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Rice has a five game win streak going. Rice has won three of those games on the road (including Tulsa and UTEP). This will be a most challenging game for us. We need all our players to step up and play well. And the coaches have to have an excellent game plan. Isn't it grand that we have something other than pride at stake for the last game of the year? Who has a good grasp of Rice's weaknesses and strengths?

Go Ponies, beat Rice!

From stats they have a good balanced offense but are dreadful on defense in the same measure or worse than their offense is good.

Rice is #113 in Rush D, #112 in Pass Eff D, #114 in TTL D, and #114 in Scoring D. I do not know how they held ECU to 17.

Key to Rice's season is the #8 rating in TO margin and +1 per game.

They can get pressure and are #43 in sacks and T-36 in TFL.

They allow sacks and are T-86 in that category.

Weapons are J. Dillard with 6.9 RPG for 93.7 YPG and Q. Smith #25 in rushing with 92 YPG. The main QB is Clements who seems like a decent passer that can run as well.

The PonyGrad wrote:Rice is #113 in Rush D, #112 in Pass Eff D, #114 in TTL D, and #114 in Scoring D. I do not know how they held ECU to 17.

Key to Rice's season is the #8 rating in TO margin and +1 per game.

They can get pressure and are #43 in sacks and T-36 in TFL.

They allow sacks and are T-86 in that category.

Weapons are J. Dillard with 6.9 RPG for 93.7 YPG and Q. Smith #25 in rushing with 92 YPG. The main QB is Clements who seems like a decent passer that can run as well.

Clements is out with a broken collar bone.

mrydel wrote:Clements is out with a broken collar bone.

I wondered looking at the ECU stats why they would put a different QB in, and a definite drop off it appeared.

This could be very significant.

Sorry to hear about it though.

mrydel wrote:

The PonyGrad wrote:Rice is #113 in Rush D, #112 in Pass Eff D, #114 in TTL D, and #114 in Scoring D. I do not know how they held ECU to 17.

Key to Rice's season is the #8 rating in TO margin and +1 per game.

They can get pressure and are #43 in sacks and T-36 in TFL.

They allow sacks and are T-86 in that category.

Weapons are J. Dillard with 6.9 RPG for 93.7 YPG and Q. Smith #25 in rushing with 92 YPG. The main QB is Clements who seems like a decent passer that can run as well.

Clements is out with a broken collar bone.

So, are you thinking we are going to make Clements' backup look like a Heisman candidate instead? I shouldn't have said that.

ponyte wrote:

mrydel wrote:

The PonyGrad wrote:Rice is #113 in Rush D, #112 in Pass Eff D, #114 in TTL D, and #114 in Scoring D. I do not know how they held ECU to 17.

Key to Rice's season is the #8 rating in TO margin and +1 per game.

They can get pressure and are #43 in sacks and T-36 in TFL.

They allow sacks and are T-86 in that category.

Weapons are J. Dillard with 6.9 RPG for 93.7 YPG and Q. Smith #25 in rushing with 92 YPG. The main QB is Clements who seems like a decent passer that can run as well.

Clements is out with a broken collar bone.

So, are you thinking we are going to make Clements' backup look like a Heisman candidate instead? I shouldn't have said that.

Traditionally we spotlight the opposing receivers and make stars of them. Dillard worries me no matter who is QB. But if ever a defensive "genius" needed to come up with a 1 game gameplan this is it. Maybe double Dillard and blitz the QB and man up on the others for instance. Use our strengths to counteract theirs. We just need that one special full game from the defense. I really think the offense will be ok.

Traditionally we spotlight the opposing receivers and make stars of them. Dillard worries me no matter who is QB. But if ever a defensive "genius" needed to come up with a 1 game gameplan this is it. Maybe double Dillard and blitz the QB and man up on the others for instance. Use our strengths to counteract theirs. We just need that one special full game from the defense. I really think the offense will be ok.

I hope the D of the second half of the Tulsa game shows up. We played a tighter coverage in the second half and had much better run support on the outside. Haywood may be back and that can give some additional inside strength and pass rush capabilities. I don't know enough about Rice to have a good feel for them. Then again, I never expected ECU to light up the airways against us. Also, how are th special teams? How do we stack up there? Any ideas?

I believe beating Rice this weekend is not just a must win, it is the exclamation point for SMU. We have been restarting and rebuilding for so long that we need to declare than those days are over.

Ponies, you are that team! The time is now!

Coach Graham actually has said "No one has told him that Clements collarbone is broken". Clements is supposed to see a Doctor today. Blogger at Chronicle thinks we may not get a straight answer about QBs condition.

Two Rice alums I know that follow the program (one a former player) both say out.

Stallion wrote:Coach Graham actually has said "No one has told him that Clements collarbone is broken". Clements is supposed to see a Doctor today. Blogger at Chronicle thinks we may not get a straight answer about QBs condition.

Generally, all one needs to do is look at the collar bone and one can tell if it is broken. Also, the shoulder becomes a very unstable joint with a broken collarbone. Broken collar bones don't require a MRI or CT for a diagnosis. It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds throught he week.

I'm aware that Coach Graham may be totally full of shit-just thought I'd point out I've seen three published reports that say a decision will likely be made today after a Doctors appointment.

Clement started every game Rice won. Has a 134.2 Pass Eff and 481 yards rushing.

He did not start UCLA, Texas and Fla. St. due to injury but the first game of the season he lost a one pointer to Houston.

Joel Armstrong started those three and played well vs. UCLA where Rice lost by ten. He has a 99.7 Pass Eff and 99 yards rushing on the season.

The other QB is John Shepard with an 83 rating on 10 of 25 passing and no TDs and -13 rushing.

Joel can be effective if we give him time but losing Clement would be big.

The PonyGrad wrote:Clement started every game Rice won. Has a 134.2 Pass Eff and 481 yards rushing.

He did not start UCLA, Texas and Fla. St. due to injury but the first game of the season he lost a one pointer to Houston.

Joel Armstrong started those three and played well vs. UCLA where Rice lost by ten. He has a 99.7 Pass Eff and 99 yards rushing on the season.

The other QB is John Shepard with an 83 rating on 10 of 25 passing and no TDs and -13 rushing.

Joel can be effective if we give him time but losing Clement would be big.

If our defensive line applies pressure, I don't care who is playing QB for Rice. We knocked Kevin Kolb around, save for the 3rd-and-19 he converted.

We can do it again.