July 30, 2008

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After closing the 2007 season with a series of spectacular offensive performances, David Bailiff's second Rice Owls football team enters the 2008 season looking to combine that offensive momentum with a healthy and improved defense in order to return the Owls to the ranks of C-USA bowl teams.

Rice's offense shattered nearly 40 offensive records last season, and that attack returns the principals who were responsible for all but one of the 51 touchdowns they scored one their way to averaging 38.5 points in conference action. On defense, they will benefit from the return to health of several key leaders in addition to a wealth of players who gained game experience last season and built on that experience with solid work in the spring.

A productive spring was a key component in Bailiff's plan for the 2008 campaign. Each of the previous two springs had been more of an introductory exercise as new coaching staffs were tasked with learning about their players, while the players were asked to embrace new concepts and schemes.

"Coming out of spring we're a better team than at any point last season," Bailiff said. "Our players were able to retain what they had been taught last season and that allowed us to progress immediately from our first practice. We were able to work on refining fundamentals and technique and not spend time introducing the concept.

"These players have been through a lot, the seniors had three different staffs in their first three years. But they have seen how hard these coaches work and know that we are all about everyone getting better. We have a very trusting and productive atmosphere," he added.

Nowhere is that production more evident than on the offensive side of the ball, where the Owls will present opposing defensive coordinators with a myriad of challenges to defend.

Senior quarterback Chase Clement was the chief demolitionist of the Rice record book, smashing 18 school marks and becoming the standard for which all future Owl signal callers will be judged. He shattered the Owl marks for total offense in a game, season and career, as well as all the marks for both total touchdowns and passing touchdowns.

He enters the 2008 season as the consensus choice to earn All C-USA honors as well as being a candidate for several national honors. He comes into the season ranked fifth in the nation among active quarterbacks in both total touchdowns (68) and touchdown passes (55).

"Chase carried the momentum from the end of the season into the spring and played with great confidence," Bailiff said. "He has a comfort level with Coach (Tom) Herman and with the scheme. We will be able to showcase his talents. He made great decisions and he showed greater velocity in his throws this spring."

Clement's main target and fellow San Antonio product, Jarett Dillard also returns and comes into his senior season as the active NCAA leader in receptions (205), receiving yardage (2,828) and touchdown catches (40). He and Clement have combined for 32 touchdown passes and need just seven to break the NCAA career mark by a duo, while Dillard is 10 touchdown catches shy of NCAA career record. His total of 40 ranks eighth on the NCAA list.

While enduring the constant attention of opposing defensive schemes, Dillard still put together an impressive season, finishing 2007 with 79 catches for 1,057 yards and 14 touchdowns, despite missing nearly all of the Texas game with an injury. Dillard still led C-USA receivers in touchdown catches.

"Jarett Dillard is a phenomenal talent that I think sometimes people start to take for granted because he routinely does incredible things. I remember the first time I saw him take off, I was amazed that a human could get that high in the air. But it's not just the ability to jump, it's the ability to time his jump so that he meets the ball as it arrives. It is still a `wow' event, but we see it so often, we get caught being accustomed to it," Bailiff noted.

Dillard's production soared as the year progressed, thanks to the development of Toren Dixon and James Casey, who both finished the year with 46 catches. While Dixon was looked to be a receiving option all along, Casey's multiple skills and improbable path to reach Rice Stadium was a story that soon took on a life of its own.

After four seasons of minor league baseball, Casey had been signed as a defensive end and enrolled at midterm prior to Bailiff's arrival on campus. The new staff, faced with a shortage of healthy bodies for their first spring drills, kept him on the defensive side of the ball as much to assure a workable practice routine as it was a projection of where they felt he was best suited to display his talents.

"We all knew pretty quickly that wasn't where he should be playing, but we had no choice because he was one of only two healthy ends we had on defense," Bailiff recalled. "When you realize the kind of production he had once he was able to learn the offense, you realize it would have been nice to have had him work there from the start of the spring,"

Casey's early production came from lining up as the quarterback in short-yardage situations and rushing after taking the shotgun snap. By the time the conference schedule began, he became a vital cog in the attack, catching all but one of his receptions during C-USA play, and topping 100 yards in receiving in three of the last four games.

But his defensive work in the spring was not entirely in vain. In front of a national television audience on a Wednesday night, Casey found himself back at defensive end after injuries left the Owls short of healthy bodies. He shared credit for a sack and added another tackle for loss, to go along with the rushing touchdown he had tallied earlier in the game.

For his efforts, Casey was tabbed by the Football Writers as a first-team freshman All American.

Injuries left the Owls searching for an option at running back while Clement wound up as the team leader in 2007 with 535 yards. C.J. Ugokwe and Marcus Knox were able to reclaim some momentum in the spring, but Justin Hill, who was second on the squad with 321 yards as a true freshman, missed most of the work with a shoulder injury. Taylor Dupree also saw considerable work in the spring, as did Jeramy Goodson, a converted wideout who took advantage of the opportunity to showcase his skills. True freshman Shane Turner, brings game-breaking ability to the mix.

The Owls offensive line welcomed back center Austin Wilkinson, who saw his string of starts end last fall due to a bout with mononucleosis, in the spring and benefited from the improved health of senior guard David Berken, who was also able to participate in spring drills after missing the previous two springs while recovering from injuries.

Jimmy Miller, who stepped in at center for Wilkinson to close out the year, will line up at the other guard spot, while Scott Mitchell, who signed with the Owls in July and stepped into a starting role against Marshall, mans one tackle spot. Redshirt freshman Tyler Parish holds down the other tackle spot at the end of spring while Preston Thompson, who started the first seven games at tackle in 2007, missed most of the spring with an ankle injury. Another redshirt freshman, Jake Hicks, also saw considerable action in the spring as did junior Charlie Weibusch.

Defensively, the tone for the Owls season might have been set on the opening play of the year when junior free safety Bencil Smith was lost with an injury. It was a pattern that repeated itself at several positions as the Owls juggled personnel from week to week.

"Overall, I think the most important thing we saw on the defensive side of the ball in the spring was that they were able to play much faster," Bailiff said. "That only comes from the trust they develop in the coaches, the scheme, and each other."

Heading into the year, one area that was perceived to be a concern actually developed into a strength.

"Coming out of last spring, we knew we were not keeping James Casey at defensive end, and we knew we were going to have to rely on the freshmen," Bailiff recalled.

Scott Solomon and Cheta Ozougwu survived the baptisms under fire and by season's end were becoming factors in opposing game plans. Each earned post-season honors for their work and head into the 2008 campaign as reliable starters.

Inside of them, the Owls moved former tight end Chance Talbert to defensive tackle after a winter of playing basketball, and the time spent on the court seemed to inspire his effort to gain playing time this fall.

"I thought that the move of Chance Talbert was an exciting development during the spring," Bailiff said. "I really think that playing basketball helped him in terms of his overall athleticism. He's one of those guys who practices at game speed and has a smile on his face the whole time." Talbert will be joined at tackle by true sophomore Cameron Thompson, who saw considerable playing time as a true freshman, and Victor Brooks, who moves down from end. At nose guard, Chris Ptaszek and Todd Mohr came out of spring at the top of the charts. Freshman John Gioffre brings intriguing credentials as a state champion heavyweight wrestler and could find himself in the playing rotation as well.

If defensive end was a potential problem that turned into a strength last fall, linebacker was the perceived strength of the 2007 defense that quickly became a concern due to multiple nagging injuries.

No Owl linebacker made it through the season unscathed, but the spring saw the unit's performance on an upswing thanks to a return to good health.

"Brian Raines is a returning all conference player and a leader," Bailiff stated. "Terrance Garmon and Vernon James had tremendous springs. We had felt good about the depth at linebacker going into last year, but then the injuries hit and we never had a consistent rotation."

No player was more immediately impacted by Bencil Smith's injury than Andrew Sendejo, who was asked switch positions to fill in for Smith.

The sophomore responded with a stellar campaign, leading the team with 107 tackles and intercepting five passes, the highest total by an Owl since 2000. He remained at the free safety spot in the spring and excited the staff with his effort and his desire to upgrade his game.

"Andrew is a player who gets better with each snap he plays," Bailiff said. "Everything he does on a football field is about improvement and he sets a tone for everyone on the defensive side of the ball."

Smith returned to the field in the spring and nailed down Sendejo's old spot at KAT, while Willie Garley solidified his hold on the strong safety spot. Chris Jones, who was thrown into fray as a true freshman, can be counted on to contribute at any of those spots as well. Joseph Leary moved from safety to boundary corner in the spring, while three-year starter Brandon King, who lead the conference in passes defended last year and has six career interceptions, attacked spring drills as if it was his first year on campus.

"Brandon King defined what a senior should be with the effort he gave this spring," Bailiff said. "He was focused on becoming the best field corner on the team and had a great spring for us."

Bailiff's 2008 recruiting class could also have an impact on the defensive backfield rotation, with the addition of speedy newcomers Jarrett Ben, Chris Jammer and Xavier Webb poised to impress when fall camp opens.

The Owls place kicking chores will again be handled by junior Clark Fangmeier, who took advantage of the Owls offensive scoring pace to set a school mark for PATs. He is within striking distance of the school career mark and also showcased increased leg strength in the spring, hoping to extend his field goal range this fall. Walkon Mark Brundage capably handled the punting assignment in the spring and he will be in a battle with incoming freshman Kyle Martens for the assignment this fall.

Rice's 2008 recruiting class may also have an immediate impact on the Owls' kick return efforts. Turner and several of his classmates showed explosive talent while handling the chores in high school, and both the punt and kickoff return jobs are up for grabs heading into fall camp.