AAC Spring Practice: Biggest Questions for Each Team

Feb 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars football coach Tom Herman talks to the crowd during the game between the Cougars and the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Hofheinz Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Cougars

Biggest Question: How will the offense adjust to Tom Herman’s system in the spring?

With guys like John O’Korn and Case Keenum in the program over the past few years, the Houston Cougars have spent lots of time running much more of an air raid offense, regardless of who has been the head coach. But the arrival of Tom Herman, an Urban Meyer protege, and the return of Greg Ward, Jr., a guy who is much more of a dual-threat quarterback, shows all the pieces in place for a dramatic change in the offense.

The question is, how long will it take for those changes to be fully implemented?

With the exception of his first year at Ohio State, the Meyer spread has always taken about a year to flourish. But with the perfect quarterback to run it at Houston, Herman’s biggest challenge has to be getting all of the guys to successfully buy into the system this spring. That could be much harder than it looks, though, as the air raid and the spread are complex to learn.

It’s like going from Mandarin to learning English, so Herman will need this spring to get things properly installed.

Next: Memphis Tigers Spring Practice