Rutgers, kinda early

[Coug95man2]

So looking ahead a bit, the investigation on Floods contact with Professors will release it's findings late this week. This could not only affect Flood but also the student athletes. Something to be aware of this week that could potentially affect our game.

Also it looks like Darius Hamilton (Team Captain and a serious, serious DT) will be out with no indication of when he'll be back in. Looks like a knee issue.

Other notable on the injury list: CB Nadir Hamilton (Also potential academic issue)

Bad news for WSU?
They have a backfield that is incredible. Local hype says they have the best backfield in the nation. Phil Steele says they are the 16th best in the nation, still nothing to sneeze at and something for us to be concerned about with our kind of Offense.

Numbers? "Only three of the top 60 rushing attacks in the nation last season accumulated more than 2,000 yards without a 600-yard rusher " per Ryan Dunleavy at app.com's article and Rutgers was one out of three that did so without a 500-yard rusher. They will pound our Dline, pound our Dline, pound our Dline. We shall see our Dline's worth at this game.

--Know it's early but with the release coming this week, thought I'd share the article and put forth the investigation is going to be released this week.

http://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2015/08/28/rutgers-football-backfield-best/71292442/

 

[Cougatron]

We'll see how this all shakes out. I think if they can get rid of Flood they will because Greg Schiano is available and they love how he built them the program. So if there was a way to swap out flood for Schiano don't be surprised if that happens should something come up with Flood that is fireable.

As to the injuries. I honestly don't like winning that way...but...if it works in our advantage...I won't complain about it either. The DL / CB are probably the worst positions to lose people at going against us.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

That is almost easier to prep for, though.

Stack 8 or 9 and make their QB beat us. I like our chances.

Yes, the koolaid runs freely this time of year.

 

[CrimsonWazzu]

I like our DLine. I really like our LB's. It will be a really good test.

Getting them into 3rd and long looks like it'll be a big key.

Regardless, can they stop our offense?

 

[BiggsCoug]

Jersey kids give up when the going gets tough. WSU scores 4 unanswered touchdowns, Rutgers finger pointing starts. WSU runs it out to 55-0.

 

[kayak15]

We'll see how this all shakes out. I think if they can get rid of Flood they will because Greg Schiano is available and they love how he built them the program. So if there was a way to swap out flood for Schiano don't be surprised if that happens should something come up with Flood that is fireable.

As to the injuries. I honestly don't like winning that way...but...if it works in our advantage...I won't complain about it either. The DL / CB are probably the worst positions to lose people at going against us.

I seriously doubt that Flood will be canned. From what I can gather on the Rutgers board, he sent an email to a professor asking about Nadir Barnwell's status. (Barnwell was a projected starting CB and who names their baby "Nadir" anyway? Did Mom know the definition of the word?) A no-no as coaches are not supposed to contact faculty directly about their athlete's academic standing. The professor receiving the email apparently felt intimidated and complained. Should have gone through the academic advisory staff. Mountain/molehill. Apparently an honest miscue as Flood is regarded at Rutgers as having integrity and an honest concern for his players' academic progress. The faculty union have registered no complaint over Flood's error. Unless there is something that I am unaware of, then I expect Flood to receive a verbal reprimand and warned not to do it again. Comparing this with the ongoing problems at No. Carolina, Baylor, Illinois, USC and Florida State: This is small potatoes. SEC fans must be amused by it all.

As concerning his replacement with Schiano, I can see that but do not regard it as likely or even a pressing issue in Jersey. There were a lot of questions and expressions of anxiety regarding Flood's coaching abilities prior to the start of last year's schedule. But, after a nice record in 2014 and a satisfactory recruiting class this year, that has disappeared. They do indeed remember the good days with Schiano and if the 2015 record is subpar then, yes, I can see them replacing Flood. But, right now, doubtful.

 

[kayak15]

Rutgers does indeed have a nice stable of running backs but their offensive line is mostly made up of replacements. Maybe the restructured line has not yet gelled by the second game. We can't count on that as the replacements are apparently well regarded. It will be a good test for our defensive front's quality and depth.

 

[Knight Shift]

Hi Wazzu Fans, Rutgers fan here. Flood is safe, and I would be shocked if he was fired. And I doubt our current AD would bring back Schiano. He did great things in pulling RU football out of the dumps, but he could not get RU to the next level.
What about Leach? Is it do or die for him this year? How many years does he get to right the ship? I read Leach's book, "Swing Your Sword." Intriguing story. But you gotta start winning sometime. . .
Looking at another slugfest. Don't underestimate our offense.

 

[knightfan7]

Jersey kids give up when the going gets tough. WSU scores 4 unanswered touchdowns, Rutgers finger pointing starts. WSU runs it out to 55-0.

Jersey kids give up? Help me here. Who came back to beat who last year?

Flood is going nowhere. Hamilton is indeed a concern. Paul James (remember him?) is healthy, Last time Josh Hicks took the field he ran for over 200 yards vs UNC. Leonte Carroo, the 1st team all Big10 WR is back as is every skill position player except the FB and QB (something we have in common) who started or scored point against you guys. Turay who had 2 sacks in that game is back.

West coast teams traditionally have a tough time playing on the east coast. I'm expecting a high scoring back and forth game. I'm just glad RU doesn't have to face Halliday again. Tough SOB.

 

[kayak15]

Hi Wazzu Fans, Rutgers fan here. Flood is safe, and I would be shocked if he was fired. And I doubt our current AD would bring back Schiano. He did great things in pulling RU football out of the dumps, but he could not get RU to the next level.
What about Leach? Is it do or die for him this year? How many years does he get to right the ship? I read Leach's book, "Swing Your Sword." Intriguing story. But you gotta start winning sometime. . .
Looking at another slugfest. Don't underestimate our offense.

Welcome, Shift, and thanks for spelling Wazzu correctly. Tell your cohorts in Jersey that the ou ending is for Missouri.

Leach is fine although there are some grumbles from the peanut gallery. Recruiting is up, the APR is up, offense is up and the overall culture has been greatly improved. Unfortunately, this has yet to be demonstrated in the win/loss column and, as the more impatient point out, that is the bottom line. So, yes, we have to start winning sometime. But right now his seat is nowhere near the "hot" status regardless of what some of the media have speculated. I would put it at a mildly impatient and anxious warm.

Glad to hear your appraisal of Flood's status. I would rate your email contretemps as only slightly above "petty and silly" status.

Come back after your Norfolk State game and let us know what you saw and think. Both schools should be 1-0 after the first week and our confrontation will be the first real test for both.

This is assuming that we actually play Portland State this Saturday. Forest fires here in Washington state cover over 750 square miles and that doesn't include the fires in Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. No idea what is going on in British Columbia but doubt that it is good. Depending on the direction of the wind, air quality in Pullman has ranged from blue skies to "hazardous" with students going to class with surgical masks. So it is possible that the game may need to be rescheduled and, consequently, our game with you would be our first of the 2015 season. Hardly an ideal situation for our dear Cougs.

So feel free to return with observations from your cupcake game and I would expect that I or another of the posters will respond on your board. If, of course, we actually have a game experience to respond with.

 

[kayak15]

Jersey kids give up? Help me here. Who came back to beat who last year?

Flood is going nowhere. Hamilton is indeed a concern. Paul James (remember him?) is healthy, Last time Josh Hicks took the field he ran for over 200 yards vs UNC. Leonte Carroo, the 1st team all Big10 WR is back as is every skill position player except the FB and QB (something we have in common) who started or scored point against you guys. Turay who had 2 sacks in that game is back.

West coast teams traditionally have a tough time playing on the east coast. I'm expecting a high scoring back and forth game. I'm just glad RU doesn't have to face Halliday again. Tough SOB.

Relax. Biggs is just sarcastically regurgitating some of the nonsense posted on your board and this one prior to last year's game. We Cougs tend to laugh at ourselves. It saves others from going to the trouble to do so.

Yup, we expect everyone to concentrate on stopping our passing and we expect you to try to run it down our throats. As indicated, should be a well fought game with you holding a touchdown advantage from home field and the time difference. If our defense and special teams squads show no signs of improvement, then add another touchdown to that spread.

Keep in touch. Good luck with the mighty whoevers-they-are of Norfolk State.

 

[Cougatron]

Hi Wazzu Fans, Rutgers fan here. Flood is safe, and I would be shocked if he was fired. And I doubt our current AD would bring back Schiano. He did great things in pulling RU football out of the dumps, but he could not get RU to the next level.


What about Leach? Is it do or die for him this year? How many years does he get to right the ship? I read Leach's book, "Swing Your Sword." Intriguing story. But you gotta start winning sometime. . .
Looking at another slugfest. Don't underestimate our offense.

RU to the next level? Flood isn't going to take you there...in fact Schiano....actually WENT to the next level...he went from college coach to NFL coach. Also Schiano who took you to 11 wins and 5 bowls in a row... next level..you are still trying to get back to the level he got you to before he left.

And speaking of schiano...

he went 2-9, 1-11,5-7,4-7 his first 4 years at Rutgers...

Leach took us to a bowl game his 2nd year and never won less than 3 games...As you said yourself Schiano did great things in pulling RU out of the dumps...Leach is doing a better job than he did initially.

 

[Knight Shift]

RU to the next level? Flood isn't going to take you there...in fact Schiano....actually WENT to the next level...he went from college coach to NFL coach. Also Schiano who took you to 11 wins and 5 bowls in a row... next level..you are still trying to get back to the level he got you to before he left.

And speaking of schiano...

he went 2-9, 1-11,5-7,4-7 his first 4 years at Rutgers...

Leach took us to a bowl game his 2nd year and never won less than 3 games...As you said yourself Schiano did great things in pulling RU out of the dumps...Leach is doing a better job than he did initially.

I never said Flood was going to get Rutgers to the next level. Schiano got Rutgers out of the dumpster, and to a respectable program. 2006 was a great year (10 wins, not 11), and after that, we stayed mediocre. Remember, Flood was hired because Schiano left Rutgers in the lurch, Cristobal turned Rutgers down, and Flood was seen as a coach who could hold the 2012 recruiting class together, and he did, and it has paid dividends, including Carroo and Hamilton and Nova (even with his warts) in that class.
Flood has been learning on the job and improving each year. Flood has taken us to 2 bowls in his 2 seasons, and he did not do that bad last year. Rutgers got crushed by the big boys of the B1G, but we were not B1G ready in size. That has improved, and despite a tough schedule, we hope to be 7-5 or 8-4 this year.
Maybe Flood could get us to the next level. This year and next will determine if he is here for the long term. Some fans think he could be a slow grower like Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. The problem for Rutgers is how do you get to the top of the B1G East with Ohio State, Michigan with Harbaugh as HC, and Penn State's resurgence?

Wazzu has a similar problem in the PAC12 North with Oregon, Stanford and California's resurgence.

Lots of parallels between RU and Wazzu.

 

[Knight Shift]

Oh, and one other thing. Rutgers beat P5 out of conference opponents and Navy last year which was not too shabby.

 

[COUGinNCW]

I never said Flood was going to get Rutgers to the next level. Schiano got Rutgers out of the dumpster, and to a respectable program. 2006 was a great year (10 wins, not 11), and after that, we stayed mediocre. Remember, Flood was hired because Schiano left Rutgers in the lurch, Cristobal turned Rutgers down, and Flood was seen as a coach who could hold the 2012 recruiting class together, and he did, and it has paid dividends, including Carroo and Hamilton and Nova (even with his warts) in that class.
Flood has been learning on the job and improving each year. Flood has taken us to 2 bowls in his 2 seasons, and he did not do that bad last year. Rutgers got crushed by the big boys of the B1G, but we were not B1G ready in size. That has improved, and despite a tough schedule, we hope to be 7-5 or 8-4 this year.
Maybe Flood could get us to the next level. This year and next will determine if he is here for the long term. Some fans think he could be a slow grower like Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. The problem for Rutgers is how do you get to the top of the B1G East with Ohio State, Michigan with Harbaugh as HC, and Penn State's resurgence?

Wazzu has a similar problem in the PAC12 North with Oregon, Stanford and California's resurgence.

Lots of parallels between RU and Wazzu.

There is a slight difference in population density around the two schools.

 

[knightfan7]

Forgot to add. If anyone is coming east I hope you have a great time. If you're walking thru all the tailgates I'm sure you'll be invited to join more than one. Students be students but the rest of us would love to talk PAC12 and B1G football with you. Don't be shy.

Forget what you hear about us Jersey folks......we only eat our own. Visitors are ok in our book.

 

[Cougatron]

2006 was a great year (10 wins, not 11),The problem for Rutgers is how do you get to the top of the B1G East with Ohio State, Michigan with Harbaugh as HC, and Penn State's resurgence?

Wazzu has a similar problem in the PAC12 North with Oregon, Stanford and California's resurgence.

Lots of parallels between RU and Wazzu.

2006 - Record 11-2

Schiano made Rutgers. Rutgers in its entire history had only been to 1. Just 1 bowl game... in 90+ years before Schiano took over.

Flood took over a 9-4 program, and he went 9-4 the following year. Will he be able to take Rutgers further? I think that it could be possible, but probably unlikely.

Your recruiting is as follows (taken from 24/7 composite)

2015 - National #55 , Conference 11 out of 15
2014 - National #53 Conference 10 out of 15
2013 - National #50 Conference 10 out of 15
2012 - National #24 Conference 3 out of 15 (Schiano's last class handed off to Flood)
2011 - National #30 Conference 5 out of 15

So basically Schiano was recruiting at the top 25% of the Country and once Flood took over you guys took a pretty steep hit.
You guys sort of are riding that last Schiano wave, and after that 2012 class graduates (2015/2016 if RS) it will more than likely get much much harder for you guys.

I'm not saying you guys will fall off a cliff, but you are averaging about 10 out of 15 in the B1G for the future now. And that will put you guys like in the 4 to about 7 wins range area.

That's if Flood doesn't coach above or below the talent he has speculatively. It looks to be a much much harder climb going forward.

 

[Knight Shift]

2006 - Record 11-2

Schiano made Rutgers. Rutgers in its entire history had only been to 1. Just 1 bowl game... in 90+ years before Schiano took over.

Flood took over a 9-4 program, and he went 9-4 the following year. Will he be able to take Rutgers further? I think that it could be possible, but probably unlikely.

Your recruiting is as follows (taken from 24/7 composite)

2015 - National #55 , Conference 11 out of 15
2014 - National #53 Conference 10 out of 15
2013 - National #50 Conference 10 out of 15
2012 - National #24 Conference 3 out of 15 (Schiano's last class handed off to Flood)
2011 - National #30 Conference 5 out of 15

So basically Schiano was recruiting at the top 25% of the Country and once Flood took over you guys took a pretty steep hit.
You guys sort of are riding that last Schiano wave, and after that 2012 class graduates (2015/2016 if RS) it will more than likely get much much harder for you guys.

I'm not saying you guys will fall off a cliff, but you are averaging about 10 out of 15 in the B1G for the future now. And that will put you guys like in the 4 to about 7 wins range area.

That's if Flood doesn't coach above or below the talent he has speculatively. It looks to be a much much harder climb going forward.

Thanks for pointing that out Cougatron. Your knowledge of the Scarlet Knights is impressive. I stand corrected (and embarrassed) on 2006. Still can't believe it.
You sound like some of our fans about recruiting. Fair point. But we got killed by the Mike Rice scandal, bad news about our new AD and her alleged past abuse of players she coached, and some faux scandal of our then Defensive Coordinator Dave Cohen abusing a player. One thing we have learned is that one paper cut causes us to nearly bleed to death, but a program like Penn State can have their head chopped off, and they come back stronger than ever a few years later. You are lumping our 2013 and 2014 classes in the B1G, when we were not in the B1G. We were in a transition conference in 2013, and that was an awful year for us on the field.
Yeah, excuses, but it seems Flood has righted the ship. Time will tell if the classes of 2013-15 will haunt us, but Flood and his coaches have been good about identifying and developing under the radar guys like Kemoko Turay. Paul James was a walk on, and so was Michael Burton who is on the Detroit Lions now. We have quite a few under the radar guys.
We are hoping to follow the Wisconsin and Michigan State approach. We will see if hope results in winning.

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

FYI, Rutgers has a very strong corps of receivers, led by senior Leonte Caroo. Wazzou fans will remember Carroo from the first Rutgers offensive play last year.

 

[Cougatron]

Thanks for pointing that out Cougatron. Your knowledge of the Scarlet Knights is impressive. I stand corrected (and embarrassed) on 2006. Still can't believe it.
You sound like some of our fans about recruiting. Fair point. But we got killed by the Mike Rice scandal, bad news about our new AD and her alleged past abuse of players she coached, and some faux scandal of our then Defensive Coordinator Dave Cohen abusing a player. One thing we have learned is that one paper cut causes us to nearly bleed to death, but a program like Penn State can have their head chopped off, and they come back stronger than ever a few years later. You are lumping our 2013 and 2014 classes in the B1G, when we were not in the B1G. We were in a transition conference in 2013, and that was an awful year for us on the field.
Yeah, excuses, but it seems Flood has righted the ship. Time will tell if the classes of 2013-15 will haunt us, but Flood and his coaches have been good about identifying and developing under the radar guys like Kemoko Turay. Paul James was a walk on, and so was Michael Burton who is on the Detroit Lions now. We have quite a few under the radar guys.
We are hoping to follow the Wisconsin and Michigan State approach. We will see if hope results in winning.

I'm not saying it's impossible for you guys, and to be fair there are many teams that do incredibly well by picking players that really fit what they want to do, and maybe they don't have high ratings by the scouts, but they are still able to be developed into something great. That happens all the time.

As to Penn State...that program has a tremendous amount of power behind the engine. Joe Pa really was more of a figurehead, and while the actions of Penn State were absolutely horrible...they had enough of the engine still in place to crank it back up once the penalties were over. Happy Valley is as much of a recruiting juggernaut as there is in the northeast.

Penn State really has been leaning hard on one guy...Josh Gattis. He's a monster recruiter for them and that is specifically the guy who is taking Jersey kids out of Jersey.

I think you guys will be okay if you can get a really really strong defense together. Just having a strong defense will help you guys out a lot in the B1G.

 

[JBrown4435]

Who is Wazzou?

 

[Cougatron]

FYI, Rutgers has a very strong corps of receivers, led by senior Leonte Caroo. Wazzou fans will remember Carroo from the first Rutgers offensive play last year.

Yes and Rutgers fans should remember 2010 class Tracy Clark our 5th year senior with offers from Cal Poly and Portland State who was trying to press cover him. Fortunately he graduated...but his memory still lives on.

 

[MRICoug]

FYI, Rutgers has a very strong corps of receivers, led by senior Leonte Caroo. Wazzou fans will remember Carroo from the first Rutgers offensive play last year.

I remember that we had no secondary at all last year. Caroo is good, but lets not mark that play as some great athletic feat. He caught the ball wide open and ran. I may have been able to do all but the running......

You guys have Caroo, we have like 10 deep who can all play. I like ours better by far.

 

[beaced]

Jersey kids give up when the going gets tough. WSU scores 4 unanswered touchdowns, Rutgers finger pointing starts. WSU runs it out to 55-0.

Your first sentence is HILARIOUS.If anything,just the opposite. In the past TOUGHNESS was one of the things that held this team together.NOW,combined with Talent and Depth,it is the Force that gets us WINS.Including the ONE against the cooogs.

 

[Coug1990]

Your first sentence is HILARIOUS.If anything,just the opposite. In the past TOUGHNESS was one of the things that held this team together.NOW,combined with Talent and Depth,it is the Force that gets us WINS.Including the ONE against the cooogs.

You are correct, "one" against the Cougs. Unfortunately for you and Rutgers, the "one" came last season.

 

[Scout495]

You are correct, "one" against the Cougs. Unfortunately for you and Rutgers, the "one" came last season.

Beaced, I guess we are looking at 55-0 loss again this year. Maybe I should just go to the beach instead of the game.

 

[Coug1990]

Beaced, I guess we are looking at 55-0 loss again this year. Maybe I should just go to the beach instead of the game.

My post was funnier

 

[Scout495]

My post was funnier

Blue lot, black Toyota 4Runner limited with kayak racks. Cooler full of Ice cold Stella Artois and Heineken. Open invite for you coug fans to quench your thirst and talk about the game.

 

[JBrown4435]

Blue lot, black Toyota 4Runner limited with kayak racks. Cooler full of Ice cold Stella Artois and Heineken. Open invite for you coug fans to quench your thirst and talk about the game.

Uh, we live in the Pacific NW and have access to tons of good beer. Pass.

 

[Geoduck12]

Uh, we live in the Pacific NW and have access to tons of good beer. Pass.

Wow, get a generous invite and you dis it? WTH is that about.

 

[fingerdisco]

Uh, we live in the Pacific NW and have access to tons of good beer. Pass.

He'll have a case of Oly on hand just for you

 

[Coug95man2]

He'll have a case of Oly on hand just for you

Or maybe a little…

 

[fingerdisco]

Or maybe a little…

View embedded media

Why not both?

 

[Scout495]

Wow, get a generous invite and you dis it? WTH is that about.

The offer stands for anyone who treks cross country. I have been the beneficiary at numerous opposing team tailgates in the past and am just reciprocating the good will.

 

[405 Coug]

Thank you Scout, I might take you up on that, I will be at the game. So never having been there where is the Blue Lot, North,South, East or West of the stadium.

And excuse the beer snobs, any offer of a beer should be looked upon as a good thing from an opposing teams fan. So thanks again for your offer.

 

[Cougatron]

The offer stands for anyone who treks cross country. I have been the beneficiary at numerous opposing team tailgates in the past and am just reciprocating the good will.

I demand Ribs, Maryland Crab, Whiskey and then for desert salt water taffy and Mallowmars,

 

[fingerdisco]

I demand Ribs, Maryland Crab, Whiskey and then for desert salt water taffy and Mallowmars,

You'll get nothing and like it!

 

[Scout495]

Thank you Scout, I might take you up on that, I will be at the game. So never having been there where is the Blue Lot, North,South, East or West of the stadium.

And excuse the beer snobs, any offer of a beer should be looked upon as a good thing from an opposing teams fan. So thanks again for your offer.

The blue lot is on the northern end of the stadium. It's a mix of rowdy students with families mixed in but easy access to the stadium. Of course we will have some Duvel mixed in there for the elite. Lol

 

[Scout495]

I demand Ribs, Maryland Crab, Whiskey and then for desert salt water taffy and Mallowmars,

Of course Johnny will be flowing! Especially at the after tailgate to celebrate the win!

 

[JBrown4435]

Wow, get a generous invite and you dis it? WTH is that about.

The offer stands for anyone who treks cross country. I have been the beneficiary at numerous opposing team tailgates in the past and am just reciprocating the good will.

My bad guys, that post was supposed be a tongue in cheek joke about PacNW beer snobs. I'd be happy to drink any kind of beer with fellow football fans!