***Steve Longa leaving early for the NFL Draft***

[masice520]

Honestly don't see him as anything more than a late rounder, but good luck. Seems like this happening more and more as even a 7th rounder earns a solid payday.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

Juwan Jamison got a favorable draft analysis too.

Longa is 215 with a cinder block in his back pocket.

He's gonna get swallowed whole in NFL traffic at the MLB spot.

 

[bitnez]

He was a tough dude who gave us everything he had. But, Longa and pass coverage don't belong in the same sentence. There's no shame in that though. There are a lot of LBs in the NFL who have other strengths. I hope he makes it.

 

[RUsSKii]

Give me a call when you learn the first thing about football.

I said this team would go 8-4 in 2016 a month before Flood got fired and I expect at least the same results with the Messiah on board.

So are you claiming that the difference between this past disastrous 4-8 season and a solid 8-4 B1G East season is Hamilton, a healthy Turay, and an extra year of experience for the returning starters? And the outgoing coaching staff had nothing to do with it?

I just want your answer on the record.

 

[RURod]

Losing this kid hurts. He made a boatload of tackles for weakest defense since the Shea era. Ash has his work cut out for him.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

8-4? Against what might be the most difficult schedule we have ever played, losing our hands-down top offensive weapon (would have been an AA if he played the entire season), losing by far our best OL, and losing all 3 starting LB's with very little experience behind them? Seems to me like people are setting themselves up for 2 things with such unrealistic expectations for 2016: being very disappointed and being able to rip Coach Ash for absolutely no reason.

I'm calling 4-8/5-7 - max - BUT fully expect to see improvement, across the board, all facets of the game, and some excitement out there again. That's more than enough for me in Year 1 against our schedule.

GOOD LUCK STEVE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

 

[krup]

Give me a call when you learn the first thing about football.

I said this team would go 8-4 in 2016 a month before Flood got fired and I expect at least the same results with the Messiah on board.

Wrong early is still wrong.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

I always dislike it when a red-shirt junior gets criticism for "leaving early" - really hated it last year when some were making unkind remarks about Kroft (some went so far as to say he was betraying his team) If these are "student athletes" as the NCAA so dearly wants everyone to believe - then if they finish their 4 years of school & chose to move on - then so be it - - - that is basically what they came here to do - go to school for four years - and play football while they were here.

 

[RoxboroughKnight]

Most of the board killed Kroft for leaving early. Wonder why the double standard in this case.

If people just looked at numbers that could be driving opions. Kroft was coming off a year that (for him) was a down year production wise. He pointed out that it was mostly due to scheme, and the Bengals seemed to agree. Meanwhile I think Longa has led our team in tackles for 3 straight years? If people are just looking at statistics it makes a little more sense on the surface.

Good luck in the NFL Steve!

 

[saran]

Probably ends up too small for LB in NFL. That's what happened to Greene. He tried bulking up and that didn't work. The trend in college was to move players up a position (safteys to LBs etc). In the NFL these seem to go in reverse. DEs like Freeney become LBs

 

[RU to the Core]

Good decision. Kid plays hard and another year of getting banged around isn't going to get him any higher and he could get hurt. Limited shelf life in football. why not use one of those lives making money.

 

[mildone]

Give me a call when you learn the first thing about football.

I said this team would go 8-4 in 2016 a month before Flood got fired and I expect at least the same results with the Messiah on board.

Text message me when you learn something more than the length of the football field. (Did I say that right? I'm just trying to communicate using the method you apparently find best.)

We will be lucky to get to 8-4 by 2017. I will be very pleasantly surprised to get to a bowl game in 2016. Losing Longa will not make it any easier.

 

[RealityChech2]

So are you claiming that the difference between this past disastrous 4-8 season and a solid 8-4 B1G East season is Hamilton, a healthy Turay, and an extra year of experience for the returning starter? And the outgoing coaching staff had nothing to do with it?

I just want your answer on the record.

Yes, put this on record. I expected 8-4 due to the following:

1. a QB with an entire year of experience under his belt.
2. 4 OL starters returning
3. All TE's returning including Griffin who will be a deep TE threat with his size and speed.
4. 2 experienced RBs that will not have to split the carries by 3.
5. We loose Caroo but I think CA, Grant,Tsimis healthy and Patton will give us a decent WR corp. I think Mack could be the deep threat.
6. A punter who has a huge leg but was not utilized until the last game of the year.
7. Only losing Mera from DL and getting Hamilton back. Also watch out for Willington(SP?) and Bateky to be very good next year.
8. A Secondary that had 0 experience at their positions now has 1 full year under their belts. We are still lacking depth and that is a concern.
9. an OC that would have been in his second year and gained experience.

 

[rutgersdave]

Yes, put this on record. I expected 8-4 due to the following:

1. a QB with an entire year of experience under his belt.
2. 4 OL starters returning
3. All TE's returning including Griffin who will be a deep TE threat with his size and speed.
4. 2 experienced RBs that will not have to split the carries by 3.
5. We loose Caroo but I think CA, Grant,Tsimis healthy and Patton will give us a decent WR corp. I think Mack could be the deep threat.
6. A punter who has a huge leg but was not utilized until the last game of the year.
7. Only losing Mera from DL and getting Hamilton back. Also watch out for Willington(SP?) and Bateky to be very good next year.
8. A Secondary that had 0 experience at their positions now has 1 full year under their belts. We are still lacking depth and that is a concern.
9. an OC that would have been in his second year and gained experience.

What was your projection for this season that just ended? I don' think you were very good at this estimate.

 

[NotInRHouse]

This like Jamison and Coleman is a mistake. Coming off a season like this on what planet is he going to get drafted?

 

[RUsojo]

Yes, put this on record. I expected 8-4 due to the following:

1. a QB with an entire year of experience under his belt.
2. 4 OL starters returning
3. All TE's returning including Griffin who will be a deep TE threat with his size and speed.
4. 2 experienced RBs that will not have to split the carries by 3.
5. We loose Caroo but I think CA, Grant,Tsimis healthy and Patton will give us a decent WR corp. I think Mack could be the deep threat.
6. A punter who has a huge leg but was not utilized until the last game of the year.
7. Only losing Mera from DL and getting Hamilton back. Also watch out for Willington(SP?) and Bateky to be very good next year.
8. A Secondary that had 0 experience at their positions now has 1 full year under their belts. We are still lacking depth and that is a concern.
9. an OC that would have been in his second year and gained experience.

The fact you expected 8-4 and the team went 4-8 says all there needs to be said about the quality of your opinions. Next.

 

[YoucancallmeRay]

Probably ends up too small for LB in NFL. That's what happened to Greene. He tried bulking up and that didn't work. The trend in college was to move players up a position (safteys to LBs etc). In the NFL these seem to go in reverse. DEs like Freeney become LBs

Very good comparison. Both of them led the team in tackles also, of course. But there's a ton of players similar to Longa, so I think it'll be tough for him to be drafted. Who knows though, there's always the Pats!! Nevertheless wish him the best and thanks for being a great player for RU!

 

[RocktheRac]

See ya

 

[TreyA]

Unless he can play safety, I think he's likely to have the same type of NFL career as Khaseem Greene.

 

[WhiteBus]

Good for him. With a new defense he has more downside by staying. Wish him the very best. Great family will be excited when he gets drafted no matter what
And he will be drafted

 

[RU#1fan]

Disaster. Why do third day draft picks continue to leave Rutgers early?

This. Total disaster. Will be underdrafted and get a free agent contract.

 

[lighty]

I said this team would go 8-4 in 2016 a month before Flood got fired and I expect at least the same results with the Messiah on board.

You would have been so very, very wrong with an 8-4 prediction and Flood. Give that staff five years and they still wouldn't have gained experience to win.

 

[RUtrumpet92]

I hope it works out for Mr Longa. Another year probably wouldn't have changed his ranking much. He isn't going to get taller or faster from one more season in the program. Good luck, Steve!

 

[RC85]

Unless he can play safety, I think he's likely to have the same type of NFL career as Khaseem Greene.

Undersized for an NFL LB no doubt-should've stayed and beefed-up.

 

[RU-05]

Longa had nothing left to prove at RU. Leading tackler for his 3 years. Has been at the school 4 years, but this was going to be the year that he bulked up? It stings but from his perspective there was not much reason to come back. I wish him the best.

 

[RU-05]

This. Total disaster. Will be underdrafted and get a free agent contract.

Man, people need to look up the word disaster.

 

[Phi_1055]

I always dislike it when a red-shirt junior gets criticism for "leaving early" - really hated it last year when some were making unkind remarks about Kroft (some went so far as to say he was betraying his team) If these are "student athletes" as the NCAA so dearly wants everyone to believe - then if they finish their 4 years of school & chose to move on - then so be it - - - that is basically what they came here to do - go to school for four years - and play football while they were here.

Agreed. Just because a guy didn't play as a freshman doesn't mean he is leaving early.

 

[RC85]

Longa had nothing left to prove at RU. Leading tackler for his 3 years. Has been at the school 4 years, but this was going to be the year that he bulked up? It stings but from his perspective there was not much reason to come back. I wish him the best.

1st team all-conference would prove a lot to NFL.

 

[RU-05]

1st team all-conference would prove a lot to NFL.

Was that really an option?

Or better put. Was Longa's play going to increase so dramatically so as to raise his draft stock in a significant way?

 

[RC85]

He was 3rd-team this year so why would it not be possible? We'll see how his decision plays out. Best of luck to him.