Article today on RU Linebackers (from Njcom)

[Abro1975]

Not much media access anymore, so here is something from today:

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...ckly_moving_up_dept_1.html#incart_river_index

Sargeant article on the RU DC Neiman:

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/i...or_jay_niemann_try_to.html#incart_river_index

 

[RUShea]

I know Melton and Clark have been talked about a lot (and rightly so) but the freshman I might be most excited about is Fogg. Think he's gonna be a stud sooner than later.

 

[newwavedave1]

I know Melton and Clark have been talked about a lot (and rightly so) but the freshman I might be most excited about is Fogg. Think he's gonna be a stud sooner than later.

He and Devera come in with B1G size.We can't wait for kids to contribute in their 4th and 5th years if we want to turn things around quickly. Freshman playing bodes well for the future.

 

[ruready07]

That's a very encouraging article about our linebackers - and the future of Rutger's linebackers in general.

So we know Ash can coach DBs, and the linebackers look to be in good hands...now if we can just get the dline going.

 

[NorthernKnight]

Simmons will be our starting SAM and suprise everyone with his physicality to accompany his speed.

 

[RU#1fan]

Simmons will be our starting SAM and suprise everyone with his physicality to accompany his speed.

That's seems to be a stretch right now. Simmons is 5' 11" and only 183 lbs. and playing LB in the B1G is going to be a grind. I know we are forced to push him to play earlier because of our depth issues but it would better if he could bulk up and add strength first.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Simmons will be our starting SAM and suprise everyone with his physicality to accompany his speed.

Not-for-nothing but haven't we proven that small LB's just WILL NOT cut it over the grueling haul oh a B1G season (as starters)

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Can't have undersized middle LBs in the B1G

 

[PaKnight]

That's seems to be a stretch right now. Simmons is 5' 11" and only 183 lbs. and playing LB in the B1G is going to be a grind. I know we are forced to push him to play earlier because of our depth issues but it would better if he could bulk up and add strength first.

He is listed at 214 on roster and has been running with the 2's in practice.

 

[Dpgru]

Last year there was a sense at this time in the preseason that things would be different. Better conditioned, better coaching, and then we go 2 & 10 with several embarrassing blow outs. This year there is again a sense that things are different, better athletes, better coaching, more depth etc. Time will tell. The LB group epitomizes this sense. More depth, better and bigger athletes etc. One of these years this enthusiasm has to turn into reality. Hopefully it starts this year. My goal is competitive games and with some breaks and staying healthy we become bowl eligible. I honestly believe that once it starts there is no reason to believe it will stop. This state and this region can be recruited year in and year out to stay at a high level. The problem is to overcome the inertia and get it started.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Last year there was a sense at this time in the preseason that things would be different. Better conditioned, better coaching, and then we go 2 & 10 with several embarrassing blow outs. This year there is again a sense that things are different,.

The only people on this board who thought that things were going to be different, last year, were (for the most part) the same people who berated me mercilessly for being spot-on about Kyle flood for 3+ years lol! Better conditioning, et al, doesn't mean much if you don't have the right guys here in the first place.

Seriously though just look for improvement as the season moves along, thanks did call the depth starting to be a factor with certain position groups, but we've still got a long way to go IMHO.

 

[Dpgru]

The only people on this board who thought that things were going to be different, last year, were (for the most part) the same people who berated me mercilessly for being spot-on about Kyle flood for 3+ years lol!

Seriously though just look for improvement as the season moves along, thanks did call the depth starting to be a factor with certain position groups, but we've still got a long way to go IMHO.

Really? Last year the people who expected improvement were the people who believed the change in coaching staffs was enough to at least make us competitive. There were not a lot of people expecting a winning record but I seem to recall a lot of enthusiasm for the program becoming competitive. You seem to be a little impressed with yourself saying the only people expecting improvement last year were the ones who criticized you for bashing Flood. Many fans saw Ash as being able to change the culture and expected a different looking team. It didn't happen as expected but I recall a lot of enthusiasm and it wasn't based on your feelings toward Flood.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Really? Last year the people who expected improvement were the people who believed the change in coaching staffs was enough to at least make us competitive. There were not a lot of people expecting a winning record but I seem to recall a lot of enthusiasm for the program becoming competitive. You seem to be a little impressed with yourself saying the only people expecting improvement last year were the ones who criticized you for bashing Flood. Many fans saw Ash as being able to change the culture and expected a different looking team. It didn't happen as expected but I recall a lot of enthusiasm and it wasn't based on your feelings toward Flood.

First I think you kinda misunderstood my comments. Second changing a "culture" doesn't occur overnight let alone when one has been destroyed by the prior regime. So people who thought we were going to have a winning record last year - either because they though the cupboard wasn't bare OR because the culture was beginning to change - were completely fooling themselves.

 

[Dpgru]

First I think you kinda misunderstood my comments. Second changing a "culture" doesn't occur overnight let alone when one has been destroyed by the prior regime. So people who thought we were going to have a winning record last year - either because they though the cupboard wasn't bare OR because the culture was beginning to change - were completely fooling themselves.

I sincerely apologize for misreading your intent. However, the people who were enthusiastic last year were not the same as the people who bashed the Flood critics such as yourself. I seem to recall just the opposite. The Flood critics were more enthusiastic simply because of the changein coaches. I agree that it was over optimistic but many expected to see a better prepared team and a team that would at least be competitive. I am getting the same sense this year but I believe this year it may be a more realistic view. Hopefully anyway.

 

[RU#1fan]

He is listed at 214 on roster and has been running with the 2's in practice.

Still he is well undersized for a SAM in the B1G.
And he was in high school 2 months ago. No way he is ready to start in the B1G. Let him add bulk and redshirt.

 

[rubaseball78]

Last year there was a sense at this time in the preseason that things would be different. Better conditioned, better coaching, and then we go 2 & 10 with several embarrassing blow outs. This year there is again a sense that things are different, better athletes, better coaching, more depth etc. Time will tell. The LB group epitomizes this sense. More depth, better and bigger athletes etc. One of these years this enthusiasm has to turn into reality. Hopefully it starts this year. My goal is competitive games and with some breaks and staying healthy we become bowl eligible. I honestly believe that once it starts there is no reason to believe it will stop. This state and this region can be recruited year in and year out to stay at a high level. The problem is to overcome the inertia and get it started.

Sense by who? Ash consistently said it wouldn't be a good season. Even Rutgersal had a negative opinion.

 

[Dpgru]

Sense by who? Ash consistently said it wouldn't be a good season. Even Rutgersal had a negative opinion.

I never said that people sensed a "good" season. Read the post. I said many people sensed that things would be different. Many posters anticipated a team that looked and played like they were coached. Some expected that at least we wouldn't get blown out as we had before. People were raving about how well conditioned we would be. Very very few said we would be good but there was an anticipation that there would be a different look and/or feel about the team simply because of the new staff. It clearly didn't happen. I never said that people thought we would be good.

 

[urbanecane]

I'll believe it when I see it with the linebackers. It didn't really seem like any of them stood out last season, they were just the best we had. Heck a d3 transfer may have been the best one before he was injured. I do like the freshman ash brought in though. Figure 1-2 get legit playing time.

 

[LotusAggressor]

Simmons will be our starting SAM and suprise everyone with his physicality to accompany his speed.

If he doesn't get blown up on running plays by 300 + LB o-linemen in the B1G, that would truly be a surprise.

 

[NorthernKnight]

Not-for-nothing but haven't we proven that small LB's just WILL NOT cut it over the grueling haul oh a B1G season (as starters)

Honestly I don't think we have proven that. I think we have proven that the SAM LB needs to have major wheels to cover a back/receiver and that until we get that tremendous combination of wheels, instincts and size that commits to places like Ohio State, we will start with speed & instincts and will train/bulk them up. Hence the db/rb sitting in the first team slot right now.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Can't have undersized middle LBs in the B1G

especially not without HUGE DT/NT in front of him

 

[RUbacker]

He and Devera come in with B1G size.We can't wait for kids to contribute in their 4th and 5th years if we want to turn things around quickly. Freshman playing bodes well for the future.

This is not a quick turnaround by any means. It's a major build and we are in year 2.

 

[NorthernKnight]

Can't have undersized middle LBs in the B1G

Middle?