2012. The last Schiano-recruited class. Ranked #31 in the nation. The class that Flood was hired to keep together. Which he did. And not much else. Certainly not recruiting. In 2012 Flood went 9-4 with Schiano's players and schemes. And as these players left, so did Flood's chances of winning. 2013 6-7, recruited the #44 class. 2014 8-5, #58 class. 2015 4-8, #54 class. And in 2016 Flood brought in the #78 class.
I count 8 players left that Schiano recruited, not including transfers. Lambert's gone for the year. That leaves 7. To say the cupboard is bare is a massive understatement. And Flood's recruits are now playing offensive and defensive schemes they were not recruited for. After looking at this, I'm now amazed we've won two games this year. But when we were down to Howard 14-0, I guess that should've been a tip off.
So last year was the end of Schiano's offense and defense (since Flood changed almost nothing.) This year will be the end of his players. Would they be doing better this year if they were still playing the old Schiano/Flood schemes that they've played for the last 5 years? No doubt. But we would be stuck with another year of Flood's recruiting. What could we expect? A recruiting class in the 90's?
Instead we have a brutal rebuilding year, and the #22 recruiting class in the nation for 2017. And a head coach, suffering through his first year ever in the job.
Yes this sucks. Next year can't get here fast enough. But for those of you who have longed for big time football at Rutgers, this is where it starts. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Here's to hoping it's not an oncoming train.
I count 8 players left that Schiano recruited, not including transfers. Lambert's gone for the year. That leaves 7. To say the cupboard is bare is a massive understatement. And Flood's recruits are now playing offensive and defensive schemes they were not recruited for. After looking at this, I'm now amazed we've won two games this year. But when we were down to Howard 14-0, I guess that should've been a tip off.
So last year was the end of Schiano's offense and defense (since Flood changed almost nothing.) This year will be the end of his players. Would they be doing better this year if they were still playing the old Schiano/Flood schemes that they've played for the last 5 years? No doubt. But we would be stuck with another year of Flood's recruiting. What could we expect? A recruiting class in the 90's?
Instead we have a brutal rebuilding year, and the #22 recruiting class in the nation for 2017. And a head coach, suffering through his first year ever in the job.
Yes this sucks. Next year can't get here fast enough. But for those of you who have longed for big time football at Rutgers, this is where it starts. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Here's to hoping it's not an oncoming train.
