Print |
E-mail to a friend
SPORTS
Marshall has new looks in works for high-octane Rice
Exactly how daunting is this week's Marshall University football challenge?
Coming off consecutive losses and relinquishing Conference USA's East Division lead, the Thundering Herd travels to Houston facing a rested Rice team riding a four-game win streak. Marshall (4-6, 3-3 Conference USA) and the Owls (7-3, 5-1) kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Rice Stadium. CBS College Sports will televise the game.
The Herd managed just 84 passing yards in last week's 30-14 loss to the University of Central Florida. Rice, meanwhile, has scored at least 38 points a game during its win streak.
Quarterback Chase Clement has thrown for 3,116 yards and 32 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He's backed by 1,000-yard plus receivers James Casey and Jarett Dillard and an improved ground game averaging 139.4 yards a game.
Rice has scored at least 42 points in six games and averages 40.8 a game. Clement and Dillard have combined for more touchdown passes than any tandem in college football history; Dillard has hauled in 17 of Clement's 32 TDs this season.
Marshall largely contained much of the same talent in last season's 34-21 victory in Huntington.
"Toward the end of the year last year you got a flash of what you're seeing this year," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. "We were starting to get a little bit healthy and we weren't able to get big at that time.
"Now we can, so as we face some of the teams that spread the ball around a little bit it gave us a chance last year."
Not that Snyder doesn't fully appreciate this season offensive version under head coach David Bailiff. Rice has scored at least 42 points in five of six Conference USA games.
Along with Clement's prolific passing, the senior moves chains on scrambles and designed draws. Clement ranks second on the team with 510 rushing yards and boasts a team-best nine touchdowns on the ground.
"They're very explosive on offense," Snyder said. "When you look at them, I think they're giving up 36 points a game and they're still 7-3. That tells you the offensive output they're having at this point and time."
Taking on Rice, as opposed to UCF and East Carolina the week before, calls for a return to Marshall's flip to a speedier, more athletic defensive look. Defensive coordinator Rick Minter did the same against Houston; Marshall led 30-3 en route to a 37-23 victory.
Philip Gamble likely will share time with Mario Harvey at weak side linebacker and Kevin Perry could be included in an overloaded secondary.
"You'll see some different looks," Snyder said. You'll see some new looks, personnel-wise."
SELF-MOTIVATION: Might sound odd, but part of Saturday's challenge will be overcoming a lack of home field advantage. Rice Stadium, capacity 47,000, largely will be empty, much like the lack of atmosphere Oct. 18 at UAB.
An announced crowd of 17,868, in 70,000-seat Legion Field, attended the Herd's 23-21 upset loss in Birmingham, Ala.
"Now we've been through it so hopefully that will help us out a little bit," Snyder said.
Anthony Hanshew covers Marshall football for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at 526-2766. His e-mail address is hanshew@herald-dispatch.com.
