RU Football's Perfet Storm

[RealityChech2]

Taking a step back and looking at this football team objectively I don't think people could have expected much more.

1. We only have 8 starters (not counting special teams) from last year's team. 3 starters on D and 5 on O. Mera, Gause and Longa on D. Patton, Lumpkin, Carroo, Muller and James on O.

2. After the first 10 games we have the 22 hardest schedule in college football. The teams we have lost to have a 54 17 combined record (Nebraska has 6 of those 17 losses and they could easily be 8-3 now).

3. We lost all of our starters in the secondary and an additional 3-4 players that would be on the secondary 2 deep. We are playing 3 freshmen in the secondary and that was evident this past week against Nebraska.

4. We have a new starter at QB.

5. We have a new OC that has never done this before. This is on Flood for choosing McDaniels.

 

[RUsSKii]

Taking a step back and looking at this football team objectively I don't think people could have expected much more.

1. We only have 8 starters (not counting special teams) from last year's team. 3 starters on D and 5 on O. Mera, Gause and Longa on D. Patton, Lumpkin, Carroo, Muller and James on O. We lose Carroo next year, and none of the other receivers have really distinguished themselves and been able to get separation against good defenses. QB is also a problem (see the response to your fourth point). Having Hamilton and Turay back at 100% next your should help defensively, but the secondary may still have major issues (see below).

2. After the first 10 games we have the 22 hardest schedule in college football. The teams we have lost to have a 54 17 combined record (Nebraska has 6 of those 17 losses and they could easily be 8-3 now). It is one thing to lose to all of the best teams you face. It is another to get continually blown out and play sloppy, unprepared football sometimes lacking a pulse. The latter is unacceptable and harks back to Terry Shea days.

3. We lost all of our starters in the secondary and an additional 3-4 players that would be on the secondary 2 deep. We are playing 3 freshmen in the secondary and that was evident this past week against Nebraska. The academic transgression and fostering an undisciplined team atmosphere that allowed players to commit egregious crimes is purely on Flood, and the crux of why many of us permanently lost support for him. They are also poorly schemed, out of position, make the ref's D.P.I. calls easy by not looking back for the ball, and rarely jam receivers off the line.

4. We have a new starter at QB. He has not thrown an offensive touchdown in five games, and has passed for statistical lows versus some of those teams. Not benching him for at least a couple of series (let alone a game) for his own good is inexcusable.

5. We have a new OC that has never done this before. This is on Flood for choosing McDaniels. I have a bigger issue with the schemes/techniques being used by the DC. We do seem to have a decent run game when teams don't focus on stopping it, and keeping Laviano under center isn't McDaniels' decision.

 

[RU#1fan]

We have played 22 games against Winning teams since October 2012.
We have won 2 of these and lost 20 Games.
Your perfect storm goes back several years apparently. We are in the middle of a 40 year Flood ......

 

[Knight Ed]

The talent level has already taken a big drop and is trending downward. We got used to having a lot of guys in the NFL and over the next few years those numbers will decline. We'll get a few there, but not like the numbers we have had in recent years.

 

[devoted2ru]

The "perfect storm" has caused more than enough damage to RU and throwing excuses around won't solve anything . -The time has come to clear out the debris, (all of it), and start getting things back on track as quickly as possible.

 

[S.B. Crumb]

Wait, I was told no one is defending Flood anymore. What is this sorcery?

 

[KnightsofChrome]

"Reality" You are probably a very nice guy, pick up dog litter on walks, put on mittens to all children on cold days, and treat the wife with extreme kindness. I will bet that "participation" trophies adorn your home. But, this attempt to spin the obvious is just at the wrong time and place. We are a fan base, which can no longer afford mediocrity! We have waited too long for a football program that gives us hope, and pride. That started with the help of G. Schiano. When he left we deserved a coach who would take us to the next level. Instead we got a Flood, of incompetence.
You can relay all kinds of reasons, i.e., young team, inexperience, schedule...but the truth is and will always be, that the leader of this team was not able to motivate the team to excel, or play with the abilities which teams like Indiana, Purdue, even NorthWastern were able to play with against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and so on.
A coach, any coach worth his name, will motivate to achieve beyond the abilities of his team. He will find ways to counter, the other teams weakness with your own strength while masking your own teams faults. He will also understand that there is NO end all solution, but on going effort to use ALL of your resources(QB's, OL, Punters, etc.). Those things give you a chance. Losing constantly by 40 points, while not exploring options, is a travesty to the profession of a Head Coach!
Though the observations that you have outlined are all true, they are not the reason. They are the excuse a failed coach uses!

 

[RUlighty]

this is year 4 of Flood. The cupboard wasn't even close to bare with improving recruiting classes - and best one ever when he took over. He had the benefit of good will, a school HS recruits actually looked at (that didn't exist prior to Schiano), an expanded stadium/fan base, and 1/2 way through 1st year we get into the Big Ten.

Can't coach, can't recruit, can't manage at this level.

Look, he gave it his best shot, but anyone who has watched the program since 2000 can tell you the trend line is very negative going forward.

It's time to change course (been time for 3 years now) and get this program back on track.

 

[knightfan7]

Looking at it unemotionally I don't think you can really blame Flood for the arrests. They weren't even all his recruits.

The rest? It can be reasonably discussed that Laviano should have been given more game reps than Wisky, Neb, and mop up against OSU but which games? Not WSU, Mich, Indiana, Navy, or Maryland for sure.

Turnover at OC has been an issue since before Flood but he had the opportunity to turn it around yet didn't. I do give him credit for thinking outside the box.

Maryland and RU had the least # of returning starters in the B1G and look where they both are in the standings. Seems one has the effect on the other, no? You know who had the most in the FBS? Notre Dame and look where they are now. Others near the top include UNC and Temple (I know at least on D). See a pattern?

We all knew moving to the B1G, Rutgers was going to have to put on it's big boy pants every week. Have you seen that often enough? Is it too soon? Were we too unrealistic in our expectations?

I think the question everyone has to ask themselves is Rutgers in a better position than they were 2.5 years ago? Do you see improvement? Are there entire position units where the talent is better or at least heading that way? Are there good albeit young kids in the wings waiting their turn to make their mark? If the answer is yes then maybe all the hysterical posts and posters are wrong. If not then you have to ask yourself if Flood is or maybe never was the answer.

 

[biazza38]

Taking a step back and looking at this football team objectively I don't think people could have expected much more.

1. We only have 8 starters (not counting special teams) from last year's team. 3 starters on D and 5 on O. Mera, Gause and Longa on D. Patton, Lumpkin, Carroo, Muller and James on O.

2. After the first 10 games we have the 22 hardest schedule in college football. The teams we have lost to have a 54 17 combined record (Nebraska has 6 of those 17 losses and they could easily be 8-3 now).

3. We lost all of our starters in the secondary and an additional 3-4 players that would be on the secondary 2 deep. We are playing 3 freshmen in the secondary and that was evident this past week against Nebraska.

4. We have a new starter at QB.

5. We have a new OC that has never done this before. This is on Flood for choosing McDaniels.

Lack of player development. We look no better than we did in the spring.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Someone please let the OP know that Flood has hacked his account.

 

[lighty]

Maryland and RU had the least # of returning starters in the B1G and look where they both are in the standings. Seems one has the effect on the other, no?

And Maryland has already fired their coach and Rutgers might as well. Poor coaching is another thing the two have in common.

 

[cRURah]

Reality you are indeed a good hearted soul. The perfect storm began the day Flood was promoted to head coach.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Why can other programs lose starters, via graduation, injuries, or other reasons, and not look completely lost, as an entire team, the next season? Here's why:

RECRUITING.

Flood's last 3 classes, which dominate our roster, WERE NOT GOOD, and many of us here tried to tell the rest of you guys this for a very, very long time, but were shot down, left-and-right, instead.

 

[Caliknight]

Those things are mostly true, and if the team was competitive against our now peers, Flood showed some willingness to be flexible and at least try different things and didn't seem so clueless, those items might be understood.

As it is, Flood is just over his head on every level. There is a reason he was a career OL coach before the fortuitous circumstances, for him, under which he were hired.

It's time for a new direction. Flood is damaged goods at this point.

 

[devoted2ru]

My opinions in bold:

I think the question everyone has to ask themselves is Rutgers in a better position than they were 2.5 years ago? -No. Do you see improvement? -No. Are there entire position units where the talent is better or at least heading that way? -Not really. Are there good albeit young kids in the wings waiting their turn to make their mark? -Could be, but the right coaching staff would need to be in place to develop them properly. If the answer is yes then maybe all the hysterical posts and posters are wrong. -Why would posts by people who are absolutely sick to death of this on-field/off-field train wreck be categorized as "hysterical??" If not then you have to ask yourself if Flood is or maybe never was the answer. -Never was, never will be.

 

[knightfan7]

My opinions in bold:

Then there's your answer.

 

[Knight Shift]

"RECRUITING.

Flood's last 3 classes, which dominate our roster, WERE NOT GOOD, and many of us here tried to tell the rest of you guys this for a very, very long time, but were shot down, left-and-right, instead."

You have made this point probably several hundred times. We get it. Please move on.

 

[Knight Shift]

And Maryland has already fired their coach and Rutgers might as well. Poor coaching is another thing the two have in common.

The players hated Edsall. That has not been revealed to be the case at Rutgers. It may be the only thing Flood has left to sell to keep his job.

 

[Caliknight]

You have made this point probably several hundred times. We get it. Please move on.

Several hundred? Not even close. Besides, it was a director answer to the OP.

If you are saying that I, along with others, are saying Flood hasn't a clue, and have said so a lot, yes I am/have. It is an answer to a lot of questions around the program right now.

 

[Knight Shift]

Several hundred? Not even close. Besides, it was a director answer to the OP.

If you are saying that I, along with others, are saying Flood hasn't a clue, and have said so a lot, yes I am/have. It is an answer to a lot of questions around the program right now.

No, I am talking about crapping on our current players. No need to keep hashing that over and over. But opinions vary. We all know about Flood's recruiting prowess and missteps.

 

[knightfan7]

Why can other programs lose starters, via graduation, injuries, or other reasons, and not look completely lost, as an entire team, the next season? Here's why:

RECRUITING.

Flood's last 3 classes, which dominate our roster, WERE NOT GOOD, and many of us here tried to tell the rest of you guys this for a very, very long time, but were shot down, left-and-right, instead.

A program is built on 5 classes, not 3. The better question imo is are those 3 classes enough to build on in the context of 5 overall. Your opinion is obvious and not without merit although it is too early to call them a total failure. In my not so expert opinion I see some pretty good players out there, just not nearly enough to battle week by week.

Not trying to be board police Nuts but can we have at least one discussion where someone doesn't bring up or turn it into US vs THEM?

 

[Caliknight]

No, I am talking about crapping on our current players. No need to keep hashing that over and over. But opinions vary. We all know about Flood's recruiting prowess and missteps.

Where exactly am I crapping on players, outside of maybe the QB, which I have repeatedly said is Flood's fault for allowing him to play? In fact, I have taken the opposite position. We have way more talent than is being displayed every Sat. due to coaching.

Not once in this thread did I even mention players. You have me confused for someone else.

 

[Knight Shift]

Where exactly am I crapping on players, outside of maybe the QB, which I have repeatedly said is Flood's fault for allowing him to play? In fact, I have taken the opposite position. We have way more talent than is being displayed every Sat. due to coaching.

Not once in this thread did I even mention players. You have me confused for someone else.

You are correct. My bad. Apologies. [cheers]

 

[rutgersdave]

The players hated Edsall. That has not been revealed to be the case at Rutgers. It may be the only thing Flood has left to sell to keep his job.

Loving and hating the coach has no real meaning in college football. W and L has meaning. It's the same at work, when the operation is working well, everyone is happy. When things are bad, everyone feel terrible.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

The difference between this year and last is a dropped INT on the last drive vs WSU.

With it, we'd be talking likely bowl bid and any discussion of change would be at least another year away.

But we have this instead.

Again, not defending. Just pointing out.

 

[RUsSKii]

The difference between this year and last is a dropped INT on the last drive vs WSU.

With it, we'd be talking likely bowl bid and any discussion of change would be at least another year away.

But we have this instead.

Again, not defending. Just pointing out.

That's a gross oversimplification, even if it were true. All of the following are indications of regression from last season: Michigan blew us out away this season, after we beat them close at home last season; Penn State nearly blanked our offense away this season, after beating us close at home last season; Nebraska beat us worse at HPSS this season, than at their stadium last season; we just barely beat Indiana away this season, after beating them soundly at home last season; and we beat P5 bottom-feeder Kansas at home by a couple of touchdowns, after beating a winning Navy team away last year. The only opponent that our team performed better against than last season was Michigan State (during Flood's suspension).

The reporting of Flood's academic transgressions and multiple player arrests/dismissals were the straw that broke the camel's back for many of us who previously supported Flood, so he wouldn't get another year to attempt to prove anything. And finally, I and a number of fellow fans are not interested in talking about a potential bowl bid (or watching such a game. for that matter) for a 5-7 team, assuming that was what you were referring to.

 

[lighty]

New The difference between this year and last is a dropped INT on the last drive vs WSU.

Somehow I remember having an offense last year...

 

[RealityChech2]

That's a gross oversimplification, even if it were true. All of the following are indications of regression from last season: Michigan blew us out away this season, after we beat them close at home last season; Penn State nearly blanked our offense away this season, after beating us close at home last season; Nebraska beat us worse at HPSS this season, than at their stadium last season; we just barely beat Indiana away this season, after beating them soundly at home last season; and we beat P5 bottom-feeder Kansas at home by a couple of touchdowns, after beating a winning Navy team away last year. The only opponent that our team performed better against than last season was Michigan State (during Flood's suspension).

The reporting of Flood's academic transgressions and multiple player arrests/dismissals were the straw that broke the camel's back for many of us who previously supported Flood, so he wouldn't get another year to attempt to prove anything. And finally, I and a number of fellow fans are not interested in talking about a potential bowl bid (or watching such a game. for that matter) for a 5-7 team, assuming that was what you were referring to.

So by your logic the coach from Oregon should be fired because last year he was in the final 4 and this year he lost to Michigan ST and Washington ST and others they beat last year. Florida st coaches as well as Boston College, Duke, UCLA and others should be fired because they are worse this year than last year.

Also last year Nebraska w 42 - 24 this year 31 - 14, how is that worse? IT was 21-14 in the third qtr.

 

[RUsSKii]

So by your logic the coach from Oregon should be fired because last year he was in the final 4 and this year he lost to Michigan ST and Washington ST and others they beat last year. Florida st coaches as well as Boston College, Duke, UCLA and others should be fired because they are worse this year than last year.

Also last year Nebraska w 42 - 24 this year 31 - 14, how is that worse? IT was 21-14 in the third qtr.

Sure, some of the coaches that you named are having worse seasons this year. However none of them have individually had three years of multiple blowouts, poor recruiting, regressing team performance, coached near-bottom ranked defenses, committed bonehead academic transgressions, and had multiple players arrested/dismissed at the same time. For those reasons COMBINED, Flood should absolutely be fired as season's end. There's no doubt about it; the administrations only hesitation is money to pay for a new coaching staff at this point, and that should be offset by the likely financial damage incirred by a reduced fanbase next season if Flood were given another season.

As for Nebraska/RU, they were a solid 9-4 team playing at home last year, and currently still a losing team with a best chance of 7-6 this year after beating us at our stadium. The margin of victory was 1 point less this year, but RU's 14 points were set up by intercepting two poorly thrown passes, as opposed to being able to actually move the ball down the field last year. That is my reasoning.

 

[KJ_RU]

So by your logic the coach from Oregon should be fired because last year he was in the final 4 and this year he lost to Michigan ST and Washington ST and others they beat last year. Florida st coaches as well as Boston College, Duke, UCLA and others should be fired because they are worse this year than last year.

Also last year Nebraska w 42 - 24 this year 31 - 14, how is that worse? IT was 21-14 in the third qtr.

This is insanity, I no longer have the energy to explain this to you.

 

[GSGS]

This reminds me a bit of Flood's comment before the tOSU game that tOSU had the advantage of an Oline who's starting 5 averaged 20 starts a piece, and what a difference maker that was.

What Elmer forgot to say in his spin-doctoring is the flip side - i.e. that tOSU won the NC last year with 4 new starters on their Oline.

In college football, having a "young" team is always an excuse losing teams/coaches can make, especially when they have attrition issues in the program. Every year such teams have to play freshmen, like the situation with our secondary, where it seems to be going on for a few years now.

 

[brgossRU90]

Wow we still have apologists on here.