Schiano: Grothe compared to Barry Sanders!

[___ Eats It]

Interesting quote in the article below...

http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=91770&tid=30&t=1

Favored Rutgers out to stunt USF’s Grothe  

By Tim Roberts      

Thu, Sep 28, 2006

“Change is the nature of the universe.â€Â

So says the I Ching, an ancient collection of Chinese wisdom referred to in the West as The Book of Change.

It’s a generalism, yes, but one that applies to all facets of life, even tonight`s Big East showdown in Tampa when the Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the South Florida Bulls.

Last November USF beat the Scarlet Knights 45-31 at Rutgers Stadium despite the books setting the Bulls as 4-point underdogs.

But both teams have changed since last season, leaving bettors with less to rely on in a historical sense.

“Last year’s result doesn’t mean as much as it usually might between conference opponents,†admits Covers Expert Steve Merril.

“Both schools are located in high school hotbeds in New Jersey and Florida and it’s showing that they’ve been able to tap into it,†Merril says. “Both teams are on the rise.â€Â

USF displays the more superficial changes, especially on offense.

Last year’s stud running back, Andre Hall, is gone. Replacement Rickey Ponton and starting receiver Jackie Chambers are each serving the fifth game of a six-game suspension. Ponton’s backup, Moise Plancher, tore his ACL in the season opener.

As a result, the Bulls’ leading rusher is redshirt freshman Matt Grothe, who also happens to be the new quarterback. Grothe took over from the injured Pat Julmiste and currently ranks No. 10 in the nation with 280.5 yards of total offense per game.

“He didn’t play like a freshman tonight,†Kansas defender Anthony Webb told The Tampa Tribune after last Saturday’s hard-fought 13-7 win over the Bulls. “He’s got some wheels. You’ve got to be aware of how that guy runs. He can kill you. Tonight, he almost gave us a heart attack. I’m just happy to get out of here with a win.â€Â

Joey Johnston covers the Bulls for the Tribune and goes even further in his praise for the new quarterback.

"(USF) has a leader, a guy who stands bravely in the pocket and delivers, a guy who recognizes defenses and gets his team the correct play, a guy who’s slippery and tough on the option,†Johnston gushes.

But it’s Rutgers coach Greg Schiano who gives the highest praise of all.

“I’m going to make a comparison. Now, I don’t want to overblow things,†Schiano told The Newark Star-Ledger this week. “It’s like when we used to prepare for Barry Sanders.â€Â

“We have to get him on the ground. No one has done it yet.â€Â

But Merril thinks bettors had best look closely at some Rutgers footage before banking on Grothe`s double-threat capabilities.

The names in the box scores look the same, sure. Ray Rice is piling up rushing yards like a Heisman candidate, fullback Brian Leonard is a goalline beast, Mike Teel is taking snaps and tight end Clark Harris remains Teel’s top target.

It’s on the defensive side of the ball, however, where Merril sees the big change for Rutgers.

“Defense takes more of a team effort and that’s one thing Rutgers has this year,†says the veteran handicapper. “They’ve never been able to line up quality athletes on the field at the same time as they have this year.â€Â

It shows in the numbers. The Scarlet Knights rank No. 4 nationally in yards allowed, No. 5 in points allowed and No. 11 against the run.

And they’re prepared for anything Grothe can bring to the table.

“He does a lot and they put a lot on his shoulders,†senior linebacker Devraun Thompson told the Star-Ledger. “So we’re definitely going to have our eyes on him. It helps that he’s a quarterback. It’s not like the Reggie Bush situation and using him as a decoy. He’s not going to be the decoy. He’s the quarterback.â€Â

Books have set the total for tonight’s game at 42 points.

[smazza]

he never saw barry sanders run

grothe is nothing like barry sanders

[___ Eats It]

He's a New Jersey guy... he's had too much toxic waste in his cheerios...  

[Velcro]

Its a smart move by schiano to make that comment.  Psychological warefare.  If Grothe reads that comment and lets it go to his head, his decision making can change.  Hopefully he shows the poise he has all season and disregards all of this and plays his game.

[SplitT]

he never saw barry sanders run

Schiano was a defensive coach with the Chicago Bears for three seasons when Barry was playing for the Lions.  Chicago played Detroit 6 times during that period.

Which NFL team were you coaching for?

grothe is nothing like barry sanders

He didn't say he is.

[E.T.]

...  If Grothe reads that comment and lets it go to his head, his decision making can change.  ...

Don't think a 300 lb DL would shake him and neither will comments ... now if GrothE comes out in jersey #20 ...  

;D

[Velcro]

...  If Grothe reads that comment and lets it go to his head, his decision making can change.  ...

Don't think a 300 lb DL would shake him and neither will comments ... now if GrothE comes out in jersey #20 ...  

;D

I agree, but Schiano has proven to be a saavy head coach.  His billboards for Leonard in Times Square are part of the reason Rutgers is ranked #23 right now.  People talked about Rutgers after seeing it, as far fetched as that billboard was.

Everything he does has a purpose, and that comment was meant for Grothe to hear.

[Guest R_to_the_izzo]

Velcro hit it on the head with this one, he's trying to inflate the ego of the Freshman QB so he will try and be the hero.

[jellyman]

he never saw barry sanders run

grothe is nothing like barry sanders

What he meant was that he thinks Grothe is tough to get on the ground ... that Grothe has excellent "escapability," as Sanders did.

As others saidx, I am sure he, like every other coach, is talking coachspeak and talking UP his opponent, so as not to providfe bulliten board material .. and maybe to send a message to his OWN team, about properly wrapping up Grothe when they get him is their grasp.

[jfcohio]

But it’s Rutgers coach Greg Schiano who gives the highest praise of all.

“I’m going to make a comparison. Now, I don’t want to overblow things,†Schiano told The Newark Star-Ledger this week. “It’s like when we used to prepare for Barry Sanders.â€Â

“We have to get him on the ground. No one has done it yet.â€Â

Would that be the same Barry Sanders that in winning the Heisman Trophy in 1988, Barry set 25 NCAA records? Or, the one that is arguably in the Top 5 best running backs in NFL history? The HOF'er?