BIG TEN PREVIEW: 20 THINGS TO KNOW
- Thread starter Alaska_Dawg
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I'm going to say RU goes 6 - 6 and goes bowling.
6. The good news for Rutgers is that this season can't possibly go worse than last season … in some respects. Actually, it is possible that the Scarlet Knights will finish with a worse record than their 4-8 mark, but instead of an atmosphere of dread and embarrassment -- which was pervasive throughout Kyle Flood's final season -- there is at least optimism for the future again under new coach Chris Ash and athletic director Patrick Hobbs. It seems likely that Rutgers will be able to at least make it through a week without some sort of scandal or controversy this season, so that would represent improvement. Ash inherits a fairly experienced roster on both sides of the ball, beyond losing WR Leonte Carroo and the top three tacklers on defense. The backfield is in stellar shape, Janarion Grant is a terrific weapon in the return game and standout DT Darius Hamilton returns from a season lost to a knee injury. Get improved quarterback play from Chris Laviano (or TCU transfer Zach Allen), and the Scarlet Knights can at least compete for a bowl bid, although a nonconference trip to Washington and a cross-division date with Iowa make the margin for error small, considering the Scarlet Knights' Big Ten East schedule.
6. The good news for Rutgers is that this season can't possibly go worse than last season … in some respects. Actually, it is possible that the Scarlet Knights will finish with a worse record than their 4-8 mark, but instead of an atmosphere of dread and embarrassment -- which was pervasive throughout Kyle Flood's final season -- there is at least optimism for the future again under new coach Chris Ash and athletic director Patrick Hobbs. It seems likely that Rutgers will be able to at least make it through a week without some sort of scandal or controversy this season, so that would represent improvement. Ash inherits a fairly experienced roster on both sides of the ball, beyond losing WR Leonte Carroo and the top three tacklers on defense. The backfield is in stellar shape, Janarion Grant is a terrific weapon in the return game and standout DT Darius Hamilton returns from a season lost to a knee injury. Get improved quarterback play from Chris Laviano (or TCU transfer Zach Allen), and the Scarlet Knights can at least compete for a bowl bid, although a nonconference trip to Washington and a cross-division date with Iowa make the margin for error small, considering the Scarlet Knights' Big Ten East schedule.
Tired of the snark. ESPN and everybody else. Not about us just journalism in general.
Our bad yr last yr is easily explained, injuries, arrests, coach suspended, etc. look ar RU first yr in b10 and last 10 yrs. i expect RU to bounce back in a big way, schedule is tough.
Here we go with the excuses again. How about poor recruiting and shitty coaching?
I'm becoming convinced, if we can stay fairly healthy, that we have a good chance of surprising a lot of people. :chairshot:
What would be a biggy is a bowl invite. That gives a team something like 15 more practices for the season and it gives extra exposure (recruiting).
"11. Northwestern is coming off one of the strangest 10-win seasons imaginable. This is a program that has won 10 games only four times ever, and it did so last year with an offense that ranked 122nd in yards per play."
I beg to differ. He had 3 classes on the field last year. 1 really Greg's and 2 his. Recruiting under him had already begun to hurt us IMHO. Lack of quality depth.
I'm on the optimism train as well and really do think we can surprise this year. There is just one obvious position that I'm not really sure about that will affect the outcome of the season: QB.
Most of the position groups have some sort of silver lining that you can argue for. Just some examples...Secondary will be improved because of all of the experienced defensive coaches. Defensive and offensive line are very experienced. Receiver, as long as we can figure out how to use Grant, there is potential for big plays.
But QB...Allen is supposed to be fast, but he has only thrown three passes? Laviano, based off of last year, can he stretch the field at all or will he dink and dunk like last year?
Maybe it's a good thing that we didn't show much in the scrimmage last week. That's the one thing that could potentially surprise me significantly and, in that case, it might as well surprise Washington too.
Most of the position groups have some sort of silver lining that you can argue for. Just some examples...Secondary will be improved because of all of the experienced defensive coaches. Defensive and offensive line are very experienced. Receiver, as long as we can figure out how to use Grant, there is potential for big plays.
But QB...Allen is supposed to be fast, but he has only thrown three passes? Laviano, based off of last year, can he stretch the field at all or will he dink and dunk like last year?
Maybe it's a good thing that we didn't show much in the scrimmage last week. That's the one thing that could potentially surprise me significantly and, in that case, it might as well surprise Washington too.
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