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Rice Football 2023: ECU presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football hosts East Carolina this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand 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 last week’s game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with ECU.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Breaking down Rice Football vs USF

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

“JT’s health is better today than yesterday, and certainly better and Sunday… I certainly don’t expect him to go full speed today, but he’s preparing to start this weekend… [Number] 18 is playing pretty good football and we’re not going to take him off the field on purpose.” – Mike Bloomgren on the status of quarterback JT Daniels

“You look at their defense, a lot of similarities to what they did last year. Offensively with the new quarterbacks that they’re rolling through, it’s a little bit different, but we can’t forget that this is a balances offense in a lot of ways, right? They’re going to have the ability to take shots. It’s going to look more pro-style, than maybe a collegiate offense.” – Mike Bloomgren on ECU

“My relationship with [ECU head coach Mike Houston] goes back to 2002 when he was the head coach of TC Roberson High School and Asheville, North Carolina and I was coaching Catawba College and I was recruiting his school and going in there talking ball and just hanging out. And now the fact that we’re playing each other on a Saturday in major college football, it’s pretty cool.” – Mike Bloomgren on ECU head coach Mike Houston

“I feel like they’re pretty balanced. They want to run the ball. I feel like the’re a pretty good group, well well coached. Definitely a lot of strain on their offensive line. It’s always good going against competitors so we can’t wait to get in there. But for the most part, they’re pretty balanced.” – Defensive linamen De’Braylon Carroll on ECU

“It was the first time I’ve ever looked up at the jumbotron driver to see if there’s anything behind me. I’ve always watched athletes do that and I was like, ‘How do they do that?’ I don’t understand how they look up while they run, but I just kind of saw it in my peripheral [vision] and used it as a tool.”– Running back Dean Connors on his long TD against USF 

Depth Chart

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Depth Chart Notes

The depth chart continues to lack much in the way of fireworks and, as usual, that’s probably a good thing. The uncertain status of quarterback JT Daniels did see the Owls list a third quarterback as a precaution, despite head coach Mike Bloomgren’s optimistic comments at the podium on Tuesday. We’ll have more updates on the latest on the Owls’ quarterback situation in practice notes later this week for subscribers.

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Rice Football 2023: South Florida presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football visits South Florida this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand 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 last week’s game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with USF.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Breaking down Rice Football vs Texas Southern

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

“It makes our job as coaches, easy. When you can see the quality of the opponent on the film you watch all week, you know we got to be locked into the details if we want this dub… They played like a very confident group against Alabama on Saturday. I thought their defense did exceptional and their offense had many opportunities. They were not ever struggling to move the ball.” – Mike Bloomgren on what Rice learned from watching USF play Alabama

“I just think like that tempo is going to be a deciding factor in how successful we are. If we’re ready for the fight, I’ll bet on our defense. If we’re ready for the fight every play I just believe so strongly in the way these guys are performing the effort and they’re playing with.” – Mike Bloomgren on preparing for USF’s tempo on offense

“I think they do a lot of movement, a lot of good things for them that fit their scheme, but I believe it’s on us up front. If we handle our business and give JT [Daniels] the time he needs, there’s nothing that can stop our offense, to be honest.” – Offensive lineman Lavel Dumont on preparing for USF’s defense

“The last time I was at the Buccaneers Stadium was 2006 with Sean… Being behind the bench, him scoring and handing me the ball, it’s probably going to bring back a lot of memories but our main focus is to win, go 1-0 with the team and head back to Houston.” – Safety Gabe Taylor on returning to Raymond James Stadium and remembering his brother, Sean Taylor 

Depth Chart

Rice Football

Depth Chart Notes

The depth chart continues to be uneventful each week, and that’s probably a good thing. Bloomgren did not during the press conference this week that he was hopeful offensive lineman Clay Servin and backup quarterback AJ Padgett would be available this weekend, but couldn’t say for certain if they would be at this time. He noted the team did not expect Chibby Nwajuaku to be available.

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Rice Football 2023: Texas Southern presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football hosts Texas Southern this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand 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 last week’s game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with Texas Southern.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Breaking down Rice Football vs Houston

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 were our worst enemy, and we know its always going to be about us, but it was very clear in the film that we made mistakes. We committed penalties that put us in tough situations. No surprises there, but it was very evident that we weren’t playing the same way with the same focus that we were in the first half.” – Mike Bloomgren on areas to improve after Houston

“I told our guys that as you look at that film of them playing Toledo last week that’s not the team we’re going to see. We’re going to see a team that’s incredibly fired up to be playing in Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas and every one of them believes they should be sitting in these team meeting room chairs. They believe they’re good enough and should have had the opportunity that our players have and they’re going to try to prove it. The fact of the matter is several of those guys have been on FBS rosters before and frankly some of them are good enough to be on a team like this.” – Mike Bloomgren on preparing to play Texas Southern 

“It’s a kill or be killed mentality. That’s how I live my life and how this whole team lives their lives on [short yardage and goal line]. We do the meeting and we always play Stone Cold Steven Austin before we install it. It gets the mood going. Anytime we line up, we know they did not do a whole practice just for that scenario and we know that anyone that lines up, we’re going to beat them.” – Center Braedon Nutter on the teams’ success in short yardage situations

“I think in the first game I was just working the gears a little bit, getting back to me. I think I needed to settle down and get back to me and know who I am and play with that supreme confidence as [corners coach Jeremy] Modkins always tells us corners… I would say I had a decent game. I think I can do way better and I think I will put that on display these next games coming up.” – Corner Sean Fresch on his growth this year

Depth Chart

Rice Football

Depth Chart Notes

Just like last week, there were no changes to the official depth chart. That marks three straight games with more or less the same two-deep, a nod to how fortunate the Owls have been with injuries and how well the team has played as a whole. There hasn’t been the need for too many “promotions” and “demotions” although we will hit some key updates with playing time and rotations later this week.

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Rice Football 2023: Houston presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football hosts Houston this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand 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 last week’s game and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with Houston.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Breaking down Rice Football vs Texas

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 got a great rivalry game coming up, great traditions versus the team right across town. Celebrating the Bayou Bucket is always a great time…. We certainly recognize that coach Holgerson’s team is very talented and we know that it’s going to be a game where we have to play good, clean football for 60 minutes if we want to get the results we want.” – Mike Bloomgren on playing Houston

“The stadiums are four and a half miles apart, driving on roads. It’s probably more like three [miles] as the crow flies. And you’ll hear from [Myron Morrison and Chike Anigbogu], the fact that they’re going to play a lot of their old teammates, a lot of guys they played against in high school. Anytime you play a team in Texas, that’s really cool. But in your own city. That’s fun. The rivalry is real.” – Mike Bloomgren on the Bayou Bucket Rivalry

“One thing that I find encouragement in is a lot of the big plays and explosives that they had are the result of self-inflicted wounds that are something that is very fixable on our end. Those are things, like we mentioned that big jump from week one to week two, very flexible errors were made that weren’t even as much physical as they were mental. That’s going to be completely patched up in our next game.” – Linebacker Myron Morrison on areas to improve on defense after Texas

“That’s everything. That’s a goal I’ve had since I started playing football. Just knowing that my guys have faith in me and my love for them is reciprocated. It’s huge.”
– Linebacker Chike Anigbogu on being named captain this year

Depth Chart

Rice Football

Depth Chart Notes

There weren’t any changes to the official depth chart this week. Everything ties out exactly to how things looked entering the season opener against Texas. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Owls’ will approach their personnel plans the same way — for that stay tuned to our practice update later in the week for our subscribers.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Football 2023: Texas presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football visits Texas this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand 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 discussed camp thus far and previewed the week ahead, detailing what they’re expecting to see when Texas takes the field.

Listen Now: The Roost Pod – Rice Football vs Texas Game Preview

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 have an awesome opportunity this week, heading to play the University of Texas. It’s a great challenge for our football team. We understand how talented they are. We’ve been preparing all offseason for them. I think physically and mentally, we’re a stronger football team and that’s going to give us our best chance as we go out there.” – Mike Bloomgren on playing Texas

“What does it take to finish? It’s us deciding, making that decision to finish and knowing that we are good enough. That’s one thing we’ve talked about. We have enough talent and we know it’s going to be about what we do, how we perform. That’s a talented group on the other sideline. There’s no doubt. We’re going to study their scheme. We’re gunna have great answers. But at the end of the day it’s going to be about how we execute and how we perform… I imagine if we fight the way we’re capable of and play the way we’re capable of, we’re going to have those opportunities again and now it’s about taking that next step as a program and finishing those things.” – Mike Bloomgren on the what it will take to pull off an upset

“We’re at the point now where we have twos that are going to play on purpose and they’re going to play because we know it’s going to be hot as Hades in Austin this weekend and we’re going to rotate some people, but also because they’ve earned the right. They’ve earned the trust of their teammates and their coaches. So yeah, the depth is a big plus for our football team… The separation from our ones and twos at some positions is so miniscule that, once again, those guys are going to get the chance to play and in addition to that, they’re going to be competing for the starting role every week of the season.” – Mike Bloomgren on the depth of the team

““It’s a great opportunity and it’s always fun. It’s one of the coolest stadiums there is. They get loud. They get rocking. They have a great time. It’s a very good team. It’s a great test to start the season…. It’ll get loud on third downs. When you walk out, it’ll feel crazy when you see 100 [thousand] or however many there will be, but when you’re in the heat of the moment, you kind of forget it. It looks really cool. Take in the moment when you run out of the tunnel and appreciate getting the opportunity to do that – you know how many people dream of doing that – but when you’re actually in the moment, you’re not even going to notice it.” – Quarterback JT Daniels on the environment in Austin

“Every rep is gold, from an experience standpoint. Being able to go through a whole season, being able to go through a spring ball, fall camp and another spring ball and this year, capping it off with another great month of training is so helpful… From a preparation standpoint, [I feel] better than I ever felt.” – Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey on his confidence at the position 

“One of our focal points this year is consistency. I think we’ve done a great job being consistent with those six and seven guys. We’ve had good rotations during practice but our post-practice, our film study, instead of six or seven individual eyes we’re trying to see the game through one pair of eyes. What the call is from JT or our center, Braedon Nutter, whatever the call is, we’re living that call. We’re trying to communicate, we’re trying to block as a unit instead of five individuals.” – Tackle Clay Servin on the progress of the offensive line 

Depth Chart

Rice Football

Depth Chart Notes

Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren did note there was only one projected member of the two-deep that would not be available this coming weekend, backup offensive lineman Miguel Cedeno. He’s expected to return to practice soon, and otherwise, the Owls are looking as healthy as they’ve been entering a season in quite some time.

As for the remainder of the depth chart, we’ll have some further clarification on the last few position battles in our practice update coming later in the week. At first pass, there isn’t much on this initial depth chart of the season that should surprise anyone. Landon Ransom secured his starting spot as was expected. Tyson Flowers has bumped up to second string after a strong finish to camp, replacing Shepherd Bowling on the two-deep.

An “OR” shared between Tre’shon Devones and Jordan Dunbar is curious, and represents a nod to Devones’ impressive camp. He had a couple of interceptions, including a pick of JT Daniels, and has played well. We’ll have a better feel for how much actual playing time that will translate to by the time we’ve gotten through practices this week.

On special teams, Tim Horn, Conor Hunt and Wyatt Freeman claimed victory in their respective position battles.

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