The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football 2021: Offensive changes before Texas Southern game

By

Rice football has turned its focus to Texas Southern, including a few personnel changes on offense, both planned and unplanned.

Once again, the starting lineup for the Rice football offense will look different the next time it takes the field. There’s likely to be an adjustment at the quarterback spot, one we’ll cover in greater detail in the subsequent update, but there were also some notable adjustments on the offensive line and the pass-catching options.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Practice reports are reserved for our subscribers. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to deploy its quarterbacks, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. You can get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and special features like this one when you subscribe to our All-American Tier on Patreon today.

Unplanned offensive line shakeup

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2021: TSU presser quotes, practice notes and depth chart

By

Rice football caps off its nonconference schedule against Texas Southern. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about it, injury updates and practice notes.

This is the first of a couple of updates coming this week as Rice football prepares to take on Texas Southern. We’ll include updates from head coach Mike Bloomgren’s midweek press conference, then dig further into the details on the depth chart and what the team looks like on the field headed into the weekend.

Subscriber content.</em><br /> <em>Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

To some degree, Rice football finds itself in the twilight zone. Conversation this week focused on the quarterback situation and the adjustments needed for this team to bounce back and find the win column once again. There were a handful of significant adjustments to the depth chart and some developments from practice early this week. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

“I think we learned more about individual players. We learned who would be able to step up in those situations and no matter who the opponent, be able to get their job done and do their one-eleventh. I think that’s great information that our coaching staff needed. Sometimes people can do in practice and can’t do it on game day, and we learn that about some guys unfortunately too. Because it’s a meritocracy, we’ll have to make some tough changes, and changes that nobody wants to make, but I love these kids. We told them in their living room, that’s one thing they could count on. – Mike Bloomgren on what the team has learned so far in nonconference play

“I was impressed with the way Jake was able to come in and really manage everything and get everything orchestrated and make plays go and find the open guy and deliver the ball. I was also impressed with Coach Tui and how they communicated on the sideline and how they got him into some calls he was comfortable with. There was some good there and some lessons learned, to say the least.” – Mike Bloomgren on the play of Jake Constantine

“My composure in the pocket, I’d say is really good. I’d like to say I stand my ground real strong and keep my eyes downfield. I definitely think I can improve in some things like getting rid of the ball on time, last game just coming in there a little rusty, I definitely think there’s some fixing that I could do with my own play, but I’m just excited to get after it this week.” – Jake Constantine on his strengths as a quarterback

“I do think the defense is a lot better. The reason I believe that is because I know the work we put in. I know what we did last year. We’re only missing one piece from that team last year. We were ranked in the top 20. And I believe that all of our players understand that we haven’t played to our standard yet. We play up to our standard in the first three quarters against Arkansas, but since then, defensively, we haven’t plated to our standard. We need to get back to playing how we know we can because that’s a big thing about Coach Blooms philosophy: run the ball, control the clock and play great defense. If we can’t play great defense, we can’t do the other two.” – Kenneth Orji on whether the defense is better than the numbers reflect

Depth Chart

The Rice football depth chart was updated following the Texas game and for perhaps the first time this season, the primary changes involved some performance-based role changes in addition to the more customary injury adjustments.

Injuries shake up depth chart

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2021: Pre-Texas offensive tweaks and practice notes

By

Rice football needs to rebound on offense in the worst way this week. Here’s what’s changing headed into the Texas game and some other practice notes.

Neither side of the ball was happy with how they performed against Houston last Saturday. Noticeably eager to put rinse the bad taste away, Rice football hit the practice field hard this week getting in work despite a minor disruption from Hurrican Nicholas.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Practice reports are reserved for our subscribers. If you want updates on how Rice football plans to deploy its quarterbacks, position battles, standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. You can get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and special features like this one when you subscribe to our All-American Tier on Patreon today.

Scheme adjustments prior to the Texas game

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2021: Arkansas presser quotes, practice notes and QB news

By

Rice football opens its 2021 season at Arkansas. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about it and some notes from the first official depth chart.

This is the first of a couple of updates coming this week as Rice football prepares to take on Arkansas. Stay tuned for more on projected quarterback usage and more in the days ahead.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren addressed the media this week prior to the Owls’ game against the Arkansas Razorbacks. A few players chimed in as well. We’ll start with some high points from the presser then hit on the depth chart changes and additional notes from practice.

Press Conference Quotes

“I think it’s got us in a place where we’re very excited looking at a number of spots on our roster where we’ve got more depth than we’ve ever had. We had competitions in spots where we never could really get the competition to be what it needed to be.” – Mike Bloomgren on growth in fall camp

“My comfort level is to have a starter and to have him take every rep in practice. That’s not where we are right now. The people at Arkansas are going to see two quarterbacks this weekend because they’ve earned the right to do it. They can do everything in our offense, but one of them is a little more dynamic when he’s running with the football.” – Mike Bloomgren on the QB battle

“I don’t want to put a ceiling on Jake Bailey, but what I will tell you is that same ascension you saw last year we saw and that it’s really progressed even more this offseason. His confidence as a football player, his confidence and knowledge in this offense has been really good. I’m excited to have him on the field. Obviously, I think its natural to compare him to some Austin Trammell type role because Austin was our go-to guy and a guy we targeted a lot of plays for on third down.” – Mike Bloomgren on Jake Bailey’s role in the offense

“Unfortunately I had to take off some time, being a little banged up in the spring, so getting back to a fall camp and getting back out there with my guys [is great]. It’s fun to be involved [from the sideline], but there’s nothing like actually doing it and it makes it a lot easier to lead when you can lead by example instead of being the guy on the sidelines trying to tell them to do better. I’ve had a great time and I feel really good.” – Defensive lineman Trey Schuman on returning from injuries

“The depth is the depth is definitely incredible. Guys like [Bradley] Rozner, guys like August Pitre who are going to be huge contributors to the offense this year, it’s a blessing to get to take the field with them every day… And then the guys know behind us, we just have amazing depth. It’s just really incredible, being able to have those guys to share the moments with. It definitely brings my confidence up as well, having my brother’s behind me.”  – Wide receiver Jake Bailey on the depth at wide receiver

Depth Chart

Here’s an updated depth chart from Rice football heading into the Arkansas game.

Rice football, depth chart

Depth Chart Reaction and notables

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2021 Fall Camp Report: Owls gain clarity in scrimmage No. 2

By

All eyes were on the quarterbacks, but the offense as a whole proved to be appointment viewing in the second and final Rice football scrimmage of fall camp.

In total, Rice football played 28 drives in their second scrimmage of fall camp. Half of those were full field and all served to showcase the quarterback battle between Wiley Green and Luke McCaffrey. There appeared to be some separation on that front and there was certainly a slew of other individual highlights along the way. We’ll detail all of that and more in the scrimmage report below.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Practice reports are reserved for our subscribers. If you want updates on the quarterback battle, camp standouts, injuries and more, this is your go-to source. You can get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and special features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

Off the top, it’s worth noting a couple of macro-level observations from the offense several of which could have serious ramifications on how the 2021 Rice football season plays out.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts