Rice Owls College Football Pregame Quote, 09/24/2019

I want to start out by talking about our volleyball team. I think what Coach (Genny) Volpe’s done with that team and what our volleyball team was able to do last week, in beating two Big 12 opponents, that was awesome. They came out on top and we’ll continue to support them and wish them the best as they pursue the Conference USA title. We’ll be supporting them the rest of the year.

Talking briefly about Baylor, I said this on Saturday. I’m so proud of our team. The way they battled for four quarters is everything we asked for against what I think is a really good and well-coached football team. I think that was a great challenge and a great team that came in here. We stood toe-to-toe and traded blows with them. We went 12 rounds, toe-to-toe. I’m so proud of what we were able to do.

Defensively, it might be as impressive of a game as I’ve been around, especially in the second half. The way we were able to hold the No. 1 scoring offense in America scoreless for two quarters was outstanding. It was all heart and soul. It was our kids fighting together. (It was) all of the things that we talked about. They executed well and played with relentless effort. That’s what we need every game (and) every play.

Offensively, I thought both quarterbacks played well and did some good things. We do trust both completely and I think we’re getting better. We just have to find a way to make sure that the end zone is not radioactive to us. When we get down there, we have to put it in the box and not be attempting field goals. Those are things we’re working to clear up. I think having both of our starting offensive tackles back for this game, which we do plan to. They both should be able to practice and do something on the field today. It will be a huge help for our football team. So, I’m looking forward to having those guys back.

We’ve shifted our focus, very simply, like we do every week. This is kind of cool though to jump into preparing for La Tech and our conference opener. I think the first four games; we’re very thankful for the first four opportunities. We learned a lot from them that will be beneficial as we go into conference play. I think those teams, the caliber of those teams really showed us where we are as a program and where we want to be and that’s really exciting. Our kids are really chomping at the bit to get back on the practice field today, just like the coaching staff is.

I don’t think it’s going to get any easier from here. We’ve got a great conference with some great players that we’ll have to prepare for every week. I think La Tech and Skip Holtz are right at the top of our conference year in and year out. He does a heck of a job, him and his staff. I look at their players, seeing guys like J’Mar Smith, who’s leading the No. 1 offense in Conference USA. I look on the other side of the ball and see Amik Robertson and know how talented he is as a football player. So, again, there’s talent all throughout their program to go along with some great coaching. But, our players are excited about starting conference play. They know every one of our goals that we started with this year are still intact and they’re fighting to make those things a reality for us. To get that win that we want so badly, we’re going to have to play well in all three phases Saturday.

On what the team’s goals are:

The team’s goals are very clear. We want to win the conference. That conference trophy is at the very top. The other goal is to go to a bowl game and win. That’s what we want to do. That’s what we’re continuing to build this program for.

On the quarterback dynamic going forward:

I probably hoped that someone would have really separated in the last game. The reality is they both played really well. So, we’re going to continue to do what we did last game. Wiley (Green’s) going to start. He’ll get the first two series and then Tom (Stewart) will come in. We’ll see where it goes from there.

If there is something about having Wiley Green start the first two drives that he likes:

When you have a situation where Wiley came out of camp as the starter, we want him to remain as the starter because he earned that right. But I think to say that Tommy has not performed at a level that he’s deserving off would be incorrect also. I guess that’s the thing. Wiley’s our starter, but Tom has earned playing time. To keep it a meritocracy (where) it’s just like any other position where it’s truly a competition and other people are going to play, it’s just not my preference at the quarterback position. But, we’re going to treat it right now, really, until it finds itself, just like any other position on our team. I think that they can all do everything that we ask but each of them bring something different to the table in terms of one doing something slightly better than the other.

On what each quarterback does better than the other:

They’re both throwing the heck out of the ball and that’s what I love. We’re able to hit three X’s right now. But, if you were to nail it down, I’d say that Wiley’s time in our system allows him to be more comfortable with any change that we make on the sideline. Obviously, pre-snap Wiley is still, not light years ahead but he’s still ahead of him. What Tom does better is Tom elongates plays to keep them alive and when Tom runs with the ball he runs with a passion to get in the end zone. We’ve seen him do it on multiple occasions now. He’s a determined runner.

On what he has seen from Louisiana Tech’s run game:

I think Friday night we saw a different version of their run game. A run game that really came to life. Justin Henderson rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns. It really allowed them to come to life. They had 275 rushing yards as a team in that game. That’s a high for them this year. It’s really a different element with a team that we know can stand back there and throw it. When they can run the ball with that much success, it really does make them the top offense in the conference right now. So, it’s going to be a heck of a challenge for our defense.

On if there are a few tweaks that he needs to make as they get into conference play:

There’s a lot of things that we need to continue to advance. Third down was a focus for us going into the last game (and) we ended up 8-of-18 on offense. We got off the grass better on third down defensively than we had. What we really did well was we took the ball away with those two takeaways and the fourth down stop. Those were huge things that are going to continue to be points of emphasis. So, as we’re looking at things we did well, we kept drives alive. We had a 14-play drive and we won time of possession. We kept the defense off the grass for most of the third quarter. So, we’re doing some good things systematically. If there’s something that we’re going to point to, it’s just scoring more points. If we can get that kind of effort out of our defense and just our whole team, the way we played the second half was so much better. What I believe is that, I don’t know that if we had given up that two-minute drive going into the half last year, I don’t know if we could have come out and held it together the way that our leadership, the players on our team stepped up and continued to fight. More than that, (they) continued to improve. You could feel the momentum switch. It was a pretty fun stadium to be in Saturday night. So, the way our guys kept together, kept fighting, kept swinging and kept making plays, even up to the end, was really big. The defense getting us the ball back with 6:30 to go, us having a chance to go down and tie it was so exciting. That was so fun to be a part of. That’s exactly where we want to be. Taking any team into deep water in the fourth quarter should be a good thing for our program. Now, we still have to come out the other side. The reality was we couldn’t protect. We didn’t protect. They had a three-man rush, they sacked us twice in three plays on that drive, and we never got the ball back. (It was) a sad way for it to end but was so fun to be a part of in that second half. It was so fun to be on the sideline with our guys. I just believe so much in the steps we’ve taken. I don’t know if anybody outside of our program thought two years ago that we could be here. Standing toe-to-toe with an Army team that plays the way they do for 60 minutes and fighting with Baylor and giving ourselves a chance in the end. I’m really proud of the progress. But, like I told these guys yesterday morning, it’s about time to win.

On if being down two tackles and the third down conversions are something that shows the team is on the right track:

I think so. Especially the tackles. Uzo (Osuji) and Brandt (Peterson) didn’t find out until Thursday that they were starting. They stepped in and fought. Uzo, obviously, has more game experience. I thought he performed pretty well, maybe his best game in a Rice jersey and Brandt fought. He fought play in and play out. He did some good things. But, when you put those other two tackles back in there and we can give the passers another fraction of a second, we should be much better. But, I also think it’s a testament to Coach (Jerry) Mack and the fact that, knowing what we had to work with in that game (and) how we went about it, they did a great job taking access when they loaded the box, whether it was on first, second or third down. And I don’t know if I talk about our coordinators enough. I want to make sure that I say that Coach Mack had an unbelievable plan going in there and really, in game, made some great adjustments to have us take advantage of the access against a very talented Baylor defense. There were eight or nine hats within seven yards of the ball. We had to make those throws and make good adjustments. And Brian Smith, his defense and his defensive staff. What they’ve done to really start to solidify our defense and the bully that it’s going to be. I’m really excited about where that’s going.

On what’s improved with Louisiana Tech quarter J’Mar Smith:

No. 1, I think (Louisiana Tech) is asking him to do some really cool things in their schemes. Some RPO stuff, he’s doing a really great job, not just extending plays to get it out to the bubble off the GT scheme and instead of him running with it, more than anything, he seems to be throwing it. I think he’s completing 68% of his balls. But, he’s throwing it down field (and) throwing it accurately down field, too. So, he’s a good quarterback.