OFFENSE

New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was hired specifically to oversee a return to the pro-style offense that was instrumental in Rutgers’ breakout season in 2006. But it’s a true freshman tailback who may determine how successful the revamped unit is.

Savon Huggins is New Jersey’s first consensus No. 1 recruit to sign with Rutgers, choosing the Knights over Auburn, Notre Dame, Michigan State and North Carolina. He will try to revive a running game that finished 110th nationally last year.

The quarterback position is in the capable hands of Chas Dodd, who showed enough promise in eight starts as a true freshman — with a pair of 300-yard passing games — that he chased away Tom Savage, a Freshman All-American in 2009 who transferred to Arizona.

Beyond Huggins, the key to the offense — which is predicated on the run, features a fullback and relies heavily on the tight end — is how much improvement is shown from an offensive line that allowed an NCAA-record 61 sacks. Four starters return, but no jobs are guaranteed.

Veterans Mohamed Sanu and Mark Harrison, coming off an 829-yard receiving season, give Rutgers the best returning wide receiver tandem in the league. D.C. Jefferson is a weapon as a pass-catching tight end, as well.

DEFENSE

Rutgers’ once-stout defense was as much to blame as any area on the team for the Knights’ season-ending six-game losing streak, allowing 1,611 yards and 144 points over the final three games. Head coach Greg Schiano has streamlined the defense to make it a faster, more athletic unit, and four major position changes underscore his intentions: Strong-side linebacker Manny Abreu was moved to defensive end, middle linebacker Steve Beauharnais was switched to strong-side linebacker, free safety Khaseem Greene now starts at weak-side linebacker, and two-year cornerback starter David Rowe is the new free safety.

“I felt as I watched and I evaluated us as a defensive football team (during the offseason), we built this program, especially defensively, on speed, and I didn’t see that speed as I watched our video,” says Schiano, who fired one of his two defensive coordinators.

One driving force behind moving the 6'1", 215-pound Greene is to help Rutgers solve the spread offenses that have run roughshod over the defense in recent years.

Junior Scott Vallone, a rising star, anchors an otherwise inexperienced defensive line. But even Vallone, who has 25 consecutive starts, is in a new position, sliding over from the three-technique tackle spot to nose tackle.     

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker San San Te enters his fourth year as a starter as a known commodity: From 45 yards and in, he’s as solid as they get. The punting situation remains uncertain, with a chance that Sanu will handle those chores as well. Joe Lefeged’s special teams impact will be missed, but senior Mason Robinson is back to handle punt and kickoff returns.  

FINAL ANALYSIS

Can the line protect and run block? Will Huggins be as good as advertised? Will all the changes pay dividends immediately? Answer those questions and you’ll be able to get a better handle on the type of season Rutgers will have. The non-conference schedule is reasonable, and while a run at the Big East title may be a reach, a return at least to bowl- eligibility at 6–6 is expected.