Line has gone down a bit - it opened at Arkansas - 21 1/2 and it's now 19 1/2 to 20.
No Rice game notes yet that I see. It will be interesting to see if we make a public announcement on the starting quarterback prior to kickoff.
By my count, we return 7 offensive starters and 9 defensive starters but those are misleading numbers. Really on offense, we return veteran starters at every spot but QB (since Trammell missed the last couple of games in 2020 at WR) and it's not like we don't have guys at QB who have never started a collegiate game. Rozner and Suckley were both starters in 2019 but missed last year.
On defense, we lose Alldredge (to transfer) and Carroll (to an injury). But we return George Nyakwol on defense, another guy who missed 2020. He's more of a secondary guy so it's probably fair to say we are breaking in two new starters on the DL and at the WILL spot. But Inechukwu and Myron Morrison should be fine as starters. I am a bit worried about our depth on the DL and LB spots.
It's fair to say that this is the most experienced team in the Mike Bloomgren era. Then again, we're probably facing stronger offensive teams than we have in the past couple of seasons in our first few games. So let's see how the defense can do against teams with significantly more speed size on the other size of the ball.
Interesting video from Arkansas. Their coach does talk about Rice some but obviously that press conference mostly focuses on Arkansas. Midway through it, he's asked about the Rice QB situation. He mentioned McCaffrey and how they broke down all of his Nebraska plays. I think the coach erred in saying Constantine was the other QB Rice might play (he seemed to be looking at the notes he had on Rice and I think he just looked at the wrong name - I suspect he meant Green but just saw the wrong name).
(08-30-2021 01:39 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]I think the coach erred in saying Constantine was the other QB Rice might play (he seemed to be looking at the notes he had on Rice and I think he just looked at the wrong name - I suspect he meant Green but just saw the wrong name).
I think Arkansas will have more than enough talent and just enough focus to win the game. Some of our offense will be new, so there's the learning curve to consider. I hope it's at least a close game through halftime. I'll go with Arkansas 38-17.
Actually, several surprises for me
1. Jordan Myers is RB1
2. Faae Pepe (True Freshman) in the 2 deep at Right Guard
3. Terreance Ellis (walkon) in the 2 deep at Linebacker
4. Cameron Montgomery returning kick offs.
Actually, several surprises for me
1. Jordan Myers is RB1
2. Faae Pepe (True Freshman) in the 2 deep at Right Guard
3. Terreance Ellis (walkon) in the 2 deep at Linebacker
4. Cameron Montgomery returning kick offs.
Doesn't necessarily surprise me that they put Myers as RB1. He doesn't really fit a position, yet will likely be a captain and key contributor. But I'll be surprised if he finishes Saturday's game with the most carries.
Agree that Pepe's inclusion on two deep is notable, but he's Samoan so not a surprise he has the size to compete from day one.
Actually, several surprises for me
1. Jordan Myers is RB1
2. Faae Pepe (True Freshman) in the 2 deep at Right Guard
3. Terreance Ellis (walkon) in the 2 deep at Linebacker
4. Cameron Montgomery returning kick offs.
Doesn't necessarily surprise me that they put Myers as RB1. He doesn't really fit a position, yet will likely be a captain and key contributor. But I'll be surprised if he finishes Saturday's game with the most carries.
Agree that Pepe's inclusion on two deep is notable, but he's Samoan so not a surprise he has the size to compete from day one.
True on Pepe's size. However, given the supposed complexity of the offense, I am surprised at his inclusion in the two deep as that indicates a quick grasp (and coaches' trust) of the offense. But I could be overthinking.
(08-30-2021 01:39 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting video from Arkansas. Their coach does talk about Rice some but obviously that press conference mostly focuses on Arkansas. Midway through it, he's asked about the Rice QB situation. He mentioned McCaffrey and how they broke down all of his Nebraska plays. I think the coach erred in saying Constantine was the other QB Rice might play (he seemed to be looking at the notes he had on Rice and I think he just looked at the wrong name - I suspect he meant Green but just saw the wrong name).
Also thought it was interesting that Arkansas spent their last scrimmage focusing on special teams as well as run-throughs on non-game logistics, ostensibly to decrease pre-game jitters.
(08-30-2021 01:39 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting video from Arkansas. Their coach does talk about Rice some but obviously that press conference mostly focuses on Arkansas. Midway through it, he's asked about the Rice QB situation. He mentioned McCaffrey and how they broke down all of his Nebraska plays. I think the coach erred in saying Constantine was the other QB Rice might play (he seemed to be looking at the notes he had on Rice and I think he just looked at the wrong name - I suspect he meant Green but just saw the wrong name).
Also thought it was interesting that Arkansas spent their last scrimmage focusing on special teams as well as run-throughs on non-game logistics, ostensibly to decrease pre-game jitters.