Rutgers vs Howard / GAME THREAD

[Turtle31]

Is there any realistic chance that we see anyone other than Laviano in 2H?
If the answer is no, then barring injury, we won't see anyone else the entire season.
That speaks volumes.

 

[dmurph24]

Only buffoons that have never played or don't understand football even mention coaching as the issue with this team.

They are simply small, slow and not that talented overall.
And, have an atrociously bad starting QB who is not good enough to start at Kean.

Flood ruined the program since he did not recruit well.
Also, guys like Boggs, Stephenson would be making a big difference out there.

RU is simply a very bad football team right now.

A 1 or 2 win season but Ash will recruit better players and improve, give it time.

So you would agree that Howard has better players at half......or better coaching?

 

[RutgersB1G]

We'll probably win this game, but this is a shameful effort that makes very clear how bad this season will be. 2-9 at best with horrible attendance. Not good.

 

[vm7118]

if you truly believe we dont have a talent issue i dont know what to tell you.

We are playing Howard. This is a game (the only game) where "talent issue" cannot be an excuse.

 

[rufeelinit]

I should have went to the beach. Howard has over 150 on the ground and if the would stop shooting themselves in the foot with penalties they would be leading. Tackling had been poor. Their 3rd down conversion rate is way too high.

Having said all of that I believe our bigger issues are on offense.

 

[miketd1]

Chris Laviano's accuracy is limited to about 12 yards with a clean pocket.

The problem is he's always on the run and the ball needs to travel 6 yards just to pass the line of scrimmage

 

[RUgrad]

Geez, this is Howard. Our "all freshman" team should beat them by 20. What was the Maryland score, 52-13?

 

[WhoRU?]

l am willing to write off last week. If the first half is who we really are, then we need to think about which QB we want to get game experience beyond Laviano. If the answer isn't Allen, then we need help at WR.

 

[theRU]

We are playing Howard. This is a game (the only game) where "talent issue" cannot be an excuse.

oh god really? Do you need an explanation for the fact our QB who lacks accuracy, arm strength,scrambling ability isn't a fit for the offense? That is a talent issue. We forced a square peg into a round whole. Does the oline suck? Yeah... and he can't use his legs to get out of trouble, and he can't throw to anybody.

 

[ru75]

35-14 was my call, still has a shot as they are tired and we are just warming up

 

[rufeelinit]

Lots of backfoot throws even when not under pressure. Why can't we just run the ball down these guys throats? Not sure I saw hicks the whole half.

Ash is pretty active on the sideline but it is nearly all with the defensive group.

 

[RutgersB1G]

On the positive side, the "new" uniforms look great.

 

[T2Kplus10]

Whats really up with Hamilton? He looks awful out there!

Something has to be up with last year's injury. Or maybe he is not just in game shape yet?

 

[D1ESEL44]

This is a tight ball game (LOL at that statement).

Therefore I would be a bit surprised if Ash benches Laviano in favor of a QB who has never thrown a pass in a college game.

This offense barely has a pulse with Laviano. But Ash will most likely stick with the experienced guy.

 

[RUSK97]

We are playing Howard. This is a game (the only game) where "talent issue" cannot be an excuse.

No, we have more talent than New Mexico as well and on a par with Illinois and Indiana. Of course we'll likely get blown out by all those teams.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

This is not a Division I team! And, I'm talking about Rutgers.
DLine...Slow, can't tackle, DEnds are not keeping plays inside of them, NO pressure
Linebackers..., lost, just lost
DBacks...can't tackle, none of them, also lost
OLine...better than last week, Laviano has the time, and the holes are there for running, but we haven't run enough.
RB's....not enough, no identity to this Offense
QB...A joke, hasn't thrown a single pass on time or leading the receiver, panics, and is not in control of anything
Coaching...too much on their plate

Analysis... this is a very unintelligent team(and I'm being generous), all this "competition" in the summer is not paying off, they are getting outplayed by less talent. They are slow to react, slow to the point of attack, and just plain slow. Can't have a "power spread" without the power.

Conclusion....Long season

 

[MADHAT1]

exactly...and people not realizing this just shows how dumb our fanbase is.

These "prostyle" players were getting steamrolled by everybody good in Big10 play and everyone has forgotten that already after 1.5 games?

Would be true if Howard was even a poor FBS program, but they are a FCS program and the players RU has even learning new systems should be playing better tan they did in the first half.
I'll agree that changing the offense players were recruited for does have an effect, but not as much when playing a school like Howard.
This is on the coaches. But lets see what changes in 2nd half and improvement can be credited to the coaching staff for correcting what went wrong the first half.

 

[rufeelinit]

I think the number of fans in this place in the second half could be embarrassing. At least we are getting a little cloud cover. Nice halftime show.

 

[RUSK97]

oh god really? Do you need an explanation for the fact our QB who lacks accuracy, arm strength,scrambling ability isn't a fit for the offense? That is a talent issue. We forced a square peg into a round whole. Does the oline suck? Yeah... and he can't use his legs to get out of trouble, and he can't throw to anybody.

Laviano didn't get torched by the Howard offense. Yeah, he's bad, but our defense is atrocious.

 

[ru-baby]

And hicks doesnt get a carry- i get martin getting some but hicks is one of very few playmakers

 

[Caliknight]

oh god really? Do you need an explanation for the fact our QB who lacks accuracy, arm strength,scrambling ability isn't a fit for the offense? That is a talent issue. We forced a square peg into a round whole. Does the oline suck? Yeah... and he can't use his legs to get out of trouble, and he can't throw to anybody.

Exactly right. It is a talent issue. More specifically even, a talent issue for the scheme we use. A spread offense for guys recruited to a pro set is like changing a half court focused basketball team to a full court pressing game.

You can argue Ash should throw away everything he believes and stayed with the pro set, but that is short term thinking that no coach in his position would do.

Recruit. And get Oden in as fast as possible.

 

[vm7118]

oh god really? Do you need an explanation for the fact our QB who lacks accuracy, arm strength,scrambling ability isn't a fit for the offense? That is a talent issue. We forced a square peg into a round whole. Does the oline suck? Yeah... and he can't use his legs to get out of trouble, and he can't throw to anybody.

Seriously? You think Howard has the same talent as us? That's what you are saying.

We played Maryland close last year with this talent. MD just put up 50+ on this Howard team.

 

[rufeelinit]

Highly doubt Oden is ready to play.

 

[ru75]

Seriously? You think Howard has the same talent as us? That's what you are saying.

We played Maryland close last year with this talent. MD just put up 50+ on this Howard team.

The calendar has moved on us

 

[RUgrad]

Lack of a kicker could hurt us in a tight game like this

 

[RUin2WIN]

Gio and Allen warming up on the sidelines don't suppose we'll actually get to see them though since Laviano is there with them.

 

[rufeelinit]

Rettig is just teasing the fans by throwing 35 yard ropes at halftime.

 

[rutgerspaintrain]

This game (and season) thus far reminds me of the old joke:

A young aspiring CEO was hired by a large company to replace the outgoing CEO. As he was moving into his new digs the guy he was replacing happened by to pick up a few things he forgot.

He told the new CEO, “In the top drawer of your desk are three letters I wrote for the new CEO. They are numbered 1, 2 and 3. Don’t open them now. You will know when to open them.”

The first 6 months running the company went well -- but then things started to take a turn. After another couple months the new CEO knew it was time to open the first letter. It said: “Blame the previous guy.” He followed these words of wisdom and things went well again. The stock went up and sales were good.

Again things began to take a turn for the worse and after holding out as long as he thought he could the new CEO opened the second letter. It said : “Hold a press conference and tell them you are reorganizing to make the company lean and aggressive.”

After the press conference things went well. The stock shot up again. Sales were strong and things were looking good.

But alas it couldn’t last.

As the company went further and further down hill, the CEO opened the last letter.

It said: “Prepare three new envelopes.”

 

[Extra Point]

CL will play the whole game because we are not going to get a big enough lead.

 

[RUfromNJ]

Laviano on for the second half

 

[Caliknight]

Highly doubt Oden is ready to play.

He isn't. But experience at this point is what is needed. We aren't going anywhere with Laviano anyway. Might as well get something from the losses we are going to have. It's about the future.

Recruit. Recruit. Recruit.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Seriously? You think Howard has the same talent as us? That's what you are saying.

We played Maryland close last year with this talent. MD just put up 50+ on this Howard team.

Did you actually read what he wrote?

 

[RUeric]

OMG Laviano. Pull that ball and run. The DE crashed hard and the entire right side was open.

 

[RU205]

Yup. A running QB would still be running on that 2nd and 2.

 

[RUgrad]

Maybe we are just looking past Howard to our big showdown with New Mexico next week?

 

[Bleed_Scarlet]

8-19 for 88 yards in a half. Needs to sit.

Against Howard

Not against a B10 team

Against Howard

In his second year as starter

 

[ru75]

Maybe we are just looking past Howard to our big showdown with New Mexico next week?

that would be on coaching, so probably true

 

[drewbagel423]

Exactly right. It is a talent issue. More specifically even, a talent issue for the scheme we use. A spread offense for guys recruited to a pro set is like changing a half court focused basketball team to a full court pressing game.

You can argue Ash should throw away everything he believes and stayed with the pro set, but that is short term thinking that no coach in his position would do.

Recruit. And get Oden in as fast as possible.

I agree with everything you said. However, Mehringer could do a better job of tailoring the offense to suit the players he currently has.

 

[RUin2WIN]

GRANT AGAIN

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Thank you again GRANT!!!!!!

21-14 Rutgers

 

[Rutgers Man 22]

Grant will put this team on his back... Never had a player like him