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UH star Ed Oliver believes his best has yet to come
By Joseph DuarteMarch 21, 2017
To improve on an exceptional freshman season, UH's Ed Oliver says he must "go to work every day with the mindset I have to do the same thing but better." Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff / © 2016 Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff To improve on an exceptional freshman season, UH's Ed Oliver says he must "go to work every day with the mindset I have to do the same thing but better."
On the eve of the first contact practice of spring football earlier this month, Ed Oliver could barely contain himself.
"It's about to get hot and heavy," the University of Houston's All-American defensive tackle said with a menacing grin.
Nobody can blame Oliver for getting the itch to hit somebody. Teammates or not, it had been since the Dec. 17 Las Vegas Bowl that Oliver had been on the football field.
"Once the pads go on," he said, "it's fair game."
The attitude is exactly what first-year coach Major Applewhite wants to see from the centerpiece of the Cougars' 2017 defense.
"The thing that encourages me - that helps me know he is on the right path - is his intensity in practice," Applewhite said after Tuesday's morning workout. "There's a natural tendency when you have success in anything to pull back a little bit. His intensity in practice is going forward. So I know he's going to improve.
"The good thing about Ed is he's very intelligent. He understands last year was last year and this year is this year."
A five-star recruit from Westfield, Oliver lived up to expectations with one of the top seasons by a defensive player (regardless of classification) in school history. He was named a first-team All-American by several media outlets, including the Associated Press, after finishing second nationally with 23 tackles for loss and leading all defensive linemen with nine pass breakups. Oliver was second nationally with 47 solo tackles (66 overall) playing in the tackle spot in a 3-4 scheme, which normally does not allow many stat-spiking opportunities.
What will Oliver do for an encore?
"Just go to work every day with the mindset I have to do the same thing but better," Oliver said.
The 6-2, 290-pound Oliver has set lofty stat goals for his sophomore season: "In the 30 tackles for loss region … probably 60-70 tackles and 10 sacks."
"That's where I need to be, where I should be," he added.
With UH losing several quality players on defense, among them linebackers Tyus Bowser and cornerbacks Brandon Wilson and Howard Wilson, the Cougars will look to Oliver for leadership this season.
"I'm not allowed to be a kid anymore," Oliver said. "I'm a dude as we say in this program. I'm held to high expectations because a lot of teammates look up to me and I want to show them the right things to do."
That begins, defensive line coach A.J. Blum said, with Oliver learning "as much of the defense as possible."
From the start, Oliver was greeted with double- and triple-team blocks. Even so, Oliver had his two best games on the biggest stages with four sacks and five tackles for loss against top-three ranked Oklahoma and Louisville, the last featuring eventual Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
With Oliver grasping more of the defense, UH aims to use him in a variety of roles similar to late last season when he would stand up and come off the edge as a pass rusher.
"I think he understands that there are going to be plans," Applewhite said. "People aren't going to go into games without an 'Ed Plan.' They are going to have certain ways to try and neutralize him, cut him, get outside, try to do things to discourage him. It's just the mental part of the game and understanding how defenses are going to come at him.
"He welcomes that challenge. That's the great thing about having a competitor."
UH star Ed Oliver believes his best has yet to come
By Joseph DuarteMarch 21, 2017
To improve on an exceptional freshman season, UH's Ed Oliver says he must "go to work every day with the mindset I have to do the same thing but better." Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff / © 2016 Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff To improve on an exceptional freshman season, UH's Ed Oliver says he must "go to work every day with the mindset I have to do the same thing but better."
On the eve of the first contact practice of spring football earlier this month, Ed Oliver could barely contain himself.
"It's about to get hot and heavy," the University of Houston's All-American defensive tackle said with a menacing grin.
Nobody can blame Oliver for getting the itch to hit somebody. Teammates or not, it had been since the Dec. 17 Las Vegas Bowl that Oliver had been on the football field.
"Once the pads go on," he said, "it's fair game."
The attitude is exactly what first-year coach Major Applewhite wants to see from the centerpiece of the Cougars' 2017 defense.
"The thing that encourages me - that helps me know he is on the right path - is his intensity in practice," Applewhite said after Tuesday's morning workout. "There's a natural tendency when you have success in anything to pull back a little bit. His intensity in practice is going forward. So I know he's going to improve.
"The good thing about Ed is he's very intelligent. He understands last year was last year and this year is this year."
A five-star recruit from Westfield, Oliver lived up to expectations with one of the top seasons by a defensive player (regardless of classification) in school history. He was named a first-team All-American by several media outlets, including the Associated Press, after finishing second nationally with 23 tackles for loss and leading all defensive linemen with nine pass breakups. Oliver was second nationally with 47 solo tackles (66 overall) playing in the tackle spot in a 3-4 scheme, which normally does not allow many stat-spiking opportunities.
What will Oliver do for an encore?
"Just go to work every day with the mindset I have to do the same thing but better," Oliver said.
The 6-2, 290-pound Oliver has set lofty stat goals for his sophomore season: "In the 30 tackles for loss region … probably 60-70 tackles and 10 sacks."
"That's where I need to be, where I should be," he added.
With UH losing several quality players on defense, among them linebackers Tyus Bowser and cornerbacks Brandon Wilson and Howard Wilson, the Cougars will look to Oliver for leadership this season.
"I'm not allowed to be a kid anymore," Oliver said. "I'm a dude as we say in this program. I'm held to high expectations because a lot of teammates look up to me and I want to show them the right things to do."
That begins, defensive line coach A.J. Blum said, with Oliver learning "as much of the defense as possible."
From the start, Oliver was greeted with double- and triple-team blocks. Even so, Oliver had his two best games on the biggest stages with four sacks and five tackles for loss against top-three ranked Oklahoma and Louisville, the last featuring eventual Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
With Oliver grasping more of the defense, UH aims to use him in a variety of roles similar to late last season when he would stand up and come off the edge as a pass rusher.
"I think he understands that there are going to be plans," Applewhite said. "People aren't going to go into games without an 'Ed Plan.' They are going to have certain ways to try and neutralize him, cut him, get outside, try to do things to discourage him. It's just the mental part of the game and understanding how defenses are going to come at him.
"He welcomes that challenge. That's the great thing about having a competitor."
