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Rice Football Stat Pack: Finding more pass catchers key to offensive equilibrium

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Rice football trusted a selected few to catch the football in 2018, something which must change if the Owls want to succeed in producing a balanced offense.

After discussing the balanced scheme Rice football would like to employ it seemed worth digging down another layer. A 50/50 run/pass split is around the neighborhood the offense will be aiming towards, but how does that ideal manifest itself on the field with the players Rice has on its roster?

Part of the reason Rice seemed to be more run-dominant than they were last year was the sheer volume of rushers. 16 different players registered at least one carry last season, second-most in Conference USA. A layer deeper still, 40 percent of all ballcarriers at Rice racked up at least 40 carries, the highest rate among all CUSA teams.

In a nutshell, not only did Rice rely on the run, they shared the load among several different backs. Contrasting that against the Rice passing game is where things get interesting. 10 players caught at least one pass for Rice last season, the fewest total in the conference and significantly fewer than the league average of 15.5 players.

Of those pass catchers, five caught 10 or more passes. The conference as a whole averaged 6.5 players with as many receptions per team. If your name wasn’t Austin Walter, Aaron Cephus or Austin Trammell, you probably weren’t getting the football.

When Rice ran the ball they had options. When they threw the ball, there were only a few guys who emerged as consistent receiving threats. The Owls’ ratio of 10+ carry players to 10+ reception players was the second-highest in the conference, trailing only FAU. The run/pass balance evened out in the long run, but the path to get there was wobbly.

In order to maintain the balance they’re aiming for, another legitimate pass-catching weapon (or two) need to emerge in 2019. JUCO transfer Bradley Rozner and a healthy Jonathan Sanchez could be the missing pieces the Owls need.

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Rice Football Stat Pack: Balanced offense remains Owls’ steady state

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The run-heavy mantra of Intellectual Brutality is more accommodating to the passing game than some might expect. Rice football was remarkably balanced on offense in 2018.

Coach Mike Bloomgren likes to use phrases likes to talk about his team imposing their will and playing with physicality. He’s an offensive line guy at heart who has a passion for winning in the trenches and running the football. That’s no secret, nor is it a secret he’d like to develop a stable of strong ball carriers at South Main.

But Rice might not be as one-dimensional as some would make them out to be.

Rice ran the ball on 54.5 percent of their plays last season, the fourth most run-heavy offense in Conference USA. The Owls were only the 55th run-dominant team in the nation, though, putting them slightly above the national average (around  53.5 percent). In fact, Rice was trended closely to being one of the most balanced offensive units in the country last season, something which should continue into 2019.

More Rice Football: Solving third down and optimizing success rate

The conference Rice competes in plays a huge role in their perception as an overwhelmingly run-first squad. The Owls are lightyears away from the triple-option teams, including their first 2019 opponent, Army, who runs the ball on 88.8 percent of their plays.

They’re also a ways away from many of their conference peers. North Texas (112), Louisiana Tech (113), UTSA (120) and Old Dominion (122) all ranked near the bottom quarter nationally in run percentage.

In the era of the spread offense, Rice looks different.  They’re going to use a full back and line up with a sixth offensive lineman from time to time. But they’ll throw the ball too, a facet of their offense poised to take a step forward in 2020 with a more experienced quarterback and several talented receivers. The Owls are going to run first, but don’t be shocked when they pass second.

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Rice Baseball: Six Owls selected in 2019 MLB Draft

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Headlined by pitcher Matt Canterino, a Day 1 selection by the Minnesota Twins, six Rice baseball players heard their names called in the 2019 MLB Draft.

Round 2 (54) – Twins – Matt Canterino

The most unsurprising Rice selection, Canterino was off the board early. His Rice career ends after a superb junior season where he finished with a 2.81 ERA in 99.1 innings.

Round 5 (155) – Reds – Evan Kravetz

Most assumed Kravetz would be a Day 2 selection. Instead he ended up closer to being a Day 1 selection than a Day 3 choice. Kravetz was off the board in the first 100 picks of the second day, impressing enough during his senior season to climb all the way to the fifth round.

Round 12 (376) – Astros – Garrett Gayle

One of the Owls’ most talented bullpen arms from 2019, Gayle was the only Rice reliever chosen this year. His 2019 splits weren’t overwhelming, but there’s a lot about his game to like.

Round 27 (807) – Blue Jays – Roel Garcia

Garcia missed the entire 2019 season and is now faced with a decision to make. Being selected in the back half of the draft makes a player’s decision to sign with their respective team far from a sure thing. Garcia certainly would have the chance to elevate his stock with another year at South Main.

Round 37 (1113) – Nationals – Trei Cruz

Those same sentiments go for Cruz. An impressive hitter with plenty of power and tools at the plate, Cruz can easily play his way into a Top 10 round selection with more discipline in the field and improved decision making at the plate.

Round 37 (1118) – Rays – Addison Moss

Although he did make a handful of appearances, Moss was never truly healthy this season. Projected to be the Saturday man entering the year, he’ll be a much higher selection in 2020 should he return to school.

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MLB Draft: Evan Kravetz selected by Reds in Fifth Round

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Evan Kravetz is the second Rice baseball product selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, coming off the board as a Fifth Round selection by the Cincinnati Reds.

Six months ago Evan Kravetz wasn’t expected to be a collegiate starting pitcher. The senior southpaw had made four starts in his career entering the 2019 season, appearing primarily out of the bullpen. He was effective there, but injuries opened the door for him to become a weekend starter in his final season.

Fast forward six months. Kravetz was a second-team All-Conference USA selection who claimed College Baseball National Pitcher of the Week and Conference USA Pitcher of the week this season. His 3.24 ERA and 1.12 WHIP were second on the team, trailing only 2019 second round pick Matt Canterino.

By most every measure, Kravetz had pitched like an MLB Draft-worthy pitcher. On Tuesday those inklings became reality when the Cincinnati Reds selected Evan Kravetz with the 144th pick of the 2019 MLB Draft.

Being selected never seemed too farfetched — Kravetz was a solid pitcher before his senior campaign. But the effectiveness and poise displayed on the mound in 2019 had a demonstrable effect on the round Kravetz was selected in. He wasn’t a late round flier for his new team. He was valuable enough to spend a day two selection on. He’s part of their future.

It also shouldn’t come as a surprise the first two Rice Owls off the board came from their weekend rotation. The offense made some progress in 2019 and the defense took a massive leap forward. It was the starting rotation which never waived. It seems having multiple Top 10 MLB Draft selections in the rotation might have had something to do with the level of consistency.

The draft started Monday night with Round 1 and Round 2 before continuing Tuesday with Round 3 through Round 10. The remaining picks, Round 11 through Round 40 will take place on Tuesday. A full schedule a results tracker are available here.

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MLB Draft: Matt Canterino selected by Minnesota Twins in Second Round

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Pitcher Matt Canterino is the first Rice baseball player selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, chosen by the Minnesota Twins in the second round.

Canterino entered the 2019 season with high expectations. After spending time with Team USA over the winter, the prospective early round pick put together an impressive spring campaign. Billed as the ace of a strong starting rotation, Canterino delivered in every way possible. Even his off days were strong starts. His best days, were MLB-caliber.

The Rice junior threw 99.1 innings with a 2.81 ERA and a stunning .970 WHIP. His 121 strikeouts were the most among Conference USA pitchers. He threw his first career complete game against FIU on April 5.

Those strong numbers did nothing but bolster his already potent MLB Draft stock. With Rice seeing their season end after a four-game conference tournament run, Canterino was able to turn his attention to the draft. And wait.

With the 54th selection of the second round, the Minnesota Twins selected Matt Canterino.

Several other Owls hope to hear their names called in the coming days. For now, Canterino becomes the most recent Rice player drafted since four Owls were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft.

Shortstop Ford Proctor was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays in the third round. Pitcher Ricky Salinas went to the Cincinnati Reds in the 25th Round. Outfielder Cody Staab was picked by the Seattle Mariners in the 30th Round. 2019 Signee Antonio Cruz was a 40th Round selection by the Houston Astros before opting to go to school.

2019 MLB Draft schedule

The 2019 MLB Draft runs from June 3 to June 5. Rounds 1 and 2 will take place Monday (June 3), televised on the MLB Network. The final two days will available to watch on MLB.com Round 3 through Round 10 will take place Tuesday (June 4) with the remaining Rounds 11-40 on Wednesday (June 5).

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