Rice vs. SMU: Five things to watch

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June Cometh? No, June Jones is here, and so are the Ponies. It's been a long time since a season opener was so critical. Win, and the Owls go to Memphis with the opportunity of starting 2-0 in C-USA. Lose, and the inverse is possible, which would lead to a bandwagon emptying unlike any you've ever witnessed.

With all due respect to Jones' coaching acumen and the Ponies' potential in the Run-&-Shoot, Rice fans should be gravely disappointed with a loss. The Owls have won five of six in this series, and SMU hasn't claimed victory at The Stadium since 1986. The Ponies have 13 true freshmen on their two-deep, and as many as 11 could play in the opener. That same inexperience sapped the Owls' promise last season. The time has come for the Owls to take advantage.

1. Continuing momentum. Nine months later, it's still hard to fathom just how good Chase Clement was over the final four games of last season. Clement produced 1,653 passing yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 298 yards and five TDs. If he picks up where he left off, the offense should enjoy a breakout effort.

2. No. 2 pencils. The Rice defense, miserable to historic proportions last season, is primed for its first test of the season. Yes the Owls' run defense was, ahem, lacking last season, but what you remember most are the receivers of the opposition running free in the secondary. Slow SMU, and excitement will build.

3. Let Casey Play! OK, Thor will play, and he'll play an awful lot. But where? H-back? Split wide? Tailback? Quarterback? Chances are Thor will do it all, and don't be shocked to see a muscular, mustached fella serving you hamburgers at the concession stand. Come and stand in awe of Thor's versatility.

4. Prediction: Pain! We don't want to put too much pressure on sophomore end Scott Solomon, but we fully expect him to dominate his matchup with SMU right tackle Vincent Chase, a converted tight end. Word on the street is Chase has plus athleticism, but this is the type of showdown the Owls need Solomon to win.

5. Can they kick it? We underplayed the pitiful performance of the special teams last season. The staff has worked overtime trying to plug the gaps, but even with superior athletes in coverage, the Owls have been wobbly in the kicking game thus far. The kickers and punters need a solid debut to calm everyone's nerves.

 

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SMU seeks fresh start in national spotlight

? June Jones imagined the possibilities of the Run and Shoot offense from the moment Darrel "Mouse" Davis introduced him to it in 1975. Davis had devised the scheme at Portland State, using Jones as his quarterback.

"What are we going to do with this offense?" Davis asked Jones. "You know what he said? 'We're going to score!'"

The theory worked, offensive records were shattered, and, indeed, Jones was onto something.

As a coach for 25 years, Jones has used the Run and Shoot to rejuvenate hard-luck pro teams and miserable college programs.

Now it's SMU's turn.

The spotlight falls on Jones tonight as he coaches his first game at SMU. The Mustangs open the season against Rice at 7 p.m. at Rice Stadium in Houston.

After leading Hawaii to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl last season, Jones was lured to the Hilltop in January by a five-year contract that will pay him roughly $2 million annually.

Jones, who compiled a 76-41 record in nine seasons at Hawaii, replaced Phil Bennett, whose teams went 18-52 in six seasons.

Jones said he can't wait to see how the Mustangs, who were immersed in the Run and Shoot over the last three weeks of fall practice, perform against the Owls.

"It comes down to execution, knowing what you're doing," Jones said. "There's a lot of reading involved, a lot of things from the quarterback and the receivers. Sometimes it takes a little while to get on the same page. Once they do, it becomes something that's pretty productive."

The build-up to tonight's season opener has been intense.

SMU's fall camp started with five quarterbacks vying for the top two slots on the depth chart. On Aug. 18, Jones announced that true freshman Bo Levi Mitchell would receive the most repetitions heading into the preparations for Rice. Junior quarterback Justin Willis, who started 22 of the last 23 games for SMU, is now a co-No. 3 on the depth chart. Mitchell is expected to be the starter tonight, although redshirt freshman Logan Turner's repetitions increased dramatically this week. Jones said Turner could be called upon to contribute.

The quarterbacks have received much of the attention, but receivers are just as important to the Run and Shoot. The Mustangs use four receivers: "H" and "Y," who are primarily slot receivers, and "X" and "Z," who are the speedsters and deep threats.

Sophomore Aldrick Robinson, an "X," said the receivers know what they need to do to make the offense work.

"If we don't get open, then the offense won't produce," Robinson said. "It's up to us to trust the quarterback, trust the o-line and run our routes and trust that the ball is going to get to us."

Much like Jones did for Mouse Davis in 1975, the 2008 Mustangs are hoping to put up big numbers in the Run and Shoot.

"I think I've got this offense down, and I'm just excited to play Rice," junior receiver Emmanuel Sanders said. "This is our first time in the Run and Shoot, and I think big things are going to happen this year."