rutgers report

[USF-PMR]

The scarlet queers are all excited over a couple good seasons - last year is a dose of what is "more to come".  The scarlet queers fill fall back to their 4/7 days soon enough.  Then we will see how they sell out a puney stadium.

[smazza]

The scarlet queers are all excited over a couple good seasons - last year is a dose of what is "more to come".  The scarlet queers fill fall back to their 4/7 days soon enough.  Then we will see how they sell out a puney stadium.

how can you not respect them?

they beat us two times in arow

[smazza]

Kyle Flood tackling holes in Scarlet Knights' offensive line

Thursday, August 07, 2008

BY TOM LUICCI

Star-Ledger Staff

Kyle Flood has faced this sort of coaching challenge before -- though to a much lesser degree most seasons. In 2005, he had to find a starting center, no small thing for an offensive line coach. Other years, it has been plugging in a hole or two after losing a starter.

This time it's coming up with three new offensive line starters, including replacements for two tackles -- Jeremy Zuttah and Pedro Sosa -- that were among the best Rutgers has ever had.

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The clock is ticking -- and it's only the whole season that depends largely on Flood retooling the offensive line as quickly, and effectively, as he possibly can.

"I think every year is a challenge," Flood said after the Scarlet Knights' second day of preseason in Rutgers Stadium. "To be honest with you, the years that are the biggest challenge are the ones where you have to have a new center.

"This will be a big challenge as well. We lost some great talent, but I also feel like we've got a lot of talent coming back to the team."

Center is the only position that remains intact from a year ago, when Rutgers was the first 1-A offense to have a 3,000-yard passer, a 2,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Ryan Blaszczyk returns to the middle of the line.

But Anthony Davis, the team's best lineman, is moving from right guard to left tackle. For now, Kevin Haslam, the right guard starter early last year, is at left guard, with redshirt freshman Caleb Ruch at right guard and career reserve Mike Gilmartin, a fifth-year senior, at right tackle.

There is depth at offensive line on the roster, but after those five it mostly consists of players who have yet to take a snap in a college game.

"Every year has a different challenge to it," said Flood, who has produced a string of top-notch linemen since arriving at Rutgers in 2005. "The difference is there are a lot of new faces now. The good thing is that the newer faces have been in the program."

Davis, for one, isn't as concerned about the offensive line coming into its own as the final piece of an offensive puzzle that offers record-setting potential.

[CousinRicky]

The scarlet queers are all excited over a couple good seasons - last year is a dose of what is "more to come".  The scarlet queers fill fall back to their 4/7 days soon enough.  Then we will see how they sell out a puney stadium.

how can you not respect them?

they beat us two times in arow

OK, a first for me.  I agree with Smazza.  As long as Schiano is there (Jo Pa ain't leavin' Penn State until Bowden retires or in a coffin whichever comes first) they will be relevant in the Big East.  Schiano has enough contacts in southern FL to get some speed and can recruit the Northeast for some beefy linemen.

[KingBull]

OK, a first for me.  I agree with Smazza.  As long as Schiano is there (Jo Pa ain't leavin' Penn State until Bowden retires or in a coffin whichever comes first) they will be relevant in the Big East.  Schiano has enough contacts in southern FL to get some speed and can recruit the Northeast for some beefy linemen.

Getting those speedy guys is much harder for Schiano now without his Florida camps that he used to run.  Just look at his commits so far...no FL guys yet and its getting pretty lengthy.

[smazza]

they have lost a bunch of verbal is last couple of days i hear

i crashed  a rutgers so cal alumni party yesterday in los angeles.i came in full bull gear.they were good sports about it.

i gave president of chapter his first job in law 20 years ago so he likes me

[smazza]

Rutgers offense has upper hand in full-contact scrimmage

Sunday, August 10, 2008

BY TOM LUICCI

Star-Ledger Staff

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said he saw pretty much what he hoped to see from the Knights' first full contact last night -- capped by an injury-free session that ended at close to 9:45.

"It was good," Schiano said. "They played with a lot of emotion. They hit each other hard. (But) we've got a lot of work to do and we did some goofball things."

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The first-team offense gained the upper hand on the starting defense, first with a 65-yard, eight-play drive that was capped by Kordell Young's 3-yard touchdown run in the first of two head-to-head sessions. The offense then got the better of the defense during a two-minute drill by moving another 65 yards for another score.

Quarterback Mike Teel and wide receivers Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood were sharp throughout the evening, and Young and Mason Robinson were impressive in their ongoing battle for the starting tailback spot.

Young earned a first-tap from Schiano after one spinning, cutting run in which he exploded into the secondary during a situational drill. It was the third-year sophomore's first live contact since a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 15 last year.

"I think he passed the first hurdle," Schiano said of Young.

He wasn't overly concerned with the way the first-team defense played because the unit did force the offense into several third-and-longs during both scoring drives.

"There were two third-down-and-9s and a third-and-8" on the first drive, Schiano. "If you can't make plays on third down, you're going to have a long day on defense. Mike zipped the ball in there nicely.

"Really, it boils down to we did third-down defense for one day, you've got an experienced quarterback and experienced receivers and you can't hit the quarterback."

Schiano said he was especially pleased with Teel's command of the offense.

One of the bigger surprises after the first week of camp, Schiano said, has been Charlie Noonan, a third-year sophomore defensive tackle. Noonan suffered a season-ending knee injury against Pittsburgh on Nov. 17 and was held out of contact in the spring after undergoing surgery. He opened as Pete Tverdov's backup during last night's practice when 2s went against 2s.

[smazza]

Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel puts future on hold

Sunday, August 10, 2008

BY TOM LUICCI

Star-Ledger Staff

When agents first started contacting Mike Teel after the International Bowl in January, he immediately went to Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano for advice on what to do.

Schiano held up former star Brian Leonard, now in his second year with the St. Louis Rams, as the example for his star quarterback.

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"He told me that with my parents and my family support, the best thing you can do is what Brian Leonard did: Let your family handle it while you just focus on football," Teel said before Rutgers football practice last night at Rutgers Stadium. "So that's what I'm doing.

With his NFL stock rising, the Knights' fifth-year senior is trying to balance keeping his attention on his final college season while also being asked constantly about his future.

He insists it won't be a problem.

"As a quarterback you need to win games. Obviously you need to play well," said Teel, who is on pace to become Rutgers' career passing leader. "The only thing I'm concerned about now is playing the best football of my career to be successful here -- not to go on.

"Anytime anyone asks me if the NFL stuff will be a distraction I think back to (Boston College's) Matt Ryan. If he didn't have his team 7-0 and in the top five in the country would he have been the first quarterback taken (in the NFL Draft)? I'd put my money on probably not if he was 7-5 or 6-4 or whatever.

"Look at (Louisville's) Brian Brohm. Two years ago he looked like he was going to be the first quarterback taken. Then he had better numbers last year, but his team struggled and he fell in the draft."

Star wide receiver Kenny Britt, though just a junior, said he will take the same approach after this season -- the first time he will be eligible for the NFL Draft.

If he follows up last year's record-setting season with another one, Britt will almost certainly have a decision to make, just as Rice did when he left after rushing for 2,012 yards his junior year.

[smazza]

Opening Statement:

"It's been a good first four practices with good days. We've been able to meet, walk-through and then practice. There's been good enthusiasm and I'm pleased so far. We have a long way to go but there's effort, enthusiasm and guys are trying so that part of it has been very good."

On the speculation of there being a buyout clause in relation to stadium expansion in Coach Schiano's contract

"There's been a lot of speculation as far as the stadium's completion and there being something tied into my contract. There's nothing like that at all. This contract got negotiated a long time ago and certainly there were a lot of things talked about. Like I've said all along, as long as Rutgers and the State of New Jersey are committed to being the best, we are going to grow responsibly and I think that's what we've done. There was speculation that there is some letter or an addendum to my contract that says there's a buyout [waiver] and there's no such thing. Did we talk about it? Yes. Could I of had it if I wanted? Yes. But I'm part of something bigger than just football. I'm part of Rutgers University and I thought the commitment was there so I didn't want to do things that way. When you're part of something, there has to be trust."

On if there is added pressure because of the speculated descent in the academic community:

"I've been at a few places so there's always some dissent. It's not just at Rutgers. No matter how popular the program is, there's always a fraction that doesn't agree with it, but I don't feel any pressure and I don't think our players do. I tell people all the time, this university and its governance made a decision long before I was the head coach that they were going to be a major college football program. Part of that is joining the BIG EAST Conference and along with that goes certain expenses or certain things you have to do if you're going to be competitive. Again, as I've said all along, this place is very special to me but one of the reasons it is special is because we want to be the best. We're going to do it the right way, but we're doing everything we can to someday be the best football program in the country. That goes with academically and we've quite frankly pretty much have gotten to that. Now all we have to do is keep it up as far as the academic performance of our players in relation to the rest of the country. We got to 12th in the country in 2006 and that was great, but it's what have you done for me lately. So we have a lot of challenges ahead of us, but I think and feel a great deal of support from our school, the State of New Jersey, our administration and our Governor. Personally, I think there's a lot of excitement. I think sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease and that's part of life. I don't worry about it."

On how tough it was this summer with all that was written:

"I shrug it off. I'm afraid that when you're born and raised in a place and most of your family still lives there, I feel bad for them because they read it and nobody knows how you're feeling. What is important to me is these kids, the staff and my family. We have great people around here and that's one of the biggest assets. With Bob Mulcahy (Director of Athletics) and Kevin MacConnell (Deputy Director of Athletics), we have guys that are tirelessly working to help this program. Then when you look at this coaching staff, I think it's just really, really good. And then our players, they are our strength. Without them this program goes nowhere and we have great young men in our program, not only football players, but people. All that is what I focus on and it's fun."

On if the program is at the point where they are reloading and not rebuilding each season:

"I think when you have a program, you have young players that are known about during recruiting but then you don't hear from them for a year or two. But just because you're not hearing from them doesn't mean they're not getting better and better. They are and you guys see them at practice, but the general public doesn't see them all the time because they're not quite ready to go play in the game. When you have a program all those people are in place and now they're just waiting their turn and we're getting there. Are we there at every position? Not quite yet, but I look at some of the competitions that are going on out there on the practice field and I would love to say yes we are getting closer."

On replacing Ray Rice and the senior class:

"The neat thing about college football is every year you lose some guys to graduation and you have some new guys come in. Now when you lose a guy like Ray Rice who did so much for your program it's hard. It's not coincidental that things really took off during his time here. Now he certainly had a great supporting cast and Ray would be the first one to tell you that, but Ray's a phenomenal football player and a great teammate to have and we're going to miss him. Having said that, Kordell (Young), Mason (Robinson), Jourdan (Brooks) and Joe (Martinek) have looked really impressive so far. That's spring time and now. Do we have a Ray Rice? No, we don't. But we have other guys and they're going to do their best and I think their best is going to be pretty good. We lost two starting tackles, a starting guard, a defensive tackle and some guys in the secondary just like every team. But there's a great deal of competition out there between qualified people and I think like the old saying 'the cream will rise to the top', that will happen."

On the offensive line:

"I think we're close. Right now we have some young guys on the offensive line that are going to be really good football players. Is it going to happen by September 1, I don't think. So there's where the continued progression is going to be critical and can we stay healthy until they're ready? I hope so. If not, they are going to have to play."

On Kordell Young's progression from last season's injury:

"He's doing well. So far he's done everything. I was happy when our trainer told me he could do everything besides two-a-days and we don't have many of those. He's rehabbed incredibly well and he's been able to hold up so far. Today's a big day because it'll be the first time he gets hit on it live."

On his philosophy in hiring coaches:

"You go with people you're comfortable with so you have some kind of relationship. That's been my history. I'm very hesitant to go outside of people we know. Once in awhile we've done it and been successful, but I'm very happy with the staff right now. I think they've worked incredibly hard, not only in football but also in recruiting and in mentoring their players but academically and in other ways in their life. I think this staff is really coming together well, but we haven't played a game so we'll see."

On the team captains:

"On offense it's going to be Mike (Teel) and Tiquan (Underwood) as the two captains. On defense we actually have four captains: Pete Tverdov, Kevin Malast, Courtney Green and Jason McCourty. So we have six captains which I've never done. I haven't been a head coach that long, but in seven years, I've never done that. I'm excited about it. I think they've done a very good job. Our whole leadership team has done a good job."

On the return of several players from injury in camp:

"We've had a few guys come back off injury which is good. Zaire (Kitchen) is really playing well. He's kind of picked up where he left off, where as last time he came back from knee surgery, he really struggled for awhile. Charlie Noonan has come back from surgery and really come back as his old self. Damaso (Munoz) missed the entire spring and I was concerned if he'd be ready to go at the beginning of camp. He really busted his tail to be ready and he's playing well. Damaso and Ryan (D'Imperio) and in the middle of a great competition."

On good competitions going on during the first week:

"On defense there's some good competition going on inside at tackle because we don't know who it's going to be that backs-up Pete (Tverdov). At the tackle position, Alex (Silvestro) and Blair (Bines) and some of the young guys are really competing. Also, it's competing for what. We have about eight guys, so it's a matter of who gets to start the game and who gets more reps. Who's the 40 rep a game guy and who's the 20 rep a game guy."

"Offensively, I think there's great competition on the o-line for some of the depth of the line. Kevin (Brock) is our tight end, but there's really good competition for who's going to be our second tight end and when we go two tights, who's going to get on the field."

On Anthony Davis switching positions:

"We recruited him to be an offensive tackle, but we happened to have two multiple year starters at both positions so we didn't want to tip the boat there. We scheduled Anthony in at guard and he met our expectations and became a starter. But the plan all along was to move him out to tackle during his sophomore year. After he came here he was pretty heavy and over the course of time he has gotten himself down to where he's 315-320 (lbs.) and we need him to come through big at the left tackle spot. Everything indicates that he will, but he has to go do it."

On the way he'll use his redshirts this season:

"What do we need to be successful now? If they can help us win now, we're going to use them as long as they're on board. I've never redshirted a kid or played a kid if he wasn't on board with it. I learned a lesson a long time ago when I wasn't a head coach, but was part of a staff that did that and the guys heart wasn't into it. We didn't get his best. It has to be a consensus that it's what's best, but as a head coach you can certainly lead that consensus a little bit. But some guys are just adamantly against it so I won't force the issue. I don't believe in that."

On where the leadership will come from this year:

"I think those six captains are definitely leaders. One of them is a repeat captain in Mike (Teel). Mike's our quarterback and a multiple year starter so if you said there's one guy, it's probably Mike. But I think all six of captains are really looked up to by their teammates."

[MikeG]

hope Teel's last season mirrors Brohm's, including a loss to USF