Ask the Enemy: Houston

What should SMU fans expect from the Cougars after a rough couple weeks for Houston?

I would expect a football team that is still focused on doing everything they can to win the AAC and return to a New Years six bowl. Houston has certainly had a tough couple of weeks with the loss to Navy and winning a close one at the buzzer thanks to a key defensive stop at the one yard line as time expired against Tulsa.

After looking impressive the first five weeks of the season it looks like it's gut-check time for Houston with another conference game on the road with a team that can sneak up on you. Expect Houston to come out firing, the offense should be clicking but after the last two weeks there are a few questionmarks on the defensive side of the ball.

What shape is the offense in?

The offense isn't the problem for Houston. The Cougars are ranked 16th nationally in terms of total offense averaging 500-plus yards per game. With senior Greg Ward at the helm, they're a threat to put up a ton of points each week, the offense is what carried them last week against Tulsa, so in terms of the offense I think it's safe to say they are in pretty good shape.

What shape is the defense in?

This one is the biggest surprise to me. The first five weeks the defense was arguably the best part of this team, but after two pretty dismal showings against Navy and Tulsa in consecutive weeks you have to wonder what's going on. They've been a little banged up and are still without starting outside linebacker Tyus Bowser which has proven to be a tremendous blow. The cornerbacks have improved but sophomore Jeremy Winchester has experienced his share of growing pains. If he can find some consistency it would fix a lot of the problems.

Coaching?

The biggest story-line with the coaching staff has been about the future of Tom Herman, though Herman and Co. have done an excellent job and shrugging off a lot of the speculation, it continues to mount. Will he go to LSU? Will Texas part ways with Charlie Strong and go after Herman, will USC come calling? It seems like it never ends, but I guess that's part of the spoils of being a winning program for Houston. The staff still seems focused on taking care of the right now.

Injuries?

Houston has been without their top two receivers at the slot position for the first seven weeks though Linell Bonner has filled in quite exceptionally, even though he's not exactly the prototypical H-receiver that you would typically find in a Tom Herman offense. Starting running back Duke Catalon has been banged up the last several weeks and the Cougars will still be without starting outside linebacker Tyus Bowser.

Do you feel like there's a rivalry between the two schools developing?

I do, I almost want to say it's already a Rivalry but I guess in terms of some of the more traditional rivalries it's fairly young with Houston holding a 20-10-1 advantage in their 31 meetings since 1975. I do feel like it's become a lot more intense over the last four years after SMU broke Houston's six game win streak in the series with a runaway 72-42 win over Houston in 2012.

I think the whole Houston-Dallas rivalry plays a part in it as well, but as the series becomes more competitive I think it could grow into an even more intense rivalry over the years.