Next up for Rice football: UTSA. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup 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 recapped the Charlotte game and the bye week then looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with UTSA. Bloomgren announced during the press conference the team would be wearing the Luv-Ya-Blue throwback uniforms for the game.
More: Game Preview: Rice Football vs UTSA
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’re coming back. We’re focused on UTSA. We understand the mission. We understand going 1-0 and that is really the singleness of focus we have right now is trying to find a way to beat UTSA a team that we haven’t beat since 2014. We are putting everything we have into this week to give us our best chance. We know how well coached they are. I have all the respect in the world for coach [Jeff] Traylor. We know how talented they are. They’ve got great players. So do we.” – Mike Bloomgren on the team’s mentality coming off the bye week
“Thank God. McCown’s played good. He’s done some good things. He’s has moments where he looked really, really comfortable in that offense. They’re still UTSA’s offense… But again, them not having Superman back there is going to be nice. It’s not a knock on McCown, it’s just what Frank was able to do to us through the years.” – Mike Bloomgren on facing a UTSA offense without former star quarterback Frank Harris
“I think his growth is just continuing to get more comfortable in this system. The thing I still want from him is more input. What do you like? What do you not like? I ask him every week, ‘What’s your favorite things? What do you like in third down? Is there anything on the call sheet you don’t like? I think it’s easy for us as coaches to see how the X’s and O’s draw up, but ultimately what matters is what that kid knows and what he’s comfortable [with] and loves because it’s amazing when you take ownership of it how invested you are and how you just seem to make those things work when they’re your idea. We’re still reaching for that.” – Mike Bloomgren’s on the growth of Rice quarterback EJ Warner
“We take it personal when anyone gets close to EJ. We don’t want to give up any pressures, much less a sack. We feel like we’re talented enough and we’re a very talented unit. The expectation is to not let anyone close to him. That’s what we try to do every week.” – Offensive lineman Chad Lindberg on being top 10 in the nation in sacked allowed
“He’s probably the funniest coach I’ve ever head. Playing for him has probably been the best experience I’ve ever had in college football and I’ve played college football for a long time now, a long, long time. Obviously, [I’m] enjoying my time”” – Defensive lineman Michael Larbie on defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun
Depth Chart
Depth Chart Notes
We’ve got a lot of changes to the depth chart this week, rooted primarily in a swath of injuries that have hit the roster over the last few weeks. First, we’ll start with two prominent players who were on the two-deep against Charlotte that are not on this iteration of the lineup card: tight end Boden Groen and tackle Ethan Onianwa. Their status for Saturday’s game remains up in the air. As always stay tuned to practice notes later in the week for the latest on that front.
Onianwa’s absence saw Chad Lindberg shifted from guard to tackle with Trace Norflett filling a spot in the interior. That’s how the team aligned against Charlotte and what should be expected if Onianwa is unable to go this week. At tight end, Elijah Mojarro had the big touchdown grab last week filling in for Groen. Graham Walker has been utilized in a pass catching role over the middle this season, too.
As for the defense, Aquantis Clemmons has leapfrogged Elroyal Morris in the interior of the line. Freshman Kaleb Blanton sees his name mentioned on a two-deep for the first time this season with the ever-evolving rotation at that position. Behind them, Tyson Flowers returns to the two-deep after missing the past two games with injury.
