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This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll. The entire media poll will be revealed by the league on July 29.
No. 5 RUTGERS
RU instant analysis: See Ray run. That’s been Rutgers’ offense the past three seasons – the running of Ray Rice. But after a three-year run with Rice that resulted in 26 victories (by comparison, Rutgers only won 27 games the previous 10 years combined before Rice), Rice is gone. Rutgers’ two 1,000-yard wideouts – sophomore Kenny Britt and senior Tiquan Underwood, who ranked first and third in the Big East in receiving yards last year – do return along with senior QB Mike Teel. However, with defenses no longer having to stack the line of scrimmage to stop Rice, I expect Teel’s numbers (3,147 yards, 20 TDs, 13 INTs last year) to suffer the most. Defensively, All-Big East DT Eric Foster is gone and K Jeremy Ito, who had a league-high 23 field goals last year, also must be replaced.
Fun with numbers: The Scarlet Knights return 16 starters – luckily for USF none are named Rice. In the past three seasons, excluding games against Rutgers, USF allowed 125 yards rushing per game. By comparison, Rice averaged 180 yards in three games against the Bulls.
If I could attend one RU game this season it would be: Rutgers at Pittsburgh, Nov. 8. Why this game? Well, it’s a little more than a six-hour drive from Newark to Pittsburgh, but lucky for Coach Greg Schiano just past the halfway mark is a little town called State College, Pa. I’m sure after three-plus hours on the road, Schiano will want to pull the car over, say, at the Penn State president’s office. He can say hello, stretch his legs and drop off an updated resume. I’m curious to see who will coach Rutgers at Pitt in case Schiano’s car mysteriously breaks down and he spends a few extra days in State College.
Why I picked RU No. 5? The Scarlet Knights have that 3-4/4-3 Big East look this year. They should go 3-0 at home in Big East play (Syracuse, UConn and Louisville), but have the league’s toughest road schedule – at Cincinnati, Pitt, USF and West Virginia. They do have enough returning talent – and three automatic non-conference wins against Navy, Morgan State and Army – to get bowl-eligible. But I can’t see them doing much more than that and they seem destined for a middle of the pack Big East finish.
RU will finish better than 5th if: they can avoid losing their first two Big East games at West Virginia and Cincinnati. Also, Teel must prove he can be an accurate passer when defenses don’t have to stack the line against Rice. I don’t think he can.
RU will finish worse than 5th if: they don’t find adequate replacements for Rice, Foster and Ito. Last year with Rice, Rutgers was 3-4 in league play. So how can they fare better without him and also without All-Big East OLs Jeremy Zuttah and Pedro Sosa? Also if the Schiano to Penn State rumors heat up during the season, that could turn into a big distraction.
This is how I voted in the Big East’s media poll.
5. Rutgers
6. Louisville
7. UConn
8. Syracuse
Coming Tuesday: No. 4
Posted by Rick H, San Francisco... on 07/02 at 04:32 PM
I love it when out of town reporters speculate on Greg Schiano and the Penn State head coaching job. While, admittedly, it gets me agitated, I can rest easy with the knowledge that you have no idea what you’re talking about. As misplaced as South Florida is in a Northeastern sports conference, Tampa beat writer’s speculation on the movement of New Jersey’s head coach is even more off the mark. Schiano’s not held to Rutgers by leg irons, but you’ve got absolutely no evidence to even hint at the idea that he would leave the school for Penn State - none. The speculation is groundless.
Posted by Allan S Rosen MD, on 07/01 at 03:27 PM
Although Rutgers does have a campus in Newark, the football team plays at the New Brunswick campus.
Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 07/01 at 03:13 PM
Chris, you were in a three-way tie for fifth last year, or a three-way tie for seventh, however you want to look at it. And you’re going to be better this year without Rice, three starters on OL, Foster, Ito, etc. Also, last year you won a total of three games with home games against Cincy, USF, WVU and Pittsburgh. Now you’re going to have a better record playing those four on the road? And why would Schiano leave? The same reason every other coach that says they’ll never leave State U. leaves - more money. Good luck this season.
Posted by Mannie Cherrier, Tampa, Fl on 07/01 at 03:01 PM
As a Rutgers fan and alumni, I trust we will compete for the Big East title this year. Consequently, many will be surprised at how well we will run the ball this year.
But, even if we lose them all with the exception of one game - against South Florida and it’s overrated QB., I’ll consider it disappointing, but a satisfying year.
Posted by Kaz Kazmani, New Jersey on 07/01 at 11:43 AM
RU’s problem last year was it couldnt stop the run and the special team was beyond bad.
If RU fixes those two areas this year, RU will compete for the Big East.
And of course, everyone knows Schiano is going to “greener pastures” at PSU. Because PSU is a lot greenr than Michigam and Miami. Yup, its a done deal. Schiano is going to SPU. <psst - that’s what canes and wolverine fans said too>
Posted by Phil The Thrill, Cleveland,OH on 07/01 at 10:55 AM
Reconfigured O that’ll throw60 times a game out of necessity. Weak D. No depth on special teams.Stadium expansion on a sinkhole mudpit. Fans forced to pay almost double to watch a lousy schedule.
4-8 to 6-6 at best and 6th in Big East.Wins over creampuffs Army,Morgan State and Syracuse assured. Probables against Navy. Reach’s for Louiville and maybe a USF. That’s it.
Schiano missed the Hot Iron and could be I-80 bound as you say to Kutztown State,not Penn State, if he still has an overall losing record after 8 years and millions invested.
Wonder what the Kniight spin will be as the slide since Leonards exit continues further?
Posted by Chris Jones, New York, NY on 07/01 at 10:36 AM
While I can see that as a USF writer you’d not know a lot about Rutgers—but 5th? That’s just bad. They return the entire secondary including Courtney Greene. They also bring back the entire LB and DLine except Foster. This was a top-15 defense in ‘07.
RB and Oline are the keys but if they can run the ball RU is better than 3-4 in conference. How could you see Pitt with its QB questions ahead? Based on what? One rivalry game victory! They were 5-7 in ‘07 and yet to have a winning record under Wanny.
As for Schiano—why on earth would he leave now after securing a top-20 recruiting class for 2009? Maybe you should have looked that up before concoting your little car-ride/resume story. He’s not going anywhere.
Posted by Hector Jimenez, Forsyth, GA on 06/30 at 12:30 PM
We agree on a second one....RU will have a minimum 4 league losses (3 of the roads and 1 away).
I agree with you that Schiano is looking at PSU and if RU ends up having another 3-4 year in the league then he will begin to realize that what he accomplished at RU previously is about as good as its going to get....and greener pastures are out there.
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Posted by Rick H, San Francisco... on 07/02 at 04:40 PM
...and both Michigan and Miami would’ve paid Schiano considerably more than he makes at SUNJ, so I don’t think you can cite that premise as your provenance; he’s already turned down more money.