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SPORTS
Herd prepares for Rice's offense
HUNTINGTON – Delvin Johnson essentially wrote the reporter’s article in two sentences.
“This is a game where they’re going to give us sacks by playing good coverage and we’re going to give them interceptions by applying pressure,” Johnson said. “We depend on each other.”
Johnson, Marshall University’s play-making, 300-pound defensive tackle, was referencing this week’s co-dependency between the Thundering Herd’s front and secondary. Marshall must pressure Rice quarterback Chase Clement, hurrying the senior’s decisions. That can’t happen every snap, however, meaning coverage must be tight against an elite collection of receivers.
Marshall’s defense versus a quick-strike Rice offense highlights Saturday’s matchup. The Thundering Herd (4-6, 3-3 Conference USA) and Rice (7-3, 5-1) kick off at 3:30 p.m. (EST) in Houston. CBS College Sports will televise the game.
Johnson has accounted for one of Marshall’s 17 sacks and three of the team’s 59 tackles for loss. The sophomore makes up a group of emerging underclassmen, including fellow tackle Michael Janac and end Vinny Curry, who are spurring one of C-USA’s top defenses.
“The mindset is we call ourselves ‘BOB’ ... Band of Brothers,” Johnson said. “We take tremendous pride in that name so we stay together, stay in meetings all night. We do all of this together. We have the chemistry working together.
“It’s always going to be that way (underclassmen gradually finding their way). You come out here, practice every day to get better and at one point and time you have to realize that you don’t that many weeks left, so you have to hit that button.”
Janac, along with Johnson, has flipped a proverbial switch. The 6-foot-4, 278-pound sophomore, who also occasionally lines up at end, totals six tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 2.5 sacks.
“Janac’s been a beast the last couple of weeks,” Johnson said. “He’s been practicing hard. He’s a good guy and he’s been showing up.
“Janac is paying more attention to detail. When he’s doing something, he’s going to do it hard the last couple of weeks. And it’s showing. It’s showing on the field.”
Disruption from Johnson, Janac, end Albert McClellan and others has alleviated pressure on a secondary featuring two redshirt freshman cornerbacks. Marshall is allowing 25.9 points and 404.5 total yards a game, more-than-modest Conference USA standards.
Led by Clement, Rice averages more than 40 points a game. The elusive leader has accounted for more than 3,600 total yards and is afforded the luxury of 1,000-yard receivers Jarett Dillard and James Casey.
“The have a lot of offensive weapons, so it’s critical that the defensive line gets pressure on the quarterback because he’s a real good quarterback,” Marshall strong safety Ashton Hall said. “We’re going to need that pressure to help us out.”
Rice has found its stride, scoring at least 38 points an outing during a four-game win streak. Marshall’s defensive front and secondary working in concert is essential to upsetting the Owls, listed at 7.5-point favorites.
“Well there’s the key – both,” Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. “There’s the key. We’re going to have to get pressure on him. After we get pressure on him, we’re going to have to keep him in the pocket.
“And you’re going to have to have superior coverage on them.”
