Owls’ offense beginning to take shape
Spring game affords Bloomgren chance to evaluate progress
For a good portion of Rice’s spring practices and scrimmages, the defense held the upper hand.
On Saturday afternoon, the offense looked closer to the unit that Owls coach Mike Bloomgren would like to see perform in the fall.
With T.J. McMahon and Wiley Green getting a good number of snaps at quarterback, and Juma Otoviano and Dean Connors getting the bulk of carries out of the backfield, the Blue defeated the Gray (defense) 30-12 at Rice Stadium, putting a close on spring football.
“It was good to see them perform,” Bloomgren said. “We did pregame meal. We had a walk through. We did everything to make this feel like game day so they could feel that pressure and perform, and I feel like those guys did.
“We got the work in we needed, and we got out of here fairly healthy. Proud of the spring and they’re taking some pretty good steps.”
A number of players took reps even though the scrimmage was shortened to 90 minutes. All four quarterbacks took contact except Green, who is coming back from being injured during the 2021 season.
In transitioning from quarterback to receiver, Luke McCaffrey made strides in the spring. On Saturday he caught seven passes for 98 yards, scoring on a 14-yard yard pass from Green.
McMahon ran untouched for a score, a 55-yard scamper down the left sideline.
McMahon went to Bloomgren on Friday asking to go full throttle in the spring game to showcase himself.
“I told Coach Bloom, I think there’s another element I bring to the game when I’m live,” McMahon said. “My legs obviously. And the O-line did a great job on that block, I had no one around me.
“It was fun to be live today, definitely made it more realistic. I said there’s a better chance you can evaluate me to what I can truly do.”
McMahon was 7 of 14 passing for 92 yards, rushing for 57 yards on three carries. He threw a 11-yard touchdown pass to Bennett Mecom. Green was 8 of 14 passing for 94 yards with one interception.
The Owls went into the game hoping to have four running backs available. But one was ruled out in pregame and another just wasn’t able to go. That left only Connors, a sophomore transfer from Riverside Community College, and Otoviano. Receiver Kobie Campbell, a sophomore from Hightower, got a couple of runs in.
Connors averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 10 attempts with a couple of explosive runs. Otoviano gained 42 yards on 15 rushes.
Rice ends the spring with McMahon and Green in a heated battle at quarterback. JoVoni Johnson, who did not play in 2021 while working with the receivers, also saw action at quarterback on Saturday, passing for 33 yards on 2-of-5 attempts.
“We’re at a good place with those top two,” Bloomgren said. “Those guys are trending in the right way. I wish we had complete consistency and could tell you who the starter would be. I thought T.J. had a great day and Wiley was better than he was last Saturday, but certainly not his best day of the spring.”
Tight end Jack Bradley was consistent throughout spring, catching balls as well as blocking like an offensive lineman. Getting into a good rhythm this spring have been returning offensive linemen Clay Servin, Isaac Klarkowski and Shea Baker.
Bloomgren mentioned defensive end Ikenna Enechukwu is playing lights out football. He collected a sack, as did Van Heitmann, a Stratford product; Andrew Awe; and Kenneth Orji, a redshirt senior from Elkins who had the lone interception.
Kenny Seymour, a redshirt freshman from Fort Bend Marshall, was active on defense. Defensive lineman Izeya Floyd continues to improve. Playing better as spring progressed were cornerbacks Sean Fresch, Jordan Dunbar and Lamont Narcisse. Safety George Nyakwol will be back for a sixth year, and safety Gabe Taylor has stepped up.
Bloomgren has big plans for Awe. He’s played safety as well as linebacker. In the fall he will play defense as well as on special teams. Defensive linemen De’Braylon Carroll and Trey Schuman did not participate Saturday.
Christian VanSickle made both of his field-goal attempts: 20 and 39 yards. Tim Horn was good from 32 yards on his only attempt.
Rice opens its 2022 football season Sept. 3 at Southern Cal.