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The Roost Podcast | Ep. 12 – 2019 UTSA Preview, CUSA Recap

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Rice Football is favored for the first time and lots has happened in Conference USA. Carter and Matthew and special guest Adam Martinez break it all down.

The bye week is over and Rice football is back in action, this time as a favorite for the first time in 2019. Needless to say, there was plenty to discuss beyond just the x’s and o’s of the Owls’ upcoming matchup with UTSA.

This game falls in the midpoint of the regular season, making it the perfect time to talk through Conference USA from a broader perspective than South Main. Adam Martinez of Conference USA Report stopped bye to talk about some of the surprises, stars and biggest storylines at the halfway mark.

Stay tuned this week as we break down the UTSA contest. You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page, including last’s week’s recap of the UAB game and mailbag.

Give a listen to Episode 12 below.

Episode 12 Notes

  • News and notes —  Don’t forget to join the site as a member and get access to insider info like midweek practice reports and more.
  • Rice athletics updates — Jack Fox to the XFL, Calvin Anderson inks deal with Rubix’s and Rice Women’s Basketball tabbed preseason favorites.
  • Around Conference USA with Adam Martinez — Early season surprises and disappointments, storylines to watch going forward and more. Adam and Matthew work through a busy first half of the season in C-USA.
  • Previewing the UTSA game — Carter and Matthew break down how Rice matches up with UTSA on both sides of the ball before getting into the optics and higher-level implications of this game. Progress for Rice football this week should end with a win.

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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Rice Football 2019 Game Preview: Week 8 vs UTSA

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Rice Football is back from an off week and will hit the road to play UTSA. How to watch, stats to know, x-factor picks for both teams and more.

The last time each of these teams took the field they fell to UAB. Rice football was forced to weather multiple lightning delays, falling to the Blazers 35-20 in Birmingham. UTSA was protected from the elements, at home in a dome, and was defeated by UAB by the final score of 33-14.

Rice used the past week off to regroup. Still winless, the Owls hope to turn things around against the Roadrunners. Here’s what you need to know about both the opponent and Rice before their Week 8 contest.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 5:00 PM CT
Venu | Alamodome – San Antonio, Tx
TV | ESPN3 (Streaming)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview the UTSA game on Episode 12 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. 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

UTSA’s Week 6 win over UTEP marked their first Conference USA victory since they beat Rice in Houston last October. The Owls also have won conference win since that game, a season-ending victory over Old Dominion. That was last season, though, and Rice football is still looking for that next elusive victory.

While the Owls have played several teams close, the Roadrunners have finished more games than their visiting opponents have thus far. UTSA also beat Incarnate Word in their season opener, giving them two wins to the Owls nil.

The pressure is cranking up on both head coaches in this matchup. Frank Wilson’s team has failed to improve since he took over in 2016 whereas Mike Bloomgren is seeking proof of his process in his second year at South Main. A win on Saturday would be big for both programs.

Series History

All Time | UTSA leads 4-3
Last Five | UTSA leads 4-1
Last Meeting | Home 2018, UTSA won 20-3

Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | Green – 52/98 (53.1 percent), 548 yards passing, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing | Walter – 92 carries, 395 yards (4.3 yards per carry), 4 TD
Receiving | Trammell – 28 receptions, 397 yards (14.2 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Alldredge – 53, Montero – 37, Chamberlain – 35
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Thornton – 5 PBU, Nyakwol/Chamberlain – 1 INT each

UTSA Football Stat Notables

Passing | Narcisse – 32/76 (42.1), 273 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | McCormick – 83 carries, 473 yards (5.7 yards per carry), 5 TD
Receiving | Strickland – 15 receptions, 129 yards (8.6 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Martel – 42, Austin 35, Harris – 24
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Grady/Mayfield Jr – 4 PBU each, Carter-McLin/Harris – 1 INT each

UTSA X-Factor | Quarterback play

The season-ending injury of quarterback Frank Harris put the breaks on any sort of optimism for the UTSA offense. Harris had played well against Incarnate Word and Army, holding up decently well against Baylor before being knocked out of the Roadrunners’ Week 4 game against North Texas. With Harris out, replacement Lowell Narcisse has floundered.

Starting with his relief appearance when Harris went down, Narcisse hasn’t completed 50 percent of his passes in a game this season. He’s thrown for more than 100 yards once (against North Texas) and that came with two interceptions.

Narcisse is much more dangerous on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per carry with three touchdowns. As capable as the Rice defense has looked throughout this season, teams have been able to outscore the Owls. If Narcisse can be proficient enough through the air, he’ll keep the offense balanced and give his team its best chance to score. Otherwise, it’s going to be a tough day at the office for the UTSA offense.

Rice X-Factor | Front seven supremacy

UTSA has a one-dimensional offense. When the running game is snuffed out, the UTSA offense goes with it. The Roadrunners are averaging 6.4 yards per carry in their two wins this season and 3.6 yards per carry in their four losses.

Stopping the run plays into a strength of the Rice defense. Wake Forest was the only team to average more than five yards per carry against the Owls, but nearly half of their 201 rushing yards came on one explosive play. If the Owls had their pick, they’d prefer to match up with a run-first team like this.

UTSA ranked 129th out of 130 FBSIf th team in scoring offense last season. They’ve improved slightly through the first half of 2019 to 121st, but the Roadrunner won’t win shootouts against most teams. If Rice can curtail the running game, UTSA will struggle to score.

Injury Report

Anthony Ekpe and Reagan Williams will be two names to keep an eye on this week. Williams has missed the last two games for Rice while Ekpe left the Owls’ last game against UAB early with an injury. At this time both are expected to miss Saturday’s game against UTSA.

Need More?

The Roost’s 2019 Rice Football Season Preview has four pages dedicated to every opponent the Owls face. There are depth chart, important new arrivals and depth chart breakdowns for each foe. Better yet, it’s not just speculation, each profile was created with insight from local experts who cover those teams day in and day out. Pick up your copy today and get four pages and more than 1,000 words on every foe.

Pick ‘Em Contest

If you haven’t yet, make sure you submit your entry for The Roost’s weekly pick’em challenge. Choose an answer to each of the six questions below and submit them on the forum thread to enter.

  1. Will either team score on defense or special teams?
    Yes / No
  2. Who has more tackles for Rice?
    Chamberlain / Alldredge (or tie)
  3. How many first downs will Rice have?
    Over 14.5 / Under 14.5
  4. Will UTSA score more than 16.5 points?
    Yes / No
  5. Which Rice pass catcher has the most receiving yards?
    Rozner / Trammell / Other
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / UAB

One Final Thing

Rice was favored in twice last season — at home against Prairie View A&M and at home against Old Dominion. They won both of those games. When lines opened for this game, Rice was listed as a road favorite against UTSA. If coaches are to be graded by winning games they’re “supposed to win”, there will be an added onus on Mike Bloomgren to lead his team to victory on Saturday.

The time for moral victories has long since come and gone. Rice hasn’t been out-athleted since conference play began but the wins have still eluded them. Both sides of the ball have shown flashes and revealed concerning gaps that the team had the open week to address. From the players to the coaches, the team that takes the field in San Antonio needs to find a way to win.

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Rice Football 2019: Owls in the NFL Week 6 Update

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Austin Walter played his first regular season snap and other Rice Football products made big plays. Here’s how the NFL Owls fared in Week 6.

There are former Rice football players are scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 6 results

Patriots 35 – Giants 14 (Walter)
Vikings 38 – Eagles 20 (Sendejo)
Jets 24 – Cowboys 22 (Covington)
Broncos 16 (Callahan, Anderson) – Titans 0
Seahawks 32 (Ellerbee, Willson) – Browns 28
Steelers 24 (Boswell, McDonald) – Chargers 17 
Texans 31 (Gaines) – Chiefs 24

Calvin Anderson, OT, Broncos

Anderson was recently signed from the Jets’ practice squad to the Broncos 53 man roster this week. He has been inactive for both of Denver’s games since he was signed, including Sunday’s shutout win over the Titans. The Broncos host the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

Chris Boswell, K, Steelers

Boswell was only asked to attempt one field goal on Sunday. He knocked through the 20-yarder with ease, also converting each of three extra-point attempts. He remains perfect on the season with 11 successful field goals and 12 successful extra points. The Steelers are on bye in Week 7.

Bryce Callahan, CB, Broncos

Callahan was inactive for the Broncos’ Week 6 game against the Titans. He has yet to make an appearance for the team this season. The Broncos host the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

Christian Covington, DE, Cowboys

Covington had one tackle in the Cowboys’ Week 6 loss to the Jets. The Cowboys host the Eagles on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.

Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB, Seahawks

Ellerbee was placed injured reserve prior to the start of the season. The Seahawks host the Ravens in Week 7.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines had one pass defended and tied for the team lead with three solo tackles in the Texans’ Week 6 victory over the Chiefs. The Texans travel to the Colts in Week 7.

Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers

McDonald caught his lone target of the night against the Chargers for five yards. With backup quarterback Devlin Hodgers under center, no Steelers receiver other than running back James Connor caught more than two passes. The Steelers are on bye in Week 7.

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Eagles

Sendejo had three tackles in the Eagles’ Week 6 loss to the Vikings. He also had one pass defended and this acrobatic interception.

The Eagles visit the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.

Austin Walter, RB, Giants

Promote from the practice squad prior to their Week 6 game against the Patriots, Walter saw his first regular season snap on Thursday Night Football. The Giants host the Cardinals in Week 7.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Willson had two receptions for 16 yards with a long of 11 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 6 victory over the Browns. The Seahawks host the Ravens in Week 7.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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

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Conference USA Football 2019: Week 7 C-USA roundup

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Rice football was off, but Conference USA Football action was as entertaining as ever. Here’s the latest news from around the conference after Week 7.

Team Week 7 Result Week 8
Charlotte at FIU L, 48-23 at WKU
FAU vs MTSU W, 28-13 vs Marshall
FIU vs Charlotte W, 48-23 vs UTEP
LA Tech vs UMass W, 69-21 vs Southern Miss
Marshall vs Old Dominion W, 31-17 at FAU
MTSU at FAU L, 28-13 at North Texas
North Texas at Southern Miss L, 45-27 vs MTSU
Old Dominion at Marshall L, 31-17 at UAB
Rice — OFF —  — at UTSA
Southern Miss vs North Texas W, 45-27 at LA Tech
UAB at UTSA W, 33-14 vs Old Dominion
UTEP — OFF —  — at FIU
UTSA vs UAB L, 33-14 vs Rice
WKU vs Army W, 17-8 vs Charlotte

Notable Week 7 results – Standings

Stop sleeping on FAU

FAU never dropped out of the Conference USA Football title race, but two lopsided losses to start the season against two very good teams (Ohio State and UCF) made some forget about the Owls. Now at the midway point of the season, they’ve won four in a row and are 2-0 in conference play.

Oh no Old Dominion

A three-point win over Norfolk State was the only happy moment for the Monarchs and head coach Bobby Wilder who’s seat continues to warm after a loss to Marshall. Old Dominion hasn’t hired a coach other than Wilder since  Tommy Scott in 1930, but that could change if the Monarchs don’t turn things around quickly.

Not Fine, not Fine at all

The Week 7 tilt between Southern Miss and North Texas was billed as a battle of the West’s top two teams. The teams traded touchdowns in the first half before Southern Miss took control in the second half. Things took a turn for the worst for North Texas when star quarterback Mason Fine got hit hard on a short run and left the game. If Fine’s injury is serious, the Mean Green might be in big trouble.

Week 8 storylines

Can you beat someone other than UTEP?

UTSA knocked off UTEP in Week 6 as a slight underdog on the road. Rice has yet to win a game, but they haven’t played a team with a sub-.500 record yet this season. Can the Owls earn their first win of the season or will UTSA beat their first non-UTEP FBS opponent since they beat Rice last October?

Speaking of UTEP… Can FIU right the ship?

An 0-2 start to Conference USA action was a worst-case scenario for FIU, but the Panthers did what they could in Week 7 by disposing of a feisty Charlotte squad. A win over UTEP next weekend would put FIU back to .500 and back in the mix in the East.

Wild west showdown

Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech are the only remaining teams in the West with spotless records in conference play. They meet in Ruston in Week 8 in a game which could decide their half of the conference with matchups against UAB later in the season the biggest question mark remaining for whichever team leaves with the win.

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Rice Football Film Room 2019: Breaking down the UAB game

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The first half of the Rice football season is complete, but before we turn the page, we take one last look at the UAB game in this week’s film room.

It’s time for another edition of the Rice Football Film Room, as we head into a bye week coming off the Owls’ loss in a weird, waterlogged, lightning-delayed game against UAB at Legion Field. Just a couple plays this week, since we’ll have a separate column to look at UTSA next week.

I(-formation) Have the Power! (Toss)

Rice Football

I am so sorry for that heading.

Actually I’m not sorry at all. Anyway! This is Aston Walter’s long touchdown run from the first drive, giving us another example of what it looks like when everything goes to form for the Rice running game. The concept is the same as the power toss Rice ran for a Walter touchdown last week against LA Tech, but the look upfront is different. This shows how you can add variety to a running game just by tweaking formations and personnel but keeping the base concept the same.

Setup

It’s the game’s second play from scrimmage, after a one-yard Walter run. It’s 2nd and 9 at the Rice 36. Rice is in a 12-personnel I-formation (Brendan Suckley is the FB), with a wrinkle. Take a look at the ends of the line. That’s not Clay Servin at left tackle—it’s freshman TE Jack Bradley. It’s an unbalanced look, with Servin instead lined up at right tackle, with Justin Gooseberry kicking out to “tight end”*. UAB has 7 in the box to Rice’s 7 blockers, so the nickel DB (lined up on the seam as the “overhang” defender) could give UAB a numbers advantage in the run game here.

The Play

It’s power toss to the right, with LG Nick Leverett pulling and lead blocking for Walter and Suckley kicking out from his fullback spot to wall the nickel off outside and keep the gap open. With Leverett pulling and No. 14 for UAB, who was lined up outside Bradley, left unblocked, Rice neutralizes UAB’s numbers advantage and is able to get a hat on a hat to the play side.

It’s a slow enough developing play that Leverett can’t get to his man (he wraps around the TE, in this case Gooseberry, and blocks the first guy he sees, inside to out), the SAM linebacker, in time to seal him inside and keep the outside gap open. Instead, he walls him off to the sideline. Now let’s check a still here to see what Aston sees:

Rice Football

The biggest hole here is between Servin and center Brian Chaffin, but if Walter runs there, No. 12 for UAB is going to fill the gap and probably make the tackle for a short gain. Instead, Aston displays stellar vision by choosing the gap between Leverett and Gooseberry, which widens into a chasm as Gooseberry drives his man to the sideline. Walter’s through the hole in a flash, and the routes by Rozner and Austin Trammell have cleared out the DBs to the play side. Walter bends his run to the other side of the field and uses his speed to take it all the way to the house for an early Rice football lead.

Thiiiiiis close

Rice Football, film room

The Setup

It’s the beginning of the second quarter, with Rice still up 7-0. UAB has the ball 3rd and 10 on the Rice 46.

UAB is in a 10 personnel look, with two receivers to each side and the back to Tyler Johnston’s right. Rice is in dime personnel, with three down linemen and Blaze Alldredge and Anthony Ekpe lined up as off-ball linebackers. They’re showing a 1 high look, with Naeem Smith as the deep safety and George Nyakwol lined up just six yards off the ball. This could be a disguise for the coverage, but even before the snap Nyakwol is already moving towards the line, so it looks like this is going to be a single-high coverage.

The Play

It’s Cover 1 Man, with Smith deep and the other DBs playing man on their receivers. Ekpe, Alldredge, and Nyakwol are all blitzing. Ekpe and Alldredge exchange gaps as they close to the line, and the right guard chooses to let Nyakwol by and block Ekpe. This leaves the RB to block Nyakwol, and he manages to hit George just in time to knock him off his trajectory and give Johnston time to make a throw. If he’s a split second later (or if Johnston isn’t as poised), it’s a sack or an incompletion and Rice will have made the stop. But Johnston gets the ball out clean.

He’s looking for slot receiver Kendall Parham, who stems his route vertical before running a fade to the sideline. It’s nothing fancy, but Parham is blazing (pun intended, don’t @ me) fast and Prudy Calderon loses a step as he flips his hips to run with the receiver. Naeem Smith can’t get over the top of the route from the middle of the field (perhaps he initially stepped toward the slot WR from the other side, who fakes a post before breaking into a dig route, but it’s hard to tell from the broadcast view). It’s a well-thrown ball under pressure by Johnston, and a touchdown for UAB.

This play shows the high-risk/high-reward nature of both Rice’s defensive schemes, which require either the pressure to get home or the DBs to hold up in tight man coverage down the field. It also shows the same for UAB’s aggressive downfield passing; this one could have been intercepted if it had been underthrown (by Calderon) or late (by Smith). But this time it’s UAB that executes, and it’s a touchdown for the Blazers.

Notes

*Note that Gooseberry is not actually an eligible receiver on this play because he’s “covered up”—i.e., notice that to the top of the screen Brad Rozner is lined up on the line of scrimmage. Only players lined up in the backfield or as the end man on the line of scrimmage are eligible. An unbalanced look like this could be used for a trick play (a throw to the tackle in the end zone, perhaps), if Rozner just takes a step back off the line. Only time will tell if the Rice coaches love us enough to run such a glorious play. a

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