OU Football: A Positional Breakdown of Houston's Defense

With only one more day until the No. 3 Sooners open the season against the No. 15 Cougars, it’s time to take a look at Houston’s defense.

The Cougars will look to build off last season, seeing Houston managed to finish last year second in college football with a plus-21 turnover margin in their first season operating in a 3-4 defense. Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is an aggressive play caller, so don’t be surprised to see the cougars utilize their experienced defensive front to wreak havoc in the Sooners’ backfield.

“Really created a lot of turnovers a year ago," OU head coach Bob Stoops said of Houston's defense. "Really aggressive defense in the way they play so we’ll have to be excellent on offense handling all that pressure."

Related: Breaking Down Houston's Dynamic Offensive Attack

While the Cougars are optimistic heading into the year, it won’t be an easy task to go face to face with the Sooners’ offense after losing four of their top six tacklers from last season, but head coach Tom Herman has this team believing that anything is possible. Oklahoma will need to be dialed in to ensure they aren’t the first major upset of the college football season. 

That being said, lets break the defense down by positions.

LINEBACKER

Every good defense has a solid player at the linebacker position, and the Cougars have one in Steven Taylor. The senior returns as the Cougars leading tackler from last season (92 TKL, 18.5 TFL, 10 sacks, 3 INT), and promises to be the leader of a Houston defense that held opponents to 21.8 points per game and limited Florida State running back and Heisman candidate Dalvin Cook to only 33 rushing yards in the Peach Bowl.

Taylor has a knack for finding the ball, and does a good job covering sideline to sideline due to his speed and aggressive style of play. He grew up watching the Sooners since his Dad is a big OU fan, so it’s likely Taylor will be extra motivated to bring his A game on Saturday.

Another playmaker at the position will be senior Tyus Bowser. The 6-foot-3, 240 pounder started last season for the Cougars and is expected to be one of the defensive leaders alongside Taylor. With a lengthy frame and quick feet, Bowser is the Cougars’ premiere edge rusher who looks to have a future at the next level. Both Taylor and Bowser are featured on the Butkus Award Watch List.

Related: Sooners Face Gauntlet Schedule To Open Season

Matthew Adams is also expected to start at linebacker, and the junior has a reputation of being a big time hitter. Adams reportedly endeared himself to the coaching staff last year when he hit a guy so hard in practice that he bent his own facemask. Last season in a reserved role, Adams recorded 49 tackles to go with two sacks. 

DEFENSIVE LINE

The big boys up front is the strength of this Houston defense, seeing they return three starters and have a five-star recruit in Ed Oliver they can throw into the mix.

Leading the defensive front is senior B.J. Singleton. The two-year starter is a beast from the nose guard position and he along with returning starters Camerson Malveaux and Nick Thurman will have their hands full trying to clog up running lanes for OU’s Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.

As the program’s highest-rated signee in the modern recruiting era, Oliver will be a fan favorite for the Cougars, and his high motor and tremendous athletic ability should put him on the field early and often. His coaches say he’s still a work in progress, but look for Oliver to attempt to make a name for himself in his first college game.

SECONDARY

After being one of the Cougars’ strongest positions last season, the secondary may be one of the biggest question marks surrounding Houston entering 2016.

Houston will have to replaced four players that combined for 135 career starts in the secondary, along with first round pick William Jackson III.

Despite the losses, the Cougars’ secondary will be led by returning starter Brandon Wilson, and he’ll have some help from both Howard Wilson and Jeremy Winchester, who each have a solid amount of game experience. Brandon Wilson is scrappy for a defensive back, and is more than capable of making a solo tackle in the open field. 

This tweet should give a better idea what Wilson is capable of: 

Garrett Davis and Khalil Williams will likely line up a safety for the Cougars, but look for OU quarterback Baker Mayfield to try and test Houston’s questionable secondary.