked throughout the week and and it showed where they were able to find success against Oklahoma I'm curious to get your thoughts in terms of kind of the the final possessions for Houston offensively when they had a couple of chances to drive down the field potentially take the lead go ahead um with a field goal or even down the stretch uh it was kind of improbable with the 30 seconds they had um but what did you see from Houston and in kind of the two-minute situations they had to potentially pull off the upset late in the game uh you could tell us they they on a fres year staff they're not as comfortable like with communicating um and and that comes with The Growing Pains I remember we had a my my like my first year we lost a lot of close games uh because we had a new staff we had a new system what time we got the year four we won those close games against UCLA won by Four Points going game winning drives like we once once you get comfortable when you get used to the offense is at times I knew what case would call before he even called the play because we all was in sync as an offense like that and right now this team just it just doesn't have the familiarity with the offense they need to I think um we can start getting rid of the ball quick I think we was trying to to to to get get too much of a chunk at first but I think if they get back to the quick game I start out with a couple quick easy throws some hitches and some some Nows some quick stuff like that to get the receivers going in space that you can get your offense going you get a rhythm and that's the biggest thing about two- minutes getting in Rhythm the better the better teams who can get in Rhythm are the teams that executing the two-minute uh situation I think that's something we could do a lot better and it helps your offensive line out too offense line have the block for long is Bam snap one two get rid of the ball that and that they can just play off of the quarterback and Donovan like you said he he had a good game to me he was solid he had one bad throw or two bad throws I think he missed a touchdown he could have had and yeah and and then an interception but uh other than that he played really well I think outside I think just another Evolution as the offense as it was glaring kns that we saw improvement from this week I think the next week is the Run game I think the the passing game we got in sync I think that next step is now settling establishing a run game so it's not onedimensional that way it's not an obvious passing down on third down you're not always in third and six third and7 you get your third and2 third and three third and fours that way you have open playbook and Donovan legs is more of a threat as well as what he's able to do with his arm but I think I I was um I was I was happy to see an improvement offensively and they looked like they were prepared and that was one thing that I wanted to see I think just now that next step is building off of this offensively showing that they can play as well as they can with the protect Don get receivers open they can make some plays and which they did it practice and now put it on the field now it's just just establishing a run game a little bit more I think um from what I've seen so far he looks really electric and that's rayan s Sanford the second I mean rayway when when he gets the ball it seems like a different level of juice when he has it I want to see him get a little bit more touches and be able to establish himself because it seems he seems like he just wouldn't miss tackle away from from going from breaking big play yeah yeah he even showed off what he can do as a pass catcher he had that phenomenal catch it looked like Don might have flown it a little bit too high at the end it was a fourth and one and he met he made a hell of a catch to just give Houston another chance and extend that drive so I agree 100% down and you know one of the other backs we we mentioned it before the season began but how I mean honestly it's kind of underrated the depth that Houston has at the running back position but Stacy sne had a couple of pretty big runs just look at the the on the final drive at the end of the first half to kind of set up that that field goal that cut it to eight hitting into the break but he looked he looked good in stretches during today's game so it's just about being able to make that be more consistent and like you said Deion have have a more prominent presence in the Run game yeah that secondary though I mean we can't Rave enough about the secondary I think naturally we talk a lot about offense and scoring points but we just got to give that secondary their flowers they held Oklahoma to 174 passing yards in Norman and and that's hard to do I mean we gotta give them a lot of yeah uh and it was got some pass rush yeah I I I I I said it last week they they they stood out to me last week and I I I really feel like we have one of the better units in in the Big 12 which is something to be uh happy about we're going to need it uh going against a lot of like I'm watching a lot of games uh today Oklahoma State they come back they they may that they was able to put the ball in the air so so it's like we're gonna need it but I think that group is that group is Rock Solid from across the board and it's gonna make it that job a lot easier for the guys up front because U makes the quarterback hold the ball a little longer when you can play as well as we do uh it makes it makes you not being able to uh do his me stunts because you know you have sure tacklers from your safety position they can come up and help you Run game too so it's it was really exciting to see that vers and I don't know if our defense is really that good or Oklahoma offense is have a lot of work to do because they really couldn't block us well and if you can't block us good luck verus Georgia and and Bam and all those guys so that gonna be tough so but I don't I don't care I'm not even thinking about what they did I'm just thinking about what we did today and how excited I was to see us compete more than anything when you see a when you lose a game like you and LV a team that you feel like you should be because of conference wise and who you are you want to see how the team respond and I and those those leaders and those press conference told me who they were then and I believed them after the show and I'm definitely a Believer after this game that they guys came out they they fought for we didn't get the results but they fought and U they gave they gave the fans hopefully something to to to look forward to the real fans out there I think it's a little bit of both too BR just look at what know did today obviously it was you know not maybe not necessarily the the highest cheered opponent but they still put up 72 points offensively and Houston was able to hold them to just 20 points offensively um not counting the pick six so I think it's a little bit of both because they were there were at times they were dominating Oklahoma's offensive line and and just their offense in general where they made them onedimensional sometimes they couldn't even they couldn't get stuff going um and well the one player that definitely needs a shout out in this game Keith Cooper on that from the first he was making plays for Houston he was a tonight he definitely was I definitely was I mean I'm looking at these comments and and like their moniker that they that they said last week cougs beating cougs it was too many minute hours again tonight too many penalties um against Houston in different times that that hurt us and I think as they continue just to to set the culture and kind of weed those out as Le you not may not have a clean game but if you can maybe have one or two and get those penalties down I think that Gradens their chance even more to play even better and he more time on the field for that offense because I just just remember just a few opportune penalties that that stall drives and and and makes it even long third downs and different things like that so they can still clean up some of those penalties and and I know the punt returner I don't want to say with my opinion I would like to see someone else back there I'll just say that not um not that he's done anything bad he just hasn't I know he had the one big pump return last year and it's a short sample so only two games and so not really calling him out it's just someone just my opinion I would like to see someone else like that real quickly let's put a pause real quickly Bryce let me just once again I thank each and every single person that's taking a time out of their Saturday night to join us here for this episode of let's rage cougs this is L rage cougs presented by the sexan family who's the primary sponsor of our postgame show all season long so big thank you to Mr Steve saxion for being the primary sponsor of course we also like to say thank you to our other sponsors for today's show beginning with ksten thank you to them the ksten tailgate is located in the blue lot on 16d on game days they encourage all to join them all are welcome to enjoy the food drinks and music with the Cs and family and you can follow them on social media on well formerly known as Twitter now X couston for tailgate details of course we also like to thank uh Star Pizza who they remind you to eat local and support the hometown spots that are supporting your cougs free delivery and pickup No Reservations needed and tons of room in their dining rooms and they deliver from downtown to the medical center seven days a week so big thank you to all three of those sponsors for helping us out on this episode of let's reach cougs going back two of y'all's points I think that that's an interesting point Day on in terms of of the Special Teams um and so far through to through eight quarters hasn't really been much of a spark early on this season I mean they had the one return last week they got called back because of the holding but it hasn't really benefited the cougs in in in through eight quarters and it's been more hurtful when we look at this Oklahoma game yeah um I usually you want you one of your most EXP exposive players in that position and I and I I don't feel like he's one of explosive I mean I don't like to knock get kid I mean he's doing he's doing what he can but right U I feel like it's it when you those are the type when you struggle offense the type of ways you can get your best guy in space and and best guy the opportunity to make people Miss where it's you don't have to have everything blocked up perfectly but he he can make it wrong and I'm pretty sure I've seen more explosive players than that that guy so it's just something that they maybe they'll look at and see uh to try to find ways especially when when you score 19 points in two in two games so uh you gotta find ways to score uh differently in a special team aspect and and maybe uh if I'm a special team coordinator special I'm thinking of different throwback different different type of returns we can do to spark us because once we get that spark I feel like it'll just it'll trickle down us getting the end zone we right now we're allergic to the end zone so uh I think especially ke corat he he got his work cut out for him but he he has to find the ways to get creative do different looks uh uh fake fake uh glimps of like you can set up walls different something to get the guy to get the guys going so we can get better field position and also maybe get some cheap points when u h was really going our special team unit was really really good we had one of the best returners in the country and and it's been like that for years I mean going Tyrone K I play I play with a guy who who who had the NCAA record and kick returns tyone carrier so it's just been something we always been known for we just got to find that the right guy that can spark us this explosive they can get us going with that you know one of the players that I'd love to see even if it's just for one would be Stefan Johnson that's what I was thinking that's exactly who I was thinking that's exactly who I was thinking just in the couple catches that he had in this game even even for a little bit in last game but he he's got the ability to make Defenders Miss and I think he's he's got that explosiveness that you look for in that in that kick return game ex that's exactly who I was thinking about and from Tyrone to Marquez to Marcus Jones to tank Dale just the list goes on I I think Stefon Johnson has that that that that one two that that dead leg that can make someone Miss in open field and sometimes like Bryce was saying you might not have it blocked up but it's just that want to make one or two players Miss and a 20 yard return can can and conf flip the momentum of a team to flip the momentum of a game and bring some incitement and then you jump start a drive or you get a big return and flip the field and so I mean that that was that was exactly what I was thinking but I think it's a lot to grow from and and I don't know about you Bry before you got on we both Andy said this should make Houston and cougar fans feel more confident going into next week against rice in which as we continue go on we'll we'll talk more about rice but just preparing for against last week I I was uncertain but now I feel I feel a lot better going into next week but just offensively there's just a couple more strikes to go I I I mean big steps from this week to be able to make our quarterback look like he's a good quarterback because he is and he was able to settle in I I think now get getting a run game and get some play action to where it's not obvious passing the defense is just dropping back in zone or man and and playing coverage yeah I mean I think another thing it's not it's following coach Fritz it's not as as DNA right now but when you when you not as good up front the best thing to neutralize that uh would be to speed the tempo up a little bit I think play a little faster and and if you play a little faster it helps your old line out so much tremendously when they when they can't block as well as we want them to because now when you speed it up you make you make the defense play most of the time base because when you playing fast they can't get their calls and they want they can't get the exxotic blitz they want they can't get the stuns and stuff they want they have to play base so if we can speed the Tipo just a little bit uh get out your comfort zone a little bit with it speed it up and and I's see now us playing faster we can get the Run game going because sometimes if you playing faster you can run it something simple as the inside Zone and have your old line fall in tracks but because the defense is not lined up you get them you get them out their gaps and then now that's how you bust my own runs and things different things like that so I think we just got to change up something because 19 points in two games is just it's not good at all it's it's really not good but I I feel like the guys are are are are still playing hard so as a group that is like I'm gonna keep saying this Friday ronight that's something that we could really be proud of that we really played hard so I'm excited about next week reice could be a game that we when I played rice was a stat game for us so I'm not saying it's a stat game now I'm hoping it' be a game that we get our confidence uh I get our confidence up going and it's a cross down rival you don't have to go far anywhere so let's see how this works you chose them some payback from last season too obviously man they were able to do at Rice Stadium yeah and alls are going to be coming in with some confidence because they just absolutely destroyed TSU uh tonight so well it it'll be for an interesting game um I'm I'm curious to see here kind of focusing a little bit on the defense but JG on YouTube says he feels like you can beat some good teams in the Big 12 they'll keep improving he wishes Donovan was consistently accurate what have you seen so far specifically from Donovan Smith I think we we all agree we got to give him credit for the way he was able to put last week's performance in the rearview mirror um and outside of the two two throws um like again especially the pick and and the Miss touchdown I think for the most part he was relatively um solid in this game uh but what have you just seen from him overall these two games uh the first game I I like like I stated I thought he was seeing ghost um I feel like he was rushing he was calming in the pocket when he need to he the because the old line was not picking up uh stunts and different things like that like coach FR said in his interview I think he the pressure early on got to him and then he just started seeing ghost it started being faster than what it is to him and he wouldn't he wouldn't allow his receivers to get out there breaks and he was just taking off getting out the pocket getting rushed and sometimes forcing sacks I think today tonight he was much calmer to me like he didn't seem like he was pressing it didn't seem like the game sped up on seemed like it slow completely down and when it slows down for you like that any player knows that then you just just it's throwing catch and that's what he did today he threw cat 24 for 28 uh 260 yards that's a very efficient night on the road to be that efficient like said two throws out I know he wishes he can have back but I thought I think I told you guys is doing the game to me he was the best player on the field um at one point and and I hope I think I jinxed him a little bit after that that's when he threw the pig and and things like that but I I felt like he was the best player on the field for a majority of the game and and it tonight wasn't on him I I I really I feel like we just we wasted a lot of drives and sometimes when you're on the road you can't waste drives every Drive is important I don't think we attacked every drive like that uh but uh D was better night first night I thought he saw ghost I thought I thought his whole body everything was sped up his mind was sped up his feet was sped up and you and you saw that you saw the difference between tonight and um last week and I think he's gonna get better so I know people are saying hey we need a quarterback change we need a quarterback change no let let this guy rock out and U and give he he to me he gives us a best chance to win yeah go ahead D no I was just gonna say and I agree with BCE I think I he gotten better I think he showed Improvement I think his leadership um today kind of the offense play behind him his Poise the the way he completed balls through his temperament and how he he wasn't speeded up in the pocket he was just sitting back making the throws that was there the quick throws he put it where the receivers can get some yards out the catch which um I think that was important and so overall I'm expecting him to get even better next week and by the time they get to um game four and five him to really kind of hit his stride in the offense to be able to open up a little bit more and so uh I like where I'm at right now with Donovan I think maybe want to see him use his legs a little bit more just to get in some some shorter third down manable situations and make a quicker decision as far as taking off and running with his pocket presence well other than that um I'm happy with Donovan how he's played so far well in the second game first game and you know it's interesting you bring up that point it was something uh there was a a play I I believe it was during the first half or it might have been a broken play and and Donovan kind of ran um I I can't remember it was to pick up for a first down but I don't know if it's just by Design if they've been really careful about not using him in the Run game but I agree it seems like they've they've kind of I don't know they Haven been fully utilized Donovan in that aspect uh there's been a lot of uh where it looks like they potentially read options where they're handing it to the to the running back and you know Donovan hasn't really kept it over the course of these first two games and I think that's one of the other reasons too where you starting to see the defensive line against Oklahoma a lot of times they didn't even bite on the fake they went straight towards the running back and that's something that again potentially kind of limiting the full potential of this offense espec especially when it comes to that ground game yeah I mean when when you add the quarterback runs to it it gives you extra guy in the Run game so uh I think that's something they do some quarterback power some different misdirection just to change it up a little bit like Dan said like too many times feel like every time I looked up was third and nine third and 11 third and 13 and those are the toughest things to uh uh to uh convert so I think we can get some Run game um misdirection uh we're QB counter QB power just get the extra number if you get the extra guy in the Box uh to help you out with the running back running back most defens don't account for that uh and he can run so if he if he couldn't run I understand that but he can run so and I I want to see us do a little bit more rping as well like give him that option to to to either hand it off or or or if he don't like the Box throw the quick game out there just get make quick decisions I think everything with us right now he's having to think a little bit too long too much for me and when you don't have the old line play we we need right now that's the easiest way to help a quarterback out it's quick game and maybe some give his BL juice flowing with with some QB runs some design QB runs that that can get him going and like you said keep the chain the biggest thing as a OC that you want to do is is stay uh stay ahead of the chains and right now yeah it's too many third it's too many third and seven plus that we're we're trying to convert and on the road in that environment it's tough It's just tough one of the big reasons that Houston offense specifically find themselves in a lot of those situations kind of bringing up Rusty Reed's comment about a message the players shared last last week about cougs not beating cougs and it it really come down to the penalties the offense committed six penalties it cost him 55 yards there was a lot of holding calls it was a delay couple delay of games and and that's all for an offenses are really struggling you don't want to to to just make the challenge greater and there was a lot of times where they I mean at this point if you get a penalty especially if you get a holding call it's just a drive killer for this offense because it's just Ling to consistently move down the field I will say in this game they found a lot of success they were at their best when they were kind of dinking and dunking and and then in a way kind of it's it served a little as as a run game substitute at times and you were getting the hand into those fast receivers and they were getting you know five six sometimes seven yards and you you don't find yourselves in those second and and long third and long situations and that's when Houston was kind of able to find success against Oklahoma hopefully we see that uh much more heading into next conference game against rice and then once they they open up Big 12 play oh we're going to need to see that um I think it's important for us right now to find the guys who are best with the ball in their hands and gets given to them right away because if you're trying to wait for them to set up it's just GNA happen so uh Stefan I I will find a way to get him the ball quick quickly uh I don't know if it's if we need to add some some noun throws we call them n throws with quick uh Quick N throws or anything something to get the guy get that guy the ball in his hands and then once you once you get a defense uh commit to coming up coming up making making you tackle in space that's how you get the stuff down field and right now we're not that nobody's respecting us downfield because we're we're we're not giving we're not running the ball officially and we're not getting to bre the ball quick like you said we did a better job today but I would force it until uh you until you show me you can tackle my guys in space and then that's when you get manjack them down the field and they're doing what they doing best because MJ's not a guy right now that's going to make you missing space or anything like that but he's shown he he can make he's sure handed he can make handed exactly y so um that ease the offense up uh if you just uh do a lot more quick game I know quick game is not sexy it's not throwing the ball deep down the field but it's sufficient and it gets the ball out quick and it gets guys able in space to make plays we just got to get creative with that now I agree 100% I I think getting the ball in the playmaker's hands quickly allowing them to get some Yak some yards out the catch that way you can take two yard catches and make it a eight yard game or a 12 or 15 some of those big plays that way that um Donovan doesn't feel the need to have to push it down field push it down and um but I think that I think that'll come I think that'll come I think cuz coach Rich listening to him he said he still want to let the players EXA L who they are and establish who they are on this team and so with that I think kind of seeing flashes of Stefon Johnson like we're all mention I think he he's one of those players that we need to get the ball in his hands and let him just use his guys given elusive ability to be able to to make some plays and I want to see a screen game a little bit more even with the running backs and the receivers a little bit more screens I I think the defense at times just looks to Blitz just get so much pressure I think the screens could be something else that the offense can utiliz to get some easy completions and get pick up some yards screen slow down the pass rush that's the big that's that's why team run uh screens when you feel like a dline is very aggressive uh you screen they ass so they slow them down and and I think you hit it you hit it right on there we do do some jailbreak screen do some quick Rey uh screens out there quickly uh do some uh running back screens different ways you can you can window address it that you can run the same play but if you if you go watch I remember watching the New Orleans Saints when Drew Brees was there Drew Brees got a lot of his yardage of throwing screens to Ala chra like they find different ways to put put their best guy in space in screen and that's what we need to do we need to find a way to just sexy up a normal screen but just uh formation it differently every single time put some different uh motions to it and just to get your guys open I think right now if you when I watch this it's no motion it's not enough motion for me it's not enough we're we're we're coming out we're standing staging the same formation we're just running our offense now when you're struggling like we do you need to get you gota you gota get we call it eye candy get different eye candy so the linebacker you can change their vision and everything so we can get guys in in the wrong gaps get guys and space that we can get to so also helps the quarterback too right it helps the quarterback out big time because now instead of guys te off on you said a guys get to your normal concept they got to sit and think because they see different Mo motion their eye their eye levels is changing so we got to do a better job in changing the eye level of the second level Defenders and when we do that then that's how you get bigger plays from the offense as a running back um what have you seen from our running game is it the running back's not hitting the hole is that the offensive line ain't getting enough push what can we do to establish a better run game I don't I I don't think we're getting to the second level with most of our runs um and with as a running back we we was always told man my slow to it fast through it which means like when you get the ball be patient to the line and then once you once you see your your blocking scheme develop and they get to the second level then you make a cut off of it Levon Bell he was the greatest at being slow to it being patient and then once he find it busting through it and I I feel like right now we can't be slow to it because we're not getting any pushing we're not getting to the second level so by the time we be slow to it we're getting stop for two maybe one one or two yards so I think we got to be a better job find a better job finding different com different things that you can put more uh for hands on on on on on the first level to get to the second level we're not doing that well enough right now when I watch us we're not getting to second level at all and because we're not getting to the second level it's that's why we're seeing like we're getting stop we're not getting big runs big runs happen when your when your guards and your centers can get to the linebackers and into the next level and then once you get to that level as a running back your dream is to get one-onone with the safety and that's our job to make him right so and make our line right so once we get to the safety it's time to go win and and I think we're not doing that right now we're not even getting a chance to get this safety because we're not getting to the second level real quickly once again i' like to thank each and every single person that's taking the time out of this Saturday night to join us here on this episode of let's rage cougs presented by the saxion family also big thank you to Steve saxion for once again being the primary sponsor of today's episode of let's rage cougs not only this episode but all season long and we also like to say thank you to our secondary sponsors on this episode starting with Star Pizza who reminds you to eat local and support the hometown spots that support your cougs once again they have free delivery and pickup No Reservations needed they have tons of room in their dining space and they deliver from downtown and the medical center they deliver to downtown and the medical center seven days a week be sure to visit them online as well at star pizza.net of course we also like to say thank you to ksten for being a sponsor on this episode the ksten uh the ksten elgate is located in the blue lot 16d on game days and all are welcome to enjoy the food drinks and music with the cooks and family follow them online at couston vix.com for tailgate details we have video of head coach Willie Fritz and what he said postgame so let's check out what Willie Fritz had to say following the 16 of 12 loss against Oklahoma opening remarks I guess I'm really proud of our guys I thought our guys playing extremely hard they were very competitive the beginning of the game till the end and uh that was a big step forward I'll be honest with you I was disappointed in our effort last week I might have talked about that a you guys of times this week kids came out and competed and uh played tough you know the the whole ball game and uh very very proud of him for that you know when you're playing the number 15 ranked team in the country you got to play smart though too we made some mistakes critical points of the game you know you got to hear the coaching and you got to do exactly the coach is telling especially when you have a time out before you go out there may that happen on a couple of occasions you know I'm not sure about the punt at the beginning of the game he where he he didn't touch it you know we we responded and kept playing hard you know that that put us in a Hole uh you know at the end of the game there I was told that they were reviewing it that's why I kept everybody out there on the field nobody told me they decided not to review it so uh so we just uh we got to play smart when you're playing a know the 15th rank team in the country you got to play real smart and also play hard and tough physical I'm very very proud of our guys uh you know I uh I thought they competed at an elite level and I and uh that's Improvement but we lost open it up for questions when you looked at what you did from week one to week two with Donovan maybe some of the quick throws yeah how how did you feel just offensively I thought coach did a good job of of putting us in a position to be successful you know there're just you know whatever's called we got to execute it you know you got to go you know if you're you're reaching the three you got to reach the three you know especially when we're running a stretch to the to The Big Field you it happened on the the last one with the uh safety you know and [ __ ] we we we went over on sideline we went out there so that's what we got to get better at the want to the the competitiveness those things the kids have got we got to execute properly in order to win it's hard to freaking win you know it really is and and you got to everybody's got to be on the same same page and all the know typical say that everybody says about that crap I get people Willie you guys were able to um hold Oklahoma only 14 points offensively no points in the second half what was working for you guys defensively against them you know I I thought we did a nice job of tackling you know and and uh staying over the top you know they you know they they didn't have any and won I believe Big Shot play but besides that we made them have to drive the ball down the field a bunch of different plays and sooner or later you know most of the time they're going to goof up and put themselves in bad time in distance situation and you got to you know finish him off uh I thought we played very well on defense throughout the ball game coach coming into the season we look at Oklahoma there was a lot of talk about their offensive line and you guys really look like you were able to take advantage of that tonight can you talk about that match up with your defense against their offensive line well you know I think we've got a good defensive line we rotated a bunch of guys in there we got some tackles for loss you know it's a big deal between second and 8 and second and 12 uh you know so you know we feel like that can be a strength of our team our defensive line you know we're not there yet we got some good players up there and uh we we feel like we can match up against people with the defensive line we need to you know we're going to play a lot of guys we we need to do a good job of moving and and uh you know putting them in position where they can you know use their athletic ability will you seem to be moving the ball pretty well up until the vanj touchdown but the four opportunities down two points what do you feel like changed in those positions oh just made made mistakes critical mistakes you know that's uh that's what hurt us you know we just you know we just uh you know defensively if one guy screws up you still have a chance to have a good play offensively if one guy screws up particularly it's up front or tight end involved and run run game and you know it's probably going to be a minus play you know that happened to us a few times play some you know bad down distances Willie the uh up to pun early in the game and then the review on the the safety both those were really close calls what explanation did you get from the officials well they said there wasn't enough evidence to uh overturn the first one you know I I kind of watched it it looked like the ball didn't change while it was spinning you that's what usually happens when the guy touches it you know he said said he didn't touch ball I don't know you know but you got to fight through that keep playing and and uh you know that's that's uh you know as proud of the fact that you know we got got in a hole you know on a play that may or may not have occurred and and the guys kept fighting back so once again that was Houston Cougar's head coach Willie Fritz following the tough loss to Oklahoma he was encouraged by a lot of things he said that they have the fight they have the effort um execution the biggest got takeaway out of this loss against Oklahoma still too many uh mistakes when it comes to we kind of touch on it penalties but that's kind of his biggest takeway that they're trying to clean up heading into week three against rice and obviously beyond that wants to get into conference play yeah one thing stood out to me is I feel like I just said it is it's is being able to the front when you run the ball he said they came from the sideline they they talked about the play uh and he said we couldn't reach the three that's putting two hands Four Hands on the three technically on that stretch play when you're gonna run stretch you gotta be able to step and move the front of the line to get to that second level not that's what's gonna happen although I don't think that was a safety um I I I I really feel like it's it's the little details the reason why we can't run the ball is because we're not controlling the F the first level to get to the second level and that showed in in key situations coach Fritz hit it right on the money with that and but like like he said uh again I I said the beginning of the show I'm proud of the effort that these guys they competed their asses off and they played hard from the from the start to the Finish we just didn't execute the way we wanted to and those are things that as a coach you can be happy to see that your guys not tank and you can see the guys who you can trust as he said he's going to do he's G he's GNA let you play your way into this program play your way out of this program so uh and I think tonight um coach fris is happy that uh that his guys actually play really hard the execution is not where it wants to be but uh as a coach you take effort over anything so we're get to that point where where I feel like the execution will happen yeah you know we say and I think that was what stood out to me too kind of when he pointed that out as well but also just how he mentioned how if they could just elim some of the mistakes and give themselves a better chance to execute and and to put points on the board because too many change too many times where they hurt themselves and and I think that run game like he pointed out that's something that be a focal point going into the next game against rice and I think that's something where we'll see Improvement in just like we did this week with the passing game with the offensive line I think when they're able to to to be more balanced offensively they'll be able to put up more points than which they have been able to do so far these two games Agreed 100% now let's kind of look ahead next week like we've alluded to they're going to be playing the rice owls who like I mentioned they absolutely destroyed Texas Southern uh today final score they were victorious 69-7 at Rice stadium so like we mentioned Houston trying to get some payback after last season um that's really shocking upset and for a lot of fans that was kind of the the last draw for the previous administration losing to rice in the way that in the fashion that they did um looking at that matchup I think the biggest thing not entirely sure what was the cause for it but rers came into that game last year and they punched Houston in the mouth first build a huge lead and then Houston had to it took them a while but they had to claw their way back obviously they got into overtime and and you know at the end of the day rice made more plays in Houston and and all came away with the upside win this year you know hopefully they don't catch you off by surprise you don't let them hit get you that first punch but this is uh this is really obviously the last non-conference game The Last Chance for Houston to kind of work out the Kingson to before they start Big 12 play but also really um this might this is the last game that Houston's going to be favored heading into the matchup so this is going to be something where oh no Baylor Baylor look Baylor looking bad that is true they look bad against Utah so they'll probably be favored in that game at home against the Bears but at least when when it comes to non-conference play this is a game where again a lot of Houston fans they want to get payback this very well could be the last time you play rice for at least the foreseeable future right they have no game scheduled um as of now so we don't know what it's going to be the next time you you you play rice again and at the end of the day this is something that the Old Coach always used to say but there is a trophy on the line for the Bayou bucket you you want to get it back and you want the bucket you don't know when you're going to play again so you want to make sure that that last meeting as Houston as the victors um until they do play again indeed but kind of what are some of the keys you're going to look for next week and and really what what are some of the areas that Houston has to clean up um to not only come out Victorious against rice but to really continue that momentum uh into conference play because I think they like we said much better performance effort was there uh exec wasn't necessarily all the way there uh but there is Improvement and you you want to continue to build that you want to build positive momentum not go backwards next week against rice and let me tell first before I get into that let me just say how important as a player that bucket is the bucket stays right there in the locker room we took pride in the buck I remember my freshman year uh we we lost but that was one of the better rice team they were like a 10- win team they had Casey and Dy they had a bunch of guys who played NFL uh but the next we lost similar but we competed a little better than they did last year but then that following year um we put it on them and then we lost again my junior year then the following year that's when case had his nine TD passing game so I I really feel like um with what happened last year I know a lot of those guys are not there but they they hear about it they're going to hear about all week I'm pretty sure coach Frist is gonna do an excellent job reminding them what happened when they didn't come out last year and and you never want to think about last year because a different team but at the end of the day it's it's it's it's the bucket and so um I feel like we just have it ain't really much win games for a team that's 0 and2 but this game is a must win for us and I really think that the the commits that we have are going to stay because they they can see the Improvement especially I bet you if I'm a commit and I saw how we competed versus oklah I'm thinking to myself they're just missing me a guy like me didn't come that can come in help him out I think this game is more about the city and more about keep you got you recruiting Houston so now you got to establish yourself as the best team the best team in Houston so you have to win this game to me and I feel like um just getting the ball on Perimeter let you gu let your space guys be space guys let let them win kind of like trying to attack today and then a run game speed up the tempo a little bit if you speed up the tempo a little bit I think you're gonna you're gonna get your your old linan a better chance to uh to uh get guys out of gaps and once you get guys out of the gaps that's when you get your run so I I feel like I think coach FR going to going to hit on that and I I'm I'm gonna look and try to see I'm actually gonna be at the game so look to make sure to see uh if we can make those type of adjustments and um I think we will and I think it's gonna be a good day a good night for the cougs we just gotta just get get the ball out quick and speed up a little bit and offensively and I will be fine but come out hitting you got to come out you got to come out fast these slow starts is is uh can't fumble and and give Oklahoma we can't like the slow starts have to uh have to stop and we appreciate a lot at my school I'm there now we gotta start fast you start fast you put pressure on team and that's when you get them on the ropes yeah because the defense got to stop early then you have to miss the mist of the punt but like Bryce is saying you got to start fast hit rice hard and set the tempo like you can't lose to R back to back year especially with a new regime building the new momentum that you're building it like everything Bry is saying this this is a must win and I think Donan being on the team last year he be able to be the voices we lost to them last year and be able to to to lead and and have the guys ready um to to be able to come out and perform I think the defense is going to be um ready for the task like they've been in the first two games and I think they'll set the tone and I wouldn't mind saying Houston's defense on the field first if you win the toss I wouldn't mind deferring let your de your strong suit get out there first get a stop like they were able to do today and then um see if Houston's offense can be able to jump start and like Bryce's point I think one another thing that speeding up the tempo does is it doesn't allow the defense to sub therefore them big guys up front and they're not as fresh they their W down and then like Bron saying you can get to the second level and get your running backs and some of your Playmakers out in space that's one to see them do I want to see Donovan build on this and see him have even a better game um you get ready to prepare for Big 12 but this is a must win you have to beat rice I think this is a game where you have to establish we're still the Big Brother here in the city yeah big time Bryce I want to get your thoughts on this cuz we haven't really touched on it obviously this but the state of conference realignment it's all over the place there's rivalries that are going by the wayside I'm kind what what do you think about just the state of college football and and how there are a lot of rivalry rivalry games that are being affected and unfortunately they're just not being played because of that conference realignment that if if I'm gonna be honest man I'm not a fan I'm I'm I I'm a huge fan of the nil trust me I I feel I feel like that always should have happened uh me and case talking about all the time man could you could you imagine what we could have commanded back then when we were we were one of the top teams in the country and case you were the greatest quarterback ever I mean it's ridiculous but the the robbery games it's it's the it's the disappointing part to me because uh you take the you take the fun out of it you take the passion like like now the bucket in the cou is not the biggest robbery G but to the players that game was big for us no matter how good we were that year we wanted to be rice and in that offseason we wanted to be rice because we like you like d said we wanted to be big we were big brother and want to continue to be big brother I think that's why my senior year uh although you people thought we was pouring on them we scored 70 points on them we we tried to embarrass them and and when you take away games like this man you take some of the some of the fun away from it um not some a lot of the fun away from it I wish I wish this one thing they could they could do with all this realignment trying to add more teams eventually it's just going to be all conference games there G be it's gonna be no there gonna be no preseason games and and and and the preseason the the the the out of conference games like the Florida and Florida State you just you hate to see those games slowly get pushed out the door for money for money reasons and and I'm not a fan of that but it's the times we're going to and until until there's leadership until we they they find a a guy they can run the NCAA and run football this is going to be a free flow Nick sa's been saying it for years they they gotta have somebody who's who knows what they're doing is can control it because the end of the day you taken away from The Fan Experience and fans would drop we all play and I and everything for the fans and when when you look up and you can't get those robbery games more it's just not as fun as it was was gotcha well said uh by the way Bryce this is going to sound corny as like but the reviews are in and you're hit the funny hat he says you're killing it he's hope you're here all season long which you will be so uh that's it's awesome like I said the reviews are in they're high for you and and they really love you on the show we we love having you on the show you've been a great Edition as well and we're going to start to wrap things up here for this episode let's R cougs I kind of go around the table any final thoughts or anything um that you guys like to plug first and foremost once again sound like a broken record but I want to thank our sponsors uh for really helping us all season long uh put this show for you guys let rage cou now it's crazy this is our third season um started way back in 2022 during the American Athletic Conference tournament Run for the men's basketball team here we are three years later the original Houston postgame show after each and every single football and men's basketball game and again we got to say thank you to the seinan family for being a primary sponsor we like to say thank you to St Pizza to ksten uh we can never say thank you enough CU they really help us out in in doing what um this is this a for for fans um to just have a space and then and break down and and react to the Houston Cougars football team which before we started two years ago there was no space for Houston fans to kind of vent out and celebrate a different aspect for the cougs so we thank them for helping us to put together the show and of course we thank each and every single person that took the time out of their day their night rather to join us and talk some cougs and that being said Bryce I'll toss it over you any else you'd like to add where people can find you and maybe any any final message you like to share about just your life in general anything you'd like to share yeah man um I want you guys to come out next week I'm gonna be there find me there cool fans let's let's let's have fun let's talk ball doing the game man let's let's let's just get it back going I mean it it takes us I mean if we can somehow show up I'm trying to get a bunch of my teammates to come out back to game but we need to be there let's let's let's go to the game let's be there um let's uh let's let's get it going you can follow me on Twitter at Bryce Bell uh Instagram at Bryce b911 um reach out to me uh if you have any questions anything you want to say I love talking B I love talking to fans about it man U uh ufh has a special place in my heart they gave me the opportunity to to be where I'm at today because uh the co a coach believed in me and and now I'm eded to this universe I'm Ed to uh this city so whatever I can do man please reach out to me and let me know and hey hey hey shout out to the Space City News man great the greatest chapter at U ofh yes sir got a lot of our guys watch the show too man me and de lucky to be members of it and we're proud of that so I want to shout out to them boys to as well oh yeah got a shout out to the world famous new man state to state like Li and plates internationally known man but like like bright saying man show up next week I mean as of now this is one of the could potentially be the last game against rice for who knows how long and we had um on our P lamama Jama episode Jack Freeman talked about the importance of showing up how it impacts the players and how much they rely on the fan base to support them so show up to the Rival game next week they got the best of they got the best of us last year so this is a payback we got to get the bucket back we got to get this win get the first win of the season and the players the support um and so appreciate all of you guys we had another good successful show with high numbers of viewership constantly growing game in and game out every episode so thank everyone who tuned in of course thank Andy and Bryson um riding with you coach Fritz um I love the message that you that you're putting in I love how the players are responding they got better this week and I'm expecting another progression next week and as always go coups real quickly down before I do I want to answer this question where was Chris Gardner he was at the TSU Rice game so he was there in person that's why I couldn't join us today for the for the show and sorry I didn't mean to bring it up I I'll mention this as well you know Vegas picked Houston lose by four touchdowns they lost by four arguably it should have been a two-point game at least so PR of the effort that Houston gave and uh on to week three and and beat rice and reclaimed the Bayou bucket they I talk over you one more time you got to close out one more time baby can't end the episode without saying go CS showing up baby show