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can't wait for this position battle !

ruready07

All American
Apr 15, 2003
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the summer is all about position battles. We obviously know about the highly publicized QB battle between Laviano and Rettig, but what under the radar battles stand out to you and why? Lets see your predictions.

For me, its the battle for MLB between Kaiwan Lewis and Isaiah Johnson. A run stuffing veteran vs the young energetic sideline to sideline guy. In order to build a great defense, the triangle consisting of your two DTs and MLB must be solid. With Hamilton and mera/jpo/wilkins/wiafe I feel pretty good. Just gotta get that mike lb solidified.

I predict Lewis ultimately wins the job.

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Other notable battles :
(SS) Jacobs vs Hester - two DePaul HS stars going at it for one of the most important positions on the field. Maybe a guy like Andre Hunt can grab reps here also as he showed well during limited time last year.
(FS) Stephenson vs Cioffi vs Hampton - Stephenson is becoming more and more of a sure thing but he will be tested by Cioffi, who seems to always make plays and the promising, improving Saquan Hampton, the pride of Mercer County!
(RB) James vs Martin/Hicks/Peoples/Goodwin - We know James can play, but we also know he has a hard time staying healthy. Martin/Hicks/Peoples have all shown me they can make guys miss and create yards that aren't supposed to be there - a true sign of a good rb. Goodwin flashes a nice slashing style of running that coach Flood seems to like, but he goes down too easily in my opinion. This is the B1G East baby, we need yards after contact!
(FB) Marquez vs Bergen vs Gross - very important battle in Rutgers pro offense. Bergen is the 6th year guy and ultimate team player, which a FB needs to be. Marquez has shown flashes of being very good but lacks the consistency this position requires. A couple of years ago he was getting a lot of reps when Burton was banged up and he played well. Razhon Gross is the former state champ wrestler who is built like a bulldozer. He is reportedly having a great off-season and could be on the brink of grabbing the starting spot. This will be a good battle between 3 hammers.
(XWR) Patton vs Agudosi - The guy opposite our star flanker Leonte Carroo. With safeties cheating towards Leonte, the x in our offense has the opportunity to make plays. Both guys have great size and leaping ability. Both need to have more consistent hands though. Ive always wanted to see more of Agudosi and it seems he is finally coming on but Patton is a great kid according to coaches and is getting every opportunity to lock down the spot. A good performance from this position this year could really take the offense to a new level.
(2nd TE) - Flanagan vs Scarff - two walk-ons who undoubtedly are great finds by the coaching staff. If we want to run the ball and be a play-action team, the #2 TE has to perform. Lets see who steps up between these guys.
 
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Nice write up. A lot of good info here. That MLB spot is going to be big. Definitely need someone who can tackle well and stop the run. I like the addition of Lewis and Johnson. I feel good both will contribute.
 
I think one of the biggest under the radar battles will be between Alan Lucy and the walk on (whose name I can't remember right now) for the long snapper position. Word is Lucy has not solved his issues, and without a savvy holder this could end up being a huge problem for us.
 
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I love the idea of us being able to have 2 possibly 3 FBs that are all able to compete for the starting spot. The reason for this is it would be INCREDIBLE if they were all good enough to the point where we could cycle them in and keep them all fresh and also play the hot hand if one is really feeling it.

Imagine we are at home against Michigan State and it's 4th and 1 and it's the 4 quarter and we need this first down to seal the victory. Ben McDaniels calls Power 53 or whatever RU calls it and they set up in a Power I set and run the ball right behind Lumpkin and Mueller to seal the deal.

And as they roll the replay you see that the MLB comes up and fills the hole exactly as he should, but then you see either Bergen or Marquez or Gross absolutely BLOW HIM back 3 yards giving the RB the space he needed.

How did this happen? It happened because Rutgers had been cycling their FB's the entire game so in the 4th quarter their MLB was exhausted from playing the full game while our FB is at his 100% best and this made all the difference in the world.

Note: This story can be applied to many other positions too. It is nice to have legit summer position battles because that means both are good enough to play and you can then do some smart coaching/substitution moves during the game to allow our players to be as fresh as possible when the game is on the line at the end!
 
I think Bergen's spot as starting FB is solid and not really a battle. Aguodosi was so outstanding during spring, that along as he stays healthy I think he becomes the other starter over Patton who had a mediocre spring. Lucy I think loses his spot as LS. James is the starting RB as long as he is healthy, but Hicks and Martin will get enough carries to be ready for anything. Hester v Jacobs should be fun to watch in August.

I hope the big scrimmage is open to the public.
 
I'm excited abt the d line depth and to see how Wiafe, Ford, Wilkins and Joseph perform this year. Very talented group esp when u add Hamilton turay JPO and Mera to that.
 
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I think Bergen's spot as starting FB is solid and not really a battle. Aguodosi was so outstanding during spring, that along as he stays healthy I think he becomes the other starter over Patton who had a mediocre spring. Lucy I think loses his spot as LS. James is the starting RB as long as he is healthy, but Hicks and Martin will get enough carries to be ready for anything. Hester v Jacobs should be fun to watch in August.

I hope the big scrimmage is open to the public.

Abro, I'm thinking Gross wins it! His use of leverage should help tremendously. He even showed some soft hands in the scrimmage. Coaches are high on him. I feel all 3 guys could play though - good problem.
 
Wonder if Seymour plays this year. If he's up to 290 like Todderick says then he has the size, not sure if his technique is there yet
 
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I think one of the biggest under the radar battles will be between Alan Lucy and the walk on (whose name I can't remember right now) for the long snapper position. Word is Lucy has not solved his issues, and without a savvy holder this could end up being a huge problem for us.

We could team Alan Lucy up with Lucy Van Pelt---that would be special:

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Seriously, though, who will be our kicker? I see on the roster:

Federico, Sr
Bonagura, So
Daly, RS FR

Any chance Federico gets unseated? Who will be holding?
 
Wonder if Seymour plays this year. If he's up to 290 like Todderick says then he has the size, not sure if his technique is there yet


forgot about Seymour, even better! And the other kid that enrolled early Bateky, wonder if he will get any looks or if he redshirts
 
IMO, Zero chance anyone but Federico kicks FGs and Xpts (barring injury, which KFed has been bit by). Kick offs ? maybe someone else to rest KFed.
Holder? Probably the backup QB.

We could team Alan Lucy up with Lucy Van Pelt---that would be special:

latest


Seriously, though, who will be our kicker? I see on the roster:

Federico, Sr
Bonagura, So
Daly, RS FR

Any chance Federico gets unseated? Who will be holding?
 
IMO, Zero chance anyone but Federico kicks FGs and Xpts (barring injury, which KFed has been bit by). Kick offs ? maybe someone else to rest KFed.
Holder? Probably the backup QB.

Holder should always be a backup QB so that we always have the option to throw from a trick play.
 
Holder should always be a backup QB so that we always have the option to throw from a trick play.

While it is nice to have that option, give me the guy who is going to catch the ball and get it down to give the kicker the best chance to make it.
 
Lot of good battles which should lead to us having better depth than we had in the past. Like the increase in size and strength of the D-line. Really need that in the B1G.
 
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