Rice Owls: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Rice Owls: Key To The 2022 Offense
Get more out of the ground game.
The style of play has been good enough to control the clock, and there was just enough with the passing game to be okay – there should be more happening through the air. But the offense is supposed to control things on the ground, and it’s struggling.
The Owls averaged fewer than four yards per carry and stalled a little too often. They picked it up late in the season and the team was more competitive, but overall if they can get to over 150 yards per game – that only happened four times last season – the balance of the attack changes.
Rice Owls: Key To The 2022 Defense
Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways.
Obviously every team is better when it generates takeaways, but this team really needs them. The Rice defense isn’t going to be a brick wall, and the offense needs as many breaks and short fields as possible.
The D was able to come up with multiple takeaways five times in the last eight games, the team won three of them and was competitive in a good fight against Charlotte. The team is 4-1 over the last two seasons when it comes up with three or more.
Rice Owls: Key Player To The 2022 Season
DT Izeya Floyd, Soph.
Elijah Garcia did a little bit of everything for the Rice defense last year. He led the team with 67 tackles, was one of the top pass rushers with five sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss, and he was also the 300-pound anchor everything worked around.
The 326-pound Garcia isn’t going to be Floyd, but at the very least he has to be a wall on the nose and let everyone else get behind the line.
Rice Owls: Key Transfer
WR Sam Crawford, Sr.
Receiver might be the team’s biggest strength – even with a few key losses – and it’s better with the addition of the veteran playmaker from Tulsa.
Crawford averaged over 14 yards per catch in his three seasons with 114 grabs and ten touchdowns. There are other options, but he has the potential to be the star of the attack.
Rice Key Game To The 2022 Season
Louisiana, Sept. 17
Of course the Ragin’ Cajun program has been fantastic over the last few seasons, but it’s going through a bit of an overhaul this year. After losing to USC in the opener and likely beating McNeese State, Rice can get to 2-1 just before a rough stretch – and can make an early statement in the hunt to go bowling – by beating the defending Sun Belt champs.
Lose, and with three road games in the next four dates – and UAB at home – being 1-6 wouldn’t be out of the question.
Rice Owls: 2021 Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 112 – Rice 41
– Time of Possession: Rice 33:14 – Opponents 26:44
– Field Goals: Opponents 11-of-15 – Rice 5-of-11
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Rice Top 10 Players | Rice Schedule