(09-10-2022 11:30 PM)Intellectual_Brutality Wrote: Positives:
- Receivers got open, had good hands by and large
- I didn't like McMahon's accuracy on deep balls but he looks really good at everything else
- Secondary with the turnovers
- OL and DL
- Lack of surprises with special teams
Negatives
- attendance/atmosphere
- espn color guy opposite Salzman
No real complaints outside of missed opportunities on long passes due to inaccurate throws
Just a couple of observations from the game/stadium:
Run/Pass ratio was 58/42% against a team that Rice could have gone 75/25%. I believe that the offense is opening up more than some of the fans will acknowledge. Rice still believes that establishing the run first is essential to open up the passing game, but the fact that they passed 4 out of every 10 plays against an inferior opponent (and with a lead) is encouraging.
While the student/McNeese side of the stadium was somewhat sparse (students showed up pretty well for at least the first half), the Rice side of the stadium had
many more people, which is promising against a team like McNeese State.
The stadium upgrades (which were long overdue) are a great first step in the renovation of the facility. Much more work needs to be done but I was pleased with the upgrades. The "Flight Decks" are very nice and hopefully will bring in enhanced revenue for the program.
For a 2nd string QB, TJ McMahon is a upgrade over most (if not all) of the more recent quarterbacks the team has started since the graduation of Driphus Jackson after the 2015 season.
Rice was penalized 7 times, which is about average for this team last year (averaged 7.4 penalties, ranked #110 in the nation out of 130 in 2021). The best team nationally averaged 3.7 last year. In game 1 the Owls were flagged 4 times. Discipline, Discipline, Discipline...