if you were surprised at the line you obviously didn't watch rice or their defense last year. Rice gave up 8 yards per pass play last year, which considering they play in the CUSA is absolutely horrendous. They had one of the worst defenses in the country. Not that SMU has a good one but also SMU lost 3 games in OT last year. SMU was moving the ball at will early and it's hardly a case of Rice stopping them as much as SMU stopping themselves. The unforced turnover when they were up 13-7 was a killer. Congrats.
yes im well aware of Rice's defensive struggles last yr, but you have to take into consideration that it was the first yr in Bailiff's new defensive scheme with all youn players. They now have players who have played a year under the new defense so it should be expected that a lot of the blown assignments that cost them so dearly last yr will not be as plentiful.
