Razors Edge between winning and losing

[rutgersal]

The way we are currently built, we will always be on the razors edge of winning or losing.

Looking at next years schedule, it’s particularly difficult with losses to Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa and Oregon already built in. There are only four games we should win: Miami of Ohio, Ohio, Purdue, and TBD. The rest are 50/50 games: Maryland, Minnesota, Illinois, and Washington.
Need to find two wins out of these to go bowling.

 

[superfan01]

Wow. @rutgersal already talking down next season. Man this team has fallen.

 

[rutgersal]

Wow. @rutgersal already talking down next season. Man this team has fallen.

We already fell before rising modestly last year. So the question is how do we continue to progress?

 

[S_Janowski]

@rutgersal We are a Fieldhouse edge away, not a razors edge.

Get it right.

 

[mosito]

 

[rutgersal]

@rutgersal We are a Fieldhouse edge away, not a razors edge.

Get it right.

We are on the razors edge because we don’t have a Fieldhouse. We are dependent on developing mostly 3 stars into players who can contribute. That didn’t happen with enough frequency, so our depth isn’t where it needs to be. Too much attrition in our recruiting classes. NIL and a Fieldhouse would help us attract better recruits which would have a better chance of succeeding.

 

[LeapinLou]

We are on the razors edge because we don’t have a Fieldhouse. We are dependent on developing mostly 3 stars into players who can contribute. That didn’t happen with enough frequency, so our depth isn’t where it needs to be. Too much attrition in our recruiting classes. NIL and a Fieldhouse would help us attract better recruits which would have a better chance of succeeding.

Maryland has an amazing field house and they are in about the same spot as us. I'm pretty sure if you're going to give a kid his best NIL opportunity, he'll come here regardless of whether he practices in a cool field house or a 40 year old bubble.

 

[Purple-Ed]

@rutgersal We are a Fieldhouse edge away, not a razors edge.

Get it right.

Or a tight end.

 

[LotusAggressor]

Or a tight end.

Or depth.

 

[Section124]

This field house will be magical. Count me in! I never realized that is what we needed to finally be a winner. 😜

 

[Caliknight]

It’s not just how we are built. It’s a coaching philosophy. It all amounts to not being able to pull out of reach when we are winning and it makes it tough to catch teams when we are losing.

 

[rutgersal]

It’s not just how we are built. It’s a coaching philosophy. It all amounts to not being able to pull out of reach when we are winning and it makes it tough to catch teams when we are losing.

I look at the USC game, and I don't see an issue with the coaching philosophy. I see an issue with talent, execution, and reading plays. The USC game represents everything I want to see in a gameplan. We were aggressive. We threw downfield. We blitzed, even if not successfully. We ran the ball. We were anything but conservative against USC, and that's what I would like to see the rest of the year.

Unfortunately, anyone who watches one minute of film, is going to attack our biggest weaknesses currently, and that is our LBers and our DEs. So, this puts us in an adverse position, because we don't seem to be able to stop anyone, though Minnesota has fewer explosive players, so I'm hopeful. I want to see the USC gameplan vs Minnesota. Because our regular vanilla offense will get us run over. It will be a reprise of the Wisconsin Game. The USC gameplan gives us a chance, though we have to do a better job executing.

 

[rutgersal]

Maryland has an amazing field house and they are in about the same spot as us. I'm pretty sure if you're going to give a kid his best NIL opportunity, he'll come here regardless of whether he practices in a cool field house or a 40 year old bubble.

Maryland currently has a Fieldhouse AND a bigger NIL budget. They also have super donor Kevin Plank though Under Armour hasn't been doing well recently. Currently they have 6 4 stars and we have 4 for the '25 class. They seem to be going through somewhat of a transition, though they have a nice victory over USC to their credit.

 

[Caliknight]

I look at the USC game, and I don't see an issue with the coaching philosophy. I see an issue with talent, execution, and reading plays. The USC game represents everything I want to see in a gameplan. We were aggressive. We threw downfield. We blitzed, even if not successfully. We ran the ball. We were anything but conservative against USC, and that's what I would like to see the rest of the year.

Unfortunately, anyone who watches one minute of film, is going to attack our biggest weaknesses currently, and that is our LBers and our DEs. So, this puts us in an adverse position, because we don't seem to be able to stop anyone, though Minnesota has fewer explosive players, so I'm hopeful. I want to see the USC gameplan vs Minnesota. Because our regular vanilla offense will get us run over. It will be a reprise of the Wisconsin Game. The USC gameplan gives us a chance, though we have to do a better job executing.

Guys were out of place all night in that game. That is a straight coaching issue.

 

[NickRU714]

I can't wait to bump this thread after the first "2025 is our year. Most talented Rutgers team ever. We should go 10-2 minimum".

 

[TheHandOfChaos]

We already fell before rising modestly last year. So the question is how do we continue to progress?

If Al is feeling this way....... we are really f*cked.

 

[rutgersal]

Guys were out of place all night in that game. That is a straight coaching issue.

Backups were out of place. Powell was playing on one leg. Our freshmen DB was exposed. USC and their explosive athletes will make a defense look bad.

 

[Caliknight]

Coaches coach back ups too. It’s one thing getting beat physically when you are in the right position. That’s the talent. It’s another when players are all out of position everywhere. That’s on the staff

 

[rutgersal]

Coaches coach back ups too. It’s one thing getting beat physically when you are in the right position. That’s the talent. It’s another when players are all out of position everywhere. That’s on the staff

We don’t have a LB Coach and that is on the staff too. At the time we thought we would have two NFL Ready LBers. Now we have two LBers who are learning the ropes. Need to get a LB Coach for next year, especially with strong incoming LB prospects.

 

[yessir321]

Maryland has an amazing field house and they are in about the same spot as us. I'm pretty sure if you're going to give a kid his best NIL opportunity, he'll come here regardless of whether he practices in a cool field house or a 40 year old bubble.

Mike Locksley the Head coach from Maryland had the perfect quote last year about this, ‘Kids will get dressed in a Trash can for $25,000’

 

[RUinPinehurst]

The path to RU's program salvation is as narrow and as difficult to walk as a razor's edge....
--Larry Darrell, special asst to HC Schiano.

 

[RU#1fan]

Wow. @rutgersal already talking down next season. Man this team has fallen.

Is Delusional Al not feeling well ?

 

[RU#1fan]

Coaches coach back ups too. It’s one thing getting beat physically when you are in the right position. That’s the talent. It’s another when players are all out of position everywhere. That’s on the staff

This.
The Pass Coverage is an abomination due to players being constantly out of position. That’s on the Coaches.

 

[ashokan]

Hopefully RU coaches see what the offense can do without the run game training wheels (Minn game)

I actually saw a great 9 route by Strong and cant remember the last time I saw that (used to be a Teel/Britt special up the sideline)

 

[Salvi's Headband]

Our badness is somewhat overstated on this board. Other than Wisconsin we've been in everything

 

[LotusAggressor]

Maryland currently has a Fieldhouse AND a bigger NIL budget. They also have super donor Kevin Plank though Under Armour hasn't been doing well recently. Currently they have 6 4 stars and we have 4 for the '25 class. They seem to be going through somewhat of a transition, though they have a nice victory over USC to their credit.

How'd that work out on the field this year?

 

[nutfromSEC117]

 

[rutgersal]

How'd that work out on the field this year?

Maryland got caught this year because their QB graduated. Off the field, they landed a 4 star quarterback who chose Maryland over Penn State and Oregon, so they are landing the talent needed to succeed.

 

[beaced]

We are on the razors edge because we don’t have a Fieldhouse. We are dependent on developing mostly 3 stars into players who can contribute. That didn’t happen with enough frequency, so our depth isn’t where it needs to be. Too much attrition in our recruiting classes. NIL and a Fieldhouse would help us attract better recruits which would have a better chance of succeeding.

Pay them consistent with how other teams on our schedule. Pay their players

 

[newwavedave1]

His new name, "Realistic AL". Never thought I'd see the day.