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Greg’s Greatest Coaching Job Yet

rutgersal

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Jun 7, 2001
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At the onset of preseason camp, this team was capable of going undefeated against the presented schedule. But No one could have predicted the catastrophic amount of injuries that we would have to endure. This was the worst amount observed since the Terry Shea era, and the team could very well have ended up 4-8.
But the team persevered, and we are currently 6-5, with a good chance at a win Saturday.
It’s important to note the losses we’ve had to absorb.

1. Mohamed Toure - Starting LB and possible Defensive MVP
2. Brian Felter - Starting Left Guard
3. Robert Needham - Starting Right Tackle
4. Tyreem Powell - Starting MLB; played much of the season well bellow 100%
5. Robert Longerbeam - Starting CB; played much of the season below 100%
6. Kenny Fletcher - Starting TE - led team in receptions before lost to injury
7. Victor Konopka - #2 Tight End
8. Logan Blake - Reserve Tight End- replaced Fletcher, but then lost
9. Wesley Bailey- Starting DE lost for season
10. Aaron Lewis - Starting DE - currently playing well below 100%
11. Sam Brown - 2nd String RB lost for season
12. Kyle Monangai- starting RB - playing well below 100%; missed Minnesota game
13. Ian Strong - missed a few games but back to 100%
14. Abram Wright - LB
15. Flip Dixon - playing less than 100%

The replacements went in, did their best, and continue to fight:

1. Jordan Walker - DE
2. Mike Higgins - TE
3. Antwan Raymond - RB
4. Jashon Benjamín- RB
5. Taj White - OT
6. Dontae Chin - OG
7. Ben Black - WR
8. Dariel Djabome - LB
9. Jordan Thompson - DE
10. Al Shadee Salas - CB
11. Terrance Salami - TE/OG
12. Timmy Hinspeter - LB
13. Bo Mascoe - CB
14. Kaj Sanders - S

Since the Minnesota Gsme, we made one big adjustment on defense, and that is to play three safeties, (Sanders, Dixon, Loyal) with Loyal playing more of a hybrid DB/LB type role.

The Offensive Line is back to peak performance, as it took time for new starters to acclimate.

Injuries cost us wins, because it took time for replacement players to achieve peak productivity thx to learning curves. Mistakes were made, but players grew from them, to rebound to beat Maryland and Minnesota, and today Rutgers is well positioned to beat any non playoff Big Ten Team.

Let’s Get Michigan State! Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Totally agree! Greg Schiano and his staff have done a remarkable job of keeping things together and delivered gut-checking two wins.
Too bad for the Illinois game....Greg should have called a timeout before they lined up for the kick. Greg did take the blame.

Some of our Fans are angry with the losses this season. It part of being a Fan (short for fanatic).
Understandable given Rutgers had a reasonable chance of competing for a CFP slot. Even Herbstreit mentioned Rutgers with a shot at the CFP.

Many were disappointed, but the long list of injuries made it difficult at times with new players getting acclimated as starters/2nd team in their position or moving to an entirely new position.
Rutgers defense looked better after a bye week, but it is not the best team out on the field when you consider the starters sidelined with injuries.

I look forward to seeing how our team responds against MSU.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
 
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Would've, could've, should've...
Excuses for mediocre coach.

Team would be 11-0 if we had a field house
 
Would've, could've, should've...
Excuses for mediocre coach.

Team would be 11-0 if we had a field house
Or could cover RBs out of the backfield, defend an offense with any modicum of sophistication, or keep a team from turning a 4th and 13 with seconds left in the game into a game winning catch and run TD.
 
Would've, could've, should've...
Excuses for mediocre coach.

Team would be 11-0 if we had a field house
Actually, with a Fieldhouse the team is so loaded in all three phases and led by the greatest coach since Lombardi it would have been 16-0 after 11 games, ain’t that right Adonis Al of La Mancha ?

We’d have won the NC already, two months before the title game.
 
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