Week 5 Rankings/Picks

Note: Rankings do not include Stanford's loss to Washington last night.

1. Alabama 
2. Oregon
3. LSU
4. Florida State
5. Florida
6. West Virginia
7. Georgia
8. Kansas State
9. Stanford
10. South Carolina
11. USC
12. Clemson
13. TCU
14. Ohio State
15. Oklahoma
16. Rutgers
17. Notre Dame
18. Louisville
19. Texas
20. Oregon State
21. Baylor
22. Mississippi State
23. Louisiana Tech
24. Northwestern
25. Michigan State

Baylor 37 West Virginia 48
Baylor's offense has been pretty good post RG3, but their defense is still abysmal. Geno Smith has been very good against the cupcakes the Mountaineers have faced so far, but Tavon Austin should be the guy gaining the Heisman hype.

Buffalo 0 Connecticut 17
The Huskies come to Piscataway next week, and they look to bounce back from yet another loss to Western Michigan. Their defense has been solid so far, but their offense has been worse than usual. They haven't really run the ball well, which is some what surprising.

Arkansas 45 Texas A&M 42
These are two high flying offenses who can not play defense, so expect a ton of points. The Razorbacks can easily give up on the season, but a rivalry game could keep them motivated.

Tennessee 19 Georgia 28
Georgia has a pretty thin roster, but they have a vicious defense and Aaron Murray has put up some numbers so far this season. The Vols are improved, but they are still a middle of the pack SEC team.

Ohio State 24 Michigan State 16
Braxton Miller has flourished in Urban Meyer's offense, but this will be the Buckeyes first road game, and Sparty has one of the best defenses in the country. Levon Bell could have a big day, but MSU has a non existent passing game.

Louisiana Tech 34 Virginia 27
Louisiana Tech could run the table and steal a BCS bid in the WAC's last hurrah.

Virginia Tech 24 Cincinnati 20
This is a "neutral site game" in DC, so the crowd will be heavily in favor of the Hookies. The Bearcats' speed could be a problem for Tech, but Frank Beamer's squad's physicality could wear them out late.

Florida State 40 South Florida 24
USF is coming off a tough loss to Ball State and are now up against one of the best teams in the nation. The Noles have an attacking defense who will give Daniels trouble, and Florida State's powerful run game will be too much for the Bulls' defense.

Texas 30 Oklahoma State 27
We knew The Longhorns' defense was legit, but David Ash has really surprised at quarterback. The Cowboys' may be with out QB Wes Lunt, so their back up could  be in for a world of pain against Manny Diaz's crew.

Wisconsin 20 Nebraska 24
Two underwhelming big 10 teams. Meh, I'll go with the home team.

Louisville 32 Southern Miss 17
The Cards take on one of their many rivals in another road test. Southern Miss is 0-3 after losing Larry Fedora, and they won't be able to stop Teddy Bridgewater.

Oregon State 27 Arizona 31
Two surprising Pac 12 teams square off. The Beavers are a typical, physical Mike Riley team, and the Wildcats are a typical, fast Rich Rodriguez team. It will be interesting seeing these two diverse styles clash, and I'll take the home team.

Ole Miss 3 Alabama 41
The Crimson Tide have not missed a beat on defense after losing a ton of starters, and they have the best offensive line in the nation. #BarrettJones4Heisman The Runnin Rebs aren't ready to compete with the big boys.

Oregon 48 Washington State 8
You figured the Cougars would struggle in their first year under mike Leach, but wow has their offense been a disappointment.This might be the best Duck team since the 2007 squad that was poised for a national championship run before Dennis Dixon tore his ACL.

Replacing Michael Burton

Fullback Michael Burton will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a "lower body injury" against Arkansas on Saturday. This is a big blow to Rutgers' much improved offense, as Burton is a powerful run blocker who was doing a tremendous job leading the way for Jawan Jamison, and a threat to both run and catch the ball out of the backfield. You have to feel really bad for any kid that suffers a season ending injury, especially a fan favorite like Burton, but Rutgers must find some way to replace him. That will not be an easy task, as Rutgers is pretty thin at fullback after a few years of recruiting for a spread offense, so a "fullback by committee" approach will be utilized, according to head coach Kyle Flood.

Redshirt freshman fullback Paul Canevari transferred this summer, and that left converted linebacker Sam Bergen as the only other fullback on the Scarlet Knights roster. Bergen will supposedly be part of the mix replacing Burton, but he did not see any action against Arkansas after Burton went down. That struck me as a bit odd, considering he's the back up on the depth chart, and it made me wonder. Did the coaching staff not want to throw him right into the fire? Do they want to get him some reps with the first team offense first so he's more comfortable with them and does not throw off their continuity? Or does the coaching staff not feel comfortable using him at all? I guess we'll find out next week.

Tight end Paul Carrezola took over as the fullback last Saturday, and he is a very good blocker who has enough speed to lead the way for the ball carrier. He's obviously a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield too. After he missed the first two games with an injury, DC Jefferson appeared to overtake him as the starting tight end, so it is very possible that Carrezola will be Burton's primary replacement. I think he's the best man for the job. Tyler Kroft was also mentioned as part of this committee, but he is more of a receiver than a blocker, and Beau Bachety, a walk on tight end, will get a shot as well.

Ultimately, I think we will see Rutgers run more three wide receiver sets and more two tight end sets. They can still run their zone run plays out of these personnel packages, and they have a boatload of talented receivers, and three very good tight ends. Carrezola and Kroft could be used as an H-back type player too. When the Knights do go to their two back sets, I expect Carrezola and Bergen to split time leading the way for the tailbacks. Replacing Burton will not be easy, but using these four players to split his workload could get the job done.

Rutgers Wins a Shoot Out Over Arkansas 35-26

When you go on the road and beat a quality SEC opponent, you are going to get some respect nationally, and Rutgers is now ranked for the first time since 2009 after beating Arkansas in Fayetteville on Saturday. The defense did not turn in their usual stellar performance, but Gary Nova and the offense stepped up big time and carried the Scarlet Knights to a 35-26 victory.

The Scarlet Knights were shut out in the first quarter, as penalties killed drives and Kyle Federico missed a field goal, but the offense caught fire after a ballsy decision by Kyle Flood extended a drive. On 4th and 2 on their own 33 yard line, Flood called for a fake punt, and Jeremy Deering took the direct snap as the personal protector and picked up the first down with a 14 yard run. A 24 yard pass from Nova to Tim Wright and an 8 yard run by Deering on a reverse (good things happen when he has the ball, he should really get it more) set up another Federico field goal try. Federico sent the kick through the uprights, but the Hogs jumped offsides, giving Rutgers a first down. On the ensuing play, Gary Nova hooked up with Jawan Jamison on a 10 yard wheel route for a touchdown, getting the Knights on the board for the first time, trailing 10-7.

Nova started to feel it two possessions later, as he hit up Quoron Pratt for two big gains, before connecting with Brandon Coleman on a 19 yard touchdown on a slant and go to give the Scarlet Knights their first lead of the game, 14-10 just before the half. Rutgers wasn't having as much success running the ball as they did earlier in the season, but Nova was starting to find holes in the secondary, and Rutgers felt confident going into the locker room with a four point lead.

After receiving the kick off to open the second half, the Scarlet Knights went on a nice, methodical 10 play scoring drive. Jamison and the offensive line were able to get it going a little bit on the ground, and more key throws from Nova on third down set the Knights up with a first down on Arkansas's 38. On that first down play, Nova had the option of handing the ball off to Jamsison on a power play or throwing to Brandon Coleman on a quick screen, and with the corner playing well off the line, Nova threw it to Coleman. Big #17 made the corner miss and was sprung by a key block from Mark Harrison into the endzone, to put Rutgers up 21-10.

A holding penalty stalled the next drive before it started, but Nova and company kept the foot on the gas petal as the Razorbacks tried to mount a comeback. A 45 yard reception by Pratt and a 13 yard run by Jamison set up another Nova TD pass, this one going to Paul Carrezola on a 2 yard pass out of the backfield, making it 28-13. Tyler Kroft caught a 42 yard play action pass from Nova after the Hogs pulled to with in a score, but Dave Brock once again called three straight run plays in the redzone, despite the fact that Nova had a hot hand and redzone back Savon Huggins was still out. Fedirico then missed a very make-able 32 yard attempt, and the game was starting to feel too close for comfort.

Arkansas missed a 2 point conversion that would have tied the game, and a nice return by Mason Robinson gave the offense good field position. On the second play of the drive, Nova threw his 5th TD pass of the day on a 60 yard fade route to Mark Harrison. Rutgers got the ball back on their own 1 yard line, trying to eat as much of the remaining 6:15 as they could with a 9 point lead and their backs pressed against the goal line. Things almost took a disastrous turn, as Jawan Jamison appeared to be stuffed in the endzone, but another excellent spin moved allowed him to escape the would be safety for a 24 yard gain. They were able to take a chunk of time off the clock, but the Razorbacks were able to make a stop and get the ball back. Arkansas immediately turned the ball back over, and Jamison picked up two first downs to effectively end the game, while also going over 100 yards on the day in the process. Two kneel downs officially sealed the deal.

It was a great day for the offense. Gary Nova looked like he was developing into a solid quarterback after his performance against South Florida, but he took it to a whole nother level in this game. He threw for 397 yards (11.3 per pass attempt) to go along with the 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions,and he was able to spread the wealth, completing at least one pass to eight different receivers. He's finally been able to let loose with the deep balls, and it's paying off. Jamison only averaged 3.6 yards a carry, but he stepped up in the 4th quarter and helped run the clock down. You have to credit Brock for sticking with him to keep balance, when just having Nova throw every play was so tempting. The offensive line had a solid game run blocking, despite a few too many negative plays, and they still have yet to allow a sack this season.*

*They have technically allowed 2 sacks, but they were both credited to the defense on intentional grounding penalties.

It was an odd game for the defense, as they dominated in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but were torn apart in the first and fourth quarters. As I said in the game preview, Arkansas loves to throw the ball deep, and that was troublesome for a Scarlet Knight defense that loves to load the box up to stop the run and blitz. Tyler Wilson threw for 419 yards and 3 scores, while Cobi Hamilton had an SEC record 303 receiving yards on 10 catches, including all 3 of Wilson's TD tosses. That was a bit embarrassing.

The game started well for the defense, as Steve Beauharnais blitzed on the very first play and recorded a sack, but the Hogs completed a 54 yard pass on another jump ball that was caught by a receiver who had two defenders all over him, to set up a field goal that gave The Razorbacks an early 3-0 lead. Arkansas was able to infiltrate Scarlet Knight territory again on the following drive, but they turned it over on downs. Right before the end of the quarter, Wilson connected with Hamilton on a skinny post and Logan Ryan, who had outside leverage, missed the tackle and Hamilton took it to the house for 6 to extend the Razorback lead to 10.

At this point, defensive coordinator Robb Smith seemed to make a major adjustment scheme wise. Rather than their usual 4 man line with heavy blitzing, the Knights went with a three man front and dropped seven or eight defenders into coverage. Lorenzo Waters was also pulled from the game and replaced with better coverage guys, Wayne Warren and Mason Robinson. The Scarlet Knights forced Arkansas to have a 3 and out on all three of their second quarter possessions, and then again on their first possession of the third quarter. With additional men in coverage, Wilson was stifled, and the defensive line was starting to penetrate the backfield against the run, so the Hogs were not able to do a thing.

Hamilton then started to find a little bit of wiggle room, and two moderate receptions set up a field goal, making it 28-13. Arkansas put together their first sustained drive since the opening quarter late in the 3rd, but Ryan was able to intercept Wilson in the endzone, when it appeared that the Razorbacks' receiver gave up on the route, and Rutgers was still up 15 going into the final quarter.

Hamilton further terrorized Rutgers' defense in the 4th, first adding a 10 yard score on a crossing route to pull the Hogs to with in 8, and then by hauling in an 80 yard bomb from Wilson, and the Razorbacks were a successful 2 point conversion away from tying the game. On the PAT, Wayne Warren blitzed and caused an errant pass, making the try unsuccesful, and preserving the slim two point lead. The offense was able to extend the lead to 9 immediately after that, and the defense took over from there to bring the game home. They forced an Arkansas punt with just over 6 minutes left, and Duron Harmon intercepted a pass with three minute left, to put the game away.

Arkansas used a ton of 4 and 5 receiver sets, and this allowed Hamilton, who was lined up in the slot, to constantly have a match up advantage, as he often had a linebacker or safety across from him. He was able to just simply out run them, and Wilson's arm is more than strong enough to get it to him.

It wasn't the typical Rutgers defense domination that we've grown accustomed to over the last 2 seasons, but they stepped it up when they had to and won the game. The defensive line got a solid pass rush through out the day and shut down the run, and despite allowing 400 yard in the air, I actually think the corners did a solid job. Ryan was victimized on Hamilton's first touchdown, but he and Brandon Jones were pretty good overall. The safeties and linebackers struggled big time covering Hamilton, though, and that's why they gave up so many yards.

Kyle Flood had his team well prepared for this game, and John L. Smith did not, and Smith compounded the problem with inefficient time management. Gary Nova had a break out game, and the defense did just enough to earn a victory for the Scarlet Knights, who are now ranked in both the coaches' and AP polls. This win could give the team a major boost of confidence going forward, but they must also remain grounded, as Big East play will kick into full gear after a bye week.

Game 4: Arkansas

Rutgers travels down to SEC country for the first time since 2004 to take on the 1-2 Arkansas Razorbacks. The Hogs are a very talented team, but their season has been savaged by turmoil, as Bobby Petrino was fired and interim coach John L. Smith seems to have no control of the team. Rutgers is coming  off a big conference win over South Florida 10 days ago, and they will be trying to get some national respect for themselves and the Big East in this game.

Rutgers on Offense
Jawan Jamison carried the ball a school record 41 times last Thursday, and he should expect to carry a similar load today, as he's had a few extra days of rest and there is a bye week next week. The offensive line has been playing great so far this year, and they need to push around Arkansas' defensive line that has been steamrolled so far this year.

The offensive line has not allowed a sack so far this year, and if they give Garry Nova time to throw the ball, he could do some damage. Nova seemed to really mature last game against USF, and he needs to have another big game today to show it was not a fluke. Tim Wright seems to have stepped it up as the go to receiver in this offense, and DC Jefferson and Mark Harrison have proved to be reliable targets as well. They could have a field day against a very poor, inexperienced Razorback secondary.

Rutgers on Defense
All SEC quarterback Tyler Wilson will get the start for the Hogs today after missing the last game and a half with a concussion. He is one of the best QBs in the nation, and facing him will be a big test for Rutgers' heralded secondary. Wilson loves throwing the deep ball, and the corners will have to lock the receivers up and stay with them down the field, as they will be left on an island in man coverage. A lot of the defense's success today will ride on their play. Duron Harmon will have to be a ball hawk today and help the corner out over the top, in the event they get beat. The underneath pass defenders will be tasked with keeping Arkansas' leading receiver, tight end Chris Gragg, in check, as he runs a lot of shallow routes across the middle in spots vacated by blitzers. Arkansas has done a terrible job in pass protection, have been totally overwhelmed by blitzes, and Wilson is not that mobile, so the pass rush should be all over Wilson and record multiple sacks, or at least force him to make bad throws.

Arkansas's offense loves to run the ball to the outside with sweeps and stretch plays, so the defensive ends must be able to keep contain, and the linebackers are going to need to make a lot of plays in space too. Their startng running back, Knile Davis, is only averaging 3.5 yards a carry after missing all of last year with a broken leg. In 2010 when he was healthy, he was an explosive back rushing for over 1300 yards, while averaging 6 a carry. Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo will get some carries as well, and they have both been much more productive this year. They have a big offensive line, but they're not the quickest in the world, and Rutgers will need to fire out quick and penetrate up the middle.

Penalties
CUT THE CRAP AND BE DISCIPLINED! STOP KILLING YOUR OWN DRIVES ON OFFENSE AND EXTENDING DRIVES ON DEFENSE! 

Injury Report
Savon Huggins will miss his second straight game with a lower body injury but  third string RB Paul James should play, as he just returned to practice this week after suffering a high ankle sprain.

Holder/safety JT Tarcoff will be out with a broken finger.

Michal Larrow will serve the final game of his 4 game suspension. Marcus Thompson is still out at DE as well, and the staus of DT Al Page is uncertain.

Andre Civil will return to the lineup after missing last week with an injury.

Prediction- Rutgers 26 Arkansas 24
I did not think Rutgers would win this game all offeseason, but John L. Smith has made me a believer. Arkansas is in turmoil, if you come out and punch them in the mouth right away, they will fold. This could make or break their season. Rutgers could earn a lot of national respect with a win, even though the Hogs are down.

Know Your Opponent: The Woo Pig Sooie Edition

When Rutgers added Arkansas to the schedule back in February, it looked like the Scarlet Knights would be heading down to Fayetteville to face a top 10 opponent today, but that is no longer the case. Coming off a season in which they finished ranked 5th with their only two losses coming against the #1 and #2 team in the country, the Hogs had their eyes set on a national championship, but things have totally unraveled for the Razorbacks in ensuing 7 months. Head coach Bobby Petrino was fired back in April when it was revealed that he hired his mistress for a job in Arkansas' athletic department and gave her an undisclosed cash payment, and John L. Smith was named the interim head coach. Smith has been nothing short of a disaster running the team, and it looks like this could be a make or break game for the Hogs' season, as they are 1-2 and coming off a humiliating 52-0 loss to #1 Alabama at home. They may seem down, but they are not yet out, as they still posses an extremely talented roster capable of putting up a ton of points against anyone. This is still a big test for the Scarlet Knights, and it could give them and the Big East as a conference some more respect nationally.

Arkansas So Far...
 The Razorbacks are 1-2, playing all three of their games so far at home. They won their opener against Jacksonville State 49-24 thanks to Tyler Wilson putting up big numbers in the air, but their defense struggled mightily, especially in the first half, and their rushing attack was mediocre. They dropped an OT thriller to Louisiana Monroe the following week, and Wilson left the game late in the second quarter with a concussion. They had another pedestrian game on the ground and the defense blew a 28-7 lead, as they allowed the tying TD to score with 47 seconds left. Last week Wilson sat out with a concussion, and the Hogs made a ton of mistakes on their way to being absolutely annihilated  by Alabama. Wilson called the team out for quitting after the game, and Fayetteville has had a circus like atmosphere this week. But the question is: will the distractions work against them?

Coaching Staff

John L. Smith was the special team coordinator under Petrino from 09-11, and he was hired to run the program with an interim tag, replacing the fired Petrino, not long after taking the head job at his alma matter, Weber State. Smith has an unbelievable weird personality, and has made a ton of questionable coaching decision in his career, but Arkansas' hands were tied, as offensive coordinator Garrick McGee just left for the head coaching position at UAB and the rest of their staff was relatively new.

Smith was a some what successful head coach at some smaller schools, including a 41-21 tenure at Louisville as Petrino's predecessor, but he was an absolute disaster when he got a job at a big times school, Michigan State. He had a 22-26 record during his time in East Lansing, and he lost on the road to Rutgers in 2004 after not spending a lot of time in the off season preparing for the game, and not having QB Drew Stanton in the season opener after he was injured in the bowl game playing special teams the prior season.

He has not inspired a lot of confidence in Arkansas' fans or players, and he is coming off one of the worst weeks you could possibly imagine. (Condolences to him and his family.)

The offensive coordinator, awkwardly enough, is Paul Petrino, who is of course the brother of Bobby. Petrino is an experienced offensive coordinator who runs the same offense as his brother. Their defense is lead by former Ohio State defensive backs coach Paul Haynes.

Offense- 74th in points per game, 104th in yards per carry, 75th in pass efficiency, 71st in yards per play

The Razorbacks had a high flying offense a year ago, but things haven't been so great so far this year, and obviously a lot of that has to do with all SEC quarterback Tyler Wilson missing a game and a half. The Hogs don't really run a spread offense or a pro style offense, they run a mixture of both. They will use a fullback and run plays from under center, but they will run a lot of shotgun and three receiver sets as well.

Wilson threw for 24 TD passes and averaged 8.3 yards per attempt a year ago, and he passed on a chance to enter the draft to return for his senior year. Obviously, things haven't gone as planned, but he will start today, and he is one of the best QBs in the nation. Arkansas's offense loves to throw the ball vertically, with all goes, and clear out routes, and Wilson's rocket of an arm is able to take pick apart defenses deep, completing a ton of long bombs for 6 points. He lost his top 3 receivers from a year ago, but Cobi Hamilton is a dangerous deep threat, and tight end Chris Gragg, their leading receiver, will run a lot of underneath routes when the receivers clear the defense out, and he is their go to guy on 3rd down. The Hogs' offensive line has not been able to protect Wilson, and obviously that was part of the reason he had a concussion. Wilson has a quick release, but he is not very mobile. Their line was overwhelmed by blitzes when I watched them against Louisiana Monroe, and they allowed pressure on almost every play, so protecting Wilson is a huge problem for them.

Their line is not very good run blocking either, but they mostly run the ball to the outside with the stretch play and student body play. Knile Davis ran for 1300 yards (6.8 yds per carry) in 2010, but he missed all of last year with a broken leg. He has returned this year, but he has not been able to recapture his explosiveness and is only averaging 3.5 yards a carry. Dennis Johnson (who is also a great kick returner) and Ronnie Wingo back him up, and they have both been much better than Davis so far this year.

Defense- 109th in points per game, 56th in yards per carry, 75th in pass efficiency, 61st in yards per play
Arkansas runs a pretty simple scheme. They have a 4-3 front and usually play cover 3 behind it. They love blitzing to the wide side of the field, and they will occasionally play man to man coverage. They rarely bring more than 5 pass rushers. Haynes claims to be running a "new scheme" and that is what they are saying has caused some of their early season issues, but personnel has still been their biggest problem on this side of the ball. This is as basic and generic of a defense as you will see.

Their defensive line has constantly been pushed around, even going back to last year, and they have not been very good as a result. They will occasionally shoot a gap and make a play, but more often than not, they are giving up a lot of yards on the ground. They lost their best two pass rushers from a year ago, Jake Bequette and Jerry Franklin, and this unit has been merely average rushing the passer.

Alonzo Highsmith leads the linebacking corp, and he is a play maker who will make tackles all over the field. The rest of the back 7 is largely inexperienced, and they have been porous against the pass. They have a converted defensive lineman at middle linebacker, and only one DB who received any playing time prior to this season.

This unit can be over powered and beat deep, and they have given up a ton of points so far. They have looked really, really bad, but this is still a fast, SEC defense, who may start to click at any moment with more experience and more time in their new system.

Conclusion
Arkansas is a desperate team, and this game could make or break their season. If they get punched in the mouth early, they could fold like they did last week, but if they get off to a fast start, they are capable of steam rolling over basically anyone in the country. Their coaching has been terrible so far this year, but they have a very talented roster who will be hungry for a victory. And at the very least, they want to avoid being embarrassed.

Rutgers 2012 Defensive Line "Preview"

Rutgers has emphasized speed over size on defense over the years, even on their defensive line.With that philosophy in place, Rutgers has had  quick, disruptive lines that have made a bunch of plays in the backfield, but it has also caused them to get over powered at times by bigger teams. This year, the unit has more size than they have in the past, and that should help them hold up better against bigger, stronger lines, but being quick and disruptive will still be their M.O. This group has been dominant against the run and gotten a decent pass rush so far this year, and their depth has been put on display. The group has been very strong so far, and should keep up the great play going forward.

Scott Vallone moves back to his natural position as the three technique tackle, after playing nose guard a year ago to accommodate Justin Francis, who should have been an all Big East selection in 2011. Vallone is a very strong player who holds up against double teams well, while pushing the line of scrimmage backwards and keeping blockers off his linebackers. He has enough quickness to make plays himself, and he has been very disruptive so far this season. Isaac Holmes joins the starting line up as the nose tackle, and at 275 pounds, he is a bit bigger than the tackles they have had recently. Holmes has been very strong so far in the middle and him and Vallone have made a great duo, absolutely stifling the oppositions' running game. True freshman Darius Hamilton backs Vallone up, and the 5 star recruit has great technique, not just for a true freshman, but for any lineman. He is a bit undersized at the moment, but his quickness makes up for it. Al Page and Marquise Wright were pretty good recruits themselves, and the two provide a lot of beef in the middle, each weighing 280 pounds. Page has yet to play this year with an injury, and Wright has done a solid job spelling Holmes. Kenneth Kirksey and Daryl Stephenson are intriguing sophomores, but Stephenson will miss the year after suffering an injury in training camp.

The Scarlet Knights don't have one dominant pass rusher at defensive end, but they have a lot of options capable of being productive. Senior Ka'Lial Glaud has been their best pass rusher this year, recording 2 sacks so far as the "R", which is a DE/linebacker hybrid. Marcus Thompson has over taken the suspended Michael Larrow at the other end spot thanks to a strong camp, and Jamil Merrell  will see some time as a key reserve as well. Marvin Booker backs up Glaud at the R spot, and he has been a productive player when he is able to stay on the field, but he got hurt after recording a sack against Tulane in the opener and has not played since. Max Issaka is another intriguing player, but he's just getting back up to speed after missing all of camp because of a death in his family. Jawaun Wynn provides speed at the position as a converted receiver, and Myles Jackson, and Djwany Mera fill out the rest of the roster.

Rutgers landed two defensive lineman in their highly touted recruiting class, and added another true freshman DL trough transfer. Darius Hamilton headlines the entire class, and the son of former Giants defensive lineman Keith Hamilton will get some experience this year and hopefully become the star of the defense in the years to come. He is a bit undersized for defensive tackle at the moment, but some time Rutgers' lifting program should bulk him up. For now, he will get by with his quickness and amazing technique. He uses his hands so well and can disengage from blockers to make plays. Julian Pinnix-Odrick could become either an end or tackle, and he has nice size, but is a bit raw and will most likely redshirt. Jamil Pollard originally committed to Penn State, but once the NCAA sanctions were handed down there, he transferred penalty free to RU. He is a big, strong player, but he will likely redshirt this season for more refinement.

Rutgers once again has a defensive line a bit on the small side, but they have plenty of quickness to make up for it. They have stuffed the run so far this year, and their plethora of pass rushers have gotten some pressure on the quarterback. With the new freshman and plenty of depth, this is amongst the strongest units on the team.

Break it Down: Outside Zone vs USF

When Kyle Flood arrived at Rutgers as the offensive line coach in 2005, he implemented a "zone" run blocking scheme, a style of blocking that differs from the traditional "man blocking" scheme, which was much more common and widespread at the time. The Scarlet Knights had a dominant rushing attack for a while thanks to this scheme, but the ill fated experiment with the spread offense set the run game back a few years. This season, Jawan Jamison has lead a resurgence in Rutgers' rushing attack, thanks in large part to how well he fits into this scheme. In the last two games against Howard and USF, he has broken off two long runs, including a 41 yard touchdown scamper to ice the game in Tampa on the outside zone play that is the staple of this scheme.

It's a common misconception that zone blocking is a relatively new thing, but in reality some form of zone blocking has existed in football for years. Zone blocking has evolved from the single wing and wing-T offenses that were immensely popular through out the 20th century, as double teams and blocking an area were emphasized. The scheme as we know it today was probably created by legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd when he was with the Cleveland Browns in 1985, according to Tim Layden in his excellent book Blood, Sweat, and Chalk. The Browns had a ton of success with this new zone blocking thing, and the scheme spread around the league like wild fire in the ensuing years. Jim McNally started using it with the Bengals and Anthony Munoz and they went on to two appear in two Super Bowl with it. Alex Gibbs became the zone blocking guru, installing this blocking scheme in Denver, Atlanta, Houston, and Seattle before retiring. Mudd was the Colts' line coach in the Manning years, and he runs it now with the Eagles. In the college game, zone blocking is much more common amongst spread offenses than it is with pro style offenses, but Rutgers is one of the few teams who run it out of pro style sets.

There are two different types of zone blocking plays: the inside zone and the outside zone.The inside zone play is similar to man blocking, with the only differences being the first step is always play side and double teams are utilized more often. The outside zone or stretch play is the one that is noticeably different. On the outside zone play, each lineman (and sometimes tight end) steps to the play side at a 90 degree angle, with the intent of reaching for the defender's outside shoulder and pinning him to the inside. If there is a defender lined up directly across from an offensive lineman, he will just block that guy directly on front of him. But if a lineman is uncovered, he will help out a teammate with a double team, and once that block is secured, one of the two lineman will slip off to block a linebacker at the second level, depending on who has the better angle. If the offensive player is unable to secure the defender to the inside, they can drive him out to the sideline. Often times the lineman on the backside will cut block, which is totally legal unless the defender is engaged with another blocker. There are about a million nuances to this style of blocking, but that's the general gist of it. The play can be run with or with out a fullback, and if there is a fullback, he will lead block off the edge.

The running back needs to read the defense with the ball in his hands and decide where to go. When he receives the hand off, his aiming point is off the edge, but if the end man on the line of scrimmage is driven outside, he has to read that and make a second read. If the second to last man on the line of scrimmage is pinned inside, the back will run through that hole that is created. If the second to last man on the line is also driven outside, the back will cut back and run to the opposite side of where he is originally intending to run. The back has to be patient and have good vision to execute this play.

Here's the outside zone play that Jawan Jamison scored a 41 yard touchdown on against USF diagrammed (it would make a lot more sense from an endzone camera angle, but there's no way for outsiders to access that. Click to enlarge):

Here's a video of the play.

South Florida is lined up in a 4-3 over defense against Rutgers, who has an I-left formation with twins to the right. It's tough to see from this camera angle, but South Florida has their weak side linebacker (w) on the line of scrimmage and a few steps to the outside of the rest of the line. Since right tackle R.J. Dill has the defensive end head up on him, he is unable to reach him, so he becomes the responsibility of fullback Michael Burton. The WLB does a good job keeping contain on the edge, and Jamison is forced to run to the inside of Burton's block. Dill and guard Taj Alexander do a nice job doubling the defensive end, and Dill is able to slip off of that block to the second level and block the middle linebacker (m). Betim Bujari reaches and hooks the 1 technique lined up to the play side to the inside. Antwan Lowery and Kaleb Johnson double the three technique, and Lowery slides off to seal the strong side backer (s). Brandon Coleman is able to get enough of a block on the corner to keep him out of the play and Tim Wright runs the other corner off with a fake route or stalk block. Jamison takes it from there, making a spin move to get past the safety for the score.

Rutgers blocked within the zone scheme to perfection on this play and Jamison made a great move to score. The outside zone play  iced the game on Thursday night and was otherwise a big part of their offensive game plan in Thursday night's win. With Jamison likely to get 30+ carries again on Saturday with Savon Huggins still out, expect the Knights to go to their bread and butter play a ton against Arkansas.

Rutgers Overcomes Mistakes to Beat USF 23-13

Rutgers defeated South Florida in the Big East opener for both teams Thursday night, to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Scarlet Knights could not get out of their own way early on, committing too many penalties, amongst other mistakes, but a strong defense, balanced offensive attack, and a break out performance from their freshman kicker propelled them to a victory in the New Sombrero. 

Rutgers got off to another inauspicious start offensively, committing 4 penalties on their opening series. They picked up a lot of yards in the first quarter, but thanks to the penalties and a botched snap/hold that caused Kyle Federico's kick to be blocked,  the Knights were unable to put any points on the board in the opening quarter. They were showing signs of life though, as the line was getting a tremendous push, allowing Jamison to look great once again, and Gary Nova was able to convert some third downs. Following a turnover late in the half, Nova orchestrated a successful 2 minute drill, connecting with Tim Wright three times, to set up a 51 yard field goal try for Federico, and he hooked it through the uprights to get Rutgers on the board for the first time.

Following another USF turn over early in the second half, Nova converted two more third downs by going Wright's way, setting the Scarlet Knights up in the redzone. Quoron Pratt proceeded to miss a wide open Brandon Coleman in the end zone on a trick play and Coleman had a pass knocked out out of his hands in the end zone on the ensuing play, and limiting them to three points once again. Federico's 31 yarder tied the game at 6.

Rutgers was finally able to get the ball in the endozone for the first time on the next drive, after yet another USF turnover, as Nova threw a 6 yard strike to Mark Harrison on a little square in, to put the Knights on top 13-6. South Florida was able to tie the game back up, but Nova marched his squad down the field, as he connected yet again with Tim Wright for a 46 yard completion on a deep corner route. With the ball on the USF 7, Jawan Jamison ran the ball three three straight times, but he was unable to reach the endzone. Federico made a chip shot to put the Knights back on top, this time for good. I did not like the decision to have Jamison run three straight times there, even if it did take a lot of time off the clock. Nova was feeling it and had a hot hand, especially in third down, and I think he should have been given at least one chance to put the ball in the air for a score. Having Savon Huggins, the regular goal line back, out with an injury made the decision even more questionable. I think Dave Brock did a good job calling plays overall, but this sequence was very questionable.

Rutgers had a massive edge in time of possession in the second half, and Jawan Jamison was wearing the defense down, despite not racking up a ton of yards. While trying to run the clock out with 2:13 left in the game, Jamison was finally able to pop a long run, scoring from 41 yards out to put the game out of reach. It was the second week in a row he had a tremendous run on a stretch play, thanks to sound blocking and a ridiculous move. Last week he did it with a nice juke, this week it was with a spin move that made the safety, who was the Bulls' last line of defense miss. Michael Burton and RJ Dill both made great blocks at the point of attack on the play to spring Jamison. Here is a GIF of the spin move:                          

The defense turned in a very strong effort once again, holding South Florida to 7.3 yards per pass and3.3 yards per rush. They also limited the Bulls to 4-12 on third downs, as they continued to be B.J. Daniels nemesis. Daniels was under pressure all game and although he did not get sacked, he was forced to throw the ball away on numerous occasions, and made some bad decisions with rushers in his face that resulted in 3 interceptions (and it could have been more). Daniels had a solid day running the ball, but he did not break a long run, as Khassem Greene was always there to tackle him as a spy. USF's running backs only recorded 27 yards on the ground.

South Florida got on the board with two early field goals, thanks to a 15 yard horse collar penalty and a muffed punt. Despite the points, the Scarlet Knights' D was off to a strong start, as Scott Vallone continued to make plays in the backfield with the help of Isaac Holmes and the back 7 held steady against the pass on third downs. The secondary played very well over all, but they had two big break downs on deep passes when Daniels was able to scramble away from pressure. Thankfully though, the Knights defense came up with big stops after those two mishaps and didn't give up anymore points in the half. The first breakdown resulted in a 44 yard completion to Andre Davis, who was well covered by both Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon, but he was able to go up and snag the ball for the reception, despite Harmon appearing to have ripped the ball out of his hands for a pick. That drive ended when Kevin Snyder stuffed Daniels on a 4th and 1 QB sneak. The second long pass was a 58 yarder to Terrence Mitchell, and Brandon Jones followed that up 3 plays latter with a pick, as Daniels made a bone headed decision under pressure throwing into traffic.

USF only had two possessions in the third quarter, and Daniels threw a pick on both of them. Jamal Merrill intercepted an over thrown screen pass on the first drive, and Wayne Warren picked one off in the end zone, after the ball ricocheted off of South Florida receiver's hands. 2 offside penalties and a missed interception by Marcus Cooper extended a nice drive put together by the Bulls, and Demetrius Murray was able to plunge into the endzone from one yard out to tie the game. That's all South Florida would be able to do the rest of the game though, as the Scarlet Knights D forced a 3 and out on the next drive and made a stand with 2:48 remaining on the clock, to seal the win after the offense got the Knights a lead. Kyle Flood declined a third down penalty on that drive, one that would have made it a 3rd and 13 situation for the Bulls, but he instead declined the penalty, and let things play out on a 4th and 4. I'm usually all for coaches being aggressive, but I would have preferred Flood to accept that penalty. His gutsy decision payed off though, as the defenses was able to force an incomplete pass on 4th down, all but icing the game.

Special teams had a mixed day, but they were able to put points on the board, directly and by forcing a turnover. Fedirico made the 3 big field goals, and Marcus Cooper was able to force a fumble covering a punt, setting up one of the 3. Jeremy Deering did not have a chance to return a kick, as all of USF's kick off sailed out of the back of the endzone. That's unfortunate and may be a continuing problem with the new kick off rules. They need to figure out how to get the ball in his hands one way or another. Mason Robinson had a muffed punt, and I'm starting to get concerned about him not calling for a fair catches. Rutgers usually goes for the block on punts, and with a return not set up, he usually has a guy right in his face when catching the ball. Justin Doerner also had a pretty bad day punting.

Thursday's win was Rutgers' first big test of the year, and they passed with flying colors. The run game renaissance seems legit, Gary Nova stepped up and became a capable QB, converting a bunch of third downs, and Tim Wright looked like he can be the go to receiver the offense sorely needs. The defense was once agin great, only having a few lapses, dominating against the run, rushing the passer, and intercepting some passes. The penalty issues remain a huge problem and need to be fixed ASAP, but this game reenforced the high level of confidence I had in this team coming into the season.

More Notes-
-Jamison carried the ball a school record 41 times. He came up huge, especially with Huggins out.
-The offensive line was phenomenal again. They have yet to give up a sack this season. (USF technically had 1, but it was on a intentional grounding penalty.)
-I don't like using the word "clutch," but Nova was clutch on third down. He completed 11 of his 16 third down attempts for 107 yards, converting 9 for a first down.
-Tim Wright looked like a #1 receiver, hopefully he's able to keep that up. DC Jefferson and Mark Harrison both had productive games as well.
-You can't say enough about how great this defense has been. All three levels are getting the job done, and there is quality depth at every position.

Game 3: South Florida

Rutgers heads down to Tampa to take on the Bulls tonight in a crucial Big East opener for both teams. The Knights have looked impressive in some areas and painfully bad in others during their two tune ups for this game, but they will need to put everything together if they want to walk out of Raymond James Stadium with a win.

What's the Deal With South Florida?
USF is 2-0 after beating a very good Nevada team on the road in dramatic, come back fashion last Saturday. The Bulls run a spread attack offensively, and they are very balanced between the run and the pass. Their best offensive player so far has been Sophomore wide out Andre Davis, who caught 12 passes for 191 yards, including the game winner with 38 seconds left, in Reno last week. They lost their number 2 receiver , Sterling Griffin (who is a good possession receiver), to a season ending injury, so Davis could be double teamed if necessary. They don't have a whole lot of proven pass catchers outside of Davis going tonight.

B.J. Daniels is still the starting QB at USF, and he has continued his yearly tradition of piling up huge numbers against non BCS opponents. It remains to be seen if he has turned the corner against superior competition, and I honestly don't know what to expect from him tonight. Rutgers has given him fits in the past, but I could see him breaking out with a huge game, being a non factor or throwing key interceptions. Whether he is a threat as a passer tonight or not, Daniels is a dangerous runner who can hurt you with his legs. Rutgers has put a "spy" on him the past few years to try negate his running ability, and I would expect them to do the same tonight.

The Bulls return three starters from an offensive line that finished 15th nationally in Football Outsider's metric to measure run blocking and 14th in their metric to measure pass protection. They have been solid so far this year, averaging 4.45 yards per carry as a team, while also only allowing 3 sacks total in their two games. Demetrius Murray is their lead tailback, and he has ran for 115 yards (3.97 ypc) through 2 games. He is their power guy and he pairs up with the explosive Lindsay Lamar, who has had 8 carries for 85 yards this season.

USF boasts a very strong defense that returns eight starters. They have a very strong line-backing corp, featuring DeDe Lattimore, Mike Lanaris, and Sam Barrington, making them some what some what difficult to run against, though Nevada ran the ball effectively against them last week. Their defensive line is very formidable, as they have a number of speedsters who can get after the passer. Their secondary was a cause for concern last year and especially during spring practice this year, so they can be exploited by a competent passing attack (which Rutgers does not appear to have at the moment).

Rutgers on Offense
The run game has been strong so far, but they will face their first big test tonight. Jawan Jamison will need to shoulder the load with Savon Huggins out, and carry the ball 25-30 times. Taj Alexander makes his first collegiate start for the injured Andre Civil, and hopefully he is able to gel in well with a line that has succed in large part because of strong continuity.

Gary Nova and the receivers need to step up and take advantage of USF's questionable secondary, but that's easier said than done. They haven't been very successful so far, running a ton of screens and other short passes, but this play calling may have been a strategic effort to fool USF in to changing what they do on defense to give Rutgers a slight upper hand. As Bill C. at SB Nation said in his USF preview "(Their DBs) allowed severe cushions to opposing receivers and it hurt them at times." My theory is that Dave Brock wanted to put all these screens on tape to bait them into playing tighter coverage, to allow RU's deep threats Brandon Coleman and Mark Harrison to beat these DBs off the line and burn them deep. Nova has struggled mightily with his accuracy, but he has thrown a pretty good deep ball in the limited opportunities he has had to make those throws.

Rutgers on Defense
Scott Vallone, Steve Beauharnais, and co. are going to need to continue stuffing the run up the middle to make the Bulls one dimensional. Their defensive ends need to get a strong pass rush and contain Daniels in the pocket. They can not allow him to beat them with his feet. Look for Khaseem Green or Jamal Merrell to spy him as well. Logan Ryan is going to have to show that he is THE top shut down corner in the Big East against Davis, and if he can not handle it, Duron Harmon will have to help him over the top. Basiclly, they just need to keep doing what they've been doing.

Injury Report/ Suspension
Michael Larrow will serve the 3rd game of his four game susspension.

Andre Civil will miss the game with a lower body injury, and as I said before, Taj Alexander will take his place. Civil was doing a good job, especially pulling, but Alexander played well too in his limited time against Howard.

Reserve tailbacks Savon Huggins and Paul James are out with lower body injuries. It will be interesting to see what they do in short yardage/goal line situations with out Huggins. My guess is Michel Burton gets some carries.

Defensive end will be thin once again with Marcus Thompson out in addition to Larrow. Defensive Tackle Al Page is out as well.

Betim Bujari will start despite leaving last Saturday's game with a leg injury, and Paul Carrezola will make his first start of the year after missing the first two games. Jeremy Deering will return from a spraind ankle as well.

Prediction
Rutgers 12 South Florida 10
I think this will be a defensive struggles and the Knights will make a huge play on special teams to pull out a close win.

2012 Rutgers Season "Preview": The Wide Receivers

Rutgers has had almost an embarrassment of riches over the years at the wide receiver position. With players like Tres Moses, Tiquan Underwood, Kenny Britt, Tim Brown, and Mohamed Sanu, the Scarlet Knights have had plenty of diverse weapons for the quarterback to utilize in the passing game. Wide receiver was supposed to be one of Rutgers' biggest strengths last year, but outside of Sanu, they were some what of a disappointment. Coming in to 2012, they still have a lot of talent at the position, and they even added 4 nice recruits, but group as a whole needs to be more focused and consistent in order to provide Gary Nova with the weapons he needs to succeed.

Brandon Coleman and Mark Harrison are the two starters and they are both big play deep threats with great size, but they have also been mired by inconsistency and drops. Coleman had a break out spring in 2011 and he made some big touchdown grabs during the season, but he only had 17 receptions overall. He looks to take up the mantle as the offense's number one receiver this year, but it has been more of the same from him so far, as he has hauled in 3 TD receptions, but only 4 total receptions. Harrison finished 2010 with a bang and almost eclipsed the 1000 yard plateau, but he has said that he lost focus last year as he struggled with drops and he only caught 14 balls. Both players have a world of potiential, but neither has really put it all together yet. Rutgers hasn't taken a lot of deep shots this year, maybe by design, but these players need to be used as vertical threats.

Quron Pratt and Tim Wright are the big, possession receivers who look to pick up the production left behind by Mohamed Sanu, especially on third down. Wright has struggled coming back from a knee injury he suffered two years ago, but he has been the primary third receiver so far, and he has had mixed results. He made a spectacular one handed grab against Tulane to convert a third down, but he has also struggled with drops. Pratt was second on the team in receptions last year, used primarily going across the middle on third down, but he has not seen the field a ton this year, and like everyone else, he has dropped a pass. One of these players will need to step up and be the sure handed, reliable guy for Nova on third down.

Miles Shuler, Leonte Carroo and Jeremy Deering should also see a lot of time at receiver, but none of these three have really been used so far. Deering is a slot guy who can do a lot of things, including run the ball. He made some plays as a receiver his freshman year, and hopefully they figure out some way to get the ball in his hands on offense. Shuler is a burner who had a really good camp, but like Deering, they haven't been able to get the ball in his hands. He is raw as a receiver, and he probably should have red shirted last year, but he has enough talent to make an impact in some way. Carroo is a true freshman who could be red shirted, but he should see the field as a big possession receiver who could be a weapon on third down.

Paul Carrezola takes over the starting tight end role form D.C. Jefferson, and he is a solid blocker who could contribute a little as a receiver. He hasn't played yet this year, but if he's healthy, he could be a security blanket for Nova. Jefferson is a tremendous blocker who is also a huge, athletic target, although he hasn't contributed much as a pass catcher. Tyler Kroft is the youngster at the position, and he is a smooth receiver.

Ruhann Peele, Ian Thomas, and Carlton Agudosi other freshman who provide some size and speed. This position is well stocked for the fututre.

Rutgers has a ton of talent at this position, but they need to be more consistent, catch the ball better, and hope some people finally put it together and become reliable. One of these players has to step up and be the go to guy for Gary Nova to rely on in all situations. If they struggle at this position like they have so far, it won't be because of a lack of talent or depth.

Rutgers Beats Howard 26-0

Stop me if you've heard this before: Rutgers won on Saturday behind a dominant defense, strong running game and a big special teams play, despite a shaky passing game, too many penalties, and keeping things very vanilla. Teams usually make their biggest improvement between game one and game two, but hopefully that's not the case for this year's installment of the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers needs to be able to make big improvements and get better between weeks 2 and 3, but it will need to happen in a hurry with a big conference road game coming up on a short week.

The game began in a disastrous fashion for the offense when Gary Nova threw a horribly inaccurate pass that sailed over D.C. Jefferson's head and into the arms of a Howard defensive back. They followed that drive up with a punt, and things continued to get worse on the next possession when Jawan Jamison had a swing pass, that was actually a lateral, boink off his helmet for a loss of 19 yards. Following a delay of game penalty, Rutgers was faced with a 3rd and 34 situation.

On that ominous 3rd and 34 play, Jamison atoned for error and then some, taking a hand off on a stretch play 64 yards to the Howard 24, juking a defender out of his shoes and giving the Scarlet Knights offense some much needed momentum in the process. R.J. Dill made tremendous block on the play, hustling down field to block a safety to spring Jamison. Savon Huggins capped off the drive with a 1 yard plunge to give Rutgers a 6-0 lead.

The offensive line and Jawan Jamison once again lead a dominant ground attack, as Rutgers averaged 5.8 yards a carry. Jamison had a 110 yard day on only 10 carries (11 ypc), Huggins added 24 yards in addition to his TD, and walk on Ben Martin got some carries at the end of the game, rushing for 48 yards. Center Betim Bujari and right guard Andre Civil left the game with injuries, but Matt McBride and Taj Alexander stepped in and did a pretty solid job. They have only played Tulane and Howard, but this strong rushing attack has certainly been encouraging.

The passing game was once again terrible, despite the offensive line allowing no sacks for the second week in a row. Not only was there Nova's interception and the botched swing pass/lateral, but Nova struggled with his accuracy on short throws all day and his receivers had trouble hanging on to the ball. Not a good combination. Dave Brock continued calling a ton of screen passes and they continued to not work too well.  That crap needs to stop. No one really stepped it up as the go to possession receiver either. Despite an awful day overall (4.8 yards per attempt is unacceptable against anyone), Gary Nova was able to connect with Brandon Coleman twice for scores on deepish passes. Maybe they should try going deep more often?

The defense stepped up in a huge way, as usual, leading the Knights to victory in a dominant, shut out fashion. After Nova's interception, Khaseem Greene was able to force a fumble and get the Knights the ball back, after 2 penalties pressed their backs against the goal line. Jamal and Jamil Merrill both had a huge days while playing with heavy hearts, as Jamal recorded 14 tackles, 3.5 for loss and Jamil picked up a sack.
Greene, Ka'Lial Glaud, and Kevin Snyder all had sacks of their own and Steve Beauharnais added 6 tackles. The interior line continued to wreck havoc, as Scott Vallone, Isaac Holmes, and Darius Hamilton rushed the passer and stuffed the run all day. The secondary also did its' part, limiting the Bison to 3.4 yards per pass attempt. Really, everyone on defense had a great game, and outside of one long run on a draw play, they totally shut Howard down. They did improve on 3rd down too, but they can still do a lot better than holding the opposition to 6-17.

Miles Shuler, who should really be on the field more often, blocked a punt early in the second quarter, and Brandon Jones scooped it up for a TD. It seems like the special temas unit always steps up and gives the team a jolt when they need it most. Elsewhere on special teams, I don't know what they were doing on the first PAT, when they lined up in that formation where everyone was split wide and had JT Tarcoff? throw an ill advised pass. They also failed another PAT because of a bad snap. Need to clean that up.

The Scarlet Knights had 11 penalties this week, more than the 9 they had against Tulane. They can't continue to shoot themselves in the foot on offense and extend opponents drives on defense like this against better opponents. Luckily for them, USF has had some penalty problems of their own.

Once again, it was not pretty and there weren't a whole lot of style points, but Rutgers got it done with a dominant defense, strong special teams, and a solid ground game. This formula can lead to success (Beamer Ball?), but at some point, Gary Nova and the receivers are going to have to pick their game up and make some plays consistently. Hopefully Rutgers is able to make their biggest improvement of the year between games 2 and 3.

Additional Thoughts-
-Hated the red uniforms. I could not see the numbers on their jerseys at all.
-Rutgers drew 10000 more fans to a game against an FCS team than Syracuse did against the #2 team in the coutry 50 minutes up the road.
-Flood really did his best Schiano impression in this game, getting red in the face yelling at an official. Speaking of Greg, congrats to him on winning his first game as an NFL head coach.
-Throughout the game I jokingly yelled "come on Schiano!" and got some weird looks. Totally worth it.

Game 2: Howard

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the Howard Bison in their home opener today, in their lone home game in the month of September. Rutgers showed a lot of positive signs in their win over Tulane last week, but there is plenty for them to improve on, as they face their final tune up before a huge game in Tampa against South Florida on Thursday. Teams make their biggest improvement between game one and game two, so the Scarlet Knights will look to fix a few key areas that were troublesome against the Green Wave. This should be a cake walk, but The Knights should still be taking this game seriously and not over looking Howard.

What's the deal with Howard?
Howard is 1-0 after defeating Morehouse College 30-27 last Saturday, thanks to a late rally. Jamie Cunningham came off the bench  to lead the Bison to victory, and the true freshman will start his first game on Saturday. Howard also has 14 players who were suspended 1 to 3 games, so it's possible they will be with out a significant portion of their roster. They are coached by Gary Harrell, who briefly played in the NFL, and he lead them to a 5-6 record last year, playing in the MEAC.

Rutgers on Offense
The Scarlet Knights should keep it vanilla once again, as they should be able to put up a lot of points against this team anyway, to save the fancy plays for South Florida. They should rely heavily on the run game once again, and hopefully the line can keep up the good work and Jamison and Huggins can be productive again. Gary Nova will look to build off his up and down performance from a week ago, and the receivers will have the opportunity to catch deep balls and get open on third down. Maybe we can see more Miles Shuler this week?

Rutgers on Defense
I have no idea what Howard runs on offense, but if it is spread, RU is faster than them, and if it's pro style, RU is stronger than them. Howard isn't going to have a great day, but Rutgers really needs to focus on getting stops on third down. Freshman Darius Hamilton, Steve Longa, and Quanzell Lambert will likely get a lot of playing time in order to get some college experience and keep the starters healthy. Like last week, I would not expect a lot of nickel and dime package to, again, keep things vanilla.

Both offense and defense: cut the crap out with all the penalties.

Injury Report/Suspensions
Michael Larrow is out for the second game of his four game suspension, steaming from his arrest for simple assault.

Starting tightend Paul Carrezola will probably miss his second game in a row after suffering an ankle injury last week in practice. Back up nose tackle Al Page is also doubtful. Kyle Flood says they are only available in "emergency type roles".

DE Marvin Booker is out with a leg injury.

Kick returner/wide receiver/safety Jeremy Deering rolled his ankle this week in practice and is a game time decision. I think I'd hold him out and get him healthy. He plays such an important role on this team returning kicks, and I want him to be as healthy as possible against USF.

Prediction- Howard 0 Rutgers 45.

The game looks like it is going to be sold out, and if you can't make it to the stadium, the game is on SNY and ESPN3.

Break it Down: Power O vs Tulane

Every week this upcoming season, I want to take an in depth look at a certain play that lead to the success (or lack there of) of the Scarlet Knights in that particular game. This week, we'll look at the "power o" (also refereed to as off tackle), which contributed to the Knights strong ground attack on Saturday, including Jawan Jamison's 49 yard touchdown run.

The power play is one of the most basic plays in football. It is probably best known for being run by the Washington Redskins during Joe Gibbs' first tenure as head coach, when he had John Riggins and the Hogs at his disposal, but it is still run today by pretty much every team in the NFL and college ball. Whether teams are philosophically spread or pro style, this play is in their play book (or tablet). Stanford seemingly runs this play exclusively, and spread offenses have found various ways to run this play, including with the QB as the runner (think Auburn with Cam Newton).

The goal of this play is to bring as much muscle to the point of attack as possible and over power the defense. The mechanics of the play are pretty simple; the center, play side guard, tackle, and tight end(s) all block down, meaning they will fire out with their outside foot and block the defender to the inside of them, rather than the defender directly over them. If there is a tough angle or a stud defensive lineman, a double team can be called for, and a teammate will help in the form of a double team or chip before going to block a next level defender. This should create a "wall" intended to seal the inside. The fullback, or sometimes an H-back, will then kick out the end man on the line of scrimmage, usually a defensive end or linebacker, towards the sideline, and the backside or offset (O) guard pulls around as the lead blocker through the hole. He will usually block a linebacker. The tail back then has to run quickly down hill through the hole between the tackle's outside hip and the fullback's kick out, behind the pulling guard. Here is the play diagrammed (please excuse the terrible MS paint job):

 Rutgers is in a single back formation with three wide receivers here and Tulane responds by lining up in a 4-3 over front, bringing the strong side linebacker up on the line, over the tight end. Since there is no fullback, Tyler Kroft, lined up as the H-back, is responsible for making the kick out block, in this case on the strong side backer. (orange). Since the linebacker is head up on him, he does not the lateral leverage leverage to kick him out, so he blocks him down instead. Left tackle Kaleb Johnson, guard Antwan Lowery, and center Betim Bujari all block down and blow the two play side defensive lineman and nose tackle off the ball, sealing them to the inside and creating a hole (red). Andre Civil pulls around from his right guard spot, and with Kroft blocking down, leads Jamison to the outside, where he blocks the middle linebacker, and keeps his feet driving to clear the way (yellow). Jamison takes it from there, making the safety miss before using his speed to get to the end zone for 6 (light blue).

The play was ran earlier in the game with not a lot of success, but Jamison said something to Civil and that made a difference on the TD play “Andre kind of hesitated a bit (at the point of attack). I told him if he keeps going and keeps running through the defender we got it, we’re home free. He did it and we were home free,’’ He told Dave Hutchinson.

“I think it was a great job by Andre because when he turned the corner (on the play) there were two defenders. Anytime you turn the corner and there are two defenders, you always want to kick out the inside defender and that will ultimately block both guys and he did that. And he (Civil) did a great job of running his feet through the contact,’’ Kyle Flood said to Hutchinson, explaining the play.

Video is a great way to fully understand this play, but I'm not technically savvy enough to make a Youtube cut up of it, so here's the link to the entire game highlights. The play described is at the 1 minute mark, exactly.

Here's another example of the play, run to perfection by LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers:

Rutgers has traditionally been a zone blocking team under Kyle Flood, and offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski is a believer in that scheme as well, but the power play could be a big part of what this team does offensively this year. Civil is very athletic, so they would probably be best able to utilize him pulling on plays like this. They also have powerful tackles in Johnson and Dill and good blocking tight ends in Jefferson and Carrezola, so they should be capable of dominating on down blocks. Michael Burton is a better blocking fullback than they've had in the past, so he is capable of making those kick out blocks. Jamison looked great running on this play, and the down hill nature of the play would better suit Savon Huggins strengths. The ingredients are certainly there for this to be the featured play in Rutgers' offense.
 
Additional Reading: http://smartfootball.com/run-game/explanation-and-cut-ups-of-the-power-o-run-play

Rutgers Beats Tulane 24-12

As I said in the game preview, season openers can be tough. There are no preseason games or scrimmages* to prepare teams for game action/situations/atmosphere, so it's not too surprising to see a team show a little bit of rust to begin the year. Rutgers struggled against Tulane on Saturday night in the Super Dome, but they weren't alone in doing so against an inferior opponent. Wisconsin barely beat Northern Iowa, Oklahoma played a tight game to the end with UTEP, and Stanford needed a 4th quarter rally to beat San Jose State, amongst others. The bottom line is Rutgers won and they showed a lot of positive signs, in addition to some areas that will need to improve, in doing so. 

The big story of the game was how well the Scarlet Knights ran the ball. Jawan Jamison slashed his way to 112 yards on 18 carries, including a 49 yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Savon Huggins added another 46 on 12 carries. The offensive line played very well, consistently opening holes for these backs to run through. On Jamison's TD run, Andre Civil had a great block leading him through the hole as the pulling guard. They weren't totally dominating to the point where they were just blowing guys back 5 yards off the ball, but they more than got the job done. For a much maligned unit, this performance had to feel great for them, while inspiring confidence in their coaches, teammates, and fans at the same time (they also did not allow a sack in pass protection either). Not including the 3 kneel downs at the end of the game, Rutgers averaged a tick over 5 yards per carry.

The passing game on the other hand was...not so hot. Gary Nova struggled with his accuracy all day, completing only 11 out of 20 passes, while also making a poor decision on a 4th and 2 that resulted in an interception that lead to a Tulane field goal. (Huggins was wide open in the flat, but I won't hold that against Nova, that was probably like his 4th option). He also miss fired on a fade route in the endzone on the first possession of the game (Brandon Coleman said he should have had it and I agree with him) and then again (three times) right before the half. He did however make a very good throw on a slant pass to Coleman on a big third down play in the 4th quarter that resulted in a touchdown. He wasn't awful, 7.9 yards per attempt is pretty solid, and his decision making seemed a lot better outside of the pick, but his lack of accuracy continues to be frustrating and the cause of his inconsistency.  .

Offensive coordinator Dave Brock tried to get the receivers involved early with bubble screens, and I liked it. It not only allowed Nova to settle into the game with some easy throws, it also let the receivers who had some mental lapses last year get their minds into the game right away. Nobody ended the game with more than 3 catches, but there's talent at the position and they showed signs of life. Coleman missed that fade route, but as usual, he made one huge play for a TD. Tim Wright looked good as a possession receiver, making a fantastic one handed catch, while DC Jefferson, Michael Burton and Mark Harrison added receptions of their own. Jamison also caught a screen pass that set up a field goal right before the half.

Overall, the Scarlet Knights need to improve on first down (4/13) and the passing game. The two obviously go hand in hand. The run game was great though, allowing them to have a solid day offensively despite vanilla play calling.

The defense unsurprisingly dominated in this game. The front 7 lived in the backfield all day, limiting the Green Wave to 8 rushing yards on 16 carries. Scott Vallone and Isaac Holmes did a great job pushing Tulane's offensive line backwards, allowing the linebackers to make plays on the backfield, while also making some plays of their own. Khaseem Greene had 9 tackles overall, including a sack, and the strong pass rush also allowed Ka'Lil Glaud and Lorenzo Waters to add a sack themselves.

The secondary played a solid game overall, holding Ryan Griffin to only 5.3 yards per attempt, but they had problems making plays on third down. The pass rush was getting there, but Griffin was able to get the ball out with a lightning quick release, completing short passes over the middle for short gains that were JUST enough for the first down. Tulane was able to convert half of their 16 third down tries. All the blitzing leaves the short middle of the field open, and if the QB can get rid of the ball as quick as Griffin, they will convert on third down. This was made even worse by the fact that Rutgers stayed mostly in base personnel the entire night, with only a few exceptions when they went to the nickel package. On one particulary annoying 3rd and 17 conversion this bit them in the ass, as a linebacker covering the slot in a 5 WR set was badly beat off the line, allowing him to get open for the first down. This was probably by design (being vanilla), but the nickel and dime packages will be a huge boost to the third down defense.

Brandon Jones had quite a day, missing two interceptions that would have likely resulted in touchdowns, before finally snagging one for a pick 6 when he jumped a crossing route and returned it 14 yards to give Rutgers a more comfortable 17-6 lead.

Tulane was able to tack on a garbage time touchdown late in the 4th quarter, but I'm going to chalk this one up to fatigue. It's not uncommon to wear down in the 4th quarter of an opener, your team's not in "game shape" yet, and there was a huge time of possession discrepancy in the second half.

Penalties were also a big problem, as the Scarlet Knights had 9 for 72 yards. There were 2 ticky tack holds called, a questionable pass interference called on Logan Ryan and, in my opinion, a totally bull shit late hit called on a 6 yard run by Savon Huggins. Regardless, 9 penalties is way too many. Was it just first game jitters, a fluke, or was it because of a more relaxed coaching staff? We'll find out going forward.

It wasn't a totally dominant win like it should have been, but the first game is out of the way, and Rutgers is 1-0. That's the most important thing. They say teams make their biggest improvement between games one and two, and Rutgers should be no different. Congratulations to Coach Flood on his first victory.

Additional Notes-
I actually like the all white uniforms and the chrome helmets weren't as bad as I expected. The red uniforms on the other hand...I can't imagine liking them.

Can Rutgers ever have a kicker who is capable of making chip shots?

 Other than the kicker, the Knights played great special teams once again. Deering had a long return on the only kickoff that didn't go out of bounds, Justin Doener had a good day punting, and Homes blocked an extra point.

What are they saving Miles Shuler for?

I understand there was just a hurricane and Tulane has been awful for a decade, but it was kind of a bummer to see the Super Dome that empty.

*Inter-squad scrimmages don't really count. I meant like a scrimmage that a high school team would have against another high school.

Game 1: Tulane

Rutgers begins their 2012 season tonight in New Orleans against Tulane in the Super Dome. The Scarlet Knights come into this season with a rookie head coach, a very talented roster, and high expectations. Tulane is not a very good team, and Rutgers should easily beat them, but season openers can be tough, especially when you are playing on the road and have a new coach at the helm. Rutgers needs to come out and play well to set the tone for the rest of the season.

What's the Deal With Tulane?
First year head coach Curtis Johnson takes over a program that has not had a winning season since 2002, after coaching wide receivers for the Saints from 2006-2011. The New Orleans native has a big rebuilding job ahead of him, and he inherits a young, inexperienced roster that will be with out their best defensive player, starting center, and starting running back tonight. It could be another tough year for the Green Wave.

On offense, they run a pro style offense, but that is a vague way of putting it. They could be a pound it down your throat I formation team, or they could run something similar to the Saints, where they line up in 3 receivers set and attack the defense through the air vertically. Regardless, Rutgers shouldn't be fooled by this offense.

On defense they run a basic 4-3

Rutgers on Offense
Rutgers will probably come out offensively with the intent of running all over Tulane. Savon Huggins and Jawan Jamison should each get plenty of carries, and have the opportuinity to wear the defense out. The offensive line is going to have to be very physical and move defenders off the ball in order to let those two do their thing. They will of course run a lot of zone stuff, but I'm also expecting them to run some more man blocking plays than they have in the past, as RJ Dill and Savin Huggins can both better utilize their talents with this style of play.

If they are able to establish the run early, defenders should start to creep up, and Gary Nova and Rutgers' home run hitting receivers will look to challenge them deep in hopes of breaking off big plays. The line will need to give Nova time to throw, and if they utilize play action, they should have the backs helping them out.

Rutgers on Defense
The defensive line will need to live in the back field, whether it's to stop the run or rush the passer. If Tulane features the run, they will also need to hold blockers and let the linebackers roam free. If Tulane tries to air it out, the defensive backs should shut them down. They are one of the best secondaries in the nation, and they should not struggle at all against a team like Tulane. It should be interesting to see how they substitute, especially on the defensive line. Look for Scott Vallone to have a big game.

Injury Report/Suspension
Starting tightend Paul Carrazola is a game time decision with a lower body injury. If he can't go, DC Jefferson will start, and Tyler Kroft will get his first taste of college action.

Back up middle linebacker Quanzell Lambert will miss the game with a high ankle sprain. Nick DePaola will back up Steve Beauharnais instead.

Running back Paul James is also out, so Huggins and Jamison will be in the entire game.

Defensive ends Michael Larrow (suspension) and Max Issaka (just returned to team after a death in the family) will miss this game, leaving the Scarlet Knights a bit thin at the position.

Prediction
Rutgers 34 Tulane 3

Rutgers 2012 Season Prediction

Rutgers comes into 2012 with a very strong team. They have one of the best defenses in the nation, a special teams unit capable of making game changing plays, and an offense that has enough young talent that you can feel optimistic about it being at least a solid unit. They have the best roster in the Big East, but having a rookie head coach in Kyle Flood has slowed the expectations down some what.

Here's my prediction for how I think the season will go:

Game 1 at Tulane- W
Tulane is a bad, bad team. Rutgers lost to them in 2010 in one of the worst loses in program history, but their roster is just too talented to lose this one, even if it is an early season road game with a new head coach.

Game 2 vs Howard- W
Howard is an FCS team who has a number of players suspended for this game. With Rutgers feeding off a fired up crowd, there's no way they will lose this.

Game 3 at South Florida- W
This is a HUGE early season in-conference test for Rutgers. A loss could set them back and a win could propel them into a great season. The Bulls have a lot of talent on their roster and have pulled off some big wins in the past. This should be a defensive battle and  BJ Daniels is usually good for a big mistake or two, so I think Rutgers will take advantage of that and pull out a close one.

Game 4 at Arkansas- L
The Hogs have a great quarterback in Tyler Wilson and some nice running backs, so their offense will be tough to stop. This is probably the most hostile environment Rutgers has played in in a long time. They could pull an upset here, but I just don't see it. I have a bad feeling about the offense against an SEC defense.

Game 5 vs Connecticut- W
Rutgers should want to get some revenge in this one after UConn ruined their chances of a Big East title last year. The Huskies lost some key players on defense, but they should be a little bit better on offense with a new QB. Rutgers just has too many explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball that UConn won't be able to keep up with.

Game 6 vs Syracuse- W
The Orange have a solid, senior laden offense, but their defense (their secondary in particular) leaves a lot to be desired. They were just torn apart by Northwestern today. Brandon Coleman and Mark Harrison should light their defense up.

Game 7 at Temple- W
The Owls lost a lot of starters from last year, but they did add Montel Harris from Boston College and Chris "Mini Tebow" Coyer is a dangerous runner at QB. They were not very successful against the top tier MAC teams (like Ohio), so I just don't see them being very good year one in a better conference.

Game 8 vs Kent State- W
The Golden Flash have been towards the bottom of the MAC for a few years, so they should not be much of a problem. Did you see their guy run the wrong way on Thursday night?

Game 9 vs Army- W
Army runs the triple option, and those offenses are always a plain in the ass to stop and the cut blocks can wear a defense out, but Rutgers' D have plenty of experience stopping the option.

Game 10 at Cincinnati- W
The Bearcats seem to always be in contention for the Big East title, no matter what kind of attrition they go through in the offseason. They basically all of their top players on offense and defense, and I'm not a big beliver in Butch Jones, so this year could be a rare transition year of them. Rutgers defense is designed to stop their offense., so the Scarlet Knights will pull out a challenging road win.

Game 11 at Pitt- L
This has trap game written all over it. A conference road game with a huge game the following Thursday against Louisville could spell trouble, especially for a program that has lost a bunch of WTF? games over the years. Pitt is back to running a powerful I-formation offense, and Ray Graham is a really good back. Their defense is a bit young, but that won't be a problem this late in the season. Rutgers is a much better team, but, I just don't feel good about this one.

Game 12 vs Louisville- W
Pandemonium in Piscataway 2? The Big East title could be on the line in this one, and I think the home crowd will push Rutgers over the top against a very good Louisville team. Teddy Bridgewater is the best QB in the Big East, but Rutgers defensive line should have a big day against their shaky o-line. Just like the Scarlet Knights always have a WTF? game, they have a game were they come out and play great against a quaility opponent, and I think that will happen here.

So I think Rutgers finishes 10-2 (6-1), wins the Big East title and goes to the Orange Bowl. They have the talent to win this many games. The coaching staff just needs to keep them focused and prepared, and not make any mistakes of their own.

Rest of Big East Projected Order of Finish:
2. Louisville, 3. South Florida, 4. Pittsburgh, 5. Cincinnati, 6. Connecticut, 7. Syracuse, 8. Temple.

Thoughts on the Hiring of Kyle Flood

*I meant to write this in January, but that never happened. Soooo, better late than never.

When reports that Greg Schiano was leaving Rutgers to become the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started pouring in, my first rational thought after the initial denial and shock was: Tim Pernetti HAS to hire Mario Cristobal to be Rutgers' next head football coach. Cristobal was a rising star in the coaching community after his 5 seasons at Florida International, where he turned one of the worst programs in the country into a respectable program that contends for conference championships and goes to bowl games, and he seemed to be ready for a big time job. He was a finalist for the head coaching position at Pitt (a job he may or may not have turned down) and was mentioned by Bruce Feldman as who he would hire at Penn State. It could only be a matter of time before he took a step up. He was also familiar with the Rutgers program, having coached tight ends and the offensive line for Greg Schiano during his ealiest years On the Banks. It seemed like a perfect fit, but ultimately it wasn't to be. Cristobal spurned Rutgers at the last moment and Pernetti turned the keys to the football program over to a familiar face; Kyle Flood.

Background
Kyle Flood was born and raised in Bayside, New York (a neighborhood in Queens) and his parents instilled a love of football and the meaning of hard work into him at an early age. His football career began on the fields of St. Francis Prep, where he was teammates with Rutgers football legend Mario Battaglia. He did not earn a starting job until his senior season, but he was able to play well enough that year to garner enough attention to continue his playing career at Iona. During his time as a Gael, he was a four year letter winner, named to the all conference team and selected as a team captain. Upon the completion of his playing career, he began coaching at his high school alma mater, before getting his first college coaching job at Division 2 CW Post, which he thought was big time.

In 1997 Flood caught his big break, when the coach who recruited him at Iona, Rob Spence, offered him a job at Hofstra as the Pride's offensive line coach. He spent five very successful seasons at Hofstra, and he was able to make some serious bonds in the coaching community there, before moving on to one of the top programs at Division 1-AA level, Delaware. He spent three seasons with the Blue Hens and was a part of a staff that won a D1-AA national championship, and his work in Newark earned him the right to make the jump to the FBS level, at Rutgers.

At Rutgers
In 2005, Flood joined Greg Schiano's staff with the Scarlet Knights as the offensive line coach, and that was the year Rutgers really started to turn things around, making their first bowl game in 27 years. Flood brought in his zone blocking scheme, and his scheme and group of lineman were a big part of that. Through out his early years in Piscataway, Rutgers' offensive line was amongst the best in the country. They allowed the fewest sacks in the nation in 2006 and the second fewest in '07, while also dominating on the ground, paving the way for Ray Rice. They finished 15th nationally in rushing in '06 and 26th in '07.

During these years, Flood produced a number of All Conference and NFL caliber players, including Darnell Stapleton, Jeremy Zuttah, and Pedro Sosa. He also played a huge part in landing the number one recruit in New Jersey in 2007, Anthony Davis, who he was able to insert into the starting lineup as a true freshman. Flood had established himself as one of the top assistants in the game, and he was given additional responsibilities to his title, including run game coordinator, assistant head coach, and eventually co-offensive coordinator, thanks to this success. He coached up Davis into becoming the #11 overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft as a left tackle, but his line's productivity in the run game declined in '08 (part of that was because Rice left), and in pass protectors in 2009. Things got totally out of control up front in 2010, but improved slightly in 2011. This poor performance some what tarnished his reputation as a coach, but he is still a very good coach and deserving of this promotion.

Qualities as a Head Coach
Though his offensive lines have struggles in recent years, Flood has numerous qualities that make him head coaching material. First and foremost, he is a great recruiter. When Pernetti was looking for Schiano's replacement, a number of the top high school coaches in New Jersey were asked who they would feel comfortable sending their kids to play for, and they responded positively to Flood. He was also responsible for the recruiting of a number of top prospects Rutgers was able to land, including Manny Abreu, Issac Holmes, Scott Vallone, and Savon Huggins. He has strong recruiting ties in New Jersey, as well as New York City and Long Island, and recruiting is half the battle.

Organization and preparation are considered to be two of Flood's strong suits. These traits probably stem down to him from Greg Schiano, as Schiano worked long hours making sure no stone regarding his team or an opponent was left unturned. Flood seems to be following suit, as it has been reported that he spends long hour in his office.

He is also well respected amongst the players on the team, and he is someone they are willing to take direction from and follow.
 
Following a Trend?
Recently, the trend around college football has been for successful programs to promote from with in when their head coach leaves on positive terms, in order to keep their method of success in place. This seems to have been spurred on by outsiders following a great head coach and subsequently running the program into the ground, like Ron Zook following Steve Spurrier at Florida, and Steve Kragthorpe following Bobby Petrino at Louisville. Top programs like Oregon, Stanford, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma State all promoted from with in when their head coaches retired or left for greener pastures, and they all appeared in BCS games last season.
 
Being familiar with the traditions and culture of a football program is a big, but overlooked, part of being a head coach. Take Michigan for example. After Lloyd Carr retired, Rich Rodriguez was hired, and he was an outsider whose personality and philosophies clashed with what Michigan has always been about. This alienated alumni, fans, and even some players, making him a  lame duck from the beginning. Once Rodriguez was fired, the Wolverines hired Brady Hoke, and he was able to win the fans, alumni and players over, since he was a so called Michigan man, having served as an assistant there during the '90's, and by bringing "man ball" back to Ann Arbor. Flood has been apart of the Rutgers family for a long time, he is very familiar with culture and traditions of the program, and is accepted as one of our own by the fans, alumni, student sand players.

Keeping offensive and defensive philosophies in tact are also a positive of hiring from with in.When Jim Harbaugh left Stanford, David Shaw was able to keep the powerful pro style/play action offense and 3-4 defense schemes in tact, and they finished in the top 5 last year. Keeping the schemes in place allows players to refine their skills in meetings and practice, rather than learning a new scheme. It also ensures that you won't have players who aren't fits for the offense or defense you are going to run.

Familiarity of the roster is also important. Knowing strengths and weakness of players, what situations they should be used in, and how they react to praise/criticism will help early in the season. This familiarity also helps keep continuity for the players. A new coach could give the players a totally different schedule, practice in different ways at a different pace, have a different weight lifting style, and a whole bunch of other things that can mess up their routine and how they did things. That would take some getting used to for the players, but keeping things the same should make the transition to a new coach a lot smoother.

Conclusion
There were a lot of candidates mentioned for this vacancy, but I'm very confident that Pernetti made the right decision in hiring Flood. Flood's background has prepared him for this moment. He is from the area and he has learned a lot from his predecessor Greg Schiano. He is a great recruiter, well prepared and organized, and knows the traditions and culture of the program. The players and high school coaches around the state love him, and he should make this transition from coach to coach as smooth as possible. He inherits a program on the rise that has improving facilities and a rapidly growing fan base. There is a lot of talent in-state to recruit, and on the current roster. He is a good coach set up to succeed. The program is built, he just needs to keep a steady hand on the wheel in order to take it to the next level. I think Flood was a very good hire.