SPRING OBJECTIVES Rice's main goal is to find playmakers on defense. The Owls ranked dead last in C-USA in defense last season and finished 3-9 despite scoring a school-record 377 points. This year's defensive unit appears faster and more talented, and should show improvement if injuries don't hit hard.
BUILDING BLOCKS The Owls boast a dynamic tandem of rising seniors in QB Chase Clement and WR Jarett Dillard. Clement averaged 434 yards of total offense in his last seven conference games, and Dillard is the NCAA's active leader in receptions (205), receiving yards (2,828) and touchdowns (40).
SCHEDULE SITUATION The Owls open with winnable conference games against SMU and Memphis before difficult trips to Vanderbilt and Texas. If Rice can win one or both of the C-USA games, the Owls will gain confidence and should be competitive with the Commodores. A 2-2 mark would be welcome after last year's disastrous start.
QUOTE TO NOTE "It's such a great feeling walking down that ramp to the stadium every day knowing that we're doing the same things that we were doing a year ago, knowing that there's continuity ... in the staff (and) there's continuity in the program. The kids understand our offense, defense and special teams terminology." -- Coach David Bailiff, to the Houston Chronicle.
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