Rice's secondary
- Thread starter ssczar76
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I think most defensive backfields are suspect, especially agains these spread offenses.
Is Rice's defense suspect? It's hard to tell from their other games, because those offenses aren't clear to me - like last night vs MC. Should MC have scored that much? Will that be Rice's undoing against a more balanced team, like LA?
If I were a betting man, Rice finishes 7-2 because of Rita an LA's offenses. I'm hoping I'm wrong but wasn't too impressed with the defense. Offense win games, defense wins championships.
Rice is dealing with a lot of injuries at the LB position which definitely against a kid like ThomaS. the sophomore corner got exposed, growing pains.
Turnovers killed rice more than there defense
Turnovers killed rice more than there defense
Will the LB's be back? Or are they out for the season? The lack of defense is going to hurt them as they go deeper in the playoffs.
Rice has also proved that they will win the shootout which the Rita should be. Rita won't be able to hang in there with them
King got back in last nite on some every other 3rd series. So that was good to see. Veal out til LA earliest. Rice starts a Jr and Soph Db in their 4 DB set. The Soph got exposed a little (on the halfback option pass and another corner pattern, but hey he's a Soph and he'll learn). Rice's rush did not get to Thomas as much as I would have hoped. But they wanted to make sure that Thomas wouldn't break the pocket. Also Rice's O had 5 turnovers last nite - so that keeps the D on the field. Overall Rice's secondary looked better than MCs.
I'm a Rice alum and fan of course but I think the criticism of #27 of Jaylen Williams (I think that's his name) is a bit unfounded. First off we are playing a spread and Alec Thomas, while not all throws were great threw a great game overall. Defending s spread means you have to pinch your safeties up near the lime to try and contain the option which is my cause of concern for Rice as our contain and spying really was horrible.
I was at the game hanging in the Alumni tent in the North End Zone so my perspective was skewed. But I taped the game and watched it. Yes #27, Jaylen Willams got beat on some balls but he was on an island most of the time with no safety help. He played a decent game all things considered and will only get better. Thomas is good, really good in my opinion. His dual threat ability makes him hard to defend and Mt. Carmel should've scored more. A fumble inside the 5 and a bad decision on 4th and 2 helped Rice big time. Rice should've scored more as well as they had a a TO on downs late in the 2nd and some bad turnovers as well. The game ended being what I thought, down to the wire between 2 very good football teams. In the end, Rice had a bad turnover late and stopped Carmel and then went down and scored and held their own. They deserved the win.
I don't think either Rita or Loyola can run an offense similar to Mt. Carmel with the playmakers they have. They have talent for certain and both teams are talented in their own right but defending a QB, who has the ability of Thomas is a hard thing to do. I walked away last night impressed by him by far. His decision making will only get better and that's a good thing for my Caravan brethren. This kid will own the next few games and I would hate to play Mt. Carmel in the playoffs for sure. Being a Junior, he will be a legitimate stud going into next year. If Rice can play a more conventional defense against both Rita and Loyola, I think they are in good shape to be competitive in both games and possibly win. Rita blew a close a close game to Provi who Rice blew away in the second half. Mt. Carmel without Thomas at QB almost beat and lost a close game to Loyola. This is the year where I feel the Blue has more parity than years past. That being said, anything can happen on a Friday night in this conference.
This is by far the fastest and possibly most talented Rice team I've seen in 34 years. Great game overall. My biggest beef was the ability to contain the outside and spy Thomas on the option considering we were pinching the box, not #27 or the secondary per se. We face a team with that kind of personnel and offensive set down the road and we may have problems of adjustments ar not made.
I was at the game hanging in the Alumni tent in the North End Zone so my perspective was skewed. But I taped the game and watched it. Yes #27, Jaylen Willams got beat on some balls but he was on an island most of the time with no safety help. He played a decent game all things considered and will only get better. Thomas is good, really good in my opinion. His dual threat ability makes him hard to defend and Mt. Carmel should've scored more. A fumble inside the 5 and a bad decision on 4th and 2 helped Rice big time. Rice should've scored more as well as they had a a TO on downs late in the 2nd and some bad turnovers as well. The game ended being what I thought, down to the wire between 2 very good football teams. In the end, Rice had a bad turnover late and stopped Carmel and then went down and scored and held their own. They deserved the win.
I don't think either Rita or Loyola can run an offense similar to Mt. Carmel with the playmakers they have. They have talent for certain and both teams are talented in their own right but defending a QB, who has the ability of Thomas is a hard thing to do. I walked away last night impressed by him by far. His decision making will only get better and that's a good thing for my Caravan brethren. This kid will own the next few games and I would hate to play Mt. Carmel in the playoffs for sure. Being a Junior, he will be a legitimate stud going into next year. If Rice can play a more conventional defense against both Rita and Loyola, I think they are in good shape to be competitive in both games and possibly win. Rita blew a close a close game to Provi who Rice blew away in the second half. Mt. Carmel without Thomas at QB almost beat and lost a close game to Loyola. This is the year where I feel the Blue has more parity than years past. That being said, anything can happen on a Friday night in this conference.
This is by far the fastest and possibly most talented Rice team I've seen in 34 years. Great game overall. My biggest beef was the ability to contain the outside and spy Thomas on the option considering we were pinching the box, not #27 or the secondary per se. We face a team with that kind of personnel and offensive set down the road and we may have problems of adjustments ar not made.
Teams need to throw to keep up with the Rice offense, so it is hard to go after individuals in the Rice secondary. The game yesterday was the best I have watched all year at any level. Both teams should be proud. This is the best Rice team I have EVER seen. The Carmel team will be a force in the playoffs.
Bowie, I have a ton of respect for Loyola and the rest of the CCL Blue for that matter. Holecek has done an outstanding job and the results speak for themselves but every year is a new one. Loyola is a juggernaut but I think they may be a bit more vulnerable this year than in years past. This is the fastest and most talented Rice team I've seen in my humble opinion. You have to account for several playmakers at any given time. Mt. Carmel gave Loyola fits and a good game as they've adapted their veer to a unique spread option attack and seem to have found a young man to run it literally. Watching the game yesterday, it's hard to account for all they have and that is why the game was so close. I have no doubt on the 21st Loyola will bring their A game to 99th and Pulaski and I anticipate a great game much like I thought yesterday would be. Not sure and never said Rice will win but I don't think Rice loses 28-0 this year.
One more observation from Friday, when Smalling came in and played corner, things were a bit different from the open reads that Thomas had earlier and made him throw into bad situations. Smalling didn't play "D" until midway through the 3rd. He is a kid that every team has to some to a degree but that is so unique a talent that everyone wishes they had. For Roce, they are darn fortunate to have him.
Deano, I'm not sure you'll see Smalling on Gronk Jr. First off, he'll play the corner, unless Zaleski lines up wide and second, he will only come in if the game is tight in the second half. Rice is going to protect their best player as best they can. He finally played both ways in the second half. Not sure that Rita will run an offense where you need to play your safeties up in the box to contain the option. And even when Rice did, The Caravan still made room with Thomas and Kennedy. Impressive duo to say the least.
As an addendum, for those on the North side or in the 'burbs, I played 16" softball with Gronk Jr.'s dad. I remember him being our "bat boy" and he was a behemoth like his dad back then and you can see he was a heckuva athlete as a youngster. Proud that he's done what's he has done.