Rice Modifying Offense

[50's PONY]

Jan. 24, 2005, 11:28PM



RICE NOTEBOOK
To remedy one-dimensional offense, Hatfield eyes experiment with formation
By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

For those fans of Rice football who loathe the triple option, change may be on the horizon.

Using a model he first tinkered with in 2001 and another executed to perfection by Utah during the past two seasons, Rice coach Ken Hatfield will move quarterback Joel Armstrong into a shotgun formation this spring, enhancing the probability of the Owls' passing with greater proficiency.

"I definitely think it's something we'll be doing this spring," Hatfield said. "It fits us really well. We think it can help us and give us a more balanced opportunity to do things in the passing game."

When it comes to the pass, the Owls have nowhere to go but forward. Rice passed for just 75.3 yards per game — worst among 117 Division I-A programs — and five touchdowns last season. Though the Owls led the nation in rushing (306.5 yards per game), their inability to achieve any semblance of offensive balance proved their demise, especially early in games.

On more than one occasion last season, Hatfield lamented the Owls' inability to pass well enough to keep defenses honest. With one split end, Ben Wiggins, lost to a knee injury in the third game at Texas and another, Marcus Battle, saddled with hamstring problems throughout the season, the Owls were more one-dimensional than one would reasonably expect with an option team.

"We think this is another way to expand on some of our option plays and spread the field," Hatfield said. "We can throw the ball more out of this formation. We'll pass a lot more often."

Hatfield first experimented with the shotgun three seasons ago. After watching Northwestern rack up 654 yards in a 54-51 win over Michigan on Nov. 4, 2000, Hatfield and his staff visited with the Wildcats' coaches, exchanged ideas and meshed them into the Rice attack. But when quarterback Kyle Herm was lost to an injury the following season, Hatfield junked the formation because he had only two quarterbacks available — true freshmen Greg Henderson and Joe Moore.

When Herm returned later in the season and the Owls revisited the shotgun option set, they rallied from a four-touchdown deficit in the second half against Louisiana Tech before losing 41-38 in overtime.

Utah introduced several wrinkles to the spread option and thrived last season, going 12-0 while averaging 45.3 points and 499.8 yards per game. Given the choice to run or pass from the shotgun, Utah quarterback Alex Smith rushed for 631 yards and 10 TDs and threw for 2,952 yards and 32 TDs.

Hatfield envisions Armstrong, a sophomore-to-be, and his stable of talented tailbacks experiencing more modest success. They only need time to grasp the nuances of Hatfield's scheme.

Of course, the Owls will still run with regularity. But the adjustment in philosophy could signal a new era for a program in need of change as it prepares for its first season in Conference USA.

"We're not abandoning anything," Hatfield said. "You're trying to do things to take advantage of your personnel."

[Mexmustang]

Sounds like something Hayden once thought up...the flying bone!