2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview

Greg Schiano’s stated goal of building a consistent winner at Rutgers is about to face its first major test. After three straight bowl appearances — the first time that has happened at RU — the Scarlet Knights will try to extend that streak despite losing four of the best players in the program’s history: running back Ray Rice, offensive tackle Jeremy Zuttah, defensive tackle Eric Foster and placekicker Jeremy Ito. But Schiano, suddenly the dean of Big East coaches despite being 42, is optimistic that another bowl bid will be in the offing. “I don’t think there has been a time in our program where freshman to senior we have been as talented as we are now — which is something exciting for our program,” he says. “The uncertainty, the unknown, makes you a little apprehensive. But I believe in these guys.”

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Knights

Two areas of concern will determine whether Rutgers heads to a bowl for the fourth straight year. The first, of course, is replacing Ray Rice. The other is retooling an offensive line that was arguably the finest the program has ever had. Complicating the running back situation is Kordell Young’s return from major knee surgery. Young, Rice’s heir apparent, was hurt in the third game of the season and was still limited in the spring. But if quarterback Mike Teel gets time to operate, the Knights may only need a respectable ground game to complement what should be the Big East’s best passing attack. Teel, on the verge of becoming Rutgers’ career passing leader, has two returning 1,000-yard receivers in Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood. After ranking 17th in total defense a year ago, the Knights should be even better on that side of the ball because of the depth along the defensive line and experience at linebacker and in the secondary. The defensive backfield will be one of the Big East’s best. If Ryan D’Imperio regains his playmaking form at middle linebacker after being slowed last year as he recovered from a shattered leg bone, Rutgers’ defense could carry this team early until the uncertainty on offense is settled. A fourth straight trip to a bowl game seems to be a given.

Possessing what should be the Big East’s most entertaining passing game will help offset the loss of Rice, who left for the NFL early after rushing for 2,012 yards as a junior last season. Having a healthy Mike Teel at quarterback will be a huge plus as well. Despite an injury to his throwing hand that nagged him most of last season, Teel became only the second player in Rutgers history to pass for 3,000 yards. He also oversaw an offense that was the first in major college history to feature a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Both of those receivers, Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, are back. “Of course, no one is going to replace Ray Rice,” says Teel. “But we have some young running backs that are very talented. As far as production as an offense, I don’t see us missing much of a beat.”

Rutgers has not enjoyed four straight winning seasons since 1977-80.

Quarterbacks

Teel played the final nine games with an injury to his throwing hand and thumb yet still passed for 3,147 yards and 20 touchdowns. Another year like that will make him the school’s career leader in both categories. But the fifth-year senior’s legacy remains incomplete because of Rutgers’ failure to win a Big East title. In addition, he still has more career interceptions (36) than touchdown passes (34). No player has a better grasp of the offense, however, which is why Teel again figures to take 90 percent of the snaps. His limited mobility behind a rebuilt offensive line may be the only thing that changes that. Jabu Lovelace, for now, will be the backup, but his role is mostly as a specialist in the gun-run set. Lovelace was Rutgers’ second-leading rusher last year with 332 yards, but he attempted only 23 passes. Michigan State transfer Dom Natale, who missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery, will make a strong push for the No. 2 spot.

Running backs

A running back-by-committee approach may be the answer to replacing Rice, depending on how Kordell Young responds following knee surgery and whether redshirt freshman Jourdan Brooks, a bruising 234-pounder with surprising quickness, can live up to his promise. Young was Rice’s backup last season until he suffered a knee injury in the third game of the year. He was held out of the spring and won’t experience his first contact again until this summer. Brooks arrived as a 255-pound fullback but slimmed down and switched positions. He has impressed in practice ever since. Sophomore Mason Robinson will also be part of the committee after rushing for 202 yards (on a 5.6 average) upon being promoted to Rice’s backup when Young went down.

Receivers

Before last season, Rutgers had produced only a single 1,000-yard receiver in 139 years of football. Then the Knights had two on the same offense, with Britt (1,232 yards) and Underwood (1,100) both surpassing the former school record. Add explosive Tim Brown into the wide receiver mix, as well as solid pass-catching tight end Kevin Brock, and Rutgers should feature one of the best passing games in the country. The Knights should get some help from some newcomers as well. One to watch is Keith Stroud, an impressive athlete who enrolled in school in January and was able to participate in spring practice. One note for Rutgers fans: Enjoy the dazzling play of Britt while you can. The 6'4", 205-pound junior could be NFL-bound after this season.

Offensive linemen

How good has Rutgers’ recent recruiting been as far as offensive linemen? The Knights are about to find out. Center Ryan Blaszczyk is the only starter returning to the same position he played last year. But sophomore Anthony Davis, who earned freshman All-America honors last year at right guard, shouldn’t have much trouble adapting to a shift to left tackle. The coaches feel that the 6'6", 325-pounder is more suited to play tackle than guard. Kevin Haslam, a part-time starter at right guard last year, shifts to the left side. Redshirt freshman Caleb Ruch will open at right guard next to fifth-year senior (and first-time starter) Mike Gilmartin. All of the backups are either freshmen or sophomores, but many were highly regarded recruits. One of those is 6'8", 305-pound true freshman Art Forst, who worked at right tackle in the spring after enrolling in school in January.

Defensive linemen

Rutgers should be deep, skilled and experienced on the defensive line, with Gary Watts, George Johnson, Jamaal Westerman and Alex Silvestro again sharing time at end. Westerman led the team with eight sacks last year, giving him 20 for his career. Senior Pete Tverdov returns at one tackle. The other tackle could be Westerman, who saw time at both end and tackle in the spring, or incoming freshman Scott Vallone, a highly regarded recruit. Vantrise Studivant, who was expected to vie for a starting spot, left the team in the spring. The Knights appear to finally be moving toward a bigger, more physical defensive line — though quickness is still a strength.

Linebackers

The return to health of middle linebacker Ryan D’Imperio should improve this unit dramatically. It can use the help after lacking playmaking ability a year ago. D’Imperio was set to be the starter until shattering his leg in spring practice in 2007, and he didn’t make it back until the third game of the year. Even then, his mobility was limited as he played with screws in his leg to help the healing process. The screws were removed in the spring, and D’Imperio has been bouncing around, back to his old form, ever since. Kevin Malast returns at the weak-side spot, with Damaso Munoz, recovering from shoulder surgery, likely to shift to the strong side. The undersized Munoz switched to the middle last year because of D’Imperio’s limitations. Sophomore Antonio Lowery and redshirt freshman Manny Abreu, a major recruit, appear ready to make their presence felt.

Defensive backs

Courtney Greene’s decision to pass on the NFL Draft to return for his senior year changed this from an area of concern to one of strength — and one of the Big East’s top units. Greene, a fourth-year starter at free safety, is one of the leaders on defense and has led the Knights in tackles in two of his three seasons. Starting cornerbacks (and twins) Jason and Devin McCourty, both solid and experienced, are back as well. Joe Lefeged made such an impression as an impact player as a true freshman last year that there isn’t a lot of concern about him replacing four-year starter Ron Girault at strong safety. As solid as the starters are, however, there is some real concern about secondary depth.

Specialists

Rutgers worked out the ideal situation by having promising placekicker San San Te redshirt as a freshman last year while learning under Ito, the best in school history at the position. Te has shown the leg strength and demeanor to suggest he will be a good one. Replacing Ito as a punter is a little trickier, even though Rutgers finished last in the Big East in punting. Sophomore Teddy Dellaganna, a junior college transfer who redshirted last year, is expected to take over. Brown could be one of the top return specialists in the league.

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