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Rice Football: Owls forge identity with physical start

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Rice Football came excruciatingly close to a program-defining win over Army, only to come up short. Even in defeat, a new identity was formed.

Pound the rock, control the clock and play great defense. Rice Football’s battle cry, per se.

That statement echoes through the halls at South Main, but it carries a different ring following Rice football’s lastest outing. The Owls dropped a one-score game on the road against Army. A game in which the Rice defense contained the run-heavy Black Knights. On the other side of the ball, the Rice offense finally began to resemble the mantra the Owls have repeated since Mike Bloomgren arrived on campus.

Against Army, Rice ran the ball 30 times on 44 offensive snaps (68.1 percent of plays), averaging 6.03 yards per carry. That marked the third time under Bloomgren the rushing offense had been that effective and amassed that large of a portion of offensive plays. But that’s about to be the new normal.

When asked about the shift in philosophy for the Owls from the Army game to the Wake Forest game in Week 2, Bloomgren was resolute.

“The 14 opportunities is really on pace with who we are. We had 49 snaps, I guess 44 official. So if you take that to a 70 play game, now we’re throwing it 25 times, and that’s about who we are,” Bloomgren said, “if we can pound the rock, we’re going to keep pounding the freakin rock and take our calculated shots. And then we’ll throw it on third down when necessary. And so I don’t think we’ll play much different”

More: Week 2 Game Preview – Rice vs Wake Forest

If that style of play is going to be truly effective, Rice is going to have to improve. Better quarterback play and more effective third downs are a must. Wiley Green had great moments against Army, but never quite seemed to settle in. He got the offense into the right calls and, for the most part, managed the game well.

As Green sees it, he says he needs to be “preparing myself to be ready to throw the ball at any point at any time.” That’s true whether its 14 times a game or 44 times. The total number of throws didn’t phase him. Despite the low point total, Green was adamant “I feel more comfortable now than I could have ever [felt before].”

There will be some differences in the Rice offensive attack on Friday against Wake Forest on Friday. The coaching staff and the players on offense know what things need to be ironed out. On the whole, though, the look isn’t expected to change much, if at all. The Owls have found their identity. And at several points against Army, it seemed to be working.

“No congrats yet, it’s a win business,” Bloomgren mused after practice. But he knows how close the Owls had come to a defining upset.

Perhaps for the first time, it feels like Rice has become the kind of physical team on both sides of the ball they’ve been working to become since Bloomgren arrived on campus. There is ample room to grow in effectiveness, particularly on offense, but the core components aren’t changing. Finally, this is Rice football.

Get more insight on “The Process” in an exclusive interview with Mike Bloomgren, available in our 2019 Rice Football Season Preview.
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Rice Football 2019: Owls miss chance to upset Army on the road

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Rice Football tussled with the Army Black Knights on Friday night at Michie Stadium, narrowly falling in a one-score game decided in the final minutes.

Rice football entered Friday’s tilt with Army as underdogs. The Knights were coming off an 11-win season and came close to being ranked in the first edition of the AP Poll. Rice had won twice in their past 13 games and was playing far away from home. From the first snap, neither of those converging storylines seemed to matter.

Not once did Rice look out of place or overwhelmed. The Owls went toe to toe with the Black Knights, sparring with their service academy foes and looking every bit their equals. Army sustained one lengthy scoring drive, never finding a rhythm on offense thanks to the swarming white-clad Owls defense.

Here are a few takeaways from the Owls’ season opener.

1. The new-look defense is ready to play

Like Carter and I discussed on The Roost Podcast, Army likes to roll the dice and go for it on fourth down more often than most teams. Coach Jeff Monken put that to the test early, opting to go for it on fourth and one inside their own 10-yard line on the Knights’ first drive. Myles Adams blew up the play in the backfield and Treshawn Chamberlain finished the stop.

The theme of bigger, stronger and faster was talked about throughout the offseason. Still, it was hard to know how much of a difference that would make on the field until Rice hit someone wearing a different colored jersey. Rice opened the Army game with a statement and continued to out-muscle their foes for the duration of the contest.

2. He’s back!

Rice knew their time with the football was going to be disjointed because of the nature of the Army offense. The Knights had limited success with the ball early. The Rice offense missed a golden opportunity to set the tone and force their opponents into an uncomfortable position and were forced to play from behind, just not for long.

Nahshon Ellerbe, who led Rice in rushing in 2017 before injuries kept him on the bench for almost the entirety of the 2018 season, provided the equalizer.

Ellerbe is one of the most physically imposing players on the team. His potential was brought up in a conversation with Bloomgren during fall camp. Bloomgren mentioned he’d seen all the highlight videos of what he could do in the open field but had never watched him run on the field with his own eyes.

Well, Bloomgren has seen Ellerbe now. And so has a packed Michie stadium. Ellerbe’s touchdown run woke the offense up out of their slow start and gave the Rice sideline a much-appreciated confidence boost. He went on to finish the game with nine carries for 103 yards and the aforementioned touchdown run.

3. A mixed bag on special teams

Continuity was the buzzword for the Rice special teams throughout the offseason. The Owls were replacing Ray Guy semifinalist Jack Fox and veteran placekicker Haden Tobola. They hoped to keep things rolling by transitioning former running backs coach Drew Svoboda to special teams coordinator.

Under Svoboda’s direction, the special teams were a mixed bag. Punter Adam Nunez, who transferred to Rice after starting at TCU for three seasons, was phenomenal. His first punt went 61 yards and his second went 51. Both balls pinned Army inside their own 10-yard line, giving Rice a huge edge in field position.

Chris Barnes got a turn to start the third quarter before Nunez came back in, downing two more punts inside the 10-yard line. He was as perfect as you could ask a punter to be.

The placekicking was a different story. Will Harrison missed a 26-yard chip shot and a 44-yard attempt in the first half. Had he converted either of those, Rice could have walked into halftime with the lead. Freshman kicker Zack Hoban was expected to challenge Harrison for the starting job but had a brace on his non-kicking foot during practice this week. Once Hoban is healthy the competition should resume.

4. Offense remains a work in progress

On a night in which the defense dominated, the offense led by quarterback Wiley Green struggled to consistently move the ball. The Owls did not show a noticeable improvement from their third down struggles from a year ago, converting three times in 11 opportunities.

Green completed seven of 15 passes for 62 yards. He had some pretty balls downfield, connecting on a big play to Austin Trammell in the first half but for the most part seemed to leave a lot on the field.

His passes had plenty of zip but lacked accuracy. He was off on two screen passes which effectively halted separate drives. The run-focused game plan seemed to inhibit his ability to get into a groove.

The running game was more or less efficient, but there were definitely plays where the offensive line got a better push up front than others. When all the parts were working in concert, big holes appeared, setting up the backs for easy first downs. In addition to Ellerbe’s scamper, Aston Walter had a 24-yard run which was called back by a holding penalty.

5. This is a different team

Rice showed flashes of ability on both sides of the ball last season. In the end, that’s all it was though, flashes. The biggest question mark facing this team this year was always going to be their ability to play for four quarters and finish. One week into the 2019 season and the Owls have mustered some sort of answer.

Every phase isn’t running smoothly, but as a team, the 2019 Rice Owls are better than they were a season ago.

More: Read more about the Owls’ next opponent, Wake Forest, in our 2019 Season Preview

The heavy underdogs played mostly penalty-free football and had a quality opponent on the ropes on the road. Rice isn’t going to play the triple option every weekend, but the kind of defense they displayed on Friday night will travel.

It’s disappointing to leave West Point without a win, particularly with how close the game was from start to finish. Rice played well enough that they should feel scorned by the narrow defeat. That in itself is proof of a marked improvement.

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Rice Football: Week 1 Army Press Conference quotes

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Mike Bloomgren, the Rice Football team captains and the newly minted starting quarterback met with the media in advance of their Week 1 game against Army.

The Owls are ready to hit someone in a different colored jersey. Those who spoke on the Tuesday press conference touched on the key takeaways from fall camp and spent a good amount of time looking forward to the upcoming season, specifically their Friday game against Army. Here are a handful of the most notable quotes:

From Mike Bloomgren

On the mentality of the team as a whole…

“I think this is a team that is hungry for success. You see it in the way they practice. You see it in the way they’ve taken care of their bodies, the way that they’ve really dove into learning these complex NFL systems on both sides of the ball. Really proud of what they’ve done so far… They know that being physical is a non-negotiable trait in our program. And they have certainly answered the bell.”

On why he chose Wiley Green to be the starting quarterback…

“He’s got elite arm talent … but also the way he prepares, the way he lives a quarterback lifestyle. And very simply, I think one of the things that led him to secure this job as our starting quarterback is his experience in the system and his ability to protect the ball consistently throughout training camp. Those are the things that are non-negotiable.

“This time last year, Wiley was taking three or four reps, and he was still struggling at times to call plays in the huddle like all quarterbacks do when they first enter the system. And now he really thinks like a coach.”

On Army…

“It would be extremely hard to prepare for this team in one week, in two days of actual practice. Luckily for us, we started practicing on them in the spring, for last two weeks, our commitment to them defensively has been real.”

“You can’t waste plays against this offense, or against this team, I should say, because it’s all about negative plays, they get you in negative plays and make you go three and out. You may not have the ball for 12 minutes, they’ve proven that time and time again on film.”

“I think Army absolutely feasts on finesse teams. That’s what they want. They want people that don’t want to, that aren’t willing to stand in front of them, and throw punch after punch after punch. And what they’re going to see is, you know, we’re going to be willing, we are willing to come into the fight. And we’re going to fight. I think these guys love each other too much not to do that.”

On the difference from last year’s opener to now…

“It’s the second time around for me. And just understanding more about my staff and this team, and having the comfort and knowing how great the people around the world and the trust in them. I probably tried to do too much as a first year head coach, especially with the experienced guys that I have around me. And I know who I can trust with what and so I can focus on the things that are truly important. I know this team better. I know this group of guys, especially as leaders better. I will sleep well Thursday night.”

From Myles Adams

On his focus during for his senior season…

“Unity and togetherness… that’s what we pushed this summer in our offseason… We’ve really bought into that intellectual brutality, where we have pride in what we do, in perfecting our craft, everybody having a common goal and trying to strive for that together.”

From Austin Trammell

On the feeling around the team…

“If you just kind of ask around, you could tell there’s a different energy, a different vibe going around the guys. Because it’s a new feel with how we are together. There’s a bond, that unity that Myles [Adams] is talking about. We just all love each other so much. And we want to succeed for our brothers, not so much for ourselves. And I think that’s what it’s going to create a lot of success for us.”

From Chris Barnes

On being named a team captain as a senior…

“Never thought I would be in this position, but like I said, I’m extremely grateful for it and I just want to do the best thing I can for the team and build this culture we’re trying to establish here and leave a lasting legacy.”

From Wiley Green

On the team’s mindset facing Army’s physicality…

“Army’s a disciplined team, but I feel like we’re gonna come out more physical across the board. The offensive line, fullbacks, running backs, shoot, even at the quarterback position, we’re going to come out more physical than they are. Because that’s that’s what we preach here. And that’s what we’re going after.”

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Rice Football: Wiley Green named Owls’ starting quarterback

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Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren has named redshirt freshman Wiley Green the starting quarterback following a competition with grad transfer Tom Stewart.

Rice football has their QB1. Head coach Mike Bloomgren has named Wiley Green the starting quarterback. He wins the job over incoming grad transfer Tom Stewart, who joined the Owls this summer from Harvard. The decision was made in the week leading up to the Owls’ first game of the season against Army.

Green had a big spring and continued to progress in his command of the offense during fall camp. He mastered the playbook and understands the finer details of the offensive scheme. He led the competition throughout fall camp, securing the job following a strong showing at the Owls final scrimmage.

Green appeared in four games as a true freshman last season, taking advantage of the new redshirt rule to preserve a year of eligibility while still gaining meaningful on field experience. He threw for 621 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He added two rushing scores, including his first collegiate touchdown against North Texas. Green led Rice to their first conference win in the Mike Bloomgren era, starting the team’s season-ending victory over Old Dominion.

Play Now: Join The Roost’s 2019 Rice Football pick’em challenge

Ideally, the Owls hope to trust Green with the majority of the snaps this season. Stewart will be the presumptive backup to Green who did struggle with injuries during the 2018 season. Behind him will be redshirt sophomore Evan Marshman who appeared in two games last season. Redshirt freshman Parker Towns and true freshman Jovoni Johnson could see scattered action in the running game.

Read more about Green and the other faces in the Owls’ quarterback room in the 2019 Rice Football Season Preview, now available for purchase.

Green and the Owls return to action on August 30 in their season opener against Army.

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Rice Football 2019 Game Preview: Owls at Army Black Knights

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Rice Football kicks off their 2019 season on the road against Army. How to watch, stats to know, x-factor picks for both teams and more.

The triple-option requires discipline and focus for a full sixty minutes. The resiliency of Rice football against a team that is committed to grinding away at the clock and pounding the rock will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.

Rice won their season opener last year, besting Prairie View A&M on a last-second field goal from Jack Fox. Prairie View went 5-6 in the SWAC last season. Army went 11-2, narrowly missing an upset of Oklahoma in Norman and blowing the doors off cross-town rival Houston 70-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Both teams faced some notable personnel turnover in the offseason, but for the most part, it’s a similar cast of key characters returning for both squads. Here’s everything you need to know about the game.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 5:00 PM CT
Venue | Michie Stadium – West Point, NY
TV | CBS Sports Network
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)
Streaming | CBSSN Online

Audio Preview

The Roost Podcast for Week 1 will be dropping later this 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.) Carter and I broke down both sides of the ball and delved into the matchups you’ll want to watch on Friday.

Sizing up the contenders

Army isn’t flashy, but their offense is effective. The complexities of the option attack are predicated on making three-yard runs consistently. If the Black Knights can do that, they’ll keep their offense on schedule, opening up options for their passing game with play-action and their stable of running backs to make plays. Army wants to lul the Rice defense to sleep. The Owls had better be ready.

On the other side, Rice wants to employ a similar clock-controlling scheme. If things go how the Owls would hope, they’re trading blows with Army in a close game well into the second half. To do that, Rice is going to rely on making plays on third down on both sides of the ball. The quarterback has to move the sticks and the defense has to get off the field — two sticking points from the 2018 campaign. Friday will be the first real test on both fronts.

Series History

All Time | Rice leads 4-3
Last Five | Rice leads 3-2
Last Meeting | Army won at Rice 49-12 in 2017

Rice 2018 Stat Notables

Passing | Green – 45/88 (51.1 percent), 621 yards passing, 3 TD, 4 INT
Rushing | Otoviano – 65 carries, 364 yards (5.6 yards per carry), 3 TD
Receiving | Trammell – 62 receptions, 632 yards (10.2 yards per reception), 3 TD
Tackles | Nyakwol – 41
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Calderon – 7/4

Army 2018 Stat Notables

Passing | Hopkins – 51/93 (54.8 percent), 1,026 yards passing, 6 TD, 4 INT
Rushing | Hopkins – 208 carries, 1,017 yards (4.9 yards per carry), 17 TD
Receiving | Walker – 11 receptions, 170 yards, (15.5 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Christiansen – 42
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Riley – 10/0

Army X-Factor | Kelvin Hopkins Jr

Hopkins isn’t going to throw the ball often on Friday night. He averaged 4.3 completions per game last season, a number dwarfed by Army’s 68.7 carriers per game. But it’s less about Hopkins arm that’s worth monitoring than it is about his decision making with the football.

The quarterback in a triple-option offense is the trigger man. He decides who is getting the football and thus is absolutely essential in the offensive scheme. As his decision making goes, so does the offense. A bad outing from him, of which there weren’t many last season, could put Army in an early hole or prevent the unit from establishing the kind of rhythm it needs to succeed.

Rice X-Factor | Wiley Green

Green was officially named the starting quarterback during the Owls’ midweek press conference. He’ll be tasked with setting the tone for the offensive attack right out of the gate. Green’s command of the offense and ability to convert third downs are essential if Rice is going to stay on the field.

Losing the time of possession battle against Army isn’t the end of the world, but continually opening up the defense to being gashed by the triple option will have detrimental effects in the second half. The quarterback play doesn’t have to be Tom Brady-esque, but it has to be as close to mistake-free and efficient as possible.

Injury Report

Kicker Zack Hoban was held out of the Owls’ final scrimmage of fall camp and had a brace on his non-kicking foot through the week. He appears to be the only notable player who won’t be available for Rice in their season opener. For the most part, the Owls are as healthy now as they could hope to be.

Update: Three players have been officially ruled out and will not make the trip: WR Rhett Cardwell,  LB Myron Morrison, OL Nick Wagman. None were expected to significant contributors.

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 Army.

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. Who takes the first snap at quarterback for Rice?
    (Green / Stewart / Other)
  2. Which player has more tackles?
    (Alldredge / Montero)
  3. How many touchdowns will Rice score?
    (Over 2.5 / Under 2.5)
  4. How many combined turnovers will occur? (Both teams)
    (Over 3.5 / Under 3.5)
  5. Who has more time of possession
    (Rice / Army)
  6. Who wins?
    (Rice / Army)

Odds and ends

Update: When asked about the backup quarterbacks during Tuesday’s press conference, Bloomgren mentioned there was a good chance another quarterback would see action against Army. Rather than Tom Stewart, who Green beat out for the starting job, Bloomgren singled out Evan Marshman. Filling in as a spot starter before an injury last season, Marshman will be trusted with some packages against Army, stemming primarily from his ability as a runner.

One Final Thing

Much of the 2019 offseason has centered around this question: how far have the Owls come since Year 0? Army won 11 games last year, will probably be ranked in the coming weeks and is a favorite to beat Rice at West Point. A loss against the Black Knights wouldn’t be damning, but the optics of this game could prove to be significant beyond the final result.

Rice needs to prove to onlookers and to themselves that what they’re building is, not only on schedule but capable of delivering results. On Friday Rice will set the stage for the 2019 season. Hopefully the lasting image the Owls leave at Michie Stadium will be one of effort, competitiveness and optimism for the year ahead.

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