What If?

[njknightsfan]

I'm looking at our schedule for next year and dreaming of a 9-3 record. It's possible that we win the following, giving us 8 wins, I know Penn St., Michigan & Maryland are a stretch, but what if we can pull them out:

Date Opponent* Result Record
Sept. 5, 2015 Norfolk St. 12:00 pm ET | Tickets
Sept. 12, 2015 Wash. St. 3:30 pm ET | Tickets
Sept. 19, 2015 at Penn State 8:00 pm ET | Tickets
Sept. 26, 2015 Kansas 12:00 pm ET | Tickets
Oct. 17, 2015 at Indiana 3:30 pm ET | Tickets
Nov. 7, 2015 at Michigan TBA | Tickets
Nov. 21, 2015 at Army 12:00 pm ET | Tickets
Nov. 28, 2015 Maryland TBA | Tickets

That leaves winning 1 game out of the following 4, and 3 of those games are at home, chances are we get blown out at all but what if we can win 1?

Date Opponent* Result Record

Oct. 10, 2015 Michigan State 8:00 pm ET | Tickets
Oct. 24, 2015 Ohio State 8:00 pm ET | Tickets
Oct. 31, 2015 at Wisconsin TBA | Tickets
Nov. 14, 2015 Nebraska TBA | Tickets

Depending on how our QB play is and the new OL gel, we can be in for a 6-6, 8-4 or 9-3 season. I think our D will be much improved this year. What If we went 9-3 with a great bowl destination, Flood gates will open in recruiting, program perception will change forever and the Sleeping Giant will finally have awaken! Now with coaching experience in the BIG, continuity in the staff, bigger lineman, faster players, we have a chance, just need to take advantage of the opportunity and in life, all you can ask for is an opportunity! I think our strong running game can offset the lack of experience at QB.

 

[ScarletDave]

The problem with college football is you always win a game you shouldn't, but you also usually lose a game or two that you shouldn't.

 

[Saint Puppy]

We don't even know who our starting QB is yet....sorry I think 'dreaming' was the key word in your post OP.

 

[ruready07]

We don't even know who our starting QB is yet....sorry I think 'dreaming' was the key word in your post OP.

Either laviano or rettig obviously - with probability leaning towards laviano. I'm sure you knew this and just wanted to stump the op but a lot of teams don't know who their qb will be this year and they will still go on to win games. We have a good team this year with seniors in important positions and we should be better than last year while many of our opponents will be worse than last year. Mich st, Wisconsin and Nebraska will all see a drop in talent (both player and coaching talent).
This year could be fun

 

[derleider]

People putting 6 wins as the minimum are really not seeing things as they are. We could have been a five win team last year, and that was with a four year starter at QB playing at a high level for most of the season. With an OL that had a ton of experience. With a healthier CB situation than we have now.

If we make a bowl this year, consider it a success.

 

[ClassOf02]

People putting 6 wins as the minimum are really not seeing things as they are. We could have been a five win team last year, and that was with a four year starter at QB playing at a high level for most of the season. With an OL that had a ton of experience. With a healthier CB situation than we have now.

If we make a bowl this year, consider it a success.

I agree with this. I'm sure it makes me sound negative, but of all our "toss up" games last year, we won them all except Penn St. The wins against Wazzou, Michigan, Navy, and Maryland could have gone either way. It's a great sign that we did so well in close games -- that's a trend that should build confidence, but I'm not sure we can rely on that every year.

 

[mdh2003]

...Flood gates will open in recruiting..

This line has been repeated in various flavors for years. Even our own John O., conservative by nature, has said similar things. I just can't buy it. Not sure a single event or season has that sort of power. Even a miracle unbeaten run and NC, when surrounded by middling 7-6 years probably will not have this effect. Probably a one year blip, but I would say that is not really waking the sleeping giant. The reality is that we need a decade of winning (10+ wins) to have a recruiting/perception "bump". Of course, if we get there, we would not need the flood gates to open. They would be already.

 

[Knight Shift]

We don't even know who our starting QB is yet....sorry I think 'dreaming' was the key word in your post OP.

With our corps of running backs, we don't need a QB. Overrated position. [banana]

 

[huskersalways]

Either laviano or rettig obviously - with probability leaning towards laviano. I'm sure you knew this and just wanted to stump the op but a lot of teams don't know who their qb will be this year and they will still go on to win games. We have a good team this year with seniors in important positions and we should be better than last year while many of our opponents will be worse than last year. Mich st, Wisconsin and Nebraska will all see a drop in talent (both player and coaching talent).
This year could be fun

Nebraska will field the most overall talented team they have had in 10 years. Pee Wee league coaches are a step up from the last staff. I have no clue about the other teams listed.
I'm sure you will bring up Abdullah as a reason for a drop off but bare in mind the kid replacing him was ahead of him on the depth chart before he got hurt and opted to redshirt. Losing Bell isn't a huge deal as that is the deepest part of roster and he only played 50% of the time last year(hurt). Losing Gregory will be the best thing that happened all year. He was playing just to get to the draft and was worthless 90% of the time. TIFWIW.

 

[derleider]

This line has been repeated in various flavors for years. Even our own John O., conservative by nature, has said similar things. I just can't buy it. Not sure a single event or season has that sort of power. Even a miracle unbeaten run and NC, when surrounded by middling 7-6 years probably will not have this effect. Probably a one year blip, but I would say that is not really waking the sleeping giant. The reality is that we need a decade of winning (10+ wins) to have a recruiting/perception "bump". Of course, if we get there, we would not need the flood gates to open. They would be already.

No - not really. What we need are coaches who can recruit top players and who can get us into the top 25 even without them. Right now we have neither. So we have to hope that we get what we are getting this year - slow but marked improvement, for a few years running, that that improvement translates on the field, and that in the meantime we arent so bad that we have no choice but to fire the guy.

 

[JQRU91]

I could see us winning anywhere from four to nine games this year depending on how the question marks on this team play out. Only way to know for sure is to watch and see as the season unfolds. As for the flood gates opening, I think people would be better off buckling in to see the program get built slow and steady over the long haul. That way you'll be less disappointed if things don't just suddenly take off. Not saying that can't happen, but it's not a very likely scenario for us right now. I know people have been waiting a long time for big time success in both football and men's basketball. But that doesn't mean we get to bypass fundamental steps in becoming a major program just because you waited a long time. It's still a process.

 

[mdh2003]

What we need are coaches who can recruit top players...

The coaching scrapheap is littered with ones that are recruiting stars but middling on the field.

.. who can get us into the top 25 even without them

The exact point I was making.

The catch 22 is obvious, but you gotta start somewhere, otherwise why we are wasting so much time on this site? I just don't see the "floodgates" or "waking sleeping giant" happening without sustained winning first (be that from superior on the field coaching, superior recruiting of diamonds-in-the-rough, a glorious miracle from above, or a combo).

 

[beaced]

People putting 6 wins as the minimum are really not seeing things as they are. We could have been a five win team last year, and that was with a four year starter at QB playing at a high level for most of the season. With an OL that had a ton of experience. With a healthier CB situation than we have now.

If we make a bowl this year, consider it a success.

I read the first sentence before scrolling up showed who the poster was. BUT,I KNEW who the poster was.It's June the time for dreams and hopes and wishes,Enjoy the rest of your summer.

 

[Knight Shift]

I think there is a 100% chance that Rutgers will win anywhere from 0 to 13 games this season . . . .

 

[RUJMM78]

People putting 6 wins as the minimum are really not seeing things as they are. We could have been a five win team last year, and that was with a four year starter at QB playing at a high level for most of the season. With an OL that had a ton of experience. With a healthier CB situation than we have now.

If we make a bowl this year, consider it a success.

Stating facts on a message board that some fans don't want to hear won't earn many likes for those comments.

 

[NYSportsFan]

People putting 6 wins as the minimum are really not seeing things as they are. We could have been a five win team last year, and that was with a four year starter at QB playing at a high level for most of the season. With an OL that had a ton of experience. With a healthier CB situation than we have now.

If we make a bowl this year, consider it a success.

Couldnt disagree with this more. We return the entire rb core, the entire defensive line plus Ford who may be our best DL recruit since Hamilton, our two best linebackers and bring in a former SEC linebacker and JUCO LB who had a good spring, return the entire secondary (if Barnwell stays eligible), and we lose the most polarizing qb in RU history, who many blamed for the losses and never gave enough credit for the wins. On paper (not proven on the field yet of course) but Gary's replacements were both former ESPN 300 recruits, which we havent had at the qb position in some time. We return three starters on the o-line and the replacements for people who left, were former four star/high three star recruits (Denman, D Miller, Nelson, Applefield). we play 7 home games and one game in NY, which if this team has a winning record by the Army game, will be an easy trip for RU fans to make. we will be favored in all five of our non conf games. i said 8-4 last year because if we got off to a W at wazzu, it would carry momentum thru sept, with the obv losses to OSU MSU Nebraska because all on the road, and we fell one short. ill say 8-4 again, with the four obv losses at wisconsin, OSU, MSU, and either at PSU/or at MICH. a lot of teams on our sched have somewhat bigger hurdles than us - Nebraska (new coach, lose Gregory and Abdullah and just had three players leave the team), MICH (new coach, lose their senior qb, kicked Norfleet off the team, their best offensive weapon, lose Funchess, lose their best LB), Maryland (lose three WR, their senior QB), Wisconsin (new coach, loses arguably their best running back of all time), Wazzu loses their Halladay who set passing records and Mayle their best wideout, Indiana loses their best offensive player maybe ever. Call me an optimist but the team had 6 guys on the preseason big ten teams last year, won 8, this year have 8 guys on the preseason list.

 

[mdh2003]

I think there is a 100% chance that Rutgers will win anywhere from 0 to 13 games this season . . . .

Don't you mean 0 to 15 games? Such a pessimist!

 

[Ru2bnj]

I haven't reviewed what the team's on the schedule have coming in yet. However, you have to keep in mind RU was very good in close games last year. They did lose the PSU game at home but won two close road games @WSU and @MD. Most are probably considering WSU and MD "wins" this year...they are certainly not automatic and RU could easily lose one or both. I think Michigan on the road this year is probably a loss...Harbaugh is a really good coach. Conversely, i would not be suprised if one of the blowout games from last year (Wisc or Neb) are much closer this year. I do think that game @Indiana will be a big one overall and will not be easy given their QB will be back....who is very good. I'll get back with a season prediction after i review Steele's mag later in the summer.

 

[RUChoppin]

I think our range goes from 4 wins (QB struggles, OL doesn't gel, defensive replacements at NT/MLB don't work out, etc) all the way up to 8 wins (a QB takes and owns the position early, OL gels quickly, defensive replacements step up big, a few players have breakout seasons, etc). 9 is stretching it, but wouldn't be impossible if the stars aligned. On the flip side, 3 wins isn't impossible either if we are truly snakebit.

 

[JQRU91]

Couldnt disagree with this more. We return the entire rb core, the entire defensive line plus Ford who may be our best DL recruit since Hamilton, our two best linebackers and bring in a former SEC linebacker and JUCO LB who had a good spring, return the entire secondary (if Barnwell stays eligible), and we lose the most polarizing qb in RU history, who many blamed for the losses and never gave enough credit for the wins. On paper (not proven on the field yet of course) but Gary's replacements were both former ESPN 300 recruits, which we havent had at the qb position in some time. We return three starters on the o-line and the replacements for people who left, were former four star/high three star recruits (Denman, D Miller, Nelson, Applefield). we play 7 home games and one game in NY, which if this team has a winning record by the Army game, will be an easy trip for RU fans to make. we will be favored in all five of our non conf games. i said 8-4 last year because if we got off to a W at wazzu, it would carry momentum thru sept, with the obv losses to OSU MSU Nebraska because all on the road, and we fell one short. ill say 8-4 again, with the four obv losses at wisconsin, OSU, MSU, and either at PSU/or at MICH. a lot of teams on our sched have somewhat bigger hurdles than us - Nebraska (new coach, lose Gregory and Abdullah and just had three players leave the team), MICH (new coach, lose their senior qb, kicked Norfleet off the team, their best offensive weapon, lose Funchess, lose their best LB), Maryland (lose three WR, their senior QB), Wisconsin (new coach, loses arguably their best running back of all time), Wazzu loses their Halladay who set passing records and Mayle their best wideout, Indiana loses their best offensive player maybe ever. Call me an optimist but the team had 6 guys on the preseason big ten teams last year, won 8, this year have 8 guys on the preseason list.

You're counting on a lot of players who haven't had significant playing time or even played at all yet for Rutgers. If they all pan out from the get go, it could be a nine win season. If most of them don't or take a good part of the season to adjust and gel, things could be very different.

 

[seels2662]

To me our schedule has very little to do with our performance this year. We know what the schedule is. We know the games we will more or less guarantee win and that games we will more or less guarantee lose. To get to at least 9-3 we need:

1)Either Austin to be a stud or somehow Barnwell to be able to play alongside Boggs. Lock down corners will be pivitol to this defense this year.
2)Figure out the NG position. The rest of the defense is very good. If we can figure out these two things our defense will be really really good. Like nationally recognized good.
3)Establish a QB. I don't think we need John Elway, but with our running game just enough of threat to keep people honest. And no mistakes.
4)Blocking. We have to replace 3 OL, a FB, and a TE. Thats alot of blockers. If we do the running game will keep us in most games.

Lets say our high is 10-2 which I actually believe it is the high if everything goes our way and we have zero injuries (which by the way is a very very remote chance of happening). Each one of those issues above can cost us at least 2 games. So if everything goes wrong, which hopefully isn't the case, we could really be a 2-10 team. By prediction is we get 2 out of the 4 right and we go 6-6 before the bowl.

 

[NYSportsFan]

You're counting on a lot of players who haven't had significant playing time or even played at all yet for Rutgers. If they all pan out from the get go, it could be a nine win season. If most of them don't or take a good part of the season to adjust and gel, things could be very different.

Im counting on four players who haven't played a lot - Nelson at center, Miller at one of the guards either Laviano or Rettig and prob Hester. But if Hester doesn't, you have Jacobs who has played. Everyone else has played - Hicks, Martin, PJ, the whole d line has played, not counting on Ford just saying he adds to the depth, Lewis played in the SEC, Longa, Gause, Lambert, Cioffi, Barnwell, Denman, Nick Arch, Bergen at FB, Patton, Carroo, Grant, Carlton A. all these guys played last year. while we return the fewest starters, that doesn't mean some of these guys have never played in a college game.

 

[RUChoppin]

Our schedule does have a bit to do with our performance, just in terms of how it is set up. 4 games, the bye, then 8 straight games. Two challenging swing games on the road (TTFP and Michigan). Getting Michigan and Nebraska late in the season after they've had more time to adjust to new coaching staffs/philosophies.

I think, barring catastrophe, everyone expecting Norfolk State and Army as wins (and probably Kansas, too). Most fans are also probably favoring us against Indiana and Maryland (and to maybe a lesser extent WSU). TTFP and Michigan are road challenges where we'll be dogs, but I'd think most fans think we have a shot if we're playing really well. Of the remaining four (OSU, MSU, Wisc, Neb), I'd say Nebraska is our best chance to pick one of them off.

Rationally, I'm expecting 5 to 7 wins next year. My fan brain is looking at 6-8, and my pessimist brain is looking at 4-6.

 

[Saint Puppy]

Either laviano or rettig obviously - with probability leaning towards laviano. I'm sure you knew this and just wanted to stump the op but a lot of teams don't know who their qb will be this year and they will still go on to win games. We have a good team this year with seniors in important positions and we should be better than last year while many of our opponents will be worse than last year. Mich st, Wisconsin and Nebraska will all see a drop in talent (both player and coaching talent).
This year could be fun

The point is this team has lots of question marks (QB being the biggest one because it's the single most important position on the field). Can things break right? Sure, but things could also break wrong, and how fast this team gels will obviously be key.

 

[RUnumber1]

While we could only win 4 or 5 games this year, I think that an 8 or 9 win season is a definite possibility. We should beat: Norfolk, WSU, Kansas, and Army. I think that we will beat: Indiana, Michigan (JH will need time to turn things around there), Maryland, and psu (Returning the favor of a close home loss). That just leaves OSU, MSU, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. I think OSU, Wisconsin, and MSU will be tough to win, but not impossible.
I think that Nebraska can be had. They are bringing in a new coaching staff this year. I am predicting an 8-4 season: wins against Norfolk, WSU, psu, Kansas, Michigan, Indiana, Army, and Maryland.

 

[cRURah]

The point is this team has lots of question marks (QB being the biggest one because it's the single most important position on the field). Can things break right? Sure, but things could also break wrong, and how fast this team gels will obviously be key.

Exactly. There is no point to this thread. Better off throwing darts.

 

[Ru2bnj]

The schedule doesn't matter? Pretty funny. If the crossover games were NW and Illinois rather than Wisc and Neb , RU would have a much better chance to win 7 or 8 games. The schedule always matters. Sometimes teams are overated or underated going in, but to say that RU's B1G schedule ..especially...doesn't matter regarding W/Ls is just naive.

 

[bac2therac]

the team can win as little as 4 or win 8.....I think the chances are equal on that happening...most likely its a 6 win team and I don't think given the schedule and our losses you can be disappointed if you don't get more than that