Not trying to make any excuses, just trying to figure out why the offense was so bad - besides just really inspired play by Rice. Rice played fired up D, but our offense has been better than Middle and USM and just behind UNT.

I don’t really think the two Oline starters out today was the whole issue. Probably the fact that we had only played 2’games in 8 weeks can’t help either. I would say 80% Rice, 15% lack of games, 5% missing both tackles.

Sigh. But congrats to Coastal! They knocked Debo the f out!

(12-05-2020 06:18 PM)Tintin Wrote:  

(12-05-2020 03:20 PM)rileylives Wrote:  Rice is better than people perceived them, and they proved it today. I said multiple times this week they are a good team.

Congratulations Rice, you deserve to feel good today after that performance.

Rice lost to UNT and Middle, who are not good teams. They might be better than perception, but they are not a good team.

Marshall came in today uninspired and unprepared and couldn’t adjust to the opposing game plan despite much more talent and the home field.
Today was a Doc special.

Here is my opinion. Rice isn't a bad team. Rice is not a great team. We are a much improved team still trying to put the pieces together. The defense has come along significantly faster than the offense. In 2019 we played good defense against a lot of teams but could not score. Part of that is that our offensive scheme, which is designed to protect the defense, is conceptually easy to make adjustments against and we also have had trouble developing QBs. I expect that the defense will continue to be ahead of the offense in 2021. 2020 has demonstrated that we have a lot of defensive depth. Giving up 40 to MT in overtime and 27 to North Texas don't sit well, but the future is bright on that side of the ball. Offensively, we still have a long road ahead. In 2019, if we had an offense that could averaged 24 points we would have beaten a Big 12 team (Baylor), LaTech, Marshall, and Southern Miss. There is some promise in 2020, but honestly, the offense is still lagging behind the defense. So Tintin, I appreciate your perspective. We are still trying to figure out how to be a good football, not just an improved team with a good defense.

So much for the one bright spot in CUSA. Was hoping for Marshall to go undefeated.

I see Rice bowling, come time for the holidays next year. Future is bright for the Owls

In college FB, so much is about coaching and QB play. I gave Marshall huge advantages in both going into Saturday's game and thought it would be an easy blowout.

However on coaching, not sure what Marshall gameplan was. Did they not watch any film? Rice is really predictable and easy to prepare for. They are also horrible at in-game adjustments. Marshall seemed to not do either.

All teams successfully stop Rice by playing 8 in box and then man on outside daring Rice to beat you over-the-top. It is really simple. For some reason, Marshall DC thought it was better to have DB's way off-the-ball protecting the deep ball from a second string QB who can run but not throw and best WR out of the game. Combine that with crappy gap control by DL/LB's and poor tackling results in what happened on one-side of ball.

On offense, not sure if Marshall QB had a betting interest (joke). All five picks had zero to do with Rice football plays but just horrible throws or drops by Marshall. Formula for moving ball on Rice D is big spread of field (e.g., trips in boundary to create more space to field) and force open field tackling plays in space and throw ball over-the-top to help create that open space east/west on spread as DB's have to respect deep ball. That has been kryptonite all year but Marshall offense decided to play north/south vs. north/south/east/west of the entire field which made it easy to defend.

Bottom line is give Rice credit for playing hard and inspired but they are not the 27 Yankees. But sometimes timing is perfect and lucky ends-up > being good.

I think all teams in C-USA sans UTEP and USM would have won against that Marshall team that showed-up on Saturday. Would not expect to see that same Marshall team again in the future.

(12-07-2020 03:46 PM)owl40 Wrote:  However on coaching, not sure what Marshall gameplan was. Did they not watch any film?

I’m tempted to ask that question myself, but I’m afraid of what an honest answer would be.

Quote:Rice is really predictable and easy to prepare for. They are also horrible at in-game adjustments. Marshall seemed to not do either.

The truth hurts.

Quote:Bottom line is give Rice credit for playing hard and inspired but they are not the 27 Yankees. But sometimes timing is perfect and lucky ends-up > being good.

You may not be the 27 Yankees but you sure made us look like the 62 Mets.

Marshall’s defense was just fine. Held Rice to one TD. Less than 3.0 YPC. Just couldn’t keep the offense on the field.

The defense more than held up their end.

We lost the field position battle in as lopsided a fashion as I can ever recall. Even the one kickoff was out of bounds (7!!! this year. Unacceptable). Our punts were short (starting punter was out), and all that was on top of the manhandling Rice did to our offense, physically and mentally.