Quote:UH's backbone easy to see
Cougars overflow with options at the skill positions
By MICHAEL MURPHY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
MEMPHIS, TENN. - Anthony Evans considered the situation and smiled.

He had a novel solution to what some may consider a problem this season for the Houston Cougars: too much talent, especially at the skill positions.

The Cougars bring back their top four rushers — Evans, Ryan Gilbert, Jackie Battle and Harold Taylor (five if you count starting quarterback Kevin Kolb) — from last year's team. So, how do you keep everyone happy?


All RBs, all the time?
Evans, who rushed for 788 yards last season despite missing almost four full games with a calf injury, has a suggestion for solving the problem.

"We're thinking about having a whole (offensive) set with just running backs," said Evans with a laugh. "Why not? We could do it. We could really have it to where at every eligible position we have a running back.

"I could take the snaps. I'll call all the plays. And if I can't do it, then we have Ryan, who is a former quarterback. So there you go right there. Why not? Nobody would know where we're coming from."

Even in UH coach Art Briles' wild, what-will-they-do-next offense, that's stretching the limits of creative imagination.

Briles recognizes the fact that finding enough touches to keep everyone happy could be a problem, especially because the Cougars need as few distractions as possible while trying to rebound from last year's 3-8 season.

To Briles there's only one real solution: Just win, baby.

"Yeah, winning usually takes care of everything," Briles said. "But at the same time you've got to have good character guys who understand the values here. It might not always be 24 carries (in a game). It might only be 10 carries from the running back position."

Each back brings a different dimension to the offense.

"It's difficult to get all the backs involved, but the good thing is that we all bring something different to the team," Evans said. "Jackie and I bring the power and a little bit of speed. Ryan is a receiver out of the backfield who can do a lot of different things, and Harold is a speed guy.

"So we all have something different that we can bring, and we leave it up to coach Briles to exploit that. He does a good job of that."


Many-handed monster
Briles will work overtime in that department. The Cougars also return their top six receivers: Vincent Marshall, Kendal Briles, Perry McDaniel, Donnie Avery, Gilbert and Taylor.

Add into the mix a highly touted junior college transfer in Jeron Harvey, a 6-5 pass-catching machine, and Anthony Alridge, who will also see time in the backfield, and that means a lot of competition.

"Keeping them happy is one way to look at it, but the way we look at it is what can they do to help our team win?" coach Briles said. "That's part of being in the team setting — you're going to have to give a little bit, and when you have the chance to produce, you have to seize that opportunity.

"We can't sit around and wonder if this guy is pleased with his role or not. What we have to do is determine whether his role gives us the best chance to be successful.

"We have guys on our team who are unselfish and understand the team concept. They know that when they get an opportunity they have to take advantage of it."


Kolb in charge
Having Kolb running the show should help as well.

The junior quarterback has started all 24 games since arriving at UH from Stephenville, and his leadership will be a valuable asset.

"It's a tremendous feeling to have a guy like that out there," Briles said. "That's your signal-caller, and anytime you've got him back there he thinks and understands the way we need him to think and understand, and that makes a big difference.

"It's a huge plus for us. And Kevin is intelligent enough to understand the dynamics of our offense and the personalities that are involved, so he'll do a good job of getting the ball to the right person at the right time."