Do not underestimate the importance of winning

[bac2therac]

Look this team isnt all that great. Fan expectations have to be somewhat low. A bowl trip while not impossible is still unlikely. That being said at the beginning of the season in the prediction thread I stated how important I thought this game was. It was a good test of a school somewhere in between Washington and Howard in level..yes medicore but a team that could challenge and beat Rutgers. This staff on RU are novices. They need to learn how to win. The players need to learn how to win under a new system. They all succeeded in the that today and what was particularly impressive is that they did it while down 21-0. Looked like a total mess in the first quarter but then proceeded to outscore New Mexico 37-7 the rest of the way. RU dominated New Mexico, it seemed close at the end sure because the hole they dug early made it that way but RU did everything they had to do to close the game out. They controlled the ball late, they made two fgs, they stopped two New Mexico drives. It wasnt the same old Rutgers, certainly not the same old Rutgers that blew a big lead over Maryland and you sat there knowing that they would lose. It wasnt pretty but it doesnt have to be in year 1. There was progress out there today on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately QB isnt one of them and that of course will ultimately make this a bowless season but Laviano not being the answer is for another thread that will likely dominate this board over the next few wins.

Team built some confidence and character today. They showed some emotion and toughness on defense. Yes the slow starts are frustrating and thats on both Ash for not hitting those right buttons and the players for not executing. We should all be pleased by what we saw today. Its a building step on a long slog back to respectability. No illusions about next week vs Iowa. I still think RU will generally be overmatched against an angry team. Still its an opportunity for coaches and players to show progress from what they did against Washington. Iowa is better than New Mexico but a tick or two down from Washington. Todays win gives them that opportunity to feel good about themselves heading into Iowa and keeps the fans interested for at least one more week

 

[mighty_knights]

Great points. Let's face it - we're going to be on the wrong end of the scoreboard a lot this season. Good for them to know they can come back.

 

[chase07470]

That wasn't a slow start, it was catastrophic start.

The offense needed to make first downs and keep that offense off the field. Instead, we went three and out, not once not twice, but three times. Against New Mexico. After preparing all week.

I mean, WTF?

But the resiliency and the mental toughness to comeback was very impressive. Big win for the program, we have to avoid that one or two win season. We're almost there. Congrats to the team and am seeing a lot of things improving out there. The team has a chance improve, become more consistent and I think they will.

 

[RuSnp]

Great points. Let's face it - we're going to be on the wrong end of the scoreboard a lot this season. Good for them to know they can come back.

This is a good point. Short of a miracle best case at this point was 2-1. The fact that all three games involved terrible first quarters and in the latter two we came back and won is probably not the worst thing going forward.

 

[MikeR0102]

A lot of The teams we play aren't that great either. We need to come out of the gate better, but we can win some more games this year.

 

[MADHAT1]

[thumb2]

 

[mildone]

Thing I liked best, up until the two series w/Allen which was hard to understand (even if Laviano was hurt), was the coaching. Yes, a very poor start, again. But the adjustments in the second quarter, on both sides of the ball were great.

I think there's room for hope for later in the season. Next three games are going to be rough games though. Important for the staff to keep the players' heads up through those games so we come out strong for the second half of the season.

 

[bac2therac]

Thing I liked best, up until the two series w/Allen which was hard to understand (even if Laviano was hurt), was the coaching. Yes, a very poor start, again. But the adjustments in the second quarter, on both sides of the ball were great.

I think there's room for hope for later in the season. Next three games are going to be rough games though. Important for the staff to keep the players' heads up through those games so we come out strong for the second half of the season.

yep...after the three beatdowns we get Illinois and Indiana..still tough games and we may not be favored but those are opportunity games and winnable.

 

[newwavedave1]

Great post. bac2therac said it all.

 

[ScarletRunner]

Good post and perspective Bac.

This game was critical to get to 4 or (God willing) 5 wins. Do that, and show some spark and fight in the games against the heavyweights beginning next week, and we should have enough momentum to keep our 2017 recruiting class together and get a solid start to the 2018 class. And that is really all that matters right now, because the guys currently on the team are not the answer.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

4 or 5 wins? I am holding out hope for a bowl bid. We are capable of beating Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Penn State. The others would clearly be upsets. Let's focus on getting win #3 next, hopefully against Iowa. Coaches made some good in-game adjustments today. I am looking forward to watching our guys develop as a team.

 

[RUJMM78]

The key factor moving forward this season is what happens at the quarterback position.Right now the move to the new offensive system doesn't match the skillset of Laviano because he offers no running threat and his passing accuracy is suspect.

 

[Caliknight]

The team wasn't prepared to start the game (neither were the fans, buts that's a different topic). That's on the staff. Adjustments were made and the team performed better and won. That's on the staff too.

 

[RUSK97]

That wasn't a slow start, it was catastrophic start.

The offense needed to make first downs and keep that offense off the field. Instead, we went three and out, not once not twice, but three times. Against New Mexico. After preparing all week.

I mean, WTF?

But the resiliency and the mental toughness to comeback was very impressive. Big win for the program, we have to avoid that one or two win season. We're almost there. Congrats to the team and am seeing a lot of things improving out there. The team has a chance improve, become more consistent and I think they will.

Mental toughness through all three games has been impressive. At no point did they give up. But you're right; WTF are with the starts. NO ONE is going to convince me that NM and Howard have more talent. It's piss poor preparation on the coaches' part.

 

[RU848789]

Thing I liked best, up until the two series w/Allen which was hard to understand (even if Laviano was hurt), was the coaching. Yes, a very poor start, again. But the adjustments in the second quarter, on both sides of the ball were great.

I think there's room for hope for later in the season. Next three games are going to be rough games though. Important for the staff to keep the players' heads up through those games so we come out strong for the second half of the season.

Generally agree. FYI, Allen was only in for one series (and a really bad one that)...

 

[RU848789]

Look this team isnt all that great. Fan expectations have to be somewhat low. A bowl trip while not impossible is still unlikely. That being said at the beginning of the season in the prediction thread I stated how important I thought this game was. It was a good test of a school somewhere in between Washington and Howard in level..yes medicore but a team that could challenge and beat Rutgers. This staff on RU are novices. They need to learn how to win. The players need to learn how to win under a new system. They all succeeded in the that today and what was particularly impressive is that they did it while down 21-0. Looked like a total mess in the first quarter but then proceeded to outscore New Mexico 37-7 the rest of the way. RU dominated New Mexico, it seemed close at the end sure because the hole they dug early made it that way but RU did everything they had to do to close the game out. They controlled the ball late, they made two fgs, they stopped two New Mexico drives. It wasnt the same old Rutgers, certainly not the same old Rutgers that blew a big lead over Maryland and you sat there knowing that they would lose. It wasnt pretty but it doesnt have to be in year 1. There was progress out there today on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately QB isnt one of them and that of course will ultimately make this a bowless season but Laviano not being the answer is for another thread that will likely dominate this board over the next few wins.

Team built some confidence and character today. They showed some emotion and toughness on defense. Yes the slow starts are frustrating and thats on both Ash for not hitting those right buttons and the players for not executing. We should all be pleased by what we saw today. Its a building step on a long slog back to respectability. No illusions about next week vs Iowa. I still think RU will generally be overmatched against an angry team. Still its an opportunity for coaches and players to show progress from what they did against Washington. Iowa is better than New Mexico but a tick or two down from Washington. Todays win gives them that opportunity to feel good about themselves heading into Iowa and keeps the fans interested for at least one more week

Good post. Winning ugly is way way better than losing in any way. This game was a must to even have a shred of a hope for a bowl appearance (which is still a longshot, IMO - still think we win 4 or 5). But man, being down a cumulative 59-0 in the first quarter (not 100% sure we ended the 1Q with those scores, but we were certainly down 24-0, 14-0, and 21-0 early in each game, so far) is just horrible. We're obviously not that bad, but why do we come out so badly each game? Although at least we've adjusted...

 

[seels2662]

4 or 5 wins? I am holding out hope for a bowl bid. We are capable of beating Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Penn State. The others would clearly be upsets. Let's focus on getting win #3 next, hopefully against Iowa. Coaches made some good in-game adjustments today. I am looking forward to watching our guys develop as a team.

Minnesota is beatable too. They we losing in the 4th quarter to an awful Oregon State team.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

I forgot about the Gophers and agree, we have a decent shot at them too. Good catch

 

[mildone]

Good post. Winning ugly is way way better than losing in any way. This game was a must to even have a shred of a hope for a bowl appearance (which is still a longshot, IMO - still think we win 4 or 5). But man, being down a cumulative 59-0 in the first quarter (not 100% sure we ended the 1Q with those scores, but we were certainly down 24-0, 14-0, and 21-0 early in each game, so far) is just horrible. We're obviously not that bad, but why do we come out so badly each game? Although at least we've adjusted...

Ash was asked that very question prior to this game. Paraphrasing, we're using the same pregame approach they used at OSU and Wisconsin so at the moment, the staff is perplexed about why we're starting so poorly. They'll figure it out. But the next few games aren't going to make things easy.

 

[LC-88]

I'd much rather a comeback win, than a choke loss. Imagine the board bedlam if we were up 21-0 in the 1st and lost. As others have pointed out, very refreshing to see positive coaching adjustments.

Question. I did not see the game today. Did our guys look strong the whole game? i.e. anyone look gassed or tired? Curious if the new strength and conditioning program has yielded results on the field. Thanks.

 

[DJ Spanky]

That wasn't a slow start, it was catastrophic start.

The offense needed to make first downs and keep that offense off the field. Instead, we went three and out, not once not twice, but three times. Against New Mexico. After preparing all week.

The good part, though, is that we practiced running the ball on first down a lot. That's important, right?

 

[DJ Spanky]

Thing I liked best, up until the two series w/Allen which was hard to understand (even if Laviano was hurt), was the coaching.

That, right there, was a real head scratcher - why didn't they use Gio or Oden? With them we would have at least have had a running threat at the QB position.

 

[mildone]

That, right there, was a real head scratcher - why didn't they use Gio or Oden? With them we would have at least have had a running threat at the QB position.

Not using Oden I understand. Ash was pretty clear about Oden having a long way to go to be ready. Although Ash also was clear he'd like to get Oden in more games at some point this season.

What Ash and Mehringer both said was that Allen had a great week in practice and had earned the time on the field. I believe them. But what the past two games tells me is that we have real problems in the QB group.

 

[vkj91]

A win is a win. I think sometimes people on this board don't watch any college football outside of Rutgers. In the first three weeks we've seen lots of upsets, lots of "power" programs squeak by lesser teams, and well coached teams look brutal at times. This team is a work in progress and has shown flashes of being "good" while also showing flashes of being "horrid". 2-1 was the best case scenario to start the season and many fans on here said it wouldn't happen.

 

[mildone]

A win is a win. I think sometimes people on this board don't watch any college football outside of Rutgers. In the first three weeks we've seen lots of upsets, lots of "power" programs squeak by lesser teams, and well coached teams look brutal at times. This team is a work in progress and has shown flashes of being "good" while also showing flashes of being "horrid". 2-1 was the best case scenario to start the season and many fans on here said it wouldn't happen.

Our fanbase can be pretty provincial at times. Watching a lot of CFB games besides our games is eye-opening.

 

[vkj91]

Maryland in a dog fight with a bad UCF team

 

[Caliknight]

I'd much rather a comeback win, than a choke loss. Imagine the board bedlam if we were up 21-0 in the 1st and lost. As others have pointed out, very refreshing to see positive coaching adjustments.

Question. I did not see the game today. Did our guys look strong the whole game? i.e. anyone look gassed or tired? Curious if the new strength and conditioning program has yielded results on the field. Thanks.

They are fit. Injuries are low. Great job by the staff and players in this area.

 

[jonS]

What's very impressive is that the coaching staff appears to be able to make adjustments offense and defense as the game progresses. In past years we hardly ever saw that.

 

[Goo]

I'm happy

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

This is a 7-8 win team and schedule with normal QB play. ..Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Penn State would be clear chances but now you're looking at a best case of splitting the 4...at Minnesota and Maryland are possible if we had consistent play out of Laviano.

This staff has been outstanding in conditioning and adjustments but it comes down to a 5 yard pass on each series that we don't convert.

Harris is a key piece and I can see more talent at WR helping next year. But not giving up on 7-5...Grant and Martin are that good to carry this to becoming bowl eligible.

 

[RutgersB1G]

A lot of The teams we play aren't that great either. We need to come out of the gate better, but we can win some more games this year.

Which game(s)?

 

[MikeR0102]

Which game(s)?

Illinois, Indiana, Maryland for starters. I'm not sold on Minnesota. Penn State at home late in the year, where hopefully we are a better team in week 13 then we are in week 3. Maybe Iowa this week, but they will be tough. They don't do anything crazy scheme wise though which should help us out

 

[RutgersB1G]

The problem is that we'll lose to Iowa and then get destroyed in the next two vs. Michigan and Ohio State. The rest of the season will probably be determined at home against Illinois. If the team loses that game, forget it, we're not winning another the rest of the year.

 

[Miramar-RU]

Right now we're #23 in the Country in Rushing. So that's a a cause for some optimism. Of course, we are #96 in Passing, but that's due in large part time not having a real QB for our system in place yet.

 

[MikeR0102]

The problem is that we'll lose to Iowa and then get destroyed in the next two vs. Michigan and Ohio State. The rest of the season will probably be determined at home against Illinois. If the team loses that game, forget it, we're not winning another the rest of the year.

I agree the schedule is tough, but good coaches keep their teams buying in. The ones that lose their teams are the ones that get fired.