Texas @ Rice preview
NRG Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2008 ) Rice 10, Texas 52
Rice and Texas have decidedly different goals heading into their season-opening meeting Saturday at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
The Owls will try to prevent the likely beat-down at the hands of the fourth-ranked Longhorns from derailing what they hope will be a bounce-back season, while Texas will be looking to leave Houston without suffering any major injuries.
The Longhorns are opening the season away from Austin for the first time since 1995, but they have feasted on the Owls in the two previous matchups at Reliant – a 48-7 win in 2003 and a 52-7 romp in 2006.
Texas has won 39 of the last 40 games against Rice in the series that dates back to 1914.
Saturday’s game officially launches the Garrett Gilbert era at Texas. The sophomore quarterback takes over the reins of an offense that head coach Mack Brown and offensive coordinator Greg Davis are trying to make more balanced.
Despite the Longhorns’ unprecedented success over the past several years, Brown and Davis are seeking to re-emphasize the running game, which had become an afterthought in the pass-happy spread offense.
Gilbert, who received his baptism under fire subbing for the injured Colt McCoy in the BCS Championship game loss to Alabama last January, will operate under center more than his predecessors McCoy or Vince Young.
He will also have a trio of runners, including junior starter Cody Johnson, junior Fozzy Whittaker and sophomore Tre’ Newton, at his disposal. Gilbert’s primary receiving targets will be senior James Kirkendoll, junior Malcolm Williams, and senior slot receiver John Chiles. Look for tight end Barrett Matthews to be a frequent target as well.
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp rides herd over a group that is stout at virtually every position, especially in the secondary, where senior cornerbacks Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown are among the best in the country. The rebuilt line in the base 4-3 scheme is anchored by senior Sam Acho.
After bottoming out last season at 2-10, the Owls, under fourth-year head coach David Bailiff, are desperate to regain the form of 2008 when they went 10-3 and won the Texas Bowl. Bailiff and new offensive coordinator David Beaty are hoping a quick-tempo offense that relies heavily on the run will reap rewards.
Rice will likely use four running backs - sophomore Charles Ross, junior Tyler Smith, freshman Turner Petersen and sophomore Sam McGuffie, a transfer from Michigan.
Quarterback remains a mystery, however. Junior Nick Fanuzzi started eight games in 2009, but sophomore Taylor Cook, at 6-7 and 240 pounds, has size and a big arm. Redshirt freshman Taylor McHargue is also in the mix. Bailiff may wait until kickoff to decide the starter.
The Owls’ defense was one of the worst in the country last year, but junior safety Travis Bradshaw, who led the nation in unassisted tackles, returns along with nine starters in the 4-2-5 scheme.