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Posts tagged 'Case Keenum'

Football – Roster issues to clear up as training camp closes

by The Daily Cougar Sports Desk // August 23, 2011 0 Comments

The Cougars concluded training camp Saturday with their second scrimmage at the Carl Lewis International Complex.

Eleven days remain until the season opener against UCLA on Sept. 3 at Robertson Stadium.

With two weeks of preparation UH is focusing on bringing a well-balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
“For us to be the team we want to be, we’ve got to improve defensively,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We understand the scheme a lot more, we’ve been able to bring in some new players and it will be a matter of how quick they can adapt and play within in the system.

“I like where we’re headed, I like where we are right now as far as where were at this time last year. I would look for us to be much improved.”

Juniors Chevy Bennett and D.J. Hayden were expected to be the starters at cornerback. The emergence of sophomore Zach McMillian has complicated the defensive back situation, but it gives the unit more options.

“We’ve got to get our secondary cleaned up, and figure out who our safeties are going to be,” Sumlin said. “Zach McMillian has really come on as a corner and given us the ability to move Chevy Bennett to safety.”

Sumlin has counted on contributions from true freshmen for several seasons, but this year’s squad will be the most experienced of his tenure.

“It looks to me like we’ll probably have the least amount of freshman play since we’ve been here for four years,” Sumlin said. “You like to think that’s because you’re growing a program.”

Sumlin said linebacker Derrick Mathews, defensive lineman Joey Mbu, wide receiver/running back Daniel Spencer and wide receiver Mark Roberts are the four true freshman who will travel to away games based off of their efforts in training camp.

There have been no setbacks in the rehabilitation of senior quarterback Case Keenum’s knee.  However, the goal of the coaching staff has been to not overwork him.
“We’re under a year from the injury and the surgery,” Sumlin said. “During the last two weeks he missed only two practices, we held him out of a couple. If it were up to him he’d practice all the time. We’ve got to ice the knee, we have to make sure he’s not sore. If he starts favoring it you get other problems with arms and shoulders.

“Our medical staff does a great job, he’s right where he needs to be. Everything has gone according to plan.”

 

-John Brannen

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Football – Sumlin ponders “Brett Favre theory”

by The Daily Cougar Sports Desk // August 11, 2011 0 Comments

In the second game of the 2010 season senior quarterback Case Keenum threw an interception to UTEP defensive back Travaun Nixon. He attempted to tackle Nixon, but suffered concussion-like symptoms and sat out the rest of the game. He was day-to-day for the next game against UCLA.

Keenum  started and marched  the UH offense deep into UCLA territory. But he threw another pick to UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers, and found himself chasing another defender. He hesitated to tackle, and his right anterior cruciate ligament tore, prematurely ending his season.

“Case is such a competitor,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “”When it happened he just took off. It’s not something I say right as he goes off the field ‘hey if you throw an interception, don’t chase the guy.’ When it happens it’s a natural reaction. You try to correct a mistake.

“He went over there, and he thought about it. When he thought about it, that’s when it happened. He never touched him. He’s been told, but it’s not something I plan on working on.”

Defenders eyes light up when a pass is picked off. It’s not done out of maliciousness, but many defensive players are known to lay out offensive players on interception returns.

Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre was known to casually make his way to the sidelines after he threw interceptions. Favre lasted until he was 41 before his body could take no more.

“There’s  alot to the Brett Favre theory,” Sumlin said. “It probably extended his career eight-10 years from just throwing it and walking off. People used to make fun of it and say how bad it was, but it helped him.”

Keenum’s competitive fire may shine brighter than the grizzled veterans, but don’t expect Sumlin to create scenarios in practice where the offense commits turnovers.

“I’m not much into practicing throwing interceptions,” Sumlin said. “I’m a positive guy, I don’t like to put negative stuff in people’s minds.”

-John Brannen

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Football – No major injuries after four practices

by The Daily Cougar Sports Desk // August 10, 2011 0 Comments

Senior quarterbacks Case Keenum and Cotton Turner are taking reps and defensive lineman Zeke Riser is participating in his first drills in more than a year. The bumps and bruises from 2010 are starting to disappear.

However several players are mending from pre-existing injuries that occurred late in the season or in the spring.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin said running back Chris Wilson is expected to return from foot surgery around November. Wilson recorded 122 rushing yards on 24 attempts in 2010.

Former Cinco Ranch player Shane Ros is also expected to make a full recovery and will be back on the practice field in August.

“He’s a walk-on special teams player,” Sumlin said. “He broke a foot in the spring and had surgery on it. He’s going to be back in the middle of the month.”

Junior offensive lineman Blake Sargent has the most unique of the injuries, healing from a non-football ailment.

“He had tonsil surgery about three weeks ago,” Sumlin said. “We’ve got to get his weight and strength back up, we’re not going to push him right now. He needs to eat some real food and get back to 300 pounds. He’ll probably be a couple of weeks.”

Redshirt freshman and former Pearland Dawson running back Xavier Brown is inactive because of foot surgery, but he is expected to return this month.

Junior defensive lineman Radermon Scypion received playing time after Matangi Tonga had a knee injury, but was lost for the season after breaking a leg. Sumlin said his staff will be monitoring his progress.
-John Brannen

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Football – Seniors added to watch lists for national awards

by The Daily Cougar Sports Desk // July 19, 2011 0 Comments

The 2011 season is more than 40 days away, but senior quarterback Case Keenum is already under consideration as one of the nation’s best players.

He claimed a place on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List on Monday. Three days prior, Keenum earned a spot on the Davey O’Brien Award watch list.

The Walter Camp Award is voted upon by the 120 head football coaches and sports information directors from each school.
The O’Brien Award is given to the best quarterback in the country. Keenum was one of three finalists for the award in 2009.

Senior Bryce Beall is in the company of the nation’s best running backs, being named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.
He is 850 yards away from surpassing Ketric Sanford as the all-time UH leading rusher.

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