What is now happening to UH and our D is nothing new to Texas Tech with Kingsbury’s O or at Baylor when Art Briles was HC. It is interesting to look at how differently each program has handled this situation of super fast O play calling and tired D’s.
Both Tech and Baylor had great O’s with talent and depth. Neither had good D’s and little depth. Tech has developed depth and has greatly improved their D. No one will confuse the Tech D with Clemson, Alabama, LSU or a few others. But for Tech’s fast paced O, Gibbs has been allowed to stay and over several years develop depth.
In 2014 Tech lost to TCU 82-27 and in 2015 they lost to Oklahoma 63-27 and Okla. St. 70-53. This year since they allowed Gibbs to recruit and develop players has seen Tech defeating a bad TCU team 17-14, Oklahoma St. 41-17 and losing to Oklahoma 51-46 with Oklahoma having one of the best scoring O’s in college FB.
Tech learned that to keep their O, they also needed to keep the DC and build a custom made D that slowed down the other team. They now have a D with quality depth, depth that they previously did not have due to a prior revolving door at the DC position.
Baylor did something unique and very different approach. They sought after the best D players they could acquire. Whether by transfer, JC or HS with little or know concern of character. They needed players that were willing to play for 85 or more plays a game. They wanted “Bad Dudes” and they got them. Unfortunately some crossed the line and Baylor took a hit in the area of public opinion.
But Baylor might play in a Bowl game this year and just like Baylor BB, what happened will be history. Fans will be going to games hoping to compete for another BIG12 championship next year
So will UH replace DC’s like Texas Tech did until they got tired of watching Baylor defeat them 63-35 in 2015. Or replace the DC’s and start recruiting questionable characters like Baylor. Players who are given a second chance and willing to play 85 - 100 snaps a game while continuing their questionable behavior that got them on the don’t recruit list of other schools.
Note both Tech and Baylor also have the advantage of being in a P5 with all the marquee games, P5 money, and media support. UH is a G5 with none of that.
UH DC will be attempting to recruit players who could play for a P5 program or who are diamonds in the rough and tell them they will be playing most of the game. That is a difficult job and even Tech realized it takes patience. Yeah they are complaining because of years of average to bad FB (5-7 to 7-5 seasons) but this season they finally have a D.