BRStang wrote:I wonder if Bennett will key into the fact that it's hard to put up 37 points only running the option.
A lot of you seem to misunderstand Rice's offense these days. They no longer run just the triple option.. they now run a spread option.. they regularly run 4-5 WR sets in addition to the threat of the option. We've faced mobile QB's before, but I think we will have an especially hard time defending Rice's spread option because they have a very effective, balanced attack (unlike Marshall). They have a QB, Chase Clement, that can execute this offense well.. it also helps when you have a stud of a WR in Jared Dillard and a solid RB in Quinton Smith.
I'm honestly terrified of our last 3 opponents because they all have balanced attacks.. they can and will run on you when you don't stack the line, though Rice and Tulsa worry me both because unlike Houston, they aren't as willing to give up on the run.. and if they are effective (ala ECU) we will have no chance. We simply don't have the personnel to be a smothering defense. We're flexible, and we seem to shut down the run well at home, which if effective against Houston will force them to pass to beat us. And they may just succeed.. the point is though.. a one-dimensional football team (ala UTEP) is a lot less daunting to prepare for and play than the balanced teams we are facing to finish out our season. Our only shot is to shut down one aspect of their offense (and thats going to be the run of course), play a lot of cover 2, and force them into a short passing game.. allowing them yardage and TOP then shutting them down against a shorter field inside the 20 (ala our strategy all season long).. which works for us when we actually HAVE made a team one-dimensional.
I say we have the best shot at beating Houston.. Tulsa is a maybe only because it's at home.. and Rice is a hell no because we play terrible on the road, and they're too good a team to lose to us at home.
