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Rice Football: Linebacking corps set for breakthrough season

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Here come the tackling machines. The 2019 Rice Football linebacker rotation could be one of the Owls best units on the field.

A groundswell of optimism is emerging around South Main regarding the 2019 linebackers. Blaze Alldredge and Antonio Montero made their marks at the tail end of the 2018 season, taking over starting roles midway through the year. Firmly entrenched as the alphas at their position, this duo has had an incredible spring. Expectations are sky high.

Both Montero and Alldredge have the talent and the drive to cement themselves among the most productive linebackers in Conference USA this season. If they play to their potential, they’re well within the range of 100-tackle seasons, something which has happened at Rice just twice in the past 20 years.

Travis Bradshaw racked up a staggering 121 tackles in 2009. Cameron Nwosu notched 108 tackles in 2011. None of the dozens of other linebackers who took the field for the Owls over that time cracked the 100-tackle mark.

A season of that magnitude would put either of those two defenders in rarified air. The impact on the defense as a whole would be tremendous. That kind of production would vault them into consideration for individual recognition, too. Eight CUSA players reached the 100-tackle plateau in 2018. UTEP linebacker A.J. Hotchkins, FIU linebacker Sage Lewis and North Texas linebacker E.J. Eliya all finished with more than 120 takedowns.

Whether it’s 120 tackles of 70, it’s hard to envision a scenario right now in which both Montero and Alldredge don’t make the defense significantly better in 2019 than it was in 2018. They’re the kind of vocal leaders in the middle of the field who spark change and lead with effort and physicality. The Rice linebacker room is primed for a special season.

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Rice Football: Offense makes strides at spring practice

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Rice football spring practices continue to move along. On Monday the offense had one of their better showings of the spring.

Monday was a “catch up” day for Rice football on the practice field. There were no new schemes installed, rather all units drilled in on the concepts they’d already been tough through the first several practices of the spring. The results, for the most part, seemed encouraging.

“You saw football slow down for these guys,” Bloomgren said with a smile. “There motors and ability to play fast on the field sped up.” It was a noticeable step forward for the entire unit.

Offense takes a step forward

Wiley Green, Aaron Cephus and Cam Montgomery had stellar days. The defense is probably still a step or two ahead as a whole, but the offense showed sparks on Monday. One of those somewhat surprising jolts came from linebacker-turned-running back Ari Broussard.

Broussard had a strong scrimmage on Saturday, breaking off some big runs with plenty of yardage after contact. He used every inch of his 6-foot, 210-pound frame, plowing through defenders and picking up hard yardage. With the departure of Emmanuel Esukpa as a grad transfer this spring, for the moment, he might be the Owls’ biggest bruiser in the backfield.

He was one of several guys who looked more at ease in the offense. Clay Servin said getting reps with some of the same guys up front on the offensive line made it “a lot easier to see things,” adding “This offense is very complete and it only gets easier with experience and time.”

Servin, along with Shea Baker and Cole Garcia have shown continued progress this spring. Bloomgren cited grad transfer Nick Leverett as a big winner on Monday. All in all, this unit is coming along well.

Defense remains consistent

As the offense comes into the picture, the defense has stayed strong. Bloomgren called the defensive line “the biggest surprise” of the spring, saying they’ve collectively “worked their butts off and caused a lot of problems up front.” Cam Valentine is back from injury and has had some nice moments. So has Anthony Ekpe, who slid from his linebacker post to rush end this spring.

Blaze Alldredge and Antonio Montero have been two of the most impressive performers. Montero attributed his experience in the fall to a portion of his success. “I feel a lot more confident in the scheme and where I need to be.,” he shared. “I have a real feel for the physicality of the game, that all comes with experience.” Experience, plus low numbers at his position have given him opportunity. He continues to rise to the occasion.

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Rice Football: Blaze Alldredge and Antonio Montero shine in spring practices

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Rice football might have found a position of strength on their defense after another strong showing from the linebackers in spring practice.

Spring practices continued on a windy Thursday afternoon at Rice Stadium. We’ve already hit on the lack of bodies available earlier in the week, but the guys who are on the field continue to make strides. Special teams and linebackers stood out on Thursday.

Linebackers

If there’s an early contender for strong position unit of the spring it might be the linebackers, at least the healthy ones. Ja’Quez Battley, Dylan James and Dylan Silcox have been sidelined with some seeing limited walkthroughs. The main rotation has consisted of Antonio Montero, Blaze Alldredge and Garrett Grammer.

Montero is instinctive and seeks out contact. He’s ready and willing to lay a blow on anyone with the football. The same goes for Alldredge who blew up a toss play six yards behind the line of scrimmage today, smothering the running back before he could turn and look up field. Grammer saw less playing time last fall, but has already made a strong case to see more of the field.

Position coach Scott Vestal called it “as good of a position as I’ve ever coached… through seven spring practices.” The caveat is his, but he might be on to something. Don’t be surprised if this trio becomes the backbone of a defense retooling the line and rotating in several new bodies in the secondary.

Special Teams

As it’s been throughout the duration of Mike Bloomgren’s time at Rice, special teams is woven through every practice. There hasn’t been much in the way of kickoff work yet, but the punt team got plenty of run on Thursday.

Beyond individual specialists, the punt coverage and return units look as crisp as ever. Special teams coordinator Drew  Svoboda said the team was “lightyears ahead of where we were a year ago,” praising the foundation laid by Pete Lembo in the fall.

Chris Barnes has a tall task, taking over for CUSA Special Team’s Player of the Year and Ray Guy Award Semifinalist Jack Fox, but early returns have been solid. He hasn’t booted the cover off the ball just yet, but he’s working on a variety of kicks and has the potential to keep the legacy of great kicking going at South Main.

Kickers Will Harrison and Nick McQuarry haven’t had the strongest spring, yet. They’ll be pushed in the fall by incoming 2019 signee Zach Hoban. For now, the kicking job remains up for grabs. Through it all, Svoboda credits snapper Cam Riddle as “the glue” that holds these units together.

Scattershooting

  • Quarterback Wiley Green had a few nice progressions during drills today where you could tell he worked his reads until he found the open man. The mental capacity he has for the offense will play a significant role in how well it functions. This was a good day for him.
  • Blaze Alldredge is tough as nails. He walked off the field for a breather, noticed he had a cut on his leg that was bleeding a bit, smirked and kept on walking.
  • D’Angelo Ellis was back at corner today. Once the receiving corps gets healthy that’s probably where he’ll stay.
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