How are we supposed to be any better next season ?

[Kbee3]

I know it's probably too close to today's debacle, but I keep trying to convince myself that this team will be improved next Fall. I don't see it. We have holes to fill on both lines and I don't see any quick fix via the j.c. route or a number of freshmen coming and playing well as rookies.
It's hard to be optimistic short-term.

 

[mikebal9]

We won't be. Think 6-6 in 2018 if things break right, but more likely 2019.

 

[ashokan]

Minimum 3 year path to respect.

 

[bryanjints]

If we are this bad next year you can bet we won't have a winning season for a long while.

 

[RUSK97]

We're not getting better next year. Period. We'll probably get one win against Morgan State. They're much better than Howard, but we might have enough to squeeze out a narrow victory.

 

[DanceAppreciationTA]

A QB makes a huge difference...I'm not saying Oden/Lewis will be good but it's quite possible one of them could be exactly what we need for Mehringer limited schemes

Oden/Lewis competition should be awesome to track this offseason

 

[Kbee3]

A QB makes a huge difference...I'm not saying Oden/Lewis will be good but it's quite possible one of them could be exactly what we need for Mehringer limited schemes

Oden/Lewis competition should be awesome to track this offseason

I wish I could share your optimism. But Oden needs to be introduced to something called the forward pass. And Lewis is still in high school. I don't see Bergen Catholic on RU's schedule next year.
As someone said to me while we were watching the game today: Name me one player on Rutgers that you think will get some All-Big Ten votes at the end of the year.

 

[sct1111]

We get better offensively if Melton, Mitchell are ready to contribute right away and Janarion Grant comes back.

Our defense probably does not get better it gets worse and that's very scary.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

A QB makes a huge difference...I'm not saying Oden/Lewis will be good but it's quite possible one of them could be exactly what we need for Mehringer limited schemes

Oden/Lewis competition should be awesome to track this offseason

Not-for-nothing but anybody who watched the Minnesota game - which I'm sure you did - knows that Gio was running the full O perfectly until he got hurt. It was great to see, right? Now I'm not saying he's got the job next year, don't get me wrong, but it was really nice to see and then he goes down and it was "back to basics" of this O again. Also made it much easier for teams, the last 2 games, to not worry about him as a running threat. That damn hammy!!! Ugh.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

We get better offensively if Melton, Mitchell are ready to contribute right away and Janarion Grant comes back.

Our defense probably does not get better it gets worse and that's very scary.

You know...I'm starting to think it MIGHT not get "worse." Yes, we lose Darius and JPO, but essentially 9 starters are back, right? I mean it's not like Darius is having any kind of a great season out there (the injuries have obviously hurt his game...) and lots of kids are getting plenty of experience.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I wish I could share your optimism. But Oden needs to be introduced to something called the forward pass. And Lewis is still in high school. I don't see Bergen Catholic on RU's schedule next year.
As someone said to me while we were watching the game today: Name me one player on Rutgers that you think will get some All-Big Ten votes at the end of the year.

Well I think only 4 made last years and they were all 3rd team or honorable mention.

Listen, plenty of QB's have stepped in, frosh year, and been "difference makers." Maybe, finally, we get that with Lewis. :pray:

 

[ArminRU]

We will be a lot better next year

 

[RU31trap]

I don't want to get banned so I'll clean this up with the following statement. This coaching staff has no clue about what there doing. So if you guys want to give them 5 years feel free. The Flood haters crowd should now come forward and atone and apologize for their ill advised attacks and vitriol towards a HC that was far more competent then the joke standing on the sidelines today. Both Bob Barchi & Pat Hobbs brought in a bargain basement coach and like lapdogs we rolled over and said thank you. Sorry guys but what's happening is wrong on multiple levels.

 

[oldtimer67]

No problem. I just listened to CA's presser and he is excited that we have 9 players coming back on a defense that can't tackle or cover a pass. In addition, he is excited that all of our walk-ons and 3rd teamers on special teams will be back except one. You can't make this stuff up. Oh well, I guess he has to find something to be excited about.

 

[RUforlife]

We will be a lot better next year

I would love to believe that, but, unfortunately, that will not be the case. I know by the middle of February there will be plenty of posters on this board predicting anywhere from 5-10 wins next year, but don't count on it. We simple do not have the horses right now to compete at that level and our incoming class may be good, but you we are not winning next year based on how true freshman play on the field. Most of those kids will still need to be redshirted. Look for 2-4 wins again next year. Maybe year 3 of the Ash era will be a turning point, but that assumes the coaching also improves, which before this season started I was not considering an issue.

 

[ArminRU]

I would love to believe that, but, unfortunately, that will not be the case. I know by the middle of February there will be plenty of posters on this board predicting anywhere from 5-10 wins next year, but don't count on it. We simple do not have the horses right now to compete at that level and our incoming class may be good, but you we are not winning next year based on how true freshman play on the field. Most of those kids will still need to be redshirted. Look for 2-4 wins again next year. Maybe year 3 of the Ash era will be a turning point, but that assumes the coaching also improves, which before this season started I was not considering an issue.

We will be better and older at almost all positions. I think so.

 

[newwavedave1]

The 1st time in years that the refrain "wait until next year" rings hollow. Buckle up, this could be a really long, hard ride.

 

[Caliknight]

Next year will be just as bad.

 

[RUbacker]

I know it's probably too close to today's debacle, but I keep trying to convince myself that this team will be improved next Fall. I don't see it. We have holes to fill on both lines and I don't see any quick fix via the j.c. route or a number of freshmen coming and playing well as rookies.
It's hard to be optimistic short-term.

This year's team was expected to win 2 games. Next year 3 to 4 wins could be a possibility . So improvement should happen. It's all baby steps at this point. Year 3 maybe we can move to 5 wins. Reality sucks.

 

[Steve91562]

A few playmakers will make a huge difference. Just compare this squad w/ Grant to it w/o him. Had Grant not been injured, what do you think our record would stand at.

For whatever reason we've dropped the 50/50 games -- Illinois, Iowa, Minn., Ind. Play any of those teams 10 times in a row and RU probably walks away with 4-5 wins.

So yes, a bad, discouraging year, but they can do better in a new season.

 

[garyrc70]

Not-for-nothing but anybody who watched the Minnesota game - which I'm sure you did - knows that Gio was running the full O perfectly until he got hurt. It was great to see, right? Now I'm not saying he's got the job next year, don't get me wrong, but it was really nice to see and then he goes down and it was "back to basics" of this O again. Also made it much easier for teams, the last 2 games, to not worry about him as a running threat. That damn hammy!!! Ugh.

The last 2 games RU ran the same offense as when CL was the QB. So Gio is either still hurt or they are worried about getting him banged up again..

 

[Abro1975]

The problem with offenses that depend on the QB to run a lot, is they have a tendency to get hurt. Then your offense is limited.
So it's good to have multiple QBs who can run a bit and pass .
BUT there are few teams like Ohio St, Clemson, Fla St ,that have more than 1 good running QB.

Ash has quite to challenge in front of him.

 

[RU from Jersey]

I see next year as being worse than this year. Even if Lewis or Oden turn out to be play makers RU just doesn't have the horses to compete and at this point I am not sold on Ash's ability to coach marginal players up(he hasn't done it this year). He needs studs in order to make his systems work.

 

[shields]

Purdue will have a new coaching staff and we will beat them at home.

 

[rutgersguy1]

The problem with offenses that depend on the QB to run a lot, is they have a tendency to get hurt. Then your offense is limited.
So it's good to have multiple QBs who can run a bit and pass .
BUT there are few teams like Ohio St, Clemson, Fla St ,that have more than 1 good running QB.

Ash has quite to challenge in front of him.

I've said it's almost a requirement when you run this kid of offense. Just the nature of it increases the probability of attrition of the qb position in a given season. We've seen it at OSU, Clemson, Houston, etc.. It doesn't change my mind about the spread, which I'm a proponent of, but getting a couple qbs who are serviceable is important IMO.

 

[soundcrib]

We'll be picked to place last in the B1G East.

 

[CranfordKnight]

I don't want to get banned so I'll clean this up with the following statement. This coaching staff has no clue about what there doing. So if you guys want to give them 5 years feel free. The Flood haters crowd should now come forward and atone and apologize for their ill advised attacks and vitriol towards a HC that was far more competent then the joke standing on the sidelines today. Both Bob Barchi & Pat Hobbs brought in a bargain basement coach and like lapdogs we rolled over and said thank you. Sorry guys but what's happening is wrong on multiple levels.

Well, early returns on whether Ash and his staff can coach are pretty shaky. He's certainly no better on game day than Flood at this point.

But recruiting is a major part of coaching in college, and the jury is still out, there. We need to give him time to get his players for his system. But as I said in another thread, the disappointment is in thinking we were bringing in an innovator who might overachieve with lesser talent. I think clearly that won't be the case. More likely is another Schiano, who will rely on talent more than coaching.

 

[RU31trap]

Well, early returns on whether Ash and his staff can coach are pretty shaky. He's certainly no better on game day than Flood at this point.

But recruiting is a major part of coaching in college, and the jury is still out, there. We need to give him time to get his players for his system. But as I said in another thread, the disappointment is in thinking we were bringing in an innovator who might overachieve with lesser talent. I think clearly that won't be the case. More likely is another Schiano, who will rely on talent more than coaching.

Coach Schiano inherited a far worse situation here at Rutgers. Coach Ash came here hell bent on implementing the power spread which was a terrible idea, and will continue being a terrible idea in his second and third year. Trust me.

 

[waretown]

I know it's probably too close to today's debacle, but I keep trying to convince myself that this team will be improved next Fall. I don't see it. We have holes to fill on both lines and I don't see any quick fix via the j.c. route or a number of freshmen coming and playing well as rookies.
It's hard to be optimistic short-term.

we were supposed to be better this year

 

[RUSK97]

we were supposed to be better this year

I was in that camp when Ash was first hired. I never believed that the win loss record was going to change from last year. So in essence, still a 4–8 season. But I expected to play to be better, and the blowouts to be less frequent and/or less severe. But since the New Mexico game, it's clear that Ash's team need their own guys. I used to also think 2018 would be the year we go 6-6 or better, but now that's asking for a lot.

 

[Hondo77]

I don't want to get banned so I'll clean this up with the following statement. This coaching staff has no clue about what there doing. So if you guys want to give them 5 years feel free. The Flood haters crowd should now come forward and atone and apologize for their ill advised attacks and vitriol towards a HC that was far more competent then the joke standing on the sidelines today. Both Bob Barchi & Pat Hobbs brought in a bargain basement coach and like lapdogs we rolled over and said thank you. Sorry guys but what's happening is wrong on multiple levels.

 

[RURM85]

For players returning another year in the new system and we do return most of the defense, QB, RBs. I figure the OL and WRs absorbing most of our losses haven't performed well this year. Returning players now know what to expect and how to prepare. And most normal programs do start a few over achieving freshmen.

Looking for signs of improvement, not necessarily a bowl game. If we're sitting here in the same situation next year with 2 wins against E. Michigan and Morgan State; getting dismantled by the usuals (i.e. OSU, Michigan, Nebraska, MSU); and losing all games to teams with similar talent (i.e. Illinois, Indiana, Purdue) that's where my free pass for the coaching staff ends.

 

[RUsince52]

We will be a lot better next year

I would say yes because I can't imagine us being much worse than now for any reason. But if we continue to get marginal talent that can't perform, we could be just as bad.

 

[zwicker]

Minimum 3 year path to respect.

Do you think fans are willing to wait that long? Doubt it.

 

[RU848789]

I wish I could share your optimism. But Oden needs to be introduced to something called the forward pass. And Lewis is still in high school. I don't see Bergen Catholic on RU's schedule next year.
As someone said to me while we were watching the game today: Name me one player on Rutgers that you think will get some All-Big Ten votes at the end of the year.

kbee - if Lewis is at Rutgers next year, he starts from Day One and we're a better team, especially after he gets his feet wet a little bit. Mark it down. QB is so important in any offense, but especially this one.

 

[RU-05]

Additions of Mitchell, Melton, and return of Grant are the biggest reasons for hope.

 

[RU-05]

You know...I'm starting to think it MIGHT not get "worse." Yes, we lose Darius and JPO, but essentially 9 starters are back, right? I mean it's not like Darius is having any kind of a great season out there (the injuries have obviously hurt his game...) and lots of kids are getting plenty of experience.

This is big too. Certainly we can expect a nice step fwd by the LB's.

 

[PaKnight]

Do you think fans are willing to wait that long? Doubt it.

As long has Hobbs is willing to wait, it does not matter what the uniformed think.

 

[koleszar]

Additions of Mitchell, Melton, and return of Grant are the biggest reasons for hope.

I think Washington is going to be a big addition as well. Archidiacono has done absolutely nothing besides commit penalties. His blocking is atrocious and unless you hit him square in the chest with the ball he can't catch. Would be great if we could add the younger Miller to this class.

 

[ScarletKnightRider]

If we had Janarion Grant (the whole game), Iowa loses to us.

If we had Janarion Grant, Minnesota loses to us.

If we had Janarion Grant, Indiana loses to us.

If we had Janarion Grant, Illinois may or may not have played out the way it did.


Basically what i'm saying here is that if Grant comes back healthy then we have a chance in close games atleast. He doesnt need an elite line or a stud QB or whatever to be a threat. He's a full-fledged killer... all he needs is the ball in his hands. Factor in that Gio will have two healthy legs and we might steal a few next year.

NOW...

if Grant doesn't come back, i wouldn't be surprised at a zero win season... and im not even joking. Yes we have Mitchell, Melton, Lewis and friends coming in, but honestly I think its unfair to expect them to hit the ground running when they get here with no experience. Just because a guy has talent and is highly rated doesnt mean he's going to pan out right away. If Sir Grant does not return, I expect more of the same or even worse.