By Ralph Lauro Aug 20, 2007, 14:10 GMT
OFFENSE: The Owls ditched their option attack for the spread offense last season and it paid off in a big way. Not only was the team highly successful, but several stars emerged, none more notable than wide receiver Jarett Dillard. Bailiff plans to keep the spread attack and that is great news for Dillard and company. Dillard re-wrote the program's record books last season, catching 91 balls for 1,274 yards and 21 touchdowns. The junior's 21 touchdown catches set a C-USA record, while his streak of 15 consecutive games with a touchdown catch ranks second all-time. He enters the 2007 season with a chance to break Larry Fitzgerald's streak of 18 straight games with a touchdown catch set while he was at Pittsburgh. Dillard however, wasn't the only one who flourished in the new spread attack last season, as quarterback Chase Clement also had a tremendous campaign. Despite playing in just eight games due to injury, the junior gunslinger tied a school record with 21 touchdown passes. He completed 57.7 percent of his tosses with just five interceptions, in addition to rushing for 481 yards and four more scores. Now at full strength and running things behind an experienced offense line that welcomes back four starters, expect Clement to be among the elite quarterbacks in the league in 2007. The only major concern for the offense is at tailback, where the team must replace 1,000-yard rusher Quinton Smith. Sophomores C.J. Ugokwe and Marcus Knox and senior Bio Bilaye-Benibo are all competing for the starting job, but no one has much experience.
DEFENSE: On the defensive side of the ball is where the Owls need to improve greatly if they want to compete for a league title. Rice allowed a whopping 33.2 ppg and 414.5 total ypg in 2006 and it is hoping to remedy those problems by switching to a 4-2-5 formation. The reason for the move was to put more emphasis on the front line, which played poorly last season, as evident by the 187.9 rushing ypg the team allowed. Senior George Chukwu is a tremendous athlete for his size (300-plus pounds) and he will be moved from end to tackle this season to help bolster up the middle. He had eight TFLs last season and even played some middle linebacker, displaying his athleticism. Speaking of linebackers, Brian Raines is welcomed back after leading the team with 118 tackles in 2006. The junior also posted 4.5 sacks and a league-high five forced fumbles in earning a spot on the all-conference team. Junior Vernon James, a four-year starter, will pair up with Raines in the middle of the field. As for the secondary, it returns a pair of starters in sophomore safety Andrew Sendejo and junior corner Ja'Corey Shepherd, who both started 11 games last season. Sendejo posted 53 stops and two sacks last season, while Shepherd finished with 40 stops and six passes broken up.
SPECIAL TEAMS: After making 8-of-11 field goals and all 35 of his extra-point attempts to earn all-league honors, sophomore Clark Fangmeier will once again handle the short range placekicking duties. Senior Luke Juist meanwhile, will handle the long range field goal attempt after going 4-of-6 from outside 40 yards last season. Juist will also take on the punting duties for the first time.
OUTLOOK: The Owls return a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball and they should be able to stay close to most of their opponents because that. The team however, may not fare any better in trying to slow down opposing clubs and that will likely be the downfall of this club. Add in a tough schedule and Rice may find it difficult to even reach the .500 mark this time around.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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