Receipe for a RU 30-23 win over #14 Washington

[Scarlet Shack]

Here is the receipe for a RU 30-23 win over UW.

In no particular order

-I am scared to death of our kicking game. UW also has a dynamic returner like Grant. Even with a big potential game changer with grant...we need to find a way to at least draw EVEN in the kicking game/special teams...and maybe be a net +1 on important plays in the kicking/special teams play....

-I think with UW losing a lot at the WR corps and now their leading WR suspended for the game...its time to see Ash's press coverage and take our chances with Wharton and Austin and make an effort to stop their running game. I don't see a scenario with us winning if their young TB has a big day. Make the young QB beat us with young WRs....and not get beat on the ground.

-RU MUST get a ground game going out of the spread option attack. MUST. Can't see us winning if we don't get AT LEAST 150 yards on the ground....as I just don't see us getting 400-450 yards (and the 30 points we need to win this type game) with 350 plus passing yards....so it means we must get a ground game going

-Laviano needs to play like a fourth year junior and the advantage of an offense that the UW does not quite know what to expect....smart play and keeping the team in rythem, clean running of the offense....and being the "Point guard" and getting the ball around

- this is a game where 8 months of grueling S&C gets a chance to show what has been done. We return our Dline essentially intact from 2015 and our OLINE and TE (less Lumopkins) intact...and they are all experienced. The lines need to show they've grown up and show RU won't be pushed around..and sometimes doing the pushing at the LOS and point of attack

-That press coverage matters more in the redzone....we need to get stops in the red zone and hold for 3 shots

-Lastly...I can't stress enough the advantage we have with having the officals from the Big-10. The pac-12 officials really call the game tight (we never adjusted last year in the flag parade aainst WASSU) and I fully expect that the Big-10 (let it play) style officiating...with experienced lineman coming back to RU....really can help us set a tone in this game and get UW kinda in a constant adjustment mode between having to deal with a different officiated style game AND not knowing what RU is going to throw at the on offense and defense

RU defense hold UW 2 two TDs and 3 FGs....and RU finds field position andor direct points from a well times special teams or turnover...and just enough offense play to pull out the upset with a late TD (RU misses an XP earlier...to account for the final)

Rutgers 30
#14 Washington 23

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

First thing is to learn how to.spellcheck. recipe :sunglasses::smiley:

 

[Knight Shift]

I agree that the game is winnable, but there are huge unknown s on both sides. I think the game will be a low scoring one decided by defense.

 

[MoobyCow]

I'm just thankful that we'll be playing a quick passing spread team and actually pressing the receivers, which is the only possible way to slow them down. Now, we might get beat, but at least we'll have a chance.

 

[zappaa]

I'd be shocked if we score anything close to 30 points on this defense.
A win IMO would be in the neighborhood of 17-14....big time under

 

[ruready4somefootball]

I agree that the game is winnable, but there are huge unknown s on both sides. I think the game will be a low scoring one decided by defense.

With two teams that play the spread, I'd be surprised if it's low scoring. I see both teams in the high 20's ,low 30's, with Rutgers well within the point spread.

 

[jmc11201]

- this is a game where 8 months of grueling S&C gets a chance to show what has been done. We return our Dline essentially intact from 2015 and our OLINE and TE (less Lumpkins) intact...and they are all experienced. The lines need to show they've grown up and show RU won't be pushed around..and sometimes doing the pushing at the LOS and point of attack

Excellent post and the thing that stood out to me is your above commentary on S&C.

I expect the offense to struggle in terms of finding a good rhythm considering this will be the first time they 'go live' against a different opponent, but the potential offset to that is if the S&C program that Kenny Parker put the team through this offseason makes a noticeable impact on Saturday. I think it will be one of the most important things to watch...i.e. can we dominate the lines of scrimmage. If we can do that, and i suspect it is a tall task considering Washington's size and the fact that they are well coached, we stand a chance to be in the game. Look at a school like Iowa...they make a living by being tougher and more physical than their opponents...maybe that is the direction we are headed.

 

[Knight Shift]

I'd be shocked if we score anything close to 30 points on this defense.
A win IMO would be in the neighborhood of 17-14....big time under

Yes. No team scores more than 20, unless defense and/or special teams score.

 

[Local Shill]

Hard to imagine RU holding a team with that QB and that RB under 20.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

As Coach Ash said this week, it's not an ideal week-1 matchup.

 

[daneman100]

If we win it will be because of our D line. Our secondary has to maintain coverage long enough to let the D line get to the quarterback. Cannot allow for quick two step drops.

 

[beaced]

First thing is to learn how to.spellcheck. recipe :sunglasses::smiley:

FYLTGE!

 

[zappaa]

Hard to imagine RU holding a team with that QB and that RB under 20.

That's why the line is 26.
For us to win, Washington has to be as confused and out of sorts as OSU was against Virginia Tech two years ago.
If we get a special teams TD, get an interception in their territory, put one drive together, we can get to 17 or 20 and hold them.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Hard to imagine RU holding a team with that QB and that RB under 20.

UW RB is hit or miss. He'll have 2 running plays of negative yards, than 60 yards run which gives off a misleading stat. Washington is a balanced offense and with the current issues at WR it just made an average offense even harder to produce points and control the ball.

 

[RURM85]

What makes UW's offense interesting is John Ross. He's the wildcard and has explosive speed. Don't want him beating Rutgers D over the top, however, how does Rutgers defend his speed. Devote a safety over the top instead of moving the safety in the box to stop the run/Gaskins.

Their defense will be tough to score on. Huge up front - Vea is listed as a DE at 332 pounds, even though for most of camp he played DT. Yikes!; Victor is a sideline-to-sideline hitter; and their secondary with Baker and the 2 CBs, Jones and King are very talented in coverage and they have a deep secondary.

Rutgers will need to keep this close and open strong. I also don't see a lot of scoring.

 

[moondawgie]

UW RB is hit or miss. He'll have 2 running plays of negative yards, than 60 yards run which gives off a misleading stat. Washington is a balanced offense and with the current issues at WR it just made an average offense even harder to produce points and control the ball.

Where are you getting your information on Gaskin? He rarely was caught for negative yardage. You are correct in that he can bust out the big play though.

 

[RU-ROCS]

I'd be shocked if we score anything close to 30 points on this defense.
A win IMO would be in the neighborhood of 17-14....big time under

+1

 

[ru75]

If the W depends on the secondary playing tight we will know the outcome fairly early. If they have improved that much under Ash then we are looking at coach of the year material. Fingers crossed!

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Zappaa

Hear you on the low scoring game...but low scoring games usually are well played brawls that have very few turnovers and mistakes

Hard to expect that in week 1 jn any college game

Believe it or not...30-23 is an average scores these days in college football.

If it's lower scoring in ru favor I see no lower than 24-20

 

[Plum Street]

We need to play well. We need Washington to not play well . We also need a cheap td or 2 and then we have a shot.

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

Washington: 27 | Rutgers: 13

 

[mildone]

I agree that the game is winnable, but there are huge unknown s on both sides. I think the game will be a low scoring one decided by defense.

Too many unknowns for me to feel comfortable predicting much of anything for this game. But one thing I would guess is that if we do win, it will probably be a low scoring game. Mostly because I think our offense will struggle early in the season as the players get game experience in the new offense. There's just no substitute for game experience and our players have had none in this new system.