Zero. Let that sink in for a second. That’s the absolutely wild number staring down the No. 22 Cougars defense this week. Kansas State’s offense is literally the *only* team in the entire FBS that hasn’t given up a single sack all season. You read that right. Zero. It’s a stat that makes you scratch your head and immediately know UH is in for a battle at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday.
The Un-sackable Beast and the QB Who Runs Wild
This isn’t just about an impenetrable offensive line, though that’s a huge part of it. UH edge rusher Brandon Mack II straight up said, “It definitely stands out,” and you can bet the entire team has seen that number. The real headache for UH is Kansas State’s third-year starting quarterback, Avery Johnson. Coach Willie Fritz nailed it, calling Johnson “hard to corral.” He’s that brutal combo of a drop-back passer who can absolutely fly, and Fritz isn’t wrong saying that’s a “lethal combination.” This dude is no joke, easily one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12.
Johnson’s numbers this season are legit: 910 passing yards with a 66.2% completion rate, seven touchdowns, and just two picks. But the real kicker? He’s also their leading rusher with 291 yards and three more touchdowns, putting him on pace for nearly 900 rushing yards and nine scores by the end of the year. UH’s defensive run-game coordinator, James Ross III, who coaches those edge rushers, knows it too. He said Johnson “can do some dangerous things with his legs” and knows how to “get out of situations.” We’re talking about a guy who’s seen 139 pass snaps and 16 scrambles this season without his O-line giving up a single sack. Mack said it best: “It makes you want to be the first team to get him down.” Seriously, it’s impressive, especially this deep into the season.
The Blueprint: How to Lock Down Johnson, and UH’s Defensive Holes
Kansas State is coming off an open week, fresh from a 31-26 conference-opening loss to Cincinnati. That Cincy game actually gave us a bit of a roadmap for how to handle Johnson. Cincinnati managed to keep him mostly in the pocket, forcing him to throw a career-high 50 attempts. That’s key, because Johnson himself seems to be leveling up under pressure this year. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s completing 47.8% of his passes for 135 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions when pressured this season. Big jump from last year, when he was one of the worst, hitting only 37.5% for 391 yards, two TDs, and four picks in similar spots. He even admitted, “If something’s not there, I’m using my legs to get us out of those situations.” The guy’s got confidence, and he’s got an offensive line that’s protecting him better than anyone else in the country.
So, here’s the ultimate tightrope walk for UH: how do you get pressure on Johnson without letting him and running back Rodney Fields Jr. (274 yards, 4 TDs) just run wild? UH has grabbed 10 sacks this season, averaging two per game, with 26 tackles for loss. Edge Ashton Porter has two sacks and JACK Latreveon McCutchin has one sack plus eight pressures, so they’ve got some guys who can get after it. But generating that pressure and still plugging the running lanes is going to be the absolute mission for the Cougars. Plus, their secondary has given up way too many big plays through the first five games. They gotta tighten that up too if they want to get a win.
This Saturday, it’s all about that UH defense proving they can be the first to crack Kansas State’s zero-sack magic. It’s a massive challenge, but if they pull it off, it’s gonna send a huge statement across the Big 12.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply