The source for Rice sports news

The Roost Podcast | Ep. 17 – 2019 Middle Tennessee Preview

By

Matthew previews Rice Football vs Middle Tennessee in Week 12 and recaps a busy week in Rice Athletics as the football team was on bye.

The bye week was a busy one for Rice Football and the Owls are still on their hunt for their first win. An extra week of prep work and time to get everyone healthy should aid their efforts. Stay tuned for a closer look at the matchups on both sides of the ball and an interview with Eric Henry of Underdog Dynasty in this week’s show.

You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, Give a listen to Episode 17 below.

Episode 17 Notes

  • News and notes —  Rice Basketball has been busy. The men started the season 3-1 with the women starting 2-0 prior to an upset at the hands of SMU (completed after recording). More on how both teams have looked so far and some big-picture thoughts on their respective seasons.
  • Middle Tennessee Preview — The Blue Raiders are led by quarterback Asher O’Hara, one of the most talented athletes Rice has faced at the quarterback position this season. MTSU’s commitment to the ground game has a similar look and feel to a team like Army, which fits well with the Owls’ strengths. How the Rice offense responds, and who is healthy enough to play quarterback, are also brought into focus.
  • Eric Henry Interview — As someone who spends his days looking at the broader scope of Conference USA, Eric was able to give a great overview of where the conference stands entering the final weeks of the season. We talked championship game scenarios, surprising teams and results and, of course, the upcoming matchup between Rice and Middle Tennessee.

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2019: Week 12 Middle Tennessee Press Conference quotes

By

Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren debriefed a busy bye week then turned his attention to the Owls’ Week 12 game against Middle Tennessee.

More: Rice Football game preview for Week 12 vs Middle Tennessee

Safety Naeem Smith and running back Juma Otoviano joined Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren at the podium on Tuesday. The trio discussed final bye week of the season and made comments on the team’s upcoming game at Middle Tennessee.

From Mike Bloomgren

On what he’s learned about the team so far…

“This team has proven to me time and again, that they will respond to challenges. So we did challenge them in the bye week. We challenged them to really understand that we do have three games promised to us in our season, but we needed to live in the moment. We needed to be where their feet are, and really take this thing in day by day, minute by minute increments and just play by play. And that’s how they responded. And that was really cool.”

On conversations with Rice Women’s Basketball coach Tina Langley at the radio show on Monday night…

“Last night I got to hang out with Tina Langley, our women’s basketball coach. I love talking to her every chance I get. We love talking culture, we love talking motivation. I just think she’s outstanding. I’m trying to grab some of her mojo while she was at the radio show.”

On the quarterback situation …

“So obviously [we were] pleased with some of the things that JoVoni [Johnson] was able to do in the first start. We thought he moved the chains pretty well. He was eight of nine passing in the first half and I thought that was a really impressive start for him. And then Tom Stewart is the other one that we’re going to have on the ready. So we’re going to have those guys go and take a look at how practice goes and whoever is healthy and gives us the best chance [to win] is who we’ll trot out there.”

On running back rotation…

“Whoever’s got the hot hand. We trust all those guys. Juma [Otoviano] is a guy that we proven is explosive. Old Dominion, in his first start, he rushed for 224 yards, that’s no secret. But we have guys that we trust it’s not just Charlie [Booker]. It’s not just Aston [Walter]. It’s also Nahshon Ellerbe. All those guys can have roles and really whoever has the hot hand — and some people may have certain plays earmarked for them going into this game — that’s where we’ll go.”

On MTSU quarterback Asher O’Hara …

“I think probably at the level he’s doing it, he is the best dual-threat [quarterback that Rice has faced] because I compare him — obviously a very different offense — but to the Army, in terms of running the ball and a lot of things going through him, with him being their leading rusher in eight of nine games this year. But as a true dual-threat, I think he’s completed 71 percent of his passes. Yeah, he might be the top dog. The one at Texas wasn’t bad either.”

From Saf Naeem Smith

On the matchup against MTSU quarterback Asher O’Hara…

“I actually played [against O’Hara] in JUCO … Definitely a great athlete. He can throw it too. I remember in JUCO we thought that was the best quarterback we played against or maybe even the best player. So I have a lot of respect for him. As a defense, I see it as an opportunity.  We have to make sure we’re all on the same page. Everyone needs to know their run fit, and then everybody needs to lock up on the outside. We make sure we do our job. And if we can do that, I think we can be successful. They got a great offense.”

From RB Juma Otoviano

On what the running backs focused on during the bye …

“I’d say it’s a lot of reps and then going back and watching ourselves on film. We’ve been harping on our footwork on our outside zone… that was something that we all kind of struggled on early on, but moving forward now we’ve gotten a lot better.”

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2019 Game Preview: Week 12 vs Middle Tennessee

By

Rice Football returns from their second bye week in search of their first win over Middle Tennessee. How to watch, stats to know, x-factor picks for both teams and more.

Rice football makes their first-ever trip to Murfreesboro, TN this weekend in search of their first win over Middle Tennessee and their first win of the 2019 season. The Owls lost a close contest to Marshall in their last game before their Week 10 bye.

Like the Owls, the Blue Raiders also had last weekend off. Prior to that, they’d lost three of their last four conference games, all of which were away from home. Middle Tennessee is a perfect 2-0 in Conference USA home games this season, beating FIU and Marshall by a combined score of 74-30.

Here’s what you need to know about both Middle Tennessee and Rice before their Week 12 game.

Broadcast Info

Kickoff time | 3:30 PM CT
Venu | Floyd Stadium – Murfreesboro, TN
TV | ESPN+ (Streaming [$])
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio Preview

We’ll preview the Middle Tennessee game on Episode 17 of The Roost Podcast which will be released on Thursday. 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.)

Sizing up the contenders

Sitting at 0-9, Rice football has had patches of success but has yet to connect those moments into a full four-quarter performance. Despite their lack of wins, the Owls have been in every game after halftime, often finding themselves in a one-score game in the fourth quarter.

Middle Tennessee hasn’t played many close games. Other than a 33-30 loss to North Texas on October 19, their eight remaining contests have been decided by at least two scores, three wins and four losses.

Rice will hope their experience in close games will give them an edge on the road, should they find themselves in that familiar situation once more. Middle Tennessee will do all they can to avoid a close game entirely.

Series History

All Time | No Previous Meetings
Last Five | N/A
Last Meeting | N/A

Rice Stat Notables

Passing | Stewart – 49/87 (56.3 percent), 538 yards passing, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing | Walter – 112 carries, 509 yards (4.5 yards per carry), 5 TD
Receiving | Trammell – 46 receptions, 559 yards (12.2 yards per reception), 3 TD | Rozner – 39 receptions, 551 yards (14.3 yards per reception, 2 TD
Tackles | Alldredge – 74, Montero – 61, Chamberlain – 53
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Thornton – 5 PBU, Smith 2 – INT

Middle Tennessee Stat Notables

Passing | O’Hara – 152/246 (61.8), 1792 yards passing, 13 TD, 6 INT
Rushing | O’Hara – 137 carries, 757 yards (5.5 yards per carry), 7 TD
Receiving | Pierce – 31 receptions, 414 yards (13.4 yards per reception), 2 TD | Lee – 32 receptions, 281 yards (8.8 yards per reception), 1 TD
Tackles | Moffatt – 74, Blankenship – 58, Thomas – 58
Pass Breakups/Interceptions | Patterson – 6 PBU, Moffatt – 3 INT

Middle Tennessee X-Factor | Asher O’Hara

As Middle Tennessee quarterback Asher O’Hara goes, so does Middle Tennessee. The dual-threat quarterback is the entirety of his team’s offense. In the Blue Raiders’ three wins, O’Hara is averaging 330 total yards and three touchdowns per game with one interception across those contests. In their losses, he’s been limited to 256 yards per game and 1.8 touchdowns with five turnovers, almost one per game.

Leading receiver Jarrin Pierce has just 31 receptions on the year. No player, other than O’Hara, has more than 36 carries over the course of the season. 11 different Middle Tennessee have scored this season — a byproduct of a system that feeds off of O’Hara’s ability rather than the skillsets of a select group of playmakers.

O’Hara is going to be leaned on to carry this team for a full 60 minutes. If the Owls can stop him, they’ll stop the Middle Tennessee offense. If they can do that, they’ll have a chance to win.

Rice X-Factor | Finding Explosive Plays

Rice found a spark on offense behind freshman quarterback JoVoni Johnson who left the Owls’ last game early with a lower-body injury. He can play in one more game this year and still retain his redshirt eligibility. Whether it’s Johnson or veteran Tom Stewart at the helm, the Owls must turn that spark into a full-fledged flame.

The Owls have had games where three-and-outs hampered their offense. That wasn’t the case against Marshall. They drove down the field successfully but frequently stalled out, failing to turn first downs into touchdowns.

Explosive plays are the missing part of that equation. Rice has proven their ability to generate first downs, but collecting them in bunches is much more challenging of a proposition than stringing a few together with a big play to link them together. Johnson and Juma Otoviano gave this offense a fresh feel. If they can take the next step, and someone else can join in, the Owls could complement a stingy defense with points.

Injury Report

The bye week came at a good time for Rice football on the injury front. Anthony Ekpe, Andrew Bird and Brian Chaffin all could return to action this week. All three have progressed from where they were last week. In addition to the quarterbacks, those three will be names to watch during the weekend.

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 every foe.

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. How many combined touchdown passes will be thrown (both teams)?
    Over 3.5 / Under 3.5
  2. Which team converts more third downs?
    Rice (or tie) / MTSU
  3. Which team has more time of possession?
    Rice / MTSU (or tie)
  4. How many passes will Rice quarterbacks complete?
    Over 15.5 / Under 15.5
  5. Which total is higher?
    Number of Rice first downs / Number of Blaze Alldredge tackles (or tie)
  6. Who wins?
    Rice / MTSU

One Final Thing

In many ways, the Middle Tennessee matchup is a favorable one for Rice. Their strength on defense pitted against a potent offense will be the most intriguing battle, but it’s what happens on the other side of the ball that might win this game.

The Middle Tennessee defense has talent, but hasn’t been able to turn their collection of playmakers into a consistent unit. If Rice football is going to turn things around, this is a unit that doesn’t appear to be as daunting as some of the other defensive fronts they’ve faced yet this season.

Combing both facets of their game — a strong defense with a growing offense — could give the Owls a dose of energy headed into the home stretch. They could use the jolt.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2019: Owls in the NFL Week 10 Update

By

Vance McDonald had his first career carry on a quiet weekend for the NFL Owls in Week 10. Here’s the latest on the Rice Football alums at the next level.

There are former Rice football players are scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 10 results

Broncos (Anderson, Callahan) – BYE
Vikings 28 (Sendejo) – Cowboys 24 (Covington)
Seahawks 27 (Ellerbee, Willson) – 49ers 24
Steelers 17 (Boswell, McDonald) – Rams 12
Texans (Gaines) – BYE

Calvin Anderson, OT, Broncos

Anderson has yet to appear in a game since joining the Broncos from the Jets practice squad midseason. The Broncos were on bye in Week 10. They visit the Vikings in Week 11.

Bryce Callahan, CB, Broncos

Callahan’s 2019 season has yet to start after an injury sidelined him at the tail end of last season. Early reports indicate he could return to practice as soon as Tuesday, a positive sign for his return this year. The Broncos were on bye in Week 10. They visit the Vikings in Week 11.

Christian Covington, DE, Cowboys

Covington did not register any stats in the Cowboys’ Week 10 loss to the Vikings. He’s appeared in all nine of the Cowboys’ games to this point but hasn’t registered a tackle since Week 6 against the New York Jets. The Cowboys visit the Lions in Week 11.

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Vikings

Sendejo was released from the Eagles at the beginning of the week and claimed off of waivers by the Vikings, his former team. Sendejo wasn’t active in his return. The Vikings host the Broncos in Week 11.

Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB, Seahawks

Ellerbee was placed injured reserve prior to the start of the season. The Seahawks are on bye in Week 11.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Luke Willson left the Seahawks’ Monday Night Football game with the 49ers early with a hamstring injury. He did not have a catch before his exit. The Seahawks are on bye in Week 11.

Chris Boswell, K, Steelers

Boswell took the field three times on Sunday, connecting on all three of his attempts — one field goal and two extra points. The Steelers visit the Browns in Week 11 on Thursday Night Football.

Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers

McDonald tied for the team lead in targets with seven in the Steelers victory over the Rams. He caught three of those passes for 11 yards and added a two-yard carry. Now in his seventh NFL season, that was the first rushing attempt he’s registered in his career. The Steelers visit the Browns in Week 11 on Thursday Night Football.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines was placed on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered during the Texans’ Week 8 game against the Colts. The Texans were on bye in Week 10. They visit the Ravens in Week 11.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football: Unpacking the quarterback situation entering Week 12 🔒

By

Rice Football finds itself in the midst of another quarterback conundrum. Here’s the latest entering the final three-game stretch of the season.

It’s not groundhog day, but it sure feels like it when the Rice football quarterback situation is brought up. With a week and a half until the Owls take the field against Middle Tennessee, here’s what we know:

1. Tom Stewart is close to “100 percent”

Stewart has been practicing in full and doesn’t appear to be hindered by his back issue. He’s looked good throwing the deep ball both last week and Sunday and is moving around reasonably well. Offensive coordinator Jerry Mack said last week was the first time he’s “felt 100 percent” since injuring his back. He’s expected to be fully available for the game.

2. JoVoni Johnson is nicked up

Johnson left Saturday’s game against Marshall after taking a hit following a big run. He was in a walking boot early last week but has since shed the protective gear and resumed practicing. He’ll be well enough to play.

The bigger question is how the injury will impact his effectiveness. Bloomgren called him “a step slow” in his return to the field, but noted that they’ll monitor him closely this week. A hobbled Johnson wouldn’t pose nearly the same threat as a fully healthy one. Whether or not some percentage of Johnson is better than 100 percent of someone else remains to be seen.

3. Evan Marshman could be an option

Marshman has gotten some reps in practice. He’ll have a package of plays ready should the Owls decide to go in that direction. I don’t get the sense that’s going to be the primary direction at this point, but the staff is going to turn over every rock in their quest to turn this offense around. Whereas Wiley Green is working with the scout team now, Marshman is getting some snaps with a version of the first team offense.

4. The redshirt situation

I contend the offense looks much better with Johnson and the helm than it has with anyone else who’s stepped under center this season. Of course, Bloomgren would prefer to redshirt Johnson and have him for another full season, but the importance of stacking up some wins and giving the team something to build on for the future is a very real motivator.

“All we’re worried about is this week right now,” Bloomgren said. “We’ve definitely had those conversations. We’ve had those conversations with JoVoni as well, but we’re not at a point to make that decision and luckily we don’t have to.”

More: Breaking down the Rice Football offense under Johnson vs Marshall

To some extent, Bloomgren is correct. Johnson has played in three of his allotted four games. Saturday against Middle Tennessee would be the fourth. If Johnson plays this weekend and does well, the likelihood of him redshirting this season would drop exorbitantly.

For what it’s worth, Bloomgren called the offense “anemic” once JoVoni went down against Marshall. A healthy Johnson continues to look like the best option.

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

Recent Posts