Rutgers Should (Probably) Make a Change at QB

 It is unbelievable that Rutgers’ brutal home loss to Illinois Saturday--and their 1-3 start in general-- could be so perfectly encapsulated by a singular moment. As the Scarlet Knights moved into Illini territory onto the fringe of field goal range with under 2 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter and the score tied at 20, Big 10 Network broadcaster J Leman declared “I don’t know how Rutgers could let Vedral throw the ball here.” No less than 10 seconds later, Rutgers QB Noah Vedral threw a pass well behind Bo Melton into the waiting arms of Illinois cornerback Nate Hobbs. It was Vedral’s third interception of the day and his 7th thrown in 4 games this season.

While the Scarlet Knights have been better than expected, beating Michigan State and staying reasonably competitive in contests against top 10 teams Indiana (this felt weird to type) and Ohio State, Vedral, who was named the starting QB after a camp competition,  has been a clear issue for the Knights and this performance likely cost them this game against Illinois. Vedral may seem like an upgrade for a team that passed for under 100 yards in 5 of 12 games during the 2019 season, but that does not mean he is good. And he probably does not give Rutgers its best chance of winning in 2020. In addition to throwing more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (5), Vedral is averaging a measly 5.5 yards per attempt, which ranks dead last in the Big 10.

As we have seen with Rutgers football over the last decade or so, demanding the starting QB to be benched is low hanging fruit and not always a solution to the problem. This season is different though, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, Rutgers finally has a competent offensive coordinator/quarterback coach. Under Kyle Flood and Chris Ash, Rutgers had difficulty finding (or keeping) good offensive coordinators and Sean Gleeson has a track record of success at both Princeton and Oklahoma State, inspiring confidence that the offense is well managed and headed in the right direction. Gleeson has done a good job maximizing Rutgers talent on offense despite the talent disadvantages they are usually facing, and his initial game scripts have led to Rutgers scoring in all 4 games on either their first or second possession. Further, Rutgers has pass-catchers far superior to what they have had in recent years. Bo Melton was a 4 star recruit who is finally breaking out in his senior season now that he is receiving better coaching, Aron Cruickshank is an explosive player, and senior wideout Shameen Jones is a solid option as well. The offensive line has been mostly solid pass blocking as well, and the run game has been pretty good, so it isn’t like the QB is set up to fail like they were in previous seasons.

My assumption is that Vedral won the camp QB competition because he is the best dual-threat option Rutgers has. In addition to his issues throwing the football, Vedral has not made much of an impact as a runner. Removing sacks from the equation (side note: Rutgers’s offensive line has only allowed 1 sack in the last 2 games) Vedral has carried the ball 28 times for 136 yards, including just 40 rushing yards in the last two games. Gleeson has not called many runs for Vedral, and Vedral is extremely hesitant to take off and run on pass plays We have seen a number of times where he has time to throw and hangs onto the ball too long and either forces a pass or takes a sack. Those are instances in which he should use his legs to pick up yards. With his running ability either being negated or not fully on display, Vedral has been mostly a passer for the Knights this season and he is not having much success in that capacity. Vedral has struggled with his accuracy (his completion percentage is pretty good, but he a. makes a lot of short throws and b. Does not set his receivers up to gain yards after the catch) and the turnovers are a major issue. Verdal is not being asked to do too much or forced to make too many throws under pressure or miscommunicating with his receivers. His interceptions are fully on him making bad throws and bad decisions and that is hurting Rutgers right now. A change is needed.

The issue of course is….are any of the other quarterbacks realistically a better option? I’m inclined to believe yes. Art Sitkowski had a disastrous freshman season, but he is now two years removed from that, receiving better coaching, and probably the most talented passer on the roster. There is no guarantee he will be better than Vedral, but it is probably worth a shot. Sitkowski also has two years of eligibility left beyond 2020 to Verdal’s one, so it could be a better move for the long term outlook for Rutgers. Greg Schiano seemingly has a strong distaste for Chris Ash’s recruits (understandably so!) but Sitkowski likely represents the best option for Rutgers in both the short and long term. I have not seen him practice and Schiano and Gleeson have, so I could be way off base here. Regardless, something probably has to be done at the quarterback position.

Short of making this move, I think Rutgers needs to let Vedral run the ball more often if he is to remain the starter. His passing needs to be limited, defenses need to see new looks from Rutgers, and Isiah Pacheco can not carry the ball 40 times a game. Gleeson and co have maximized what they have with limited talent at other positions and the same needs to be done at the QB position. And maybe I am being unfair by writing this. Vedral came to Rutgers relatively late in the offseason, and could still be adjusting to his new surroundings and learning a new system. Maybe he is on the verge of a turnaround. Who knows?

Quarterback is obviously the most important position on the football field and it is probably Rutgers’ worst position right now. I have faith in Schiano to recruit the right guy here at some point and in Gleeson to develop him, but for the next year or two, QB will remain a problem for the Scarlet Knights. We are unlikely to see a quick fix and have to wait to see how things play out going forward. In the meantime, Sitkowski likely gives Rutgers a better chance to win than Vedral. Schiano has the program back on the right track and wins this season would be a nice foundation to build on. QB is holding them back right now and a change at the position is probably overdue.

Nadir Barnwell's Eligability in Jeopardy

Rutgers rising junior cornerback Nadir Barnwell may not be academically eligible this season, Kyle Flood confirmed at Big 10 media day last week. The fourth year head coach said his defensive back will be able to practice with the team this summer, as he completes his summer classes and awaits to see if his grades will be good enough to restore his eligibility. Rutgers final summer sessions usually conclude in mid August.

This is obviously bad news for the Knights, as secondary depth has been a major concern over the last two seasons and seems to be a problem again this year. Barnwell appeared to be living up to his blue chip recruit potential last year, developing into Rutgers' top corner between a minor injury that cost him two games and one game suspension for DUI. Hopefully he is able to attain the grades he needs to get this summer so he can suit up and play in the fall.

Feldman: Rutgers Plays Third Softest Non Conference Schedule

Fox Sports columnist Bruce Feldman's ranked the ten worst non conference schedules among Power 5 teams in his Top 10 column this week and Rutgers checked in at third on the list. They were actually tied with North Carolina State and Mississippi State for having the worst out of conference slate among the big boys according to the formula Feldman used, but they were given the tie breaker over those two since they at least scheduled two Power 5 teams.

Rutgers place on this list is quite frankly well deserved. The Scarlet Knights four non conference games feature a bad FCS program in Norfolk State, the worst program in the Big 12, Kansas, lowly Washington State and Army, who has been one of the worst FBS programs for quite some time. I can confidently say before the season begins that I do not think any of those opponents will even make it to a bowl game this year.

 Rutgers has long been criticized by the media and even some of their own fans for playing too soft of a non conference schedule, but that's just what on the rise and/or middling programs have to do. You schedule easy games and they help you make bowl games and build momentum for the future. It's not a good look and it's boring and unsatisfying beating weak opponents, but such is life. Unfortunately the bowl system rewards scheduling soft and winning and not scheduling hard and maybe losing.  Take note that all three teams atop Feldman's list play in killer divisions. Everyone is chasing that six win plateau.

In Rutgers defense, they have been at least trying to schedule tougher non conference opponents, it just hasn't worked out. Arkansas looked like a top 10 team when a home and home series was scheduled with them, but then Bobby Petrino fell off his motorcycle and all hell broke loose for the Razorbacks. The Knights were able to top bad Hogs teams in both contests, as they were reeling under and interim coach and struggling in Brett Bielema's first season in Fayetteville. Penn State and Maryland were both set to be non conference opponents this season, but Rutgers of course wound up in the same conference as them. During Tim Pernetti's tenure as AD, he tried to add Notre Dame and Oklahoma to the schedule, but a deal could not be reached with either historic program since they both wanted to play Rutgers' "home" game in the Meadowlands rather than Piscataway.

Washington, UCLA and Miami are all scheduled to play home and home series against Rutgers in future seasons and that's a good start. Those are three solidly above averages programs and make for interesting opponents who will be a challenge for the Knights. Hopefully Rutgers continues to establish itself more as a legitimate program and put themselves in position to be able to schedule tougher non conference opponents in order to compete for national rankings and New Years games, not just appearances in crap bowls.

Rutgers Big 10 Media Day Preview

Mr. Harbaugh will no doubt be the center of  attention in Chicago this week

College football media days are analogous with pitchers and catchers reporting to Florida and Arizona every February: people consider it the start of the season, literally nothing of importance happens and you have to wait over a month until the real games start. The head coaches and top players of the Big 10 will converge on Chicago this week for this useless preseason ritual, mere days before the first actual important events of a new season begins and summer camp starts. They have to do it, we pretend to care.

Joining Kyle Flood in the Windy City this week will be three of Rutgers' likely captains for the 2015 season: senior defensive tackle Darius Hamilton, senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo and redshirt senior offensive tackle Keith Lumpkin. Those three represent Rutgers very well on and off the field and are with out question their three top players and well deserving of this honor. They will be there answering questions. I believe Flood will take part in meetings with the conference's other coaches going over new rules and stuff like that. Not very exciting stuff for fans.

Flood will probably be asked questions that he answered all spring about the quarterback competition that will take place, Ben McDaniels replacing Ralph Friedgen at offensive coordinator, what adjustments the program has made after one year in the Big 10, etc. Yawn. The players will be asked what it was like playing in the Big 10 after playing in the Big East, what their expectations are for this year, and a bunch of other boring crap. Whatever.

The media's Big 10 predictions were released in advance of this thing, and unsurprisingly, they are not optimistic about Rutgers this season. And why should they be? The Scarlet Knights were predicted to finish 6th in the Eastern division ahead of only lowly Indiana. That's better than last year, I guess, when they were picked 7th. Ohio State was unsurpisngly picked to win the East and the conference championship game, while the Badgers of Wisconsin were picked to repeat in the western division despite their coaching change.

Here's my official, probably half baked prediction on how the divisions will shake out:

East

1. Ohio State- I mean, obviously. They have almost ever significant player from last year's national championship team back, as well as a whole new batch of blue chip recruits. They would probably win the conference running away with any of their three quarterbacks. They have the most talent in the conference by a significant margin and the best coaching staff too led by Urban Meyer. I think Cardale Jones will be the starter under center (or more accurately, about 4 yards behind center), Zeke Elliot will be a Heisman candidate and Joey Bosa will be the nation's best defensive player/

2. Michigan State- The Spartans have had a really good run over the last few years, but they have been overshadowed by Buckeyes (even after they beat them in the Big 10 championship game in 2013). I fully expect them to be a top 10 team and go to a New Year's 6 bowl game for the third consecutive year. Quarterback Connor Cook, who very well may end the Big 10's 20 year drought with out a QB selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft, returns, with Jack Conklin protecting his blind side and paving way for their usual strong rushing attack. Mark Dantonio is a very good defensive mind, so I don't expect this defense to skip a beat even after losing coordinator Pat Narduzzi. This unit will once again be led on the field by Middletown, NJ's own Shaq Calhoun.

3. Michigan- Jim Harbaugh is with out a doubt one of the five the best coach at any level in football right now. Building lowly Stanford into a powerhouse on the west coast was nothing short of miraculous and he immediately turned the San Francisco 49ers around, ending a long era of losing with a Super Bowl appearance and three division titles in 4 years with out a franchise QB. I don't expect that drastic of a turnaround with his alma mater in year one, but the Wolverines should be significantly better than they were under Brady Hoke.

4. Penn State- Christian Hackenburg struggled mightily last season adjusting to a new offense and playing behind a terrible offensive line that could neither protect him or generate a run game. Will he play more like he did his freshman year in 2015? Probably. "Linebacker U's" defense will be led by defensive tackle Anthony Zettel, who almost single handily beat Rutgers last year. Solid team, probably going to be overrated though.

5. Rutgers- I'll have a lot more (hopefully) on the Knights in the coming days, but quick summary: the defense is still undersized and prone to getting pushed around, the offensive line is pretty inexperienced, as is whatever quarterback, but they have Carroo and the running backs as bright spots. I don't think they are much worse than Penn State, but Rutgers has to go to Happy Valley and play two much tougher cross divisional opponents.

6. Maryland- Maryland was bitten by the injury bug yet again last year (hmmm maybe that's because they have a borderline abusive coach?), but like Rutgers, had a decent inaugural season in the Big 10. They lost veteran QB CJ Bown to graduation, as well as top playmaker Stefon Diggs to the NFL, so I expect a fall of this year.

7. Indiana- The Hoosiers might have been a bowl team a year ago if Nate Sudfeld didn't miss half the season. It was kind of a shame that Tevin Coleman's college career ended with out a bowl appearance, but so it goes. I think Kevin Wilson is a good coach, but he just doesn't have nearly the talent to compete in this division. He'll probably be unfairly fired after this year and the Indiana football sucking wheel will perpetuate.

West- I'm honestly a lot less familiar with the west, so I'm just winging this

1. Minnesota- If they are ever going to win the west, it will be this year. Jerry Kill's team just plays solid, fundamental football on both sides off the ball. Wisconsin and Nebraska are adjusting to new coaches and will both have to travel to Minneapolis, so this might be the Gophers' year.

2. Wisconsin- Paul Chryst takes over at his alma mater and brings a strong offensive track record with him. The Badgers are going to have a dominant running game as they usually do, led by Paul James' high school teammate, Glassboro, NJ's own Corey Clement, there's no question about this. Chryst's defenses at Pitt were, well below average to put it kindly, so we'll have to see what the Badgers defense will look like. Keeping defensive coordinator Dave Aranda from Gary Anderson's staff was a huge coupe.

3. Nebraska- Mike Riley takes over for Bo Pelini in Lincoln and I don't know what to expect from him. Riley did a pretty solid job at Oregon State, being a consistent bowl participant and coming close to a couple conference titles, but this wasn't the flashy hire you would expect a program like Nebraska to have. I expect the Huskers to struggle somewhat adjusting to new schemes on both sides of the football and with the lose of Randy Gregory and Ameer Abdullah.

4. Northwestern- Uhhh, I think Pat Fitzgerald is a good coach.

5. Purdue- I like Darrell Hazel too.

6. Iowa- Hey, I'm just trying to make this interesting.

7. Illinois- Wretched football program and another abusive coach.

Site Note- Yes, I took a long hiatus, but I'm coming back. I will probably change the name of the blog too,

Week 11 Power Rankings

Tier 1

1. Ohio State
The Buckeyes received quite a scare during their visit to Happy Valley, being pushed to overtime against a bad Penn State team, but they came out on top. They are a young team and that was their first true road game, so that should help them moving forward.

JT Barrett has played like the best QB in the conference this year and the young offensive line has gotten on a roll. Dominant defensive end Joey Bosa leads the defense, as the secondary continues to improve. Illinois gave them no issue last week, and they head to East Lansing this week for the Big 10 showdown of the year.

2. Michigan State
Even after losing a few starters in the secondary, including first round draft pick Darqueze Dennard, the "no fly zone" passing defense has returned to being one of the nations elites after a rough early season outing against Oregon.

Conner Cook has started playing well again after a some what rocky stretch and Tony Lippett has been the best reciver in the conference so far this year. Jeremy Langford has also gotten going, giving Sparty a balanced attack. They welcome Ohio State tomorrow,

Tier 2

3.Nebraska
Ameer Abdullah went down with a knee injury in last week's win over Purdue, but he is not expected to miss much time with it. Even with out him, the Huskers should be able to run the ball behind a powerful offensive line, they will just need QB Tommy Armstrong to limit his mistakes in the passing game.

The defense is not very stout against the run, but they have the lowest passer rating against in the conference and Randy Gregory is pass rushing like a future top 10 pick.

4. Wisconsin
So yea, they bullied Rutgers up front last week on both sides of the football. Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement both went well over 100 yards, despite their non existent passing game. Remember when I said their defense isn't as a good as the numbers indicate? That comment looks extremely laughable now.

Tier 3

5. Minnesota
The Gophers are very well coached on defense and David Cobb is a great running back, but your not going to win your division dropping games to Illinois.

6. Maryland
Their horrible run defense was a non issue last week against Penn State's horrible run offense, but it could bite them at some point down the road. The explosive offense will be with out top play maker Stefon Diggs after this week's bye, since he was suspended for showing the Nittany Lions the disrespect they deserve.

7. Iowa
The run game has gone hot and cold this year, but they are still putting up some points thanks to their surprisingly effective passing attack. Still need to tighten things up on defense. They isit Minnesota this week in a big western division show down.

Tier 4

8. Rutgers
They were embarrassed three weeks in a row by the leagues best teams, but they check in at 8 because this conference as a whole is so bad.

9. Michigan
Devin Gardner has played well since coming back from his inexplicable benching. The front seven is still strong and the secondary remains an issue.

10. Northwestern
Strong defense, bad offense in pretty much every game. They've played themselves out of division title contention in a hurry.

11. Penn State
Horrible offensive line and running game have prevented Hackenberg from being better. Still think they have the best defense in the conference, and that will keep them in every game.

Tier 5

12. Purdue
The offense has been running the ball very effectively since Austin Applebee was inserted at QB. Surprisingly competitive team, Darrell Hazell probably should be coach of the year no matter what, but he won't be if they miss a bowl.

Tier 6

13. Illinois
They shockingly beat Minnesota and that will probably be the high point of the season. Doubt Tim Beckham can save his job at this point.

14. Indiana
Such a shame Tevin Coleman plays on such a horrible team.

B1G Predictions:

Penn State 20 Indiana 17
The Nittany Lions tough run defense should contain, but not stop Coleman. Hackenberg will probably make a couple plays against a bad defense to win.

Iowa 20 Minnesota 21
The Gophers will squeak out a win at home thanks to Cobb and the ball control offense. I would expect The Hawkeyes rushing attack to run cold against a good defense,

Wisconsin 42 Purdue 17
The Badgers will run all over the Boilermakers.

Michigan 13 Northwestern 16
This is gong to be a drag it out defensive battle. I'll pick the Cats in a low scoring game since they are at home.

Ohio State 27 Michigan State 24
I expect the Buckeyes to be extremely fired up for this revenge game after the Spartans cost them a shot at the national championship a year ago. I expect the Spartans defense to stop Barrett through the air, but to struggle stopping the run. Michigan State should be able to run the ball well, but I think Bosa coming off the edge will be a big factor. The Buckeyes special teams will give them an edge and field pisition and likely decide the game.

Other Picks:
Baylor 24 Oklahoma 30

Notre Dame 20 Arizona State 24

Alabama 17 LSU 14

Kansas State 27 TCU 31

Oregon 43 Utah 31

Game 9: Wisconsin

Wisconsin visits Piscataway this week for a rainy homecoming as the Scarlet Knights look to end their losing streak. With how Rutgers homecoming games usually go and how bad the Knight shave been at stopping the run, I expect this to once again be a loppsided loss for Rutgers.

Rutgers on offense: I'm typing this at 11:50 and still don't know if Gary Nova will play. Regarldess of whether he or Chis Laviano is under center today, I would expect the Knights to try to keep the offense balanced today. I don't think Wisconsin's defense is as good as the numbers indicate, so I expect them to score some points. RobMartin's role will probably continue to grow today, and look for them to get Janarion Grant and Desmon Peoples in space. Wisconsin's defense is slow and Coach Friedgen will look to use Rutgers speed as an advantage. Leonte Carroo went down and grabbed his knee during pregame warmups, so we will have to watch his status today as he looks to go over 100 yards for the 3rd game in a row.

Rutgers on defense: Well, the only question today is how far over 200 yards Melvin Gordon will go. The Badgers offensive line is one of the best in the country and Rutgers' defensive line and run defense in general have been completely overwhelmed in recent weeks, so it's going to be ugly. Joel Stave is in at QB, and he has the yips this year and lacks a diffenerence maker to throw to. Joe Rossi should load the box with 8 or 9 every play to try to stop the run. The corners should be able to win 1 on 1 outside.

Rutgers 30 Wisconsin 42

Week 9 Power Rankings and Picks

Doing it with tiers this week

Tier 1
1. Ohio State
LW: 56-17 win over Rutgers
TW: at Penn State
Prediction: Ohio State 38 Penn State 14

The Buckeyes are just steam rolling everything in their path. They are head and shoulder talent wise ahead of everyone else in the conference and they have the best coaching staff too. Don't think anyone here is going to argue with this after last week. I would be surprised if anyone besides Michigan State is competitive with them this year.

Tier 2
2. Michigan State
LW: 56-17 win over Indiana
TW: Michigan
Prediction: Michigan State 34 Michigan 10

Their defense is not as strong as it was a year agao, and Conner Cook has been scuffling a bit lately, but Kendall Langford and their offensive line have established a strong ground game in recent weeks.

3.Nebraska
LW: 38-17 win at Northwestern
 TW: Rutgers
Prediction: Coming Soon

AmeerAbdullah might be the best tailback in the country with Gurley suspended and Tommy Armstrong is improving as a passer. Randy Gregory is playing like a top 5 pick at defensive end, but this still isn't your typical Black Shirt Defense,

Tier 3:
4. Minnesota
LW:39-38 win over Purdue
TW: at Illinois
Prediction: Minnesota 30 Illinois 17

The Gophers normally solid defense faltered big time against Purdue lat week, but the David Cobb led offense managed to win a shoot out.

5. Rutgers
LW: 56-17 loss at Ohio State
TW: at Nebraska
Prediction: Coming Soon

They were destroyed in Columbus last week, but I think most teams in this conference would have been too, The run defense has surprisingly been a big issue, but their offense has continued to be solid,

6. Maryland
LW: 38-31 win over Iowa
TW: at Wisconsin
Prediction: Maryland 24 Wisconsin 31

Maryland has an explosive, albeit inconsistent offense led by the dynamic Stefon Diggs, but their run defense has been a major issue and that will be a problem as they visit the Badgers this week.

7. Northwestern
LW: 38-17 loss to Nebraska
TW: Bye

Still looking for something on offense. Defense still looks strong, despite getting a bit pushed around by the Huskers.

8, Wisconsin
LW: Bye
TW: Maryland
Prediction: Wisconsin 31 Maryland 24

Great offensive line, great back in Melvin Gordon, but this team can not throw the ball and their young , banged up defense has not lived up to the expectations their defense has set in recent years,

9. Iowa
LW: 38-31 loss at Maryland
TW: Bye

Te offense has some what surprisngly been very good this year.Their defense, not so much,

Tier 4:
10. Michigan
LW: Bye
TW: at Michigan State
Prediction: Michigan 10 Michigan State 34

This team still has an outside chance at making a bowl game. They had a nightmare road trip to East Lansing last year (I think they ran for negative yards) so I would expect more of the dame in this one. If they keep Cook in check it could be close.

11. Purdue
LW: 39-38 loss at Minnesota
TW: Bye

They are a competitive football team and they are getting better every week. Their rushing attack has been borderline dominant?

12. Penn State
LW: Bye
TW: Ohio State
Prediction: Penn State 14 Ohio State 38

Their offensive line simply prevents them from being able to do anything on offense. DOesn't even matter how th hot shot QB plays, Their defense might be the best in the conference though, and that should keeo them in games, including this one against the Bucks.

Tier 5:
13. Indiana
LW: 56-17 loss to Michigan State
TW: Bye

Tevin Coleman is an outstanding back, it;s a shame his efforts are going mostly to waste.

14. Illinois
LW: Bye
TW: Minnesota
Prediction: Illinois 17 Minnesota 30

They play Ohio State next week. Hide the woman and children.

Elswhere

Ole Miss 13 LSU 9
Tough to pick against LSU at home for a night game, but early departures to the NFL have really hurt them, Ole Miss has the best defensive line in the country. I would expect a low scoring game, the Tigers are going to need to force Wallace to turn the ball over multiple times,

USC 24 Utah 21
USC's rushing attack against the Utes quick front line should be a fun matchup to watch, If the Trojns run defense shows up I think they win,

Washington 34 Arizona State 30
I like the Huskies pulling off the upset at home.

Arizona 41 Washington State 35
Would be cool if Washington State started winning,

Clemson 40 Syracuse 0
Clemson is playing their back up QB but this will be a laugher,

West Virginia 34 Oklahoma State 20
The Cowboys offense has really been scuffling this year, That defense is solid though.

Rutgers Annihilated by Ohio State 56-17

We saw first hand just how far away Rutgers is from competing for a Big 10 championship on Saturday, as they were totally outclassed by Ohio State by the score of 56-17 in front of 106,795 fans, which was the most Rutgers has ever played in front of. The Buckeyes were just the bigger, faster, more physical and more talented, better coached team and it showed in a huge way. This was Rutgers largest margin of defeat in 12 years. This was a total embarrassment of a game that just needs to be forgotten as the team moves forward. Almost nothing good happened in this game. I hate looking back on blow outs,so at least I will save some time writing this recap.

The defense was an unmitiglated disaster in this game, there's no way around that. Ohio State scored a touchdown on seven of their ten non end of half drives, which is totally unacceptable,The line was getting blown off the ball on almost every play and the tackling at the second and third level was atrocious, which has been a season long theme but was especially bad in this game. Making matters worse was the fact that Ohio State was snapping the ball before Rutgers had their play call in and/or not yet set up. That's 100% in the coaching staff, They should be prepared for that kind of stuff.

JT Barrett escaped pressure numerous times and ran free for a whole bunch of yards and touchdowns. It looked like Rutgers was playing man coverage and there was just nobody there to stop him. I'm not a big fan of spying quarterbacks, but they probably should have spied him. This was obviously an extreme circumstance, they won't play another offense even close to the Buckeyes level this year, but I am growing very concerned with this unit.

The offense was.....not horrible. The offensive line struggled in pass protection, but I thought they were pretty good run blocking. The Knights ran 34 times for 180 yards (5.3 per carry) when you don't include sack yardage, which is very nice. They struggled on the ground in their first two Big 10 games, but this was a strong performance. Keith Lumpkin in particular deserves a ton of credit, a lot of Rutgers big runs came behind him off left tackle and he was mauling people. Especially since the Buckeyes put star defensive end Joey Bosa on the offense's right for most of the game. Both Desmon Peoples (qho scored his the first two touchdowns of his career in this game)and Justin Goodwin ran the ball very well in this one, and Rob Martin showed some flashes of potential late in the game. Good to at least see the run game get going. Most of the game was garbage time, but Ohio State kept their starters in until late in the 4th quarter,

Gary Nova was under pressure pretty much every time he dropped back, but he only turned the ball over once and averaged seven yards per attempt. That's ok-ish. He made a nice escape to complete a 40 yard deep ball to Leonte Carroo, and Carroo also made a circus catch leaping and ripping the ball away from a defender as part of a 100 yard receiving day. The Iron Men duo almost connected for a touchdown in the redzone before half time, but Nova left the pass a little short and it was intercepted. They probably should have ended up with about 24-28 points in this game, which is on line with what they have been doing. You should still feel good about this group.

This game was very ugly for the defense, and they need to just put it on their rear view mirror as they prepare for a tough Nebraska team. The offense at least showed some positives they can build on moving forward. This game was embarrassing and showed that Rutgers is nowhere close to being on Ohio State's level in any stretch of the imagination, The Big 10 as a whole is very watered down, but the Buckeyes are still an elite program who could very well be in the playoff this January.

Game 7: Ohio State

Rutgers heads out west to Columbus to take on Ohio State in their first conference road game as a member of the Big 10. The 105,00 people expected to attend today's game will be the biggest crowd Rutgers has ever played in front of. Noise obviously will be a factor for the offense's communication today. Ohio State has a very young team that got off to a slow start this season, and they are missing star quarterback Braxton Miller, but Urban Meyer's crew has been improving every week and they are starting to play like the best team in the Big 10 and a playoff contender like they were expected to be. This is going to be the most difficult game for Rutgers to win in quite a long time.

Rutgers on Offense
I don't think Rutgers is going to be able to run the ball today. Betim Bujari will play after looking questionable all week, but the line as a whole has not been playing well in Big 10 play and neither Desmon Peoples or Justin Goodwin have been able to get going since Paul James went down.

Once again, Gary Nova is going to have to step up and win this game. He did it last time out against Michigan, and Ohio State does have a secondary that can be beat. He is going to need time to throw though, and Ohio State defensie end Joey Bosa is one of the best pass rushers in the Big 10. Seems like they are going to have to attack with the short passing game today, I'd expect Tyler Kroft and John Tsimis to be heaily inolved. Hopefully Andrew Turzilli's performance against Michigan will lead to Leonte Carroo getting double teamed less and he can win some one on one match ups over the middle and also deep.

Rutgers on Defense
Virginia Tech shut down Ohio State's offense by playing a bunch of Bear fronts and cover 0. I remember Hokie defensie coordinator Bud Foster saying they were treating Ohio State like a triple option team and were daring JT Barrett to beat them. They also blitzed the crap out of him and forced a bunch of turnovers.

Barrett has taken huge leaps forward since that game, so that game plan probably won't work today. Still, I would expect Rutgers to stay in their 4-3 under fronts with a safety down in the box to stop the run. Despite Barrett being in the top 5 nationally in pass efficiency, they should sellout to stop the run (not as much as VT, keep a safety over the top) and dare him to beat them. Blitz the crap out of him and force mistakes too.

Rutgers 24 Ohio State 38

Week 8 B1G Power Rankings and Picks

1. Ohio State
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Rutgers
Prediction: Coming Soon

Their offense has really been rolling since that weird loss to Virginia Tech. The young offensive line has played really well and JT Barrett has basically replicated Braxton Miller. Joey Bosa leads the stout front seven, but the secondary is a bit of a weakness. Urban Meyer has done a good job with this young team.

2. Michigan State
Last Week: 45-31 win at Purdue
This Week: at Indiana
Prediction: MSU 48 IND 16

Purdue had the ball with a minute left down seven, so this game was closer than the final score indicates. Their offense has played really well, but the defense has not lived up to its' very lofty expectations. Indiana will not give them any problems, however.

3. Nebraska
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at Northwestern
Prediction: NEB 27 NW 20

I would expect their defense to play better in the second half of the year, Pelini is a very good defensive coach. Ameer Abdullah is probably the cream of the crop at the running back position in the Big 10, despite the low yardage total in East Lansing.

4. Rutgers
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at Ohio State
Prediction: Coming Soon

The advanced stats have Rutgers ranked 24th nationally. That is kind of surprising, especially since these stats usually have the Knights lower than they should be (at least in my opinion). But Rutgers is rated as a top 36 team in all three phases of the game, so that's at least believable.

5. Minnesota
Last Week: 24-17 win over Northwestern
This Week: Purdue
Prediction: MIN 24 PUR 14

A big kick return for a touchdown and a solid defense and running game won the Gophers a big Big 10 West showdown last week.

6. Iowa
Last Week: 45-29 win over Indiana
This week: at Maryland
Prediction: Iowa 31 Maryland 27

Their offense exploded against Indian's struggling defense. They are very much in the thick of things in the wide open west, and they do have Nebraska at home the day after Thanksgiving.

7. Northwestern
Last Week: 24-17 loss at Minnesota
This Week: Nebraska
Prediction: NW 20 NEB 27

Their defense has played really well the last few weeks, but they need more out of their offense. Veneric Mack's late decision to transfer has really hurt them.

8. Wisconsin
Last Week: 38-28 win over Illinois
This Week: Bye

Joel Stave replaced Tanner McEvoy at QB, but the Badgers still lack difference makers at wide out and still can not moe the ball through the air. Their offensive line is still dominant and Melvin Gordon seemingly runs for 200 yards every week, so they are far totally helpless on O.

9. Michigan
Last Week: 18-13 win over Penn State
This Week: Bye

The Wolverines keep continuing to fight despite a lot of distractions. Their front seven should keep them in a lot of games, and I think offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has done a good job despite injuries, the young/bad line and Gardner being streaky.

10. Maryland
Last week: Bye
This Week: Iowa
Prediction: Maryland 27 Iowa 31

Their defense has been lit up by teams that have actual offenses (ie. not Syracuse and USF) and I'm not buying their own offense for some reason. This is not a bad team and they should go bowling, I'm just not nearly as high on them as others seem to be.

11. Penn State
Last Week: 18-13 loss at Michigan
This Week: Bye

Hackenberg threw his first touchdown pass since September 6, but he has still throwin more interceptions than touchdowns. Not all his fault, obviously. They have a great defense but it isn't enough to overcome the seemingly helpless offense.

12. Purdue
Last Week: 45-31 loss at Purdue
This Week: at Minnesota
Prediction: PUR 14 MIN 24

Darrell Hazell's team has been surprisingly competitive against some really good teams. They are not a very good, but the program is definitely going in the right direction.

13. Indiana
Last Week: 45-29 loss at Iowa
This Week: Michigan State
Prediction: IND 16 MSU 48

The defense was again lit up and they lost QB Nate Sudfeld for the year. A promising start to the season has turned south in a hurry.

14. Illinois

Last Week: 38-28 loss at Wisconsin
This Week: Bye

They at least scored some points with out Lunt, but their defense isn't stopping anybody.

Other Picks
Oklahoma 27 Kansas State 21

Bob Stoops rarely loses at home and Trevor Knight will probably get back on track after a couple rough games (please call Katy Perry, dude).

Florida State 37 Notre Dame 34

I actually think Notre Dame is pretty legit this year, but I can't imagine their defense slowing down the Noles at the Doak after getting picked apart by North Carolina,

Alabama 41 Texas A&M 24

The Tide have played two sub par games in a row and I think they are going to run all over the Aggies. Kenny Hill won't provide the Manziel magic* in this one.

*Manziel magic is another way of saying Luke Joeckl, Mike Evans, Ryan Swopes, Christine Michael and Jake Matthews.

Arkansas 24 Georgia 20

Didn't happen this week against Mizzou, but Georgia's offense will miss Todd Gurley. The Razorbacks (maybe the worst team in the SEC west) will run the ball effectively to beat the best team in the SEC East.

Oregon 34 Washington 30

The Huskies have not defeated the Ducks in 10 years, and I don't think they can pull of the upset. The opportunistic defense led by Shaq Thompoon will keep it interesting.

TCU 41 Oklahoma State 34

That TCU Baylor games was something else last week. The Horned Frogs could easily have a let down after that gut wrenching loss, but Gary Patterson will keep it together.

Arizona State 28 Stanford 21 (seven field goals)

I wonder if Todd Graham has any family in Ann Arbor or Gainsville.

Rutgers Midseason Review

Rutgers' first bye week of the season comes exactly at the half way point, so this seems like as good of a time as any to take stock in what has happened in the Scarlet Knights' first six games.

Surprise!
Before the season, I thought Rutgers would go 4-8. I felt that the talent was there to compete in the watered down Big 10, but I had very little confidence in Kyle Flood getting the job done after not only losing but getting blown out my a number of inferior teams in the AAC last year. A bowl berth would have been considered a major success coming into the 2014 season. Through six games they have already surpassed my projected win total and one win away from bowl eligibility. I'm happy to be wrong.

Rutgers was able to win a shoot out over Washington State in a game many thought would see their much maligned secondary exposed by the pass happy Cougs. They gave up a whole lot of yards, but clamped down in the redzone and let the offense do their thing. They were also able to win what I thought would be an extremely tough game at Navy.

But funny enough, the one game they actually lost, their Big 10 debut at home against Penn State, was one of the four games I had marked down as a win.


We Still Don't Know What to Expect From Gary Nova
We all knew that Gary Nova was going to be Rutgers quarterback all season, come hell or high water, but we had no idea what to expect out of him performance wise. His play in the first half of the year did not provide much clarity.

Nova is 5th nationally in passing efficiency, and he did throw for a career high 404 yards against a solid Michigan defense, but that five interception game against Penn State still happened. Hopefully that was just a blip on the radar and he continues playing like he has in the other five games the rest of the way.

Just How Good is the Offensive Line?
Rutgers offensive line was able to dominate against non power five opponents like Howard, Tulane and Navy, as well as a Washington State defense made soft by the air raid offense they had to practice against through out training camp, but they struggled mightily in their first two Big 10 games. They averaged 4.4 yards a carry and only allowed three sacks in their four out of conference games, but they are averaging just 2.89 yards a carry with five sacks allowed in the two conference games.

Michigan and Penn State are flawed teams, but they are both very good at defending the run, and they even rank first and second in the Big 10 in rushing defense (going by yards per attempt instead of total yards). Hopefully those two poor performances were just a result of facing two ery tough defense. The worst performances of the year are hopefully behind the Knights, but things obviously have to improve. I don't mean to call out or criticize players, but LG Kaleb Johnson came into the year as an NFL prospect and he has not played up to expectations. They will need better play from right tackle too, whether it's from Taj Alexander or JJ Denman.

I believe this unit will play better moving forward, and they pretty much have to for this team to be able to run the ball well with out Paul James.

Kemoko Turay: The Real Deal, But Still a Ways to Go
Turay barely played football in high school and sat out last year as a redshirt, but he supposedly was really impressive on the scout team and carried that level of impressive play over into spring and fall camp this year. Combining a rare blend of length, athleticism, and explosion off the ball, he has burst on to the scene seemingly out of nowhere as one of the best pure pass rushers in college football. He in actually leads the Big 10 in sacks with 5.5.

There is no questioning his success as a pass rusher, but in order for him to become a starter and reach (or come close to) his considerably high ceiling, he is going to need to play better against the run. He is still a bit undersized and learning the intricacies of the defense and run fits and stuff, but those things should come with time. Turay is a great player now, and he will only get scarier for opposing teams in the coming years.


The Secondary Has Improved
Rutgers secondary was historically bad a year ago, so it was almost impossible for them to not get better this year. This group is still pretty young, and they have not exactly been dominant, but they have been good enough to win ball games.

Obviously, they haven't played quarterbacks in the realm of Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles or Derek Carr (all three of whom are starting in the NFL now), but the numbers have improved by leaps and bounds. They allowed 31 passing touchdowns last year, and they have only given up 6 through half a season this year. They were 101st in pass efficiency defense and have made a modest improvement to 79th so far this year. There's still a lot of room for improvement, but they are trending in the right direction.

One noticeable change Joe Rossi has made this year is playing more man coverage. The Knights watched their zone coverages get picked apart last year, and Rossi has made the adjustment back to the coverages the program has had a ton of success with in the past. I also think that Nadir Barnwell has become a very good cover corner this year, and one of the few reliable tacklers this defense has in the secondary.He was a blue chip recruit, so he is only going to get better and hopefully anchor this unit for the next couple years.

Blue Chippers Playing Like Blue Chippers
Speaking of blue chip recruits, Rutgers 4 and 5 star guys are playing like 4 and 5 star guys, finally. After disappointing returns on previous blue chippers like Savon Higgins and Tom Savage, Darius Hamilton, Leonte Carroo, Chris Muller and Barnwell have all lived up to the hype. Hamilton and Carroo are pretty clearly Rutgers' best players on defense and offense respectively, and they both have legitimate cases to being named first team all Big 10 at the midway point of the season.

Muller and Barnwell both had some growing pains as freshman a season ago, but they have both made great strides this year. Muller has been much improved in pass protection, looking quicker and committing less penalties as a result, while still being a powerful run blocker. Barnwell has been Rutgers top cover man, and he has been strong against the run as well.

Stepping Up Oppsite Carroo?
When defenses prepare for Rutgers, they seem to have one thing in mind: stop Leonte Carroo at all costs. This has led to him getting double teamed most of the time, and that theoretically should open the field up for other receivers to do damage. But that was not the case in the early going.

Tightend Tyler Kroft, who was great last year, has not seen a lot of balls come his way, and Rutgers has had trouble finding a #2 receiver with Ruhan Peele yet to play a game and Andre Patton missing four games and being extremely limited in the other two. Andrew Turzilli has emerged as a dangerous deep threat who can "hit home runs" with the secondary rolling over to account for Carroo, and his recent big games will hopefully prevent defenses from focusing al their attention to one guy.

Turzilli's emergence and Patton and Peele hopefully becoming healthy and getting more looks will improve the Knights passing attack and hopefully alleviate the pressure on RU's go to receiver.

Linebckers as steady as ever
There were some articles written recently about Steve Longa's tackle total being down from last year, but his numbers really don't tell the story of how well he has played this year. Teams have tried to pass on Rutgers much more than they have run, in fact only 15 teams have seen fewer rushing attempts against them than Rutgers (and 4 of them have played less games), so naturally that is gong to cause his numbers to drop. Both he and Kevin Snyder have been outstanding in pass coverage and on blitzes this year, and Quinton Gause has been getting into opponent's backfield to make plays. The linebacking group is one of Rutgers' biggest strengths and they have been great so far this year.

At 5-1, Rutgers has gotten off to a great start to the season, and probably have already exceeded expectations (from the outside at least), but they still have a tough road ahead. The Scarlet Knights still have road trips at Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan State and Maryland to make, as well as home contests against Wisconsin and Indiana. They only need one more win to achieve bowl eligibility for the ninth time in ten years, and I would guess they will be favored in two or three of their last six games. An 8-4 record while going 4-4 in conference play would be a pretty big success in Rutgers inagural Big 10 season. Let's hope they get there.

Week 7 B1G Power Rankings

1. Michigan State
Last Week:27-22 win over Nebraska
This Week: at Purdue
Prediction MSU 45 PUR 14

The Spartans got a big win over the Huskers at home last week, despite nearly blowing a big lead in the fourth quarter. Their run defense stepped up in a big way, limiting Ameer Adbullah to just 44 yards (though he managed to find the endzone twice). Offensively, Conner Cook struggled, but the run game stepped up to put some points on the board.

2. Ohio State
Last Week: 52-24 win over Maryland
This Week: Bye

The Buckeyes clobbered Maryland in the Terrapins first Big 10 home game. Urban Meyer's offense is dangerous and fully operational again after some early hiccups, and the front seven has been a major strength as well. Their secondary has struggled some.

3. Nebraska
Last Week: 27-22 loss to Michigan State
This Week: Bye

I'm not going to knock them too much for a road loss to the best team in the conference. I still think they are the clear front runner in the west.

4. Rutgers
Last Week: 26-24 win over Michigan
This Week: Bye

Gary Nova ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency after tearing up the Wolverines through the air. The secondary has been improving as well. They face a huge test after the bye when they visit Columbus.

5. Minnesota
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Northwestern
Prediction: MIN 17 NW 14

Jerry Kills's team does not have the most talent in the league, but they are well coached and very disciplined. The defense does not have any stand out players, but they are tough and tackle very well. David Cobb is the offense's bell cow and flies under the national radar because of the other backs in this league.

6. Iowa
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Indiana
Prediction: Iowa 28 Indiana 21

Iowa is planning to play two quarterbacks this week. You know what they say about when you have two quarterbacks.....Their run game is improving and Brandon Shreff may be the best offensive lineman in the country.

7. Northwestern
Last Week: 20-14 win vs Wisconsin
This Week: at Minnesota
Prediction: MIN 17 NW 14

Northwestern's defense has been one of the major surprises in the Big 10 this season. Pat Fitzgerald deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team focused after a pretty bad start to the year.

8. Wisconsin
Last Week: 20-14 loss at Northwestern
This Week: vs Illinois
Prediction: WIS 45 ILL 20

Melvin Gordon seemingly rushes for 200 yards every week behind a powerful offensive line, but the Badgers have absolutley no threats in the passing game. Their defense has been ok, and they are banged up and pretty young on this side of the ball.

9. Penn State
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at Michigan
Prediction: PSU 6 MICH 9

Did you know: superstar Christian Hackenberg has not thrown a touchdown pass since September 6? Part of that is because of their horendous offensive line and running game, but that is still shocking. They might have the best defensie in the conference though, Mike Hull and Anthony Zettel seem like sure fire all conference players.

10. Maryland
Last Week: 52-24 loss to Ohio State
This Week: Bye

The Terps defense has been pretty brutal this year, despite Andre Monroe's superb play upfront. Their offense has been a bit streaky, and like Iowa, they are trying to make a two QB system work.

11. Michigan
Last Week: 26-24 Loss at Rutgers
This Week: Penn State
Prediction MICH 9 PSU 6

I give the Wolverines players a lot of credit. They easily could have packed it in for the year and they played very hard against Rutgers, despite the loss. With Devin Gardner at the helm, their offense at least has a chance to score some point. Their front 7 is very stout, but their secondary can be exposed, as shown lat week.

12. Indiana
Last Week: 49-24 Win over North Texas
This Week: at Iowa
Prediction: Iowa 28 Indiana 21

Tevin Coleman would be the best back in a lot of conferences. They need more from their passing game and defense if they want to become bowl eligible.

13. Purdue
Last Week: 38-27 win over at Illinois
This Week: Michigan State
Prediction: PUR 14 MSU 45

Purdue ran all over the Illini for 349 yards, led by Akeem Hunt who had 177. Austin Appleby played a very efficent game at QB as well.

14. Illinois
Last Week: 38-27 loss to Purdue
This Week: at Wisconsin
Prediction ILL 20 WIS 45

They let Purdue! run all over them. And Wes Lunt is out 4-6 weeks. This team is dead in the water. They only question now seems to be when will Tim Beckham be fired.

Game 6: Michigan

Greg Schiano shortly after deciding to stay at Rutgers rather than go to Michigan

Rutgers on Offense: I think the Scarlet Knights are going to have to rely on their passing game in this one, Michigan's front seven is very stout against the run, but their secondary has been shaky. Will Gary Nova be up for the challenge in his first Big 10 game following the five interception performance against Penn State? Who knows, it's so tough to get a gauge on him. I'm interested to see if Andre Patton is ready to go, because he could break free for a couple big plays if Leonte Carroo is doubled as expected. Tyler Kroft attacking the seem against the slow Wolverine linebackers could be another factor. Need the offensive line to pass protect better than they did against the Nittany Lions.

Rutgers on Defense: They need to do exactly what they did against Penn State in this one. They need to dominate up front to totally shut down the running game and blitz the ever loving crap out of them. Michigan's offensive line is almost as bad as Penn State's, they need to be exploited. Devin Funchess is my biggest concern on their offense, he should probably be double teamed, they don't have many other weapons. Devin Gardner, like Gary Nova, has been broken by his coaching staff and is extremely turn over prone. The Knights haven't forced many turn over this season, now would be a good time to force a few.

Injuries/Suspensions: Safety Jonathan Aiken will have to sit out the first half after being ejected a week ago for targeting, but Delon Stephenson is listed as probably and should get the start in his place at free safety. Fellow defensive backs Anthony Cioffi, Nadir Barnwell and Gareef Glashan are listed as probably.

Kevin Snyder is also probable, after missing the Navy game and playing sparingly against Tulane. Hopefully he is at full go this week, otherwise LJ Liston will start at middle linebacker.

Back up SAM backer Myles Nash is the only questionable player for this game.

On the other side, Jersey native Jabrill Peppers is questionable.He has not played a lot this year because of some sort of injury, but when healthy he is their nickel back and punt returner.

Prediction: Rutgers 24 Michigan 17

Greg Webb to Transfer to Rutgers

For the third time in the past few months Rutgers has added a former blue chip recruit recruit via transfer, with defensive tackle Greg Webb set to join the Scarlet Knights' program next season. The former Timber Creek (Erial, NJ) star signed with North Carolina out of high school and he is currently attending Hutchinson Community College in Kansas after running into some academic troubles in Chapel Hill. Rutgers has one of the best academic support systems of any football program in the country, so they should be able to keep his academic affairs in order.

Webb is a big, strong, space eating nose tackle type (6'1'' 315) who can stand up against double teams at the point of attack and free up other defenders. The Scarlet Knights have preferred smaller defensive lineman over the years, but having one big guy in the middle certainly won't hurt. He is pretty quick on the interior himself and plays with a very good motor, which big defensive tackles often lack. Rutgers needs all the quality defensive line depth they can get moving forward, so obviously this will be a great addition to the team. He will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning  in 2015.

Hopefully they don't move him to guard.

How Will Rutgers Deal With the Loss of Paul James?

Rutgers running back Paul James will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL in the Scarlet Knights win over Navy two weeks ago. He was injured early in the second quarter when he took a helmet to the knee in the open field. James has suffered a number of serious injuries through out his career, and you can't help but feel awful for him.

James was the catalyst of the Rutgers offense that got off to a pretty good start to the season (save for the disastrous second half against Penn State), so losing him is obviously a big blow. It looked like he added some more speed and power to go along with the tremendous vision and quickness he displayed in the past, rushing for 363 yards (5.8 per carry) with seven total touchdowns through three games and a quarter in 2014. He was arguably the Scarlet Knights best player, but running back is one of the few positions Rutgers is equipped at to deal with an injury.

Desmon Peoples will step in as the nominal starter, but he will not be able to make up for James' production alone. This is going to be more of a replace Jason Giambi's numbers with David Justice and Scott Hatteberg kind of deal. Peoples (4.3 ypc) and Justin Goodwin (4.7 ypc) are both going to see an increase in carries, and they have both proved to be capable ball carriers over the last two seasons.

Goodwin is James lite, possessing patience, vision and quickness comparable to PJ, albeit it with out the speed and power. He did an admirable job starting a few games in place of James last year as a true freshman, and he has proven to be a dangerous receiving threat out of the backfield as well. Peoples is I still think more of a scat back since he doesn't have the patience necessary for the type of running game Rutgers deploys, but his speed has been an asset spelling James so far this year. The offensive line has been very good this year at opening holes for the backs, so that combined with these two should allow Rutgers to continue running the ball effectively with out James.

Another way Rutgers can make up for the loss of James is through the passing game. Offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen has relied heavily on the running game in the early going since Rutgers has been with out their second and third receivers, Andre Patton and Ruhan Peele. The return of those two will obviously give quarterback Gary Nova more weapons to throw to and hopefully prevent defenses from double teaming Leontee Carroo on basically every play. Patton is a big target who has speed and can stretch the field vertically, while Peele is a slot guy who is tough over the middle and a good route runner.

Losing James obviously sucks for the team, but Rutgers offense should be able to survive his injury this year. The offensive line needs to play as well in conference play as they did in the non conference slate, and Goodwin and Peoples need to just keep being themselves and not try to do too much and the passing game should improve as two of their top three receivers come back from injury. It will be a group effort making up for James lost production, but I think the Knights are capable of doing it, especially with The Fridge at the helm.

Week 6 B1G Power Rankings and Picks

1. Michigan State

2. Ohio State

3. Nebraska

4. Wisconsin

5. Rutgers

6. Maryland

7. Iowa

8. Minnesota

9. Penn State

10. Indiana

11. Northwestern

12. Illinois

13. Michigan

14. Purdue

Michigan State 45 Nebraska 34

The Huskers travel to East Lansing for a n early season conference show down that very well may be the Big 10 championship game preview. I think AMeer Abdullah will have a big day against the stout Spartan defense, but Conner Cook and Tony Lippett will be able to beat Nebraska's secondary in a shoot out.

Illinois 42 Purdue 24

The Boilers won't be able to stop Wes Lunt and Co.

Ohio State 45 Maryland 27

The young Buckeye offense keeps improving, and Maryland has struggled stopping non incompetent offenses (ie. not Syracuse).

Wisconsion 31 Northwestern 20

The Wildcats got a surprising win at Penn State last week, but Wisconsin's running game will be too powerful for them to stop.

Indiana 52 North Texas 24

The Hoosiers are so erratic, I guess they are due for a good week.

Elsewhere (big week in the SEC West):

Alabama 38 Ole Miss 17

The Rebels scream paper tigers. Lane Kiffin's offense has been explosive and Bo Wallace will probably turn the ball over a bunch of times.

Auburn 34 LSU 24

LSU was lit up by Dak Prescott's dual threat abilities, so I would expect Nick Marshall to have similar success. Plus the Bayou Bengals are starting a true freshman on the road.

Texas A&M 41 Mississippi State 30

Dan Mullen put himself in great position to land a better job (Michigan? Florida?) after winning at LSU. Will he be able to pull of another upset? Kenny Trill says no.

Oklahoma 35 TCU 24

First big test for the Horned Frogs, who appear much improved. Oklahoma might very well be the best team in the country right now.

Notre Dame 24 Stanford 18 (six field goals)

Stanford's offense has been a joke in the red zone and Everett Golsonand the Irish passing attack has been on a roll.

Rutgers Takes Care of Business Against Tulane

Game 5: Tulane

Tulane So Far

Tulane Coaching

Rutgers on Offense

Rutgers on Defense

Prediction Rutgers 35 Tulane 13

B1G Power Rankings Week 5

1. Michigan State (Previously 1)

Last Week: 73-14 win over Eastern Michigan
This Week: Wyoming
Prediction: MSU 41 WYO 20

They destroyed a very bad Eastern Michigan team and should have no problem with an underrated Wyoming team before Big 10 play begins. Still head and shoulders above everyone else in the conference.

2. Ohio State (2)

Last Week: Bye
This Week: Cincinnati
Prediction: tOSU 30 CIN 27

As Rutgers fans know, Cincinnati always has a good offense and Gunner Kiel could give the Bucs some problems, but JT Barrett and the offense are improving every week.

3. Nebraska (3)

Last Week: 41-31 win over Miami (FL)
This Week: Illinois
Prediction: NEB 37 ILL 24

They won a chippy game over a mediocre Miami team convincingly, and should dispatch of Illinois easily before a big show down in East Lansing next week.

4. Wisconsin (4)

Last Week: 68-17 win over Bowling Green
This Week: USF
Prediction: WIS 55 USF 17

Melvin Gordon went crazy last week and seems to be healthy after being banged up earlier in the year. USFwillnot give their defense any problem.

5. Penn State (5)

Last Week: 48-7 win over UMass
This Week: Northwestern
Prediction: PSU 30 NW 13

Still not looking particularly great, but nobody else warrants being above them yet. They should handle a really bad Northwestern team.

6. Rutgers (7)

Last Week: 31-24 win over Navy
This Week: Tulane
Prediction: Coming Soon

Injuries are mounting for the Scarlet Knights, but their front seven and running game have been very strong.

7. Maryland (8)

Last Week: 34-20 win over Syracuse
This Week: at Indiana
Prediction: UMD 31 IND 35

Syracuse isn't good. I could see Indiana's offense giving this defense some trouble.

8. Indiana (12)

Last Week: 31-27 win over Missouri
This Week: Maryland
Prediction: IND 35 UMD 31

Going on the road and defeating the defending SEC East champions is the Big 10' biggest and most impressive win this year.

9. Iowa (9)

Last Week: 24-20 win over Pitt
This Week: at Purdue
Prediction: Iowa 24 PUR 13

Back up quarterback CJ Beathard lead a second half comeback at Pitt last week and it looks like the Hawkeyes have a QB controversy brewing.

10. Michigan (6)

Last Week: 26-10 loss to Utah
This Week: Minnesota
Prediction: MICH 17 MIN 13

The Wolverine offense has been abysmal against power 5 foes and a QB change might be on the horizon.

11. Minnesota (10)

Last Week: 24-7 win over San Jose State
This Week: at Michigan
Prediction: MIN 13 MICH 17

Pretty solid team, but they can't pass. Hard to see them going into the Big House and taking back the Little Brown Jug.

12. Illinois (11)

Last Week: 42-35 win over Texas State
This Week: at Nebraska
Prediction: NEB 37 ILL 24

Wes Lunt is good, their defense, not so much.

13. Purdue (13)

Last Week: 35-13 win over Southern Illinois
This Week: Iowa
Prediction: PUR 13 Iowa 24

Two wins now.

14. Northwestern (14)

Last Week: 24-7 win over Western Illinois
This Week: at Penn State
Prediction: NW 13 PSU 30

First win in a while.

Rutgers Bounces Back With Win Over Navy