Rutgers' problems just accelerated. If the email problem with their coach, Flood, wasn't bad enough,now four of their defensive backs have just been arrested for assault and other charges. One of them was Nadir Barnwell, the DB involved in the email problem. The other three were a red-shirt junior, a junior and a red-shirt sophomore. No knowledge by me as to their assignment on the roster as far as starting status or reserve status. Really have to feel for Rutgers as their reputation as a school of academic quality is taking some serious hits lately. Barnwell was presumably out for academic reasons already but the loss of the others must be a blow to their defensive back depth. If this is as bad as it sounds then Falk and the receiver corps might have a field day in Jersey.
When it rains, it pours
- Thread starter kayak15
- Start date
And this, as a distraction, could really hit them hard. This kind of stuff really affects how a team gels.
Yup, one hell of a distraction a week and a half away from their first real test. Their defensive backfield was already the weak link in the defense and now this just prior to facing Leach's air raid. It will take a major accomplishment by their coaching staff to keep the team focused, especially the defensive squad. I like to see the Cougs win, of course, and will accept any advantage we can get but I can't help having sympathy for Rutgers.
I was thinking this game would be a toss up because they got us last year and we were playing them in Jersey...
But after all this... several of the players arrested were starters in their secondary. That's about the worst place to lose people against us.
I'm marking this one down as a probable win.
But after all this... several of the players arrested were starters in their secondary. That's about the worst place to lose people against us.
I'm marking this one down as a probable win.
4 DB's but 5 players, all together… And one of these players' brother has a warrant out but on the lamb for this… And realize, this alleged "offense" was committed in April over $900 bucks and some Mary Jane. Flood saw this coming...
Well they had 2 CBs and a starting Safety just get arrested. I'm not superstitious. I'm a realist. If you lose 3 of your best secondary against a team that has 8 wide receivers that they will be cycling at you in quick succession it's probably not going to go over well.
Ominous news for Rutgers as it gears up to kick off the season.
But I'm reminded of how awful the 2014 Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be in the preseason based on injuries, last year, etc. 4 months later they were a blown call away from playing Seattle for a Super Bowl berth. So I'm not expecting the loss of some redshirts and a lingering coaching scandal to be the difference between a W and an L.
But I'm reminded of how awful the 2014 Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be in the preseason based on injuries, last year, etc. 4 months later they were a blown call away from playing Seattle for a Super Bowl berth. So I'm not expecting the loss of some redshirts and a lingering coaching scandal to be the difference between a W and an L.
Seems like last season they were going with a ton of inexperience in the secondary and it didn't seem to hurt them too bad.
True junior Barnwell wasn't going to play this year because of academics. He was going to redshirt this year.
True soph. Boggs was going to start in place of Barnwell, but has a history of being injured. So fingers were crossed that he make it through the game. Junior Cioffi who was moved to FS may go back to CB. Cioffi is a junior and has started 10 games at CB over the last 2 years.
RS junior Stephenson was a co-starter last year at FS. He was expected to split time with Cioffi. Now Hunt (started few games at FS last year) will slide back over to FS from SS.
RS junior Peele was on thin ice for a long time. Originally a WR who was having a strong freshman year before moving to CB and starting the last half of his freshman year. Last year was suspended for the season. Starting this past spring at WR, but moved back to CB because the WR position has depth. Was running 3rd team before this incident.
Starters now:
CB true frosh Austin. Austin is a mid year transfer from a prep school. He's a 4 star to won the job back in the spring.
CB true junior Cioffi. Cioffi has started 10 games at CB and played in 25 games overall. He will probably see time at CB and FS.
CB RS frosh Wharton. Wharton was running with the first team during spring and early fall camp until Boggs exploded on to the scene during camp. Wharton was having a strong camp, but Boggs just blew everyone away. Wharton could slide back into the starting role if Cioffi stays at FS.
SS RS junior Jacobs has started several game over the last 2 years at SS and LB. As a RS frosh he played LB at 210. He moved back to SS last year. He had a game changing INT against Michigan last year late in the second half. He's a solid player, but doesn't make the WOW plays. Kiy Hester is expected back for the WSU game. He's coming in with the hype as a 4 star transfer from U of Miami. He has lived up to the hype so far in camp.
FS RS soph Hunt. Hunt was a surprise last year as he pushed his way up the depth charts to earn several starts. His play earned him a scholarship halfway through the season last year. His father was RB at U. of Minnesota back in the late 80s, so it's not a complete surprise that Hunt is a good player.
The cornerback situation is thin. It now appears Rutgers will have 5 listed CB for the Washington State game. The only thing that may help Rutgers is the depth at safety. Several of them have played CB in the past. That will give Rutgers more available players at CB for the game than the 5 listed.
Waters graduated
Barnwell suspended
Goodwin is still on the team at RB. He started in place of Cioffi , who was injured for that game, but is still on the team.
Last year Stephenson split time at FS with Aiken (gone) and Hunt who's back.
I wouldn't put too much into that consider 9 different guys starter at least 3 games last year in the secondary. You can look at it as good thing or a bad thing. Having followed the team I see it as a upgrade. Rutgers bought in 4 star guys expected to start by Washington State game. Also, they have 2 young kids from florida who were recruited by the Big 3 in Fla. and several Big Ten schools. I mean you can't replace the experience, but you have better overall players out on the field now.
This what happens when you build your team the wrong way.One would guess that their recruiting overlooked the character issue with these guys. i would also guess that their criminal activity program goes back further except that they had not gotten identified and arrested earlier. Their coach will soon to be gone. You reap what you sow. i do not feel sorry for Rutgers.
Sounds like they should arrest the whole starting lineup for a massive upgrade in talent.
Yeah but athletic ability AND experience is what matters against our offense.
Why would Flood risk his job trying to get Barnwell eligible?... Because he needed him.
Our offense is about running the secondary exhausted. We cycle in WRs after WRs after WRs wearing the secondary out. If the secondary is thin and in experienced they are toast.
4 star gabe marks didn't play last year. 4 star Kyrin Priester who maybe our best wasn't on the team last year, and 4 star Tavares Martin wasn't either. Add in Biletnikoff watchlist Cracraft and Dom Williams... and a few freshmen are supposed to stop all that..that have never seen the offense? Forget it. We'll throw for 450+ easy...that's if we play poorly. If we play well we could roast for 600+
So, what you are telling us is that even though the Rutgers staff had Boggs and Stephenson as number one on their depth chart and Peele as second string (according to their SB Nation site as of yesterday), that this is actually a good thing because the replacements are better.
OK, good to know.
This is what your reporters are saying… That just isn't a good looking picture, no matter how you spin it.
https://rutgers.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1798741
Especially against a team that runs out four WR's on every play. You need depth. The depth is gone for Rutgers. The backup to the backup will be playing against a first string WR for WSU. That cannot be a good thing.
It is possible that in the short term that Rutgers pulls together and plays out of their mind for a few games. Longterm if these players stay suspended, Rutgers is in a world of hurt.
I think it hurts them the most short term because they have to learn on the fly, and against us is particularly brutal trial by fire in the passing game. The B1G likes to run a lot. So they might be able to hang with good run stuffing, but going against us week 2 has to be a nightmare for them.
The incident took place in the spring and no arrested were made until now after an investigation. It appears certain people within the administration were aware, but didn't let the AD or Flood know about it. Based on Flood past action I don't think he would stick his neck out like that. He is known for going to bat for his players, but not when they are completely wrong.
Several things you must know before judging Flood or Rutgers:
1) Over the last few months AD Hermann has flushed out a few rats in the athletic dept. who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to undermine Flood because of what happened to former AD Mulcahy. When Flood was hired he replaced some people who earned their job through the former AD.
2) Now current school president Barchi is learning the hard way. He too has started flushing people out who sour on the lack of opportunity to move up regardless of change in leadership.
3) Local media could give a rats *ss about Rutgers. nj.com/Star-ledger is known for dragging any and everyone through the mud for a story. Think of TMZ. They spend more time on working the rats within Rutgers for stories. The current sports edition went on record to say he can't stand Rutgers, so anything related to Rutgers is made bigger than what it is. Listen to this clip and tell me Rutgers has a problem with personnel. http://www.scarletknights.com/sports/m-footbl/rutu-m-footbl-body.html The first question is from a nj.com reporter who accidently told on his mole.
The last 2 AD and president have lost their job because of nj.com/Star Ledger. The local media has tried to get the current basketball coach (Eddie Jordan) even though it's only his second season. They have asked for women's basketball coach (C Vivian Stringer) head last year and former Greg Schiano. Schiano jumped ship to Tampa Bay because of what happened to the last 2 AD. Schiano said so in a recent interview. The Rutgers 1000 and certain people within the AD office and Administration wish to see Rutgers return to playing Princeton weekly. Big time football (sports) are evil and goes against everything college stands for. Even Governor Christie has gone on record to blast nj.com/star ledger. NJ where we eat our own.
I gotta hand it to the guy, that is some world-class spin--if he's not a politician, he missed his calling. He just stepped up to the podium and said "we're gonna win this fight by hurting your hand with our face" without so much as a wry grin on his face.
I don't think Flood is a bad person. I think he's trying to do what he can to keep the team together.
NJ media does seem harsh. The articles I've read have been pretty brutal. That seems like their is something personal between the journalists and the University.
Boggs is a great athlete who at times doesn't play within the system. He was starting to show an understanding for the defense this year, but still has WTF moments. Wharton is a solid player who isn't as flashy as Boggs. IMO Boggs flashy style is what moved him ahead of Wharton this fall. One makes flashy plays, then gives up a big play. The other is solid all the time, but doesn't make any WOW plays. Stephenson is actually listed as a co-starter with Cioffi. Peele wasn't second string. He has been in and out of trouble for the last year. Peele was going to have to earn PT over a true freshman (Adams). What I'm telling you about these guys is based off of what I see. I'm a former DB at Rutgers and Colorado and now coach in NJ. I'm at the Hale Center/practice area all the time.
I like bobby and Shawn, but the media has been banned from practice this week because of what nj.com/star ledger did a week ago at the scrimmage. They did a play by play of the scrimmage with down and distance describing every play in detail. Why not just scout for the opponents. What the media has been reporting is hearsay on personnel based on spring and early fall camp. Because the media doesn't have full access to practice anymore stories like the suspension give everyone juice flowing.
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You're trying to make me out to be Penn State nutcase. I played at CU and saw a lot worse sh*t than what's going on at Rutgers. When I got to Rutgers I saw how the media can take a story about an anthill and make it into second coming of the moon landing. I'm not sure where you came up with me saying Rutgers was going to beat WSU anyway. I've never posted anything about who would win. All I've tried to do was give insight to the other side. Too often fans of one team only see their side. I been visiting this site for a few years because of the ties to CU and what I've come to realize is WSU fans are similar to Rutgers. Can things get any worse?
I guess when I read that having 2 starters and a backup arrested in the secondary as an improvement--especially when you've got a pass-heavy team coming to town--then yes, I find it a bit, shall I say, goofy. But I don't put you in penn state crazy category, just a very enthusiastic homer. No crime committed...You're trying to make me out to be Penn State nutcase. I played at CU and saw a lot worse sh*t than what's going on at Rutgers. When I got to Rutgers I saw how the media can take a story about an anthill and make it into second coming of the moon landing. I'm not sure where you came up with me saying Rutgers was going to beat WSU anyway. I've never posted anything about who would win. All I've tried to do was give insight to the other side. Too often fans of one team only see their side. I been visiting this site for a few years because of the ties to CU and what I've come to realize is WSU fans are similar to Rutgers. Can things get any worse?
You're trying to make me out to be Penn State nutcase. I played at CU and saw a lot worse sh*t than what's going on at Rutgers. When I got to Rutgers I saw how the media can take a story about an anthill and make it into second coming of the moon landing. I'm not sure where you came up with me saying Rutgers was going to beat WSU anyway. I've never posted anything about who would win. All I've tried to do was give insight to the other side. Too often fans of one team only see their side. I been visiting this site for a few years because of the ties to CU and what I've come to realize is WSU fans are similar to Rutgers. Can things get any worse?
Don't worry cubuff we all know how stupid the media can be sometimes. I understand the situation at Rutgers many cougs do. Since we are playing Rutgers this year obviously people are rooting for any advantage we can get, so please don't misconstrue that for a lack of sympathy.
Rutgers has a hard time because of the way the media is in the northeast. It's not a fan of football..it wants to always make it about basketball, or the yankees. It's really unfortunate because Schiano showed that you can win at Rutgers. It's unfortunate that people see it as a problem instead of a positive.
