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Rice Football 2023: Texas Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football is gearing up for its first game of the season, a road trip to play Texas in Austin. Here’s what we learned from practice this week.

This week was spent ironing out the final touches as Rice football readies itself for the 2023 season and an opening game against a ranked Texas squad. The Owls finalized their depth chart and some of their critical rotations this week and got some news (both good and bad) regarding the availability of some members of the two-deep in question entering Saturday.

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This week’s roundup focuses on a few key position battles, some players on the rise who won jobs this week and a few potential concerns for the team as the begin their season on the road.

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Secondary shakeup

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Rice Football 2023: Texas presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football visits Texas this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand and a few depth chart notes.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren and a set of players met with the media for their customary weekly availability. They discussed camp thus far and previewed the week ahead, detailing what they’re expecting to see when Texas takes the field.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Rice Football vs Texas Game Preview

We touch on those items, then dig into the Rice football depth chart and what the team looks like heading into the weekend. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

“We have an awesome opportunity this week, heading to play the University of Texas. It’s a great challenge for our football team. We understand how talented they are. We’ve been preparing all offseason for them. I think physically and mentally, we’re a stronger football team and that’s going to give us our best chance as we go out there.” – Mike Bloomgren on playing Texas

“What does it take to finish? It’s us deciding, making that decision to finish and knowing that we are good enough. That’s one thing we’ve talked about. We have enough talent and we know it’s going to be about what we do, how we perform. That’s a talented group on the other sideline. There’s no doubt. We’re going to study their scheme. We’re gunna have great answers. But at the end of the day it’s going to be about how we execute and how we perform… I imagine if we fight the way we’re capable of and play the way we’re capable of, we’re going to have those opportunities again and now it’s about taking that next step as a program and finishing those things.” – Mike Bloomgren on the what it will take to pull off an upset

“We’re at the point now where we have twos that are going to play on purpose and they’re going to play because we know it’s going to be hot as Hades in Austin this weekend and we’re going to rotate some people, but also because they’ve earned the right. They’ve earned the trust of their teammates and their coaches. So yeah, the depth is a big plus for our football team… The separation from our ones and twos at some positions is so miniscule that, once again, those guys are going to get the chance to play and in addition to that, they’re going to be competing for the starting role every week of the season.” – Mike Bloomgren on the depth of the team

““It’s a great opportunity and it’s always fun. It’s one of the coolest stadiums there is. They get loud. They get rocking. They have a great time. It’s a very good team. It’s a great test to start the season…. It’ll get loud on third downs. When you walk out, it’ll feel crazy when you see 100 [thousand] or however many there will be, but when you’re in the heat of the moment, you kind of forget it. It looks really cool. Take in the moment when you run out of the tunnel and appreciate getting the opportunity to do that – you know how many people dream of doing that – but when you’re actually in the moment, you’re not even going to notice it.” – Quarterback JT Daniels on the environment in Austin

“Every rep is gold, from an experience standpoint. Being able to go through a whole season, being able to go through a spring ball, fall camp and another spring ball and this year, capping it off with another great month of training is so helpful… From a preparation standpoint, [I feel] better than I ever felt.” – Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey on his confidence at the position 

“One of our focal points this year is consistency. I think we’ve done a great job being consistent with those six and seven guys. We’ve had good rotations during practice but our post-practice, our film study, instead of six or seven individual eyes we’re trying to see the game through one pair of eyes. What the call is from JT or our center, Braedon Nutter, whatever the call is, we’re living that call. We’re trying to communicate, we’re trying to block as a unit instead of five individuals.” – Tackle Clay Servin on the progress of the offensive line 

Depth Chart

Rice Football

Depth Chart Notes

Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren did note there was only one projected member of the two-deep that would not be available this coming weekend, backup offensive lineman Miguel Cedeno. He’s expected to return to practice soon, and otherwise, the Owls are looking as healthy as they’ve been entering a season in quite some time.

As for the remainder of the depth chart, we’ll have some further clarification on the last few position battles in our practice update coming later in the week. At first pass, there isn’t much on this initial depth chart of the season that should surprise anyone. Landon Ransom secured his starting spot as was expected. Tyson Flowers has bumped up to second string after a strong finish to camp, replacing Shepherd Bowling on the two-deep.

An “OR” shared between Tre’shon Devones and Jordan Dunbar is curious, and represents a nod to Devones’ impressive camp. He had a couple of interceptions, including a pick of JT Daniels, and has played well. We’ll have a better feel for how much actual playing time that will translate to by the time we’ve gotten through practices this week.

On special teams, Tim Horn, Conor Hunt and Wyatt Freeman claimed victory in their respective position battles.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 157 – Rice Football vs Texas Preview with Eric Henry

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It’s game week! Rice football heads to Austin to play Texas this weekend which means it’s time for a chat with Eric Henry of 247 Sports to preview the game.

The 2023 Rice football season is finally upon us. The Owls open with the Texas Longhorns on the road, covered by longtime friend of the show Eric Henry. He gives his fresh perspective on the Longhorns as well as his early impressions of the state of Texas, after making the move from Florida this summer.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 157.

Episode Notes

DCTF

The Roost Podcast is now part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner.

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We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite. Shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

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Previewing Rice Football vs Texas with Eric Henry

  • Expectations for Texas in 2023
  • What might go wrong? How could the team disappoint?
  • Rice vs Texas game preview
  • AAC, C-USA and favorite Group of 5 stories this season
  • Best and Worst of Texas so far

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Rice Football 2023 Game Preview: Texas

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Rice football opens its 2023 season in Austin against the Texas Longhorns this week. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns have sky-high expectations entering the 2023 season. Many tabbed the burnt orange squad as favorites to win the Big 12 conference and some went as far as to label the ‘horns a darkhorse Playoff contender.

On the other side of the field, the Owls look to play spoiler and added another signature win to Mike Bloomgren’s resume which already features a road upset of a top 15 squad, that came against Marshall in 2020.   Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s matchup between Rice and Texas.

Kickoff time | 2:30 PM CT
Venue | Darrell K. Royal Stadium – Austin, Texas
TV | Fox (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Varsity Radio App (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs Texas on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

Texas will enter the game as heavy favorites, boasting a No. 11 national ranking and winners of 15 in a row in their series with Rice.  The Longhorns had best be careful not to be caught looking ahead to their Week 2 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Bloomgren and Co. have a Top 15 upset under their belt already, knocking off a previously undefeated Marshall team on the road in 2020.

Series History

All Time | Texas leads 74-21-1
Last Five | Texas leads, 5-0
Last Meeting | Away 2021, Texas won 58-0

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Rice Football Stat Notables (2022 stats)

Passing | Daniels (at WVU) – 200/327 (61.2 percent), 2107 yards, 13 TD, 9 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 71 carries, 403 yards (5.7 yards per carry), 1 TD / Connors – 27 carries, 128 yards (4.7 yards per carry), 0 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 58 receptions, 723 yards (12.5 yds/rec), 6 TDs / Campbell – 17 receptions, 192 yards (11.3 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Conti – 75 / Morrison – 73 / Taylor – 60
Pass Breakups | Dunbar – 10  / Taylor – 6 / Fresch – 5
Interceptions | Taylor, Morrison – 2 / Fresch, Narcisse – 1

Texas Stat Notables (2022 stats)

Passing | Ewers – 172/296 (58.1 percent), 2177 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT
Rushing | Brooks – 30 carries, 197 yards (6.6 yards per carry), 5 TD / Robinson – 25 carries, 86 yards (3.4 ypc), 0 TD
Receiving | Worthy – 60 receptions, 760 yards (12.7 yards per reception), 9 TD / Whittington – 50 receptions, 652 yards (13.0 yds/rec), 1 TD
Tackles | Ford – 119 / Thompson – 83 / Barron – 78
Pass Breakups | Thompson – 7 /  Sweat – 5 / Barron, Watts – 3
Interceptions | Ford – 4 / Barron – 2 / Watts, Thompson – 1

Texas X-Factor | Play clean

The sheer athleticism of the Texas offense will put them in an advantageous position against most teams they face this season, but talent alone doesn’t win football games. That requires execution. For the most part, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers excelled at that aspect of the game. He protected the football and did not throw many interceptions — just six in 10 appearances. Ewers’ worst outing of last season came against Oklahoma State. He tossed three picks and the Longhorns lost.

Most upsets require some luck. If Texas brings their A game, it’ll be tough for Rice to overcome. But if the Longhorns look rusty, commit turnovers and find themselves in penalty troubles, things could get interesting. The longer the game stays within striking distance, the better the Owls’ chances get.

Rice X-Factor | Control the clock and be clutch

Rice does not want to get into a slugfest with Texas. They want to have a rock fight. The Owls’ longstanding aspirations of ground and pound will be tested against the Longhorns’ front seven, but the key success factor isn’t the run itself, it’s maintaining position. Rice will look to extend drives, kill the clock and turn a 12-possession game into an eight-possession game. If Rice can capitalize on some of those extended drives, they’ll be right where they need to be.

Having quarterback JT Daniels at the helm should aid this effort. Going down to the wire with a proven passer at the helm should embolden the Owls to stick to the script at trust their signal caller to make the plays when they need to be made. Daniels doesn’t have to be perfect, but if he’s going to engineer this size of an upset, he’s going to have to pull a few wow moments out of his bag.

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One Final Thing

Why does Rice play Texas? Sorry, Mr. President, these days the Owls and Longhorns meet on the gridiron so that the team from Houston and collect a nice check from the folks in Austin. Were it not for that generous transaction, this game wouldn’t be played as frequently as it has been over the last several seasons. But a money game doesn’t predetermine the outcome, far from it, that still requires 60 minutes of action on the field of play.

The Owls are heavy underdogs and won’t be expected to win this one, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty still to play for on Saturday. For one, an upset would send shockwaves throughout the nation and shatter the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff hopes before Labor Day.

Beyond that, though, conference play will be here before we know it and the Owls still have their sights on six-plus wins and a second consecutive bowl trip. Getting quality reps in a hostile atmosphere will enable younger players to get their feet wet, gaining crucial experience for the long season ahead. There is no substitution for the game itself, and Rice has plenty of new faces that will be seeing live bullets in large quantities for the first or second time.

Winning is the goal, with a healthy football team also atop the list of things Rice wants to walk away from Austin with on Saturday. But playing a good game, a well-executed game with things to build on for the future, that’s going to pay dividends, too.

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Rice Football 2023 Season Preview: Preseason Superlatives

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The 2023 Rice football season is right around the corner. Here’s the final forecast for player superlatives this fall.

There are high expectations for a host of individual Rice football players this season. The roster is deep and there appear to be playmakers at a variety of positions. Handing out superlatives is always a challenging exercise, but this year felt particularly difficult compared to years past. Here’s where I landed. Who did I miss? Which other players have breakout campaigns in 2023?

Rice Football Preseason Preview: Check out the rest of the series here.

This piece is part of our 2023 Rice Football Season Preview. Get access to it, as well as all other preview posts such as positional breakdowns, depth chart and schedule analysis and more when you subscribe on Patreon today. 

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