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Owls’ offense found a rhythm that worked

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It took several weeks, but Rice football has found their offense once again thanks to a strong performance from new starting quarterback Evan Marshman.

Rice began fall camp with an open competition for the starting quarterback position. Jackson Tyner, sam Glaesmann and Shawn Stankavage split reps with the starters. Glaesmann was moved to wide receiver and Tyner has been bumped behind two freshmen on the depth chart. Stankavage was the starter through the first seven weeks before his injury against UAB opened the door.

Redshirt freshman Evan Marshman, who began the fall on the scout team, beat out true freshman Wiley Green for the start against FIU. After struggling to move the ball with Stankavage (and briefly Tyner) at the helm of the offense against UTSA and UAB, Marshman led the team on two touchdown drives against FIU.

Rice quarterbacks combined to lead one scoring drive in the eight quarters leading up to the FIU game. That includes outings from Stankavage, Tyner and Marshman. Against FIU, Marshman led the Owls on three scoring drives, taking both touchdowns in himself.

It’s impossible to separate how much of Marshman’s performance was his natural talent versus improved scheming and execution from the offense. Regardless, he put points on the board. If he can keep doing that, the Owls will be just fine. They’ll find a way to pick up their first conference win soon enough.

Marshman was quickly ushered to the medical tent following his second touchdown run, but was able to reenter the game. Green played sparingly and was unable to generate much offense, throwing two interceptions and completing one pass for eight yards. Marshman will be in line to start again next weekend against North Texas. That’s an encouraging sign for a once-struggling Owls offense.

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Owls show progress in road loss to FIU

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Rice football entered their Week 8 game against FIU as heavy underdogs, but the Owls gave the Panthers all they could handle before ultimately falling 36-17.

Rice led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter against FIU. The scoreboard at the quarter mark was a huge boost of confidence for a team that had struggled on both sides of the ball and was looking for reasons to keep the faith. The results Saturday gave this team confidence that they can hang with anyone, including an FIU team that entered the weekend as the top team in CUSA East.

It was the Owls’ seventh consecutive loss. There are no moral victories, but the Owls did take meaningful steps forward in several key areas. Here are a few immediate thoughts from the loss to FIU.

1. Fast start

The phrase “start fast” has been heard around the Patterson Center for several weeks now. This team has put themselves behind the gun in each of the past two games, but that wasn’t the case on Saturday.

Rice football’s opening drive against FIU was a thing of beauty. The running game was working, the passing game was perfect and the Owls marched down the field 75 yards to score their first touchdown since the Wake Forest game on Sept. 29. Evan Marshman, in his first career start, was 4-for-4 for 38 yards through the air. He added three carries for 23 yards on the ground and a touchdown, which came on a carefully scripted fourth-and-inches attempt from seven yards out.

That scoring drive didn’t magically erase several weeks of struggling, but the emotional impact it had on this team cannot be understated. The talk had finally become reality. Rice had an offense, and they were ready from the first snap.

The defense answered the challenge, too. FIU managed just six yards on four plays on their first drive of the game. The Owls forced a punt which set the offense up in good field position for their next drive. Rice led 7-0 after the first quarter thanks to strong starts from the offense, defense and special teams.

2. Offense incorporates just the right amount of change

The edict to go back to the drawing board and start from square one has paid off. Bloomgren said his team was going to figure out what they could do on offense to move the ball most effectively. The result was an offense that looked similar to their previous iterations but included a calculated dose of new wrinkles.

The insertion of the new quarterback included an emphasis on more shotgun and pistol formations. Marshman took plenty of snaps under center, but he was clearly more comfortable with the extra space to operate. When he had that extra space he made the most of it. For the first time this year designed quarterback runs became an integral part of the offense. Marshman had 11 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns. For reference, Shawn Stankavage, who started the first seven games of the year, has 32 carries for 58 yards and no touchdowns on the ground.

Marshman’s touchdown was perfectly scripted. On fourth-and-inches the Owls brought in their jumbo package. Rather than throw the fade or run up the middle, two looks they’ve shown already this season, Marshman kept the ball on a rollout. FIU was caught completely off guard and he walked into the endzone completely untouched.

3. A few bad moments spoil an otherwise strong defensive day

Good defenses find a way to get off the field without allowing points. Being successful on the vast majority of your plays doesn’t matter if the five plays you miss result in big plays for the other team. That’s what was so frustrating about the halftime score. Rice put together some strong drives on both sides of the ball, but two bad plays turned a halftime lead into a deficit.

The Owls missed a tackle on a jet sweep which allowed FIU speedster Maurice Alexander to race to the endzone untouched for a 51-yard touchdown. On the next drive, James Morgan got behind the secondary and hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass on third and long. Those two plays count, but if the Owls hold there the game is much closer than the scoreboard indicated.

The second half saw the same miscues. FIU’s third quarter touchdown drive was capped off by a 33-yard run and a 29-yard touchdown pass, both of which featured missteps by Rice defenders.

4. This team needs the explosive pop from Austin Walter

A few weeks ago Austin Walter let the nation in all-purpose yards. The versatile running back has a knack for the big play, something Rice has missed over the last few weeks. This offense is still a work in progress, making 10 play drives that stretch the length of the field a challenge. That challenge could be easier if Walter erases half that yardage on his own.

Walter hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still getting plenty of carries and a few receptions each game. The difference has been the Owls’ opponents understanding of how this team wants to use him. They’ve stacked the box and made running more challenging for all the Owls’ back. For the most part, he’s being given respect through the air as well.

Rice made the first move, utilize Walter as their go-to offensive weapon. Opposing defenses have countered. The onus is now back on the Owls to find a way to get Walter the ball with room to run. If they can do that the big plays will come and the profile of the entire offense will rise tremendously. Walter had 50 all-purpose yards against FIU. He’s capable of so much more.

5. Final thoughts

For the first time in several weeks, Rice was in position to win this game in the fourth quarter. Even with their miscues, they found themselves down by nine points and had the ball coming back their way via an FIU punt. The Panthers faked the punt, converted the first down (with three flags for a blatant targeting penalty picked up) and scored later on the drive to extend the lead to 33-17

That big fourth down conversion, three Rice interceptions and a few deep plays for FIU were all huge plays in this game. Rice isn’t a good enough football team right now to make that many mistakes and still hope to win on the road in conference play. For the most part, FIU played well on both sides of the ball and didn’t turn the ball over. The -2 turnover margin equaled the two scores that separated Rice from FIU at the end of this game.

This was a tough loss, but it was tough because Rice could have won this game. It’s time to regroup and get ready for another challenging road test next weekend against North Texas.

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Keys to victory over FIU

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Rice football is still searching for their first win in conference play. The Owls will be underdogs against FIU, but a win is still within reach.

The road doesn’t get any easier for the Owls. After falling to UAB, the leader in the CUSA West, in Week 7 they’ll travel to Miami to play FIU, the leader in CUSA East, in Week 8. The Owls are beat up, but still retain plenty of confidence.

Here’s how they get it done against FIU:

1. Find the right mix up front

The offensive line has been a continual question mark for this team. After the Hawaii game the secret to stopping the Owls’ rushing attack seemed to get out. Opposing defenses stacked the box. Rice didn’t quit on the run, but their effectiveness since has been limited.

The struggles of guys like Jack Greene and Uzoma Osuji have opened the door for several new faces. Jake Skyptak got the start at left tackle against UAB. Freshman Clay Servin and Cole Garcia saw an increase in snaps, a trend which should continue against FIU.

Sooner or later, the Owls have to find the right mix. If the guys up front can’t block the right rushers or open up lanes for the running backs it doesn’t matter who’s lining up behind them. No running back or quarterback is going to find success if they’re being met in the backfield. This unit must take a step forward, especially with redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Marshman making his first start behind them.

2. Don’t give up any deep shots

The secondary had their moments this season when things looked to be turning around. They limited deep shots well against Southern Miss and held UTSA to less than 50 yards through the air and no passing touchdowns. They did not fare well against UAB. Justin Bickham, the star of the UTSA game, was the victim of a 95-yard touchdown pass. Brandon Douglas-Dotson gave up a 38-yard strike on the first drive of the game.

Rice has allowed 18 passing plays of 30 yards or longer this season. That’s two more than any other team in CUSA. They’re the only team in the conference to allow multiple 70+ yard completions against them. UAB was successful through the air against Rice, and it could have been worse. Quarterback A.J. Erdely missed a few receivers that had a step on Rice defenders.

If the Owls want to keep this close they can’t spot their opponents any free touchdowns. Successful deep shots and quick scoring drives must be avoided.

3. Win the turnover battle

Rice is second to last in CUSA with a -5 turnover margin. The defense has registered eight takeaways in seven games while the offense has turned it over 13 times. Only one team has turned the ball over more times than the Owls. Giving away extra possessions is the opposite of what this team needs right now.

The defense was the recipient of multiple short fields against UTSA. It set up easier scoring opportunities for the Roadrunners and ultimately leds to the Owls’ undoing in what could have been their first conference win.

Playing on the road isn’t easy, but the Owls can make the challenge more doable with a few big plays from their defense and better protection of the ball on offense. If they don’t win the turnover battle they’ll be in for another rough Saturday.

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New starting quarterback and lots of injuries, practice notes (10/18)

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Rice football will have their second starting quarterback of the 2018 season on Saturday against FIU. Evan Marshman will get the call. How is the team responding?

There was a buzz around Rice football practice this week. Starting quarterback Shawn Stankavage suffered an injury against UAB and won’t play against FIU in Week 8. That’s opened the door for redshirt freshman Evan Marshman, who walked on at Rice, to start his first game this weekend.

The young guys and the season vets have all rallied behind Marshman. Senior Austin Walter called him “an easy guy to follow” and a “workaholic”, noting his focus and aggressiveness throughout the week of practice. Offensive coordinator Jerry Mack agreed with those sentiments, saying Marshman “gets guys fired up in the huddle” and “plays with a sense of urgency.”

The change at quarterback has prompted a condensed playbook and a more streamlined plan of attack. Mack and the rest of the offensive coaching staff want to make sure they put their quarterback in the best position to succeed. That’s going to take several other players stepping up on Saturday.

Mack put some of the onus on the Owls’ offensive playmakers, noting that the job for guys like Austin Walter, Aaron Cephus and Austin Trammel is to “make Evan [Marshman] better.” With Emmanuel Esukpa out there will be even more room for Walter to make plays, and true freshman Juma Otoviano is expected to see time as well.

They’ll be supported by a trio of freshman offensive lineman. Who starts the game has not been formally released, but expect to see heavier usage from Jake Syptak, Cole Garcia and Clay Servin. All three saw action against UAB and each will continue to push for more playing time going forward. The offensive line is an area where the Owls have struggled this fall, making fresh legs and new faces a must.

Winning anywhere in conference play on the road is difficult. The Owls will be underdogs once again, but the energy and the intensity of this week of practice indicate this team isn’t stagnating. If they can get off to a strong start, they’ll be ready to push FIU on Saturday.

Most importantly, Marshman says he’ll be ready. “I’m going to fully give myself to the gameplan and the team.” He’s in. The Owls are in. Now it’s time to put it all together on Saturday.

Injuries

The Owls’ depth chart has taken several hits. These players will not be traveling with the team and are officially out against FIU:

QB Shawn Stankavage
RB Emmanuel Esukpa
TE Will Phillips
WR Brendan Harmon
LB Kebreyun Page
DE Cameron Valentine
CB D’Angelo Ellis

Wide receiver Cam Montgomery, who has yet to play this season, has been ruled out for the year.

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2019 offensive lineman Nick Wagman commits to Owls

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Offensive line will be a priority in the 2019 Rice football recruiting class which now includes preferred walk-on Nick Wagman.

As a former offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Stanford, Mike Bloomgren understands life in the trenches. Part of that wisdom will require the addition of some new players up front, something that has already been made clear in the Owls’ 2019 recruiting class.

It wasn’t a coincidence Bloomgren’s first commitment of the 2019 class came from an offensive lineman. Dallas, TX guard Regan Riddle pledge his commitment to Rice this summer. The Owls have since added to their offensive line haul with the addition of Potomac, MD offensive lineman Nick Wagman. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder will most likely play along the interior of the line at South Main.

Wagman will walk on at Rice, just like his brother Jack did this year at Maryland. He won’t count toward the Owls’ football scholarship limit, something that will enable the program to take in as many players as possible in this group. This team needs an injection of talent; the more they can get the better.

Walk-on or not, Wagman is ready to contribute as quickly as he can. He had the opportunity to visit campus during the Owls’ junior day this spring and walked away extremely impressed. “You could tell as soon as you walked into the building that there was something special happening,” he said.

A refreshing endorsement from someone outside the program looking in, Wagman has now jumped into the Rice family. He cited his relationship with associate head coach and special teams coordinator Pete Lembo as a key factor in his recruitment. Lembo has been busy along the eastern seaboard, keeping tabs on several prospects of interest to the Owls. Wagman could be just the beginning.

 

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