⚡ CFB Dashboard

The Fresno State Bulldogs are gearing up to face the Rice Owls on Saturday. What should Bulldog fans know about an opponent making their first trip to Fresno in more than 20 years? BarkBoard.com gets the inside scoop from a Rice insider. BarkBoard.com interviewed The Roost (AtTheRoost.com) Editor Matthew Bartlett for the latest on the Rice Owls.  VIP subscribers can continue for the full back-and-forth.  1) What has head coach Scott Abell brought to the Rice program? What differences are showing in Year 2? Abell has brought his gun-option scheme to South Main and the early returns have been extremely encouraging. He went bowling in Year 1 with a roster built primarily by the previous staff for a completely different system and now has the offense looking even better in Year 2. Quarterback Jacurri Brown is a key driver in that resurgence, adding some downfield passing components a heavy option scheme.  2) This triple option offense looks a bit different than what Fresno State is used to seeing at Air Force. What stands out about this scheme? How has QB Jacurri Brown been a fit to lead it? First and foremost, it's all out of the gun. Rice won't be under center at all, no matter the circumstance. Second, it's an amalgamation of so many different concepts. The Owls will use triple option, speed option, inside zone and a myriad of other concepts to open holes for their skill players. The quarterback, running backs and slot receivers will all carry the ball in this offense.  As for Brown, he's been an effective distributor, making the right reads and setting up big plays for his playmakers. When plays break down, his threat as a runner gives this offense a dimension it didn't have last season.  3) Who are some other key Owls to know? In addition to Brown, running backs Tyvonn Byars and D'Andre Hardeman will soak up the majority of the touches. They've become the core contingent of ball carriers with slots Quinton Jackson (out for the season) and Davis Lane (concussion) not suiting up on Saturday. You'll see a variety of receivers get touches as this offense likes to spread the ball around. (Photo: Justin Casterline, Getty) On defense, safety Koa Akui has been a difference maker since he arrived from Sacramento State this offseason. He's part of a revamped secondary built primarily of portal pieces that have performed pretty well to this point, the Notre Dame game notwithstanding. Up front, Rice will rotate through several guys, but probably needs to get some impact from Joseph Mutombo and Seth Clarke to feel good about dictating the flow of the game in the trenches. 4) Both Fresno State and Rice had a blowout win and blowout loss in the first two weeks. What was learned about the Owls against more similar competition in WMU? What are the strengths and weaknesses coming out of Week 3? Rice lost a one-score game to a team that's in the running for the Group of 6 spot in the College Football Playoff. The Owls played without their best offensive player (Jackson) and were 1-for-10 on third down and still had a shot to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The offense showed tremendous growth through the air and Brown was able to move the ball on the ground for chunk plays. The program has to feel good about that side of the ball. On defense, Western Michigan had one explosive play on the ground and one through the air. Otherwise, Rice kept the ball in front of them and forced four fumbles, recovering one. They've been aggressive and solid on that side of the ball, too. Through three weeks, this has all the markings of a good football team which has fought through a challenging opening slate. 5) What is the key to victory for Rice? Stylistically, it feels like Rice will look to replicate much of what it did last week against a similar opponent. Like Western Michigan, Fresno State wants to run the ball and play physical defense. The Owls countered by making Brown another hat to cover in the run game, spreading the ball around through the air and maintaining their gaps well on defense. That's going to be the plan again this week. The biggest key, which they didn't achieve last week in defeat, is executing on third downs and avoiding mental mistakes. They had at least three drops in the passing game which killed drives and not being able to maintain possession put a toll on their defense late in the game. The Owls have identified the formula. The next step is being more consistent with putting it into practice.