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Early season grades for the Defense entering the bye week

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Rice football is three games into the 2018 season. Here’s how the Owls’ offense grades out entering the Owls’ bye in Week 3.

Defensive line: B-

Led by Zach Abercrumbia, Elijah Garcia and Roe Wilkins, the defensive line profiled to be the deepest position group on the team entering the 2018 season. The talent hasn’t gone anywhere; this trio still shows flashes of game-breaking ability. But the production hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.

Rice has fives sacks this season, with one of those being credited to Wilkins on the line. Wilkins also has the only forced fumble from this unit and two tackles for a loss. Garcia has one tackle for a loss and Abercrumbia ranks third on the team with 13 tackles. All good results, and if this were another unit on the defense that level or production would be fine. But this group is capable of playing at the higher standard.

Rice has surrendered 13 plays (four rushing, nine passing) of 30 yards or more, the most of any team in the nation. Big plays of that magnitude result in breakdowns from more than one level of the defense, but it all starts up front.

The secondary can trace some of their issues to the play of front seven. If the Owls can get more push from their playmakers up from the back end of their defense will receiver some much-needed relief. Simply put, if the most talented unit of the defense doesn’t produce at an elite level the rest of the defense will be susceptible to big plays. That’s what has happened so far in the Owls’ first three contests.

Linebackers:  B+

If the defensive line was the unit with the greatest level of expectation entering the season the linebacker group has been the most compelling. Dylan Silcox leads the team with 21 tackles. He also has a sack and a fumble recovery.

Silcox has a veteran core surrounding him, each of whom has had their moments. Graysen Schantz, Martin Nwakamma and Anthony Ekpe have been the steady presence this unit needs. The only real knock on their performance thus far has been their collectively tackling.

Three of the top seven tacklers on this team are members of the secondary. That’s something that this group needs to fix going forward. Runners can’t continue to get past them, and they’ll have help.

The linebacker corps features the most promising collection of young talent on this defense. Antonio Montero and Treshawn Chamberlain were two of the biggest risers in fall camp. They’ve continued to live up to the hype during this young season and will start to push the veterans for playing time soon. Each has one tackle so far, but Chamerblain made his count, sacking Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald.

The combination of youth and experience this unit brings is exciting. The potential to take another step forward and finish as the best unit on the defense by the end of the year is absolutely within the realm of possibility.

Secondary: D+

Let’s cut to the chase. The stats for this unit aren’t pretty. It’s no secret the secondary has struggled out of the gate, but yardage totals alone don’t tell the full story. Both Douglas-Doctson and TyRae Thornton have dealt with early season injuries and the lack of continuity on the back end hasn’t done the unit any favors.

Then there are the opponents. To act like Houston and Hawaii are your run-of-the-mill balanced college football offenses is simply naive. These are two high-tempo, fast-paced units that are going to put up a lot of yards and a lot of points against several strong defenses this season.

There’s no denying they did their fair share of damage against Owls. Houston threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Hawaii racked up 319 yards and four scores through the air. Both performances were damaging, but Rice faired better than several other FBS opponents.

Hawaii’s Cole McDonald threw for 436 yards and six touchdowns against Navy. Houston’s D’Eriq King carved up Arizona for 254 yards and four aerial scores.

The secondary needs to get better — Rice still doesn’t have an interception on the season. But let’s not jump overboard until we see how this unit performances against some offenses that aren’t putting up video game numbers on everyone they play.

What do you think? How would you grade each position group, and why? Leave your answer in the comments.
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Early season grades for the Offense entering the bye week

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Rice football is three games into the 2018 season. Here’s how the Owls’ offense grades out entering the Owls’ bye in Week 3.

Quarterbacks: A

Midway through fall camp, this was a three-man race. Wow has the position come a long way. Entering the bye Rice has their starter and a competent backup with a defined role. Not only have the Owls solidified their depth chart, they’ve uncovered a hidden gem in Shawn Stankavage.

Against Houston, Stankavage posted the best performance by a Rice quarterback since Tyler Stheling lit up Prairie View in 2016. Stankavage threw for 204 yards and three scores against the Cougars. Then he one-upped himself, tossing two touchdowns in a 299-yard performance against Hawaii. Stankvages’s 546 yards through three games are just shy of last year’s leading passer Miklo Small. He threw for 623 yards through the air in 2017, a total which he accrued in six appearances.

Having Jackson Tyner‘s power arm in reserve is icing on the cake. Tyner came in cold against Houston and dropped a 36-yard dime to Austin Walter to convert a big third down. That poise under pressure is uncommon and gives this coaching staff confidence in a position that entered the fall with lots of question marks.

Running backs: A+

Emmanuel “National Noise” Esupka enters the bye week second in the nation in rushing yardage, trailing only Heisman Trophy hopeful Jonathan Taylor of the Wisconsin Badgers. Coach Bloomgren hinted during the offseason that he’d be heavily involved in the offense, but the volume of carries he’s received is tremendous.

Esupka is averaging 22 carries per game, a pace that’s almost two carries higher than Heisman-runner up Bryce Love averaged in Bloomgren’s Stanford offense in 2017. Are you noticing a trend? If Esupka continues to hear his name mentioned alongside the likes of elite playmakers like Taylor and Love the Rice offense is going to be in good shape.

A star tailback would be enough, but the complementary pieces make this backfield one of the best at its position in Conference USA. Austin Walter has stepped up in big moments too, as has his brother Aston. It was Aston, who converted a crucial third down against Prairie View that enabled the Rice come-from-behind victory, their first win of the season.

Offensive line: C+

SEC transfer Andrew Mike’s inability to crack the two-deep this fall was surprising, giving reason to be optimistic about the Owls’ depth along the line. Shea Baker has been a bright spot at center, but the rest of the unit has had their ups and downs. Collectively, the push at the point of attack needs to be more consistent.

Power running is supposed to be the hallmark of this team’s offensive identity. Rice faced fourth-and-inches on the goalline against Hawaii and failed to convert. The ball got into Esupka’s hands, but he was met in the backfield and dropped just short of the endzone. That one anecdotal story doesn’t completely convey three game’s worth of play, but it’s part of a picture that needs improvement.

Rice allowed 21 tackles for a loss over their first three contests, a rate of seven TFLs allowed per game. The Owls are tied for 93rd in the nation in that mark, giving further color to their struggles up front.

Pass blocking has been fairly consistent — Rice has allowed six sacks over their first three games. Some hiccups are to be expected as a new unit gels together, but it hasn’t come anywhere near the point of concern. When Stankavage or Tyner drops back to pass they have enough time to survey their targets and make the throw. On that front, the line has done just fine.

Tight Ends and Fullbacks: B-

The heavy personnel is a new wrinkle to the Rice offense in 2018. Gone are the four wide receiver sets, instead the Owls have employed more two-back sets and more than once have lined up without any wide receivers on the field. Both Jaeger Bull and Jordan Meyers have grabbed touchdowns, but the biggest contribution from this position group has been on the ground.

From a run blocking perspective, it’s challenging divorce the fullback from the performance of the offensive line without diving deep into the film. For the most part, Will Phillips and UCLA transfer Giovanni Gentosi and have been able to put a hat on a hat and open up running lanes for Esupka and Co. The struggles on that front rest more on the offensive line than the fullbacks. The same can be said for the tight ends.

Wide receivers: B-

The success of the Rice wide receivers has been more a byproduct of great quarterback play than game-changing performances by any one player. Rice had one returning pass catcher that registered more than four catches in 2017, leaving the position wide open for someone to become the go-to guy. So far, the Owls are still looking.

Through three games a few wideouts have had moments, but no one has emerged as the type of game-breaking target that can take this offense to the next level. As for who could step up in the remaining weeks, both Aaron Cephus and Brendan Harmon have plenty of big-play potential. Harmon hauled in a redzone score against Houston but hasn’t been much of a factor in the Owls’ other games to this point. As he learns the offense his touches should go up.

In the near term, it’s Cephus who stands the best chance to break out. A year removed from leading the nation in yards per reception, Cephus ranks 15th the same metric among players with 10 or more receptions in 2018. Raw talent has never been the issue for Cephus, it’s been consistency. When he’s locked in, he can snatch the ball away from anybody. His jump ball ability will be utilized more and more as the offense progresses.

Sophomore Austin Trammell has been a much-needed safety net over the middle, racking up 17 catches for 190 yards, primarily out of the slot. His contributions on special teams and on third down shouldn’t be lost in the shuffle of other big plays.

What do you think? How would you grade each position group, and why? Leave your answer in the comments.
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This week in CUSA – Looking ahead at Week 3

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Rice football fell to Hawaii in Week 2 and enters their bye week 1-2. How did the rest of the conference fare and what’s next for the Conference USA football in Week 3?

Team Last Week Result This Week
Charlotte vs App State L, 45-9 at ODU
FAU vs Air Force W, 33-27 vs Bethune-Cookman
FIU at ODU W, 28-20 vs UMass
LaTech vs Southern W, 54-17 BYE
Marshall vs E Kentucky W, 32-16 at South Carolina
MTSU vs UT-Martin W, 61-37 at Georgia
North Texas vs Incarnate Word W, 58-16 at Arkansas
ODU vs FIU L, 28-20 at Charlotte
Rice at Hawaii L, 43-29 BYE
Southern Miss vs ULM L, 21-20 at App State
UAB at Coastal Carolina L, 47-24 vs Tulane
UTEP at UNLV L, 52-24 at Tennessee
UTSA vs Baylor L, 37-20 BYE
WKU vs Maine L, 31-28 vs Louisville

Notable Week 2 results

Rice — Positive returns in Owls’ second tough-luck loss

A 1-2 start was what most analysts projected entering the bye week, but Rice played Hawaii tougher than anyone else has yet and came close to pulling off the upset. The rebuild at South Main is ahead of schedule

Western Kentucky – Hilltoppers collapse at home

One would think that a 21-0 lead over a Maine team that completed less than 50 percent of their passes and converted 5-of-18 third downs would be enough to secure a victory. It wasn’t. The Hilltoppers blew what could have been the first when of the season and Mike Sanford is catching flak.

UTSA – Roadrunners can’t recreate Baylor upset

A year removed from a win over the Bears, the Roadrunners did not have an answer for the speed Baylor possessed on the outside. Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims each tallied eight catches for 130+ yards and a touchdown.

Week 3 storylines

Bounce back opportunities

Western Kentucky draws a Louisville team that benched their starting quarterback Jawan pass midway through a win over Indiana State. The talent gap is still there, but no the quarterback drama gives WKU a chance.

Charlotte gets Old Dominion in Week 3, a much easier task than an App State team that came close to upsetting Penn State in Week 1. The 49ers are looking for their first Conference win since they defeated UAB in overtime on Oct. 21, 2017.

And then there were three

Only three unbeaten Conference USA teams remain entering Week 3: Louisiana Tech, Marshall and North Texas. The Mean Green have the best chance to stay perfect — they travel to play an Arkansas squad that found a way to squad a big lead against a hapless Colorado State team in Week 2.

Can FAU continue to settle in?

The Owls were crushed in Norman by the Oklahoma Sooners to start the season but bounced back with a win over Air Force last weekend. This team is expected to compete for the Conference USA title, but there are still a few kinks that need to be worked out.

One question that doesn’t need solving? Quarterback. Redshirt sophomore Chris Robinson, who passed for 471 yards against Air Force, should be in for another big day against Bethune-Cookman.

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Owls fall just short of big upset on the road vs Hawaii

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Rice football stood toe-to-toe with a high-powered Hawaii offense well into the twilight hours, dropping a close contest 43-29.

Rice was a 17-point road underdog to a red-hot Hawaii squad that entered the game as the only team in the country with a 2-0 record. The Owls didn’t back down from the challenge, wrestling with the Warriors until well past 2:00 a.m. local time at South Main.

When the clock hit zero, it was the favorite, not underdog that had won the day (night). But the path the game took to get to that result was unexpected, to say the least. Here are some immediate, sleepy thoughts from the close game in the Pacific.

1. Keep it simple

Everyone who’s listened to Bloomgren this season knows the Owls want to “pound the rock, control the clock and play great defense.” Controlling the clock has been the easiest objective so far, thanks in part to the tempo offenses of Houston and Hawaii. Rice finished with 32:55 of possession, which is more of a testament to their defensive success than a critique of the offensive effectiveness.

On the defensive front, Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald struggled to move the ball consistently against the Rice defense. He leads the nation in all-purpose yards. His prowess both through the air (319 yards passing and four touchdowns) and on the ground (eight carries for 43 yards) was understood entering this matchup. That kind of playmaker is hard to silence, but Rice did the best they could to contain him.

Rice ran the ball fairly well (147 yards on 39 carries), but those opportunities were limited by the early deficit and the stout Hawaii offense.  In many ways, a strong rushing attack and a stingy defense complement each other. When the Owls are griding out the clock effectively they limit the opportunities for the opposing offense. In the same vein, lock-down defense props up the time of possession mark and allows the offense to operate in less pressure-intensive situations.

Falling behind early puts the entire process under stress. That was evident against Hawaii, who put the Owls’ focus on rushing and defense to the test early.

2. In Esupka we trust

It’s been no secret that Emmanuel Esupka is the go-to guy for the Owls on offense this season. He toted the rock 32 times against Prairie View, 17 times against Houston and another 17 times against Hawaii.

The biggest limiting factor for Esupka’s usage was the game script. An early deficit limited how often Esupka got the football with Austin Walter, the Owls’ primary pass-catching back seeing an increased workload once again.

When Espuka is churning out yards the Owls are right where they want to be. In the limited sample size, Rice has won every time Esupka tops 20 carries and 150 yards and lost when he’s held below those marks. For an offense that prides itself on grit and physicality, the ability to set the tone with Esupka up the middle is paramount.

Esupka ended the night with 104 yards and one touchdown. He was inches away from a second score on the goal-line and continues to be the bruising bellcow that this offense needs to keep it on schedule.

3. This defense is growing up before our eyes

During fall camp there was a constant back and forth between the offense and the defense. The two units dueled throughout August, alternating big days. Once the regular season started it was the offense that seemed to take center stage. On the ground against Prairie View and through the air against Houston, the Rice offense outplayed their counterparts on the other side of the ball.

The defense won the battle against Hawaii. The offense had their moments, but the defense clamped down from the midway point of the second quarter. After scoring 14 points in their first two drives, Hawaii scored 14 points on their next 9 drives. That includes a one play drive that resulted in a safety and two points for the defense.

Hawaii has playmakers on the outside, just like Houston did. Receiver John Ursua racked up 133 yards and a touchdown on nine catches. The defense wasn’t perfect, they surrendered a backbreaking 46 yard run to ice the game in the final minutes, but the difference between this performance and the second half of the Houston game could not be any more disparate.

4. Resiliency can’t be taught, but Rice has already mastered it

Even the best defensive plans can falter when put under the crucible of speed. Rice knew that’s what they would face against Hawaii, but that knowledge didn’t translate immediately to the field. Practicing for tempo can only do so much. It takes live game action to fully experience how that constant swirl of momentum impacts the game.

Houston took advantage of an untested defense last week, finishing all seven of their scoring drives in less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The Owls knew the Rainbow Warriors were going to push the tempo too, but again, took a while to get adjusted. Hawaii ripped off two touchdown drives that each took less than 4-minutes, pushing this team to the brink.

Give the Owls credit, though. Down 14-0 after allowing back-to-back touchdown drives, Rice could have packed it in and accepted a blowout at the hands of Hawaii. After seeing the Rainbow Warriors put up 40+ in each of their previous games, nobody would have faulted the Owls for letting Hawaii rack up touchdown after touchdown. Except for Rice.

Rice would have been frustrated with themselves if they gave up without a fight. That’s a testament to the culture of competition that coach Mike Bloomgren has instilled at Rice. So when other teams might have thrown in the towel, Rice fought back. They didn’t win, but the process continues to move forward.

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3 Keys to victory over Hawaii

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Rice football travels to Hawaii in Week 2 to take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. What’s the recipe for success in the Owls first road contest of the year?

Don’t get beat deep

Rice has had some issues with its secondary early on in the year. No team in the nation has allowed more pass plays of 30+ yards than the Owls who have allowed seven such plays. Granted, Rice has played two games thus far while most squads have played just one, but it doesn’t advanced analytics to see something needs to get corrected on the back end.

How that looks schematically could vary. But if something doesn’t get tweaked the Hawaii offense could have a field day. Quarterback Cole McDonald is going to be looking deep — Rice needs to at least have a plan in place to minimize those chunk plays to give their defense a chance.

‘Suped up

Emmanuel Esupka enters the Owls’ Week 2 contest as the No. 2 rusher in the nation. After piling up 173 yards in the opener he was limited to 81 yards against Houston, but he did rip off a 52-yard scamper — the longest run of his career.

Rice leaned on Austin Walters, a more reliable pass-catching back, late in their comeback attempt against Houston. In a perfect world, Rice would never be in a position where they have to play catch-up. Instead, the Owls want to control the pace of the game, and they’ll look to do that by trusting Esupka with a heavy workload.

The Hawaii defense won’t pose much of a threat against Espuka. If the offensive line was able to open up holes against Ed Oliver, getting Esupka to the second level this weekend shouldn’t be too much of a chore.

Make two clutch plays

Either by way of special teams, a turnover or a redzone conversion, making the important plays count will be important for the Owls on Saturday. It’s impossible to play a perfect game, but Coach Mike Bloomgren’s message of consistency and focus have put this team in position to take advantage of those few game-changing moments.

Against Prairie View it was the fumble that led to the game-tying score. The Owls picked up another big fumble against Houston, but were unable to capitalize. Making those moments count, twice, should be enough for Rice to steal any momentum Hawaii has and turn it to a positive play for the Owls.

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