Texas Football Theory: Detailed breakdown of Texas vs. Rice
On the season’s initial video of Texas Football Theory, Lifetime Longhorn and new regular contributor Rod Babers and Inside Texas’ Ian Boyd break down Rice, the Longhorns’ week one opponent and give more than a nod to Alabama, which Texas faces on Sept. 9.
[Join Inside Texas today and get 50% off an annual subscription!]
Babers said he believes Texas has spent most of the past three weeks preparing for Alabama rather than spending more than a passing look at the Owls.
“I think Texas has been preparing for Bama, last week, that free week, this week versus Rice. And I think most, and maybe even all, of the game plans have been for Bama. There’s no need to really emphasize Rice because you should beat Rice with your kind of basic principles and your basic personnel and your basic concepts.”
Babers said that Rice’s coaches have said they want to run the ball to shorten the game against Texas but that the Longhorns should be ready to defend the screen passes.
“You got your highest rated signing in the history of the Rice Owls in (transfer quarterback) JT Daniels, who’s played against Texas before,” Babers explained. “Am I a fool thinking Rice might come out and try to pass to open up the run?”
Boyd, Inside Texas’ Xs and Os expert, said the Owls will not stray far from the run game until it has to.
“They will come back to the run game at some point in the game, maybe to control the clock or to keep the score down,” Boyd said. “Rice will try to see if it can pound Texas, pound (untested EDGE) Ethan Burke, and see if Texas can fit the run properly when they have to play with a fullback on the field. All those things.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
“Yeah, you didn’t bring JT Daniels in to hand off to whoever their running backs are. You brought him in to throw the ball to Luke McCaffrey and Jack Bradley, their tight end who is pretty good too.”
Boyd said Rice’s chance to win the game, which is slight, is to throw the ball effectively.
“I think if Rice is actually competitive it will be because they threw the ball really effectively or because Texas showed up and had no idea how to fit, you know, the power run game, something like that, which is not going to happen, you know?” Boyd opined.
Babers said his film study of the Owls found them I watched them “modern, multiple and malleable.”
“They come out in darn near anything as far as offense,” he explained. “I will admit watching them I thought, oh man, Rice is gonna be a stale you know what. But no, they’re pretty multiple. They do a lot of different looks. It’s gonna be a nice test, I believe, for the Texas defense early on.
“The Longhorns are not going to be overwhelmed by the athleticism of Rice. The Owls don’t have that. But they’ll test your discipline a little bit. They’re going to test your communication a little bit. It’ll test your ability to read your keys.”
Go check out the rest of the video for more of a detailed breakdown of the Owls.
