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The Roost Podcast | Ep 88 – 2021 Rice Football Offensive Preview

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Matthew and Carter preview the 2021 Rice Football offense this week, breaking down each position, and of course, discussing the quarterback battle.

Last week we delved into the depths of the Rice football defense, moving on from our offseason team previews and turning our attention solely toward the Owls. This week we continue on our Rice-centric discussion, this time turning our attention to the offensive side of the ball. The quarterback battle has been covered in depth in the camp reports, but we give some additional perspective there as a part of our larger overview of the Owls’ offensive attack.

Be sure to stick around for a quick game at the end and as always, you can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 88.

Episode Notes

  • Housekeeping
    • Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on your platform of choice. Every little bit helps.
    • Don’t forget to grab your copy of the 2021 Rice Football Season Preview.
    • Please support us on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes updates from fall camp, practices and more.
      Become a Patron!
  • Rice Football Offensive Preview 
    • How much confidence should we have in the offensive line?
    • Evaluating the varied skillsets and possibilities at the running back position
    • Sifting through a bevy of seemingly reliable pass-catching options
    • How much of a role will the tight ends play in the passing game?
    • Who’s the leader in the quarterback race and how will the Owls approach the position this fall?
    • What’s more likely to happen…

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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Top Twitter follows for Rice football and Conference USA Football for 2021 season

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The 2021 Rice Football season is around the corner. If you’re tracking with the Owls or Conference USA on Twitter, here are a handful of accounts you’ll want to follow.

The Roost

The Roost
The Roost Podcast
The Roost Podcast co-host Carter Spires

University-sponsored and coaching staff

Rice Athletics
Buy Now | 2021 Rice Preview
Rice Football
Rice Football Recruiting
Rice Owls Equipment

Football Staff

Mike Bloomgren – Head coach
Marques Tuiasosopo – OC, Quarterbacks
Mike Kershaw – Wide receivers
Jim Jackson – Tight ends
Sanders Davis – Offensive line
Robbie Picazo – Running backs
Cedric Calhoun – Defensive line
Collin Spencer – Safeties
Buy Now | 2021 C-USA Preview
Gerard Wilcher – Cornerbacks
Brian Smith – DC, Linebackers
Chris Monfiletto – Special teams
Alex Brown – Director of Recruiting

Conference USA

CUSA | @CUSAbbs, @TheG5Beat, @FCUSARefs, @cusaReport, @CUSA_Curtain

Southern Miss | @ToTheTopTalk, @USMVoice, @Bumperjbailey, @jamie_arrington, @Robinson_Glynn, @GldnEaglePride

Western Kentucky | @MoonShineTD, @MSTD_Podcast, @Moffstradamus, @TheTowelRackWKU, @100MilesOfHate

FAU | @FAU_Owls_Nest, @Owls247, @MarinelliShane, @JackWhidden3, @TheKevinFielder, @Florida_Owl, @ShulaBowlPod, @FAUkickerpunter

FIU | @EricCHenry_, @chiapanther, @ShulaBowlPod

Louisiana Tech | @BleedTechBlue, @LaTechReport, @gotechplsdntdie, @tannerspearman, @latechsportsctl

UAB | @DudleyDoWriteAL, @UABDailyDragon, @BlazerTalk, @DragonsDenEFEL, @Charmillionaire, @UABSlant, @johncduncan 

Old Dominion |  @ReeseBecker, @DougRipleyODU, @Harry_MiniumODU, @austinmpriest

North Texas | @meangreennation, @BrettVito, @gomeangreen, @MeanGreen247

UTSA | @JaredUTSA, @RivalsJavi, @AlamoAudible, @MeepMeepNation, @RowdyTalk, @UTSAInsiders, @StephenWhit89, @GregLuca

Marshall | @MoonShineTD, @MSTD_Podcast, @HerdNation, @Trace_Johnson94, @RWithTheHerd

MTSU | @GoMiddle, @GoMiddle_Matt, @100MilesOfHate

UTEP | @adrian_broaddus, @LouTEPminer, @BretBloomquist, @FQUTEP

Charlotte | @hunter_bailey45, @_agent49, @TheFirst49, @DavidScott14

Have any other recommendations? There’s plenty of more people doing good work on social media, whether that be on Twitter or somewhere else. Leave other accounts folks should follow in the comments.

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Rice Football 2021 Fall Camp Report: QB battle continues, young faces stand out

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Rice football has begun prep work for its first game, but the quarterback position remains up in the air. Here’s the latest regarding who has the edge and happenings from practice this week.

It’s been a busy week on South Main. We got some clarity on various position battles that were still underway entering last Saturday’s scrimmage, but we did not get a definitive answer at the quarterback spot, and it’s not sounding like a declaration is forthcoming this week. This update has some direct comments from head coach Mike Bloomgren and others on the state of that battle, a potential position switch and a handful of younger players that have stood out.

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For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Practice reports are reserved for our subscribers. If you want updates on the quarterback battle, camp standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. You can get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and special features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

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Why don’t the polls/experts believe in Rice Football? – August 2021 Patreon Q&A

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Rice football has done an excellent job on the recruiting front in recent years, but most publications still pick them to finish at the bottom of C-USA West. Why?

If you’ve flipped through any preseason magazines or predictions of late, you’ve probably noticed a consistent theme with where Rice football is predicted to finish among their Conference USA West peers. If Rice has truly raised the talent level inside its program as aggressively as recruiting services believe they have, why aren’t the prognosticators following suit and giving the Owls a bump in their projections?

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For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Q&A’s are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and special features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

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Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Women’s Basketball: Owls hit reset button entering 2021-2022 season

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The Rice women’s basketball team is going to look different this season. With the coaching transition comes an unusually high level of roster turnover.

Things are going to look different at Tudor Fieldhouse this season. The departure of former Rice women’s basketball head coach Tina Langley for Washington sent shockwaves through the Owls’ roster. Rice acted quickly, filling the vacated position with former NC State assistant Lindsay Edmonds, but at that point, the proverbial cats were out of their bags.

In the span of a few months, four of the Owls’ five starters left the program.

Thrust into a suddenly more strenuous position than originally expected, Edmonds summed it up rather succinctly, “it’s been a whirlwind.”

Transfers are common when coaching transitions happen in college athletics. Players, understandably, share a loyalty to the coach that recruited them. Others take the opportunity to look around at their alternatives, possible for the first time. Rice saw the ripple effects of both of those scenarios.

Edmonds did what she could to keep that talent from flocking away from South Main. “The roster turnover is definitely not something that I anticipated or wanted to happen,” she said. “I fought really hard to keep them.” Unfortunately for the Owls, several chose to move on.

On the way out

Nancy Mulkey, who was eligible for the WNBA Draft, pulled her name out at the last minute. Rather than go pro, she opted to follow Langley to Washington. Also joining her former coach at a later date was forward Lauren Schwartz. Unfortunately, there were more.

Sydne Wiggins and Jasmine Smith both decided to transfer to SMU. And just like that, Rice had lost their head coach and four of their five starting players in the span of a few short months. Katelyn Crosthwait is the lone starter who opted to remain at South Main along with Edmonds, now tasked with rebuilding a roster.

On the way in

Rice women’s basketball added one transfer to the mix, Alexis Stover, who transfers to Rice from Wright State. She averaged 2.1 points per game with the Raiders in her senior season and started 45 games across her two seasons there after beginning her career with one season at Ohio. Now one of the most veteran players on the roster, Edmonds is hopeful Stover’s experience will pay dividends for the Owls.

Joining the Owls from the high school ranks are Malia Fisher and Trinity Gooden. Both signed with Rice last winter and were recruited by Langley and her staff. Still, have the potential to play meaningful roles in the years to come.

The new-look roster

The losses were tough, but in time, seems to have reoriented herself to the new reality and her new roster. “The ones that are here and wanted to be here with us are here, and that’s what we’re gonna roll with,” she said rather resolutely.

Rounding out the rest of the roster are juniors Haylee Swayze and Arianna McCurry, sophomores India Bellamy, Ashlee Austin, Destiny Jackson and Crosthwait plus redshirt freshman Maya Bokunewicz. At this time, Edmonds says this is likely the roster they’ll go to battle this season.

The roster, as is, sits at 10 members, a thin collection in a typical season without potential COVID-19 challenges to wrestle with. The 2022 class should be a sizable one. But the Owls have to get there first.

Undeterred, Edmonds is eagerly embracing the task at hand. Her last several months have been spent building relationships, on and off the court, with current members of the team. For her, that’s brought a sense of normalcy back to the process.

“I’m really excited about the ones that are here,” she reiterated. “The numbers aren’t nearly as high as I would like them to be, but I think everyone that is on the roster can do something to help us this season.”

The reality is this team is going to look different, very different. But just like Langley inherited an unrefined product and turned it into an NCAA Tournament caliber team, Edmonds will have her own shot to build this roster. And it’ll happen from the ground up.

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