What's the deal with Rice?

Nobody really knows.  Rumor and various reports indicate that they're scrapping the wishbone, or that they're incorporating the shotgun into it, or whatever.  But the number one rushing team in the country last year is going to change it's offensive scheme a bit.  That's not to say they won't run the ball, but the approach will be different.

Pete Fiutak of CFN previews Rice thusly:

Like I said earlier, it sounds like they're going to try the Spread Option, such as Urban Meyer used at Utah.  (His Florida scheme is tweaked; Meyer's offense is more of a combination of other systems than a true philosophy).  Here's an SI article on the Urban Meyer Spread Option:

Interesting, but as others have wondered, do you need a first round NFL QB for it to be succesful?  (At Florida, though, he has one in Leak.)  Rice, I think, doesn't.

They may throw more than all this indicates, as the Houston Chronicle reports that the WRs were the stars of the scrimmage.

Coach Ken Hatfield has had an interesting career.  Remember him?  Does this help?  Hatfield coached at Arkansas in the 1988-89 year, when the Razorbacks lost to the Bruins in the Cotton Bowl.  Here's his career.    After coaching at Air Force, Arkansas (with a lot of success), and Clemson (where he fell out of favor) he landed at Rice.  Hatfield has a 167-130-4 career record (.561 better than KD!)

OFFENSE

Here's the depth chart (pdf) from the official site.  

CFN thinks soph QB Joel Armstrong is the Owls best offensive player, but he will be sharing the QB role with Chase Clement.  

Here is CFN's Offensive Preview.  Mike Falco has since moved to a receiver position as well as returning kickoffs and Henderson is starting at the "H"

"A" Quinton Smith
FB Andrew Cates
"H" Tommy Henderson
TE Will Moss
SE Jared Dillard

OL
Five of the two-deep OL are freshmen, including three true freshmen.  Rice's number one rushing attack last year had six seniors on the OL. However, CFN says "Only two starters return, but it should be a typically solid Rice line with good size, decent depth, and enough overall experience to pave the way for another big rushing season."
T Robby Heos
G Corey Laxen
C David Perkins (injured, questionable)
G David Berken
T Rolf Krueger

DEFENSE
Returns seven starters and three other lettermen.  Only three seniors are starting, the fewest in the nation in DIA.  

CFN says:

CFN thinks DE John Syptak is the best defensive player.  Syptak specializes in pass rushing.  The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Syptak is the Conference USA preseason defensive player of the year, even though the Owls are new to the conference.
DT DeJuan Cooper
NG William Wood
DE Courtney Gordon/Rob Daniel

CFN runs an interesting 4-2-5 scheme with two strong safety-type players called "bandit" and "rover" and a strongside and weakside linebacker.
SLB Buck Carson
WLB Adam Herrin
Bandit Chat Price
Rover Matt Ginn
CFN thinks CBs Jon Turner and Lance Byrd are the keys to the season, as the rest of the defense is supposedly pretty solid.  So will the Bruins WRs finally break out?
FS Andray Downs

What does Karl Dorrell have to say?

Great.  Dorrell is scared of Rice.  Where's his media guy?

Rice should be a walk, CFN predicts Bruins 40, Owls 13.  Don't be scared Karl.