Defensively Speaking: Rice 2022

For those hearty fans that braved the extreme heat in the Los Angeles Coliseum yesterday, that spectacle was worth the effort. That was a brand-new team, with a new coaching staff, many new players with new offensive and defensive schemes. Rice was a perfect opener for this team to get some real playing time but never with the outcome in doubt. Seeing three pick-sixes and four interceptions by the defense in one game is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so congratulations to those that saw it first-hand. That was not just a win but a memorable one, which also included the introduction of potential Heisman candidate Caleb Williams.

The defense that we saw was a “plain” Grinch 3-4 defense for the most part. I was a little bit surprised with his conservatism, but he opened up in the second half some. Some of you are curious as to how we got four interceptions, three of which were pick-sixes. Let me explain what was going on.

1. We have great athleticism on this team both offense and defense
2. We forced some gift bad throws and missed receiver catches resulting in pick-sixes
3. Our interceptions were not a result of guys making a play on the receiver and cutting the angel for a pick. But it was good athletes making good plays when the other team really screws up. Those pick-sixes could have been picks only with no scoring…maybe a different, closer outcome. No way Rice can win that game but why let the opponent up off the ground…ever.

So how did our 3-4 defense hold up?

Not bad and the DL was generally gap sound. We lost the A-gap at least three times and Rice made some nice gains on the ground as a result. A 3-4 defense against 11 personnel (one Tight End, one Running Back) forces the defense to line up or move to a nickel back over look. By that I mean, a Nickel or even the Mike LB has to move or slant to an over position to the strong-side of the offense to get all the gaps covered while being aware of pulling linemen or RBs. I don’t want to get too technical but there was more going on than meets the eye on defense. And we better get ready for ‘Furd. More on that later.

DL play was pretty darn solid but admittedly against an inferior opponent. I’ll make no apologies though as Helton would have made this a three-point game but proud of everybody. I’m so happy that we have a real coach helping coach up our players. It was a tough decade!

Defensive Shout Outs:

• Calen Bullock
• Shane Lee
• Ralen Goforth
• Xamarion Gordon
• Brandon Pili
• Tuli Tuipulotu
• Nick Figueroa
• Caleb Williams – As long as he’s around we’re always in the game and that energizes the defense.

Areas to work on include edge pressure as Foreman is still an easy block

Punt game is field position, and we’ll need that against ‘Furd

Stanford Thoughts:

• Stanford will run their usual David Shaw 13 and 22 personnel (13 is one RB and three TEs and 22 is two RBs and 2 TEs.
• Shaw will use a Fullback in place of a TE but it’s still the same personnel package just different players with different assignments. 
• We will be really challenged to get the right gap fit against Stanford with their personnel packages and clever play calling. Our defense will have to get really smart this week in practice. Stanford will pull, trap and use misdirection especially as we bring blitz pressure.
• Stanford will challenge our CBs with wheel and fade routes…got to be ready and Foreman needs to be ready to play lights out to pressure the QB