MANHATTAN, Kan. – Zero.
That stat jumps off the sheet.
Kansas State is the only team in FBS that has not allowed a sack this season.
“It definitely stands out,” University of Houston edge rusher Brandon Mack II said.
Getting to quarterback Avery Johnson – or at least containing him – is the challenge when the No. 22 Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) play Kansas State on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
“He’s hard to corral,” UH coach Willie Fritz said of the Wildcats’ third-year starting quarterback. “He’s a drop-back passer and can also run. That’s a lethal combination when a guy also can run as a quarterback. He’s one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12.”
THE GHOST: Myles Rowser ready to make an impact for UH
Johnson has thrown for 910 yards, a 66.2% completion percentage, and seven touchdowns and two interceptions during the Wildcats’ 3-1 (0-1 Big 12) start. Kansas State is coming off an open week after losing to Cincinnati 31-26 in its conference opener.
Johnson is equally dangerous when he leaves the pocket. He has a team-leading 291 yards and three touchdowns, putting him on pace for nearly 900 yards and nine scores.
James Ross III, UH’s defensive run-game coordinator who works with edge rushers, said Johnson knows how to “get out of situations” and his usage is split between designed runs and scrambles.
“The challenge is containing that guy,” Ross said. “He can do some dangerous things with his legs.”
Making the statistic even more impressive: Kansas State is the only team in FBS to not allow a sack this season through 139 pass snaps and 16 scrambles.
“It makes you want to be the first team to get him down,” Mack said. “It’s definitely something to look at. It’s impressive being that it’s almost halfway through the season.”
There is a blueprint. Cincinnati kept Johnson in the pocket for most of the game, forcing him to throw a career-high 50 attempts. He’s been more effective when faced with pressure, completing 47.8% for 135 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, according to Pro Football Focus. Last season, Johnson was one of the worst quarterbacks in the country in those situations, completing only 37.5% for 391 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.
He was pressured on 13 drop-backs alone against Cincinnati after being pressured on 14 snaps in the first four games, according to PFF.
“I’m just not thinking about it as much,” Johnson said this week, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. “If something’s not there, I’m using my legs to get us out of those situations and extend drives that way. I think a lot goes into that; the offensive line is doing a good job, and I haven’t had as many pressure opportunities this year.”
The challenge for UH is generating pressure without opening running lanes for Johnson and running back Rodney Fields Jr. (274 yards, 4 TDs). The Cougars also need to tighten a secondary that has given up too many big plays through the first five games.
UH has 10 sacks this season, an average two per game, and 26 tackles for loss. Edge Ashton Porter has two sacks, while JACK Latreveon McCutchin has one sack and eight pressures.
This will be UH’s third meeting against Johnson. He played sparingly as a freshman in the Wildcats’ 41-0 win over the Cougars in 2023, then threw for 238 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and 18 rushing yards in UH’s 24-19 upset of the No. 17 Wildcats in 2024 at TDECU Stadium.
“You have to have good awareness,” Mack said of the approach to defending Johnson. “Everybody has a rush lane they are responsible for. I remember when we played them two years ago, one play he was running back 30 yards and was still able to complete a pass. He’s real talented.”
After falling behind 17-0 against UCF last week, UH’s defense held the Knights to 35 yards and only one first down the rest of the game, including two fourth-down stops in a 27-17 comeback win.
“I feel like that second half is what we are really capable of doing every single week,” Mack said. “We just have to be on the same page. That was more of our identity who we are. When we are all on the same page, that’s the defense we really are.”
Subscribe
There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at UH defense faces a unique challenge against Kansas State’s sack-free offense and QB Avery Johnson.