Buzz says '08 offensive POY

The buzz around the league has it that senior Rice quarterback Chase Clement has the inside track on C-USA offensive player of the year for the upcoming season; here he's seen in spring scrimmage pitching while Robert Calhoun defends (PTH photo)

Blue 44, Grey 43
Amid highs and lows, Owls seek, perhaps find, rushing attack

HOUSTON (Mar. 29) -- It's hardly a new wrinkle when the Rice Owl offense rolls up 44 points to win by a nose in the waning moments -- while somehow not looking particularly all that impressive en route.

But that was the eerily familiar outcome in Saturday's annual Blue-Grey intrasquad scrimmage at Rice Stadium, which pitted first team offense versus second team defense and second team offense versus first team defense. The contest ended up Offense (Blue) 44, Defense (Grey) 43, such having been scored by way of a system which awarded points directly to both the offensive and defensive sides for big plays in addition to stops and points scored.

It was clear that Rice offensive minds had been placing a big focus this spring on the acquisition of some semblance of a running game, and it could be said that 'some semblance' was what showed up Saturday.

Veteran quarterback Chase Clement scrambled ran 10 times for 69 yards on the day to lead all rushers, C. J. Ugogkwe led a passel of Owl running backs with eight carries for 33. The Rice offensive units finished with 191 yards rushing on the day, showing the occasional capability of running the ball up the gut, especially late in the contest.

The play of both units appeared, in conclusion, to be that of a work-in-progress, with numerous spots to be filled, skills to be honed, and improvement still needed on both side of the ball. Both the Rice offensive and defensive coordinators closed the proceedings with, shall we say, a spirited critique of the day's performance. Suffice it to say that no one earned an "A" -- well, almost no one.

On the defensive front, Scott Solomon played like a man possessed, winding up with eight tackles, three of them for sacks and three more behind the line of scrimmage. Not bad, for a guy who was too banged up to strap on full pads for a good part of the spring thus far.
Story....

Owls begin run to daylight
(Houston Chronicle -- Mar. 30)
Spring game:  ho-hum
(Houston Chronicle <MK's blog> -- Mar. 30)
Day wasn't all about x's and o's
(OwlDigest.com  -- Mar. 30)
Owl offense wins scrimmage on final play
(RiceOwls.com -- Mar. 30)
Rice president set to call plays in spring scrimmage
(RiceOwls.com -- Mar. 28)

Solly shores up the DL

Rice DL Scott Solomon (13) takes on two offensive cohorts at the same time in the annual Spring Scrimmage; Scott received high marks from his coaches for his efforts this spring despite having to fight off injuries (PTH photo)

Ready for the Big Time

University President David Leebron gets set for some real, big-time collegiate decision-making as he pulls on the headset and prepares to make calls for the offense, first quarter of Rice's annual Spring Scrimmage (PTH photo)

It's called a running game...
Owl running back Jeramy Goodson heads wide to evade the grasp of onrushing linebacker Willie Garley in Spring Scrimmage action Saturday (Mark Anderson photo)

Whoa, Mule!!

Owl defenders Randy Kitchens (R), JaCorey Shepherd get positioned to wrestle down WR Pierre Beasley after Pierre snagged a pass in the annual Spring Scrimmage (PTH photo)

Spring scrimmage up next

Hoping to channel their enthusiasm into a creditable performance on both sides of the ball, the Rice Owls kick off their annual Spring Scrimmage at Rice Stadium, 5:00 p.m. Saturday -- all Owl fans are invited (PTH photo)

Owls make strides along with  gaffes as drills pass mid-point

HOUSTON (Mar. 26) – As of Wednesday, the Rice Owls are heading into the home stretch in their 2008 Spring Practice campaign, ten workouts now under their belts and the annual Spring Scrimmage looming Saturday, with a 5:00 p.m. kickoff in Rice Stadium.

Observers have not failed to take note of the offensive gaffes committed more often than one would wish by some of the Owls’ most experienced offensive-unit players this spring, but also cannot fail to take refuge in the fact that Rice returns a seasoned, experienced offense this fall, especially among the skill positions.

Still, that doesn’t excuse poor or haphazard performance in the spring, Rice head coach David Bailiff was quick to tell us, earlier this week.

Monday, the offense had a better time of it than in previous workouts, working the short passing game to good effect on a crisp, hurry-up drive to end the practice session. Part of that might have been due to some as-yet unfamiliar zone coverage schemes being installed by Rice defensive coaches this spring. But Chase’s passing was more up to his usual standard and the receivers at length did appear to have responded to a bit of old-fashioned negative reinforcement.
Story....   Rice Spring roster....    Spring practice schedule....

Saturday's events include spring scrimmage, Junior Day
(OwlDigest.com -- March 27)
Spring scrimmage four days out
(Houston Chronicle <MK's blog> -- March 25)
Owls concentrate on lifting running game
(Houston Chronicle -- March 25)
Spring scrimmage set for Saturday
(RiceOwls.com -- March 24)
Morning workout marks spring midpoint
(RiceOwls.com -- March 21)
Coach Bailiff beaming over Monday's workout
(OwlDigest.com -- March 18)

Hard at it...

Rice quarterback Chase Clement sets up to throw as the Owls run through 11-on-11 drills in Monday's workout.   Full coverage of Rice Football's spring practice sessions commences this week, with coach and player interviews, photos, practice reports and more.  Stay tuned.  (PTH photo)

OwlDigest spring practice preview....

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Just three old pass catchers, hanging around the ball park
Froggie, Buddy and JD

Two Rice hall-of-famers, and one future Owl hall-of-famer -- Froggie Williams, Buddy Dial and Jarett Dillard (L-R),  pose together before the Rice-UTEP game last fall; the occasion was the 50th anniversary reunion of the Institute's 1957 Southwest Conference champions.  Sadly, it was the last trip to Rice Stadium for Rice's great end, Buddy Dial, who died Friday  (photo courtesy Rice Sports Information)

Rice OC likes what he sees
in this year's crop of recruits

By Mark Anderson, with staff reports

HOUSTON (Feb. 21) – Rice Owls offensive coordinator Tom Herman  faded quite a bit of heat during the Owls’ series of lackluster offensive performances to open the ’07 campaign.  But something clicked for the mentor of the Rice offensive unit, oh, along about the U of H game, and from that point on for the rest of the season, the Rice offense was virtually unstoppable, rolling up point after point, and coincidentally managing to outscore a few opponents along the way.

Most of the cupboard remains full, personnel- wise, for the upcoming campaign, and Owl fans are excited over the prospect of having possibly their best one-two scoring punch in decades, that being quarterback Chase Clement and wide receiver Jarett Dillard, back for their senior years.

But there were soft spots in the Rice offensive scheme last fall, particularly in the backfield, so the crop of ’08 schoolboy signees was looked at with particular interest by Owl fans in regard to players who might be able to contribute early, and prove an additional kick to an already prolific Rice offensive unit, come September.

The Webletter’s Mark Anderson spoke with Coach Herman earlier this week, and, as one might expect, immediately the conversation turned to the crop of new schoolboy signees.
Story....

17 Rice football signees announced


Rice head football coach David Bailiff can't help but beam just a little as he announces this year's group of signees to gathered media Wednesday (Mark Anderson photo)

|Owl recruiting haul hailed 'best in years'

HOUSTON (Feb. 6) -- Rice head football coach David Bailiff Wednesday afternoon announced the signing of 17 schoolboys to letters of intent to play ball for the Owls, calling the group "a great fit for Rice."

The conversation among gathered newshounds at the R-Room press conference was even more positive than that, as terms such as "the best in years," "superior athletes" and "Bailiff's strong suit" were bandied about.

But Coach Bailiff tended to avoid sweeping generalities, announcing, like all college football coaches insist  on signing day, that he and his coaching staff have met their needs -- but steering clearing of on-field superlatives. The second-year Rice head man preferred to speak as much of off-the-field exploits of his new charges as he did of their athletic abilities.

"It has been a wonderful day," Coach Bailiff said. "We signed 17 young men who are a great fit at Rice.

The Rice mentor said that most of this group of 17 signees had been on the radar screen since he held a Junior Day for prospective Owls one year away, last March. "Eleven of these young men actually came to us (at that time), and our relationship with them started that day," Coach said.
Story....      Signing day press conference photo gallery....

Steeler organization mourns Buddy Dial's passing
(Pittsburgh Steelers.com -- Mar. 4)
Dial, former Owl star, dies at 71
(Houston Chronicle -- Mar.2)
Iron Owl Night draws noisy crowd
(OwlDigest.com -- Feb. 28)
Rice announces '08 schedule, begins with SMU at home
(RiceOwls.com -- Feb. 26)
AFA prepper changes flight plan, lands at Rice
(OwlDigest -- Feb. 22)
JUCO Aguayo in for a visit
(OwlDigest -- Feb. 21)
Syp, Q, Price, Scruggs all will be 'getting reps' with Jenkins
(Houston Chronicle -- Feb. 19)
Bailiff names replacement for Beaty
(Houston Chronicle -- Feb. 19)
You can't always get what you want--but Owls did pretty well
(Houston Chronicle -- Feb. 7)
Bailiff sees need to pick up the pace
(Houston Chronicle -- Feb. 7)
MK's National Signing Day analysis
(Houston Chronicle -- Feb. 6)
MK's National SIgning Day early notes
(Houston Chronicle -- Feb. 6)
Rice football expected to sign 17
(OwlDigest.com -- Feb. 6)
Vandy wanted, got earlier '08 home date with Rice
(Nashville City Paper -- Feb. 6)
Willson heads to Longhorn (sic) state
(Windsor, Ont., Star -- Feb. 6)
Owls announce non-conference schedule changes for '08
(RiceOwls.com -- Feb. 5)
Coach Beaty heads for Kansas
(Houston Chronicle -- Jan. 25)

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Honorable Mention this year -- ??? next year...

Both Chase Clement (pictured) and Jarrett Dillard have garnered All-American honorable mention nods from national media sources, helping whet Owl appetites for opening kickoff next season (Mark Anderson photo)

Jarett Dillard shows his incredible leaping ability with this touchdown grab against  SMU (Mark Anderson  photo)