(03-20-2018 11:04 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: [ -> ]If a Rice team can go 60 minutes without a WTF are they trying to do moment, that will be significant improvement. When we do, we will win that game.
Yup.
And that has zero to do with what players we are missing from the year before or why they are not there. Up to the coach, and his name is Bloomgren.
(03-20-2018 11:10 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (03-20-2018 11:04 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: [ -> ]If a Rice team can go 60 minutes without a WTF are they trying to do moment, that will be significant improvement. When we do, we will win that game.
Yup.
And that has zero to do with what players we are missing from the year before or why they are not there. Up to the coach, and his name is Bloomgren.
And given this statement, hopefully we shall hear no more about the 53 members of spring training in 2007 or anything of that ilk. Ever
Having cake. Eating it too. Choose one.
These are good coaches, but you've got to have talent. There isn't much on this roster other than some offensive skill players. I'm optimistic, but realistic at the same time. At least I know that our guys will be pushed hard and coached up adequately. Bloomgren and his staff will get everything from what they have.
I think it is possible that some of the transfers and retirements to focus on academics may have something to do with the new regime saying that things are going to change. Just a guess, but the Stanford conditioning program is well documented, and I doubt very many positions are 100% secure going into Spring. For some, the uncertainty and the last few years may just not equate to something they want to continue doing (playing D1 football is a year round grind, as we all know).
I am 100 percent behind the new staff and I look forward to a much improved season, regardless of what shape it takes (won't take too many wins to double the last couple of years).
As for QB, looking at the 3 scholarship QBs, Smalls and Tyner were "athlete" recruits by the ratings services. Tyner was a pretty highly touted TE in high school, and I suspect if there is a QB who can even equal Tyner's play, Tyner gets moved to TE in the Fall. "Pound the rock, run the clock" needs blocking TEs more than gun slinging passers. Plus, Bloom has mentioned the run ability of QBs, and Tyner is the slowest on the roster. Smalls is maybe 6' tall and fairly fast but not a great thrower from what we have seen. We definitely need help at DB, and maybe that was a conversation that was had with him. i don't know what "personal reasons" for missing spring means (and it's none of my business) but it probably isn't a good thing for a QB in a new and complex system.
I suspect that a transfer QB from Vanderbilt has had conversations about expectations, and if he can handle the job (and not suffer a third season-ending injury) it is his. My prediction for 3-deep at QB going into game 1 is some order of Stankavage, Glaesman, True Freshman (I will guess Towns, because Bloom referenced the level of competition he played in HS and he is a really good track athlete, so has the speed Bloom wants). Tyner will have a great TE career in the new system. 2019 and 2020 we can go get 2 high end QB recruits and slowly upgrade after Stankavage moves on and we see how the freshmen develop. Gonna be good times, I tell you! [well, I am a little worried about defense . . .).
(03-20-2018 11:58 PM)Ourland Wrote: [ -> ]I'm optimistic, but realistic at the same time.
I've been told those two things are mutually exclusive.
(03-21-2018 10:28 AM)Rice FB Fan Wrote: [ -> ]My prediction for 3-deep at QB going into game 1 is some order of Stankavage, Glaesman, True Freshman (I will guess Towns, because Bloom referenced the level of competition he played in HS and he is a really good track athlete, so has the speed Bloom wants). Tyner will have a great TE career in the new system. 2019 and 2020 we can go get 2 high end QB recruits and slowly upgrade after Stankavage moves on and we see how the freshmen develop. Gonna be good times, I tell you! [well, I am a little worried about defense . . .).
What do you see them doing with Smalls?
Smalls out for spring do we even know if he is still on campus? What to do with him assuming he is still with program...not a good QB, ball security issues for RB, too slow for WR, too small for TE, not sure what that leaves
(03-21-2018 11:01 AM)RiceOL83 Wrote: [ -> ]Smalls out for spring do we even know if he is still on campus? What to do with him assuming he is still with program...not a good QB, ball security issues for RB, too slow for WR, too small for TE, not sure what that leaves
Sums up my view of him as well.
Despite all the media writers pointing to Smalls for this season, I thought Smalls was going to be a tough fit, honestly (and I wonder if that was the message he was given). Bloom has typically wanted big QBs and they MUST protect the ball. None of the 3 last year fit that bill completely, which is why I am guessing Bloom brought in 3 with this first class, including a game ready (hopefully) grad transfer and the #1 passing HS QB in DFW last fall. I'm sure they'd like to red shirt the freshmen, but Bloom looks to me like he's ready to have a wide-open QB competition and find 1-2 guys who can play the position the way Bloom likes it played.
I would say Smalls to DB, but not sure he has enough speed. Additionally, I wish every kid the best (unless they are a proven turd of a person), but how many kids have missed a season / off-season for "personal reasons" who come back? The last local QB this applied to was Chris Robison at OU, who missed Spring for personal reasons and then transferred to FAU in the summer. It is possible Smalls transfers.
(03-21-2018 10:48 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (03-20-2018 11:58 PM)Ourland Wrote: [ -> ]I'm optimistic, but realistic at the same time.
I've been told those two things are mutually exclusive.
Without making any changes.. they are. Doing the same thing with the same people again (that failed again and again) and being optimistic isn't realistic. For example, being optimistic about a guy like Greenspan who left a wake of destruction at every stop in his past isn't realistic. Replace Greenspan with someone competent, equation changes.
Make some changes to the variables and it is perfectly reasonable to be realistically optimistic.
I would say that you can be realistic about the present and optimistic about the future at the same time. In fact, I would think that is the only approach that truly facilitates intelligent decision-making.
(03-21-2018 12:36 PM)Rice FB Fan Wrote: [ -> ]Despite all the media writers pointing to Smalls for this season, I thought Smalls was going to be a tough fit, honestly (and I wonder if that was the message he was given). Bloom has typically wanted big QBs and they MUST protect the ball. None of the 3 last year fit that bill completely, which is why I am guessing Bloom brought in 3 with this first class, including a game ready (hopefully) grad transfer and the #1 passing HS QB in DFW last fall. I'm sure they'd like to red shirt the freshmen, but Bloom looks to me like he's ready to have a wide-open QB competition and find 1-2 guys who can play the position the way Bloom likes it played.
I would say Smalls to DB, but not sure he has enough speed. Additionally, I wish every kid the best (unless they are a proven turd of a person), but how many kids have missed a season / off-season for "personal reasons" who come back? The last local QB this applied to was Chris Robison at OU, who missed Spring for personal reasons and then transferred to FAU in the summer. It is possible Smalls transfers.
If he embraces the physicality, Smalls has sufficient speed to play viper/strong safety hybrid. It would be a position similar to what Destri White played. If you recall, Destri White was a high school QB at Mesquite that never played a down of QB at Rice.
As for the personal reasons, sometimes kids really have legitimate personal reasons. There are a litany of non-football related personal issues so we should not assume that it has anything to do with a conversation with Coach Bloomgren.
Now, with that said, I have to like Tyner to win the QB battle. He is big, has a rocket for an arm, and is faster than people give him credit for. But I don't expect Spring to tell us too much as I expect fall camp and summer conditioning to be where all the decisions settle out in the first year of the Bloomgren era.
My thoughts are that the key to any success for this team in 2018 will be a running game with an improved offensive line and hopefully lots of speed and pressure on defense. I expect the QB to be a game manager this year...wait that sounds familiar.
Wait.... How do you know Tyner is the slowest QB last year? Could it be possible that the ABO instructed him not to run or run slower so the Freshmen kids looked better?.... That Peter Pan fella has a pretty good synopsis up there....
And don't think the Ghost hasn't read a couple a swipes at him by folks... He's always watchin....
(03-04-2018 06:49 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]The start of spring practice for Rice Football has been delayed until the week after spring break (March 19-24).
So I guess we are in the third day of spring practice and nobody cares? More important to whine about transfers, I guess.
Practice starts tomorrow morning
(03-21-2018 09:43 PM)Houston Owl Wrote: [ -> ]Practice starts tomorrow morning
Good. anybody who attends, give us the info and your impressions. let's talk football for a change. I am especially interested to hear if practice is run more efficiently than it used to be.
“Optimistic” is my football philosophy for the next four years: Double Rice’s win total each year.
“Realistic” is understanding that that upward trend cannot be sustained beyond four years
(03-22-2018 07:55 AM)owl at the moon Wrote: [ -> ]“Optimistic” is my football philosophy for the next four years: Double Rice’s win total each year.
“Realistic” is understanding that that upward trend cannot be sustained beyond four years
"Optimistic" is what I hope to see.
"Realistic" is the knowledge that I may not see it.
But I might.
My football philosophy is "win the next one".
(03-22-2018 07:55 AM)owl at the moon Wrote: [ -> ]“Optimistic” is my football philosophy for the next four years: Double Rice’s win total each year.
“Realistic” is understanding that that upward trend cannot be sustained beyond four years
That fourth year might be hard--2, 4, 8 are doable, but 16?
(03-22-2018 12:20 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (03-21-2018 09:43 PM)Houston Owl Wrote: [ -> ]Practice starts tomorrow morning
Good. anybody who attends, give us the info and your impressions. let's talk football for a change. I am especially interested to hear if practice is run more efficiently than it used to be.
Me too. I am going to try to make one or two, but I really do hope to see a different atmosphere at practice.