(08-20-2023 12:02 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(08-19-2023 08:18 PM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(08-19-2023 07:57 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Was there for a few series tonight and the offense looked good. Daniels threw a beautiful touch pass TD to McCaffrey on the first series.

I think Padgett came in for the next two series. He threw a TD to Ethan Powell, the grad transfer that was a nice play although I am not sure that was where he was intending to throw to? Either way, it was a long TD. He threw a nice first down to Mojarro, the Cal transfer (who is a big target). We seem fine in the receiving corps.

Jenkins was in with the third string and the offense struggled a bit more at that point.

I saw Horn make a 53 yard FG in warm ups that looked like it might have made it from 60 yards.

You are the man FBO. Thanks for the updates.

Agree with everything FBO said. The Roost’s write-up is also very good. JoVoni is now probably the fifth choice WR behind McCaffrey, Sykes, Landon and Braylen; the drops from the first scrimmage appear to have cost Johnson. That said, I’m not that sure of Sykes, so I think Johnson can work his way back in after the season starts.

It’s clearly the Juma and Dean show at RB. Not much from Ari. Tui and/or Bloom still insisted on running the Diamond backfield formation (QB and then three RBs set up in backfield to form the rest of the Diamond). Dumbest formation ever, as it gaine less than two yards on two tries.

O-line looks better than expected. Not great, as QBs were still moving in and around a pocket, but I had low expectations.

Secondary seems suspect. Some balls weren’t not well thrown (from both Daniels and Padgett) and the defense still had issues defending them.

On special teams, Hunt had a great punt, IMO.

The most odd thing about the scrimmage was how long that it lasted (nearly three hours). The coaches harped on and wanted to redo plays that weren’t done well.

Thompson might figure in the WR rotation a bit too. His numbers at HBU were insane two years ago. Didn’t notice Sykes, but I didn’t know his number either.

I watched the OL a bit. 73 and 74 in the middle stood out just because of their size. 73 is the grad transfer from the MAC. 74 is Bauer, a redshirt freshman from California. I wonder if he can help some this year?

How good is the young WR Ransom? Don't recall such praise for a true freshman. Navy and Ark St were his offers. Wasn't in top 300 recruits in Texas. Now "sky is the limit."

I was curious if the players and/or team members from Hawaii were effected by the fire.?

None of them are from Maui. They are all from Oahu or different islands apart from Maui. I guess they could have relatives or friends in Lahaina.

We probably have some Californian players whose families are dealing with Hilary today, but I suspect that’s just going to be a very rare rain and wind event in the summertime in Southern California.

AAC expert picks 2023: Projected order of finish, bold predictions, championship favorites

Well, we know not to trust the so-called experts in much these days, but FWIW, these elites have predicted the following for the Owls in the AAC this season:

8th: 1 vote
9th: 2 votes
11th: 1 vote
12th: 1 vote
13th: 1 vote

Going into season, only Charlotte fares worse with these experts, though they did get one 7th place vote. Hope we can do a lot better than that.

(08-20-2023 02:42 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  AAC expert picks 2023: Projected order of finish, bold predictions, championship favorites

Well, we know not to trust the so-called experts in much these days, but FWIW, these elites have predicted the following for the Owls in the AAC this season:

8th: 1 vote
9th: 2 votes
11th: 1 vote
12th: 1 vote
13th: 1 vote

Going into season, only Charlotte fares worse with these experts, though they did get one 7th place vote. Hope we can do a lot better than that.

The Athletic Daily just released their annual rankings of the 133 NCAA D-1 football programs for 2023-24. Rice is ranked 103 of 133 schools (77th percentile). They don’t seem too optimistic that Rice will win too many games in the new AAC. Further, Athalon Sports ranks JT Daniels as only the 7th best quarterback in the AAC.

I am hoping that both rankings are way off base.

Let's just play the **** games.

(08-20-2023 11:50 AM)Buho00 Wrote:  How good is the young WR Ransom? Don't recall such praise for a true freshman. Navy and Ark St were his offers. Wasn't in top 300 recruits in Texas. Now "sky is the limit."

I thought he looked pretty good, but he (and every other WR not named McCaffrey) wouldn't have gotten so much playing time if Rozner and Patterson were still here.

(08-22-2023 02:34 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Let's just play the **** games.

Need to survive the first two. It doesn’t help that the realignment dance demands that we must “look” like a D1 competitor while we have to face UT and UH both who will look to score at will to support their national importance.

Ran into Patrick Valent’s brother on the street today in Hoboken. Small world, I was wearing a Rice t-shirt and he had a Rice keychain!

(08-22-2023 05:37 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(08-22-2023 02:34 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Let's just play the **** games.

Need to survive the first two. It doesn’t help that the realignment dance demands that we must “look” like a D1 competitor while we have to face UT and UH both who will look to score at will to support their national importance.

I am just impatient with preseason speculations.

(08-22-2023 05:37 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(08-22-2023 02:34 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Let's just play the **** games.

Need to survive the first two. It doesn’t help that the realignment dance demands that we must “look” like a D1 competitor while we have to face UT and UH both who will look to score at will to support their national importance.

Survive UT? Yes.

Houston has many question marks, and if Rice is healthy after Week 1, they should be quite competitive against the Cougars.

UH also has a fairly challenging opener, against UTSA at home. If Houston wins that, they could be a handful. But I would take my chances with an 0-1 UH squad and a head coach that not many fans like very much.