2008 Season Preview: Linebackers

Linebacker play was not a strong point of the Rutgers football team in 2007.

Rushing defense certainly depends a lot on the play of the defensive line, but consider this statistic: in 2006, Rutgers improved from the #36 rushing defense in 2005, to a #17 ranking; surrendering 2.94 ypc, 101 yards per game, and 10 TDs. Those numbers were significantly worse in 2007. Rutgers ranked #60 in FBS vs. the run. They gave up 3.98 yards per carry, 156.9 yards per game, and 18 touchdowns.

There are several ways to fix that stat in 2008. Schiano can use his safeties in run support more often, but that has the drawback of leaving opposing WRs in single coverage. It also removes a safety valve to prevent big plays against top runners like Shady McCoy and Noel Devine. Beefing up the interior DL would help a lot vs. teams not named West Virginia and Navy; indeed, this appears to be in the cards. Most importantly however, will be to improve the play of a LB corps that struggled in 2007 to replace Quintero Frierson and Devraun Thompson. Brandon Renkart has moved on to the New York Jets, and the unit also sees the departure of assistant HC Darren Rizzi. Robert Fraser has replaced him on staff.

It is done

The SL doesn’t have it on their website, but they finally allowed Mulcahy to respond to their allegations today. That’s probably as much as we’re going to get. Time to put it behind us.

With camp starting in full swing today, obviously there is a lot going on at the moment. The Ledger had some early thoughts from the first practice. Jason Baum sent them some ticket information:

Just got this memo from Rutgers’ Jason Baum that all seven home games this season are sold out. That extends the sell-out streak to 17 consecutive games for the team, which is the longest streak in school history.

There is still a slight chance that additional single-game tickets may become available if visiting teams return a portion of their pre-determined allotment. However, away game tickets will be available to alumni and the general public beginning tomorrow at 12:01 a.m. at http://tickets.scarletknights.com.

We probably shouldn’t overreact yet to Kenny Britt tweaking his ankle.

By the way, I looked into it recently: only Army and UConn are currently selling tickets for their games at Rutgers Stadium this season.

Are Baltimore sports writers just reusing the same copy for Rice every day?

Another observation: Running back Ray Rice continues to be one of the stars of this camp. With Willis McGahee sitting out because of knee problems, the rookie from Rutgers continues to impress with his durability and stamina — something Ravens fans are starting to notice in comparison to McGahee — as well as his play-making ability.

Rice’s first game as a pro will be against the New England Patriots on Thursday. Unfortunately, we will not be able to see it in the New York region, as the Giants and Jets are both playing at the same time. However, according to this page, the game will be replayed Saturday on the NFL Network at 1 pm.

Not only is he starting, but…

“He’s a rookie, but gosh he’s had a lot of carries his whole career,” Harbaugh said. “As a running back, he’s a veteran. It will be new for him playing against an NFL defense, particularly that [the Patriots'] defense, and it will be interesting to see how he’ll do.

“But I’d be surprised if he’s not up to the task.”

8/5 Recruiting Update

More on Terrance Taylor, from Zags.

“He’s a free safety for us,” the coach added. “He’s not a kid that you can measure or judge on his athletic times. He’s not gonna run a blazing 4-5 40. He’s pretty average when it comes to his numbers in the weight room. He’s an intangible guy. He’s been the captain of the defense since his sophomore year.

“He’s a great teammate. He’ll do whatever he can for his teammates. He gets along great with his teammates. He’s a very coachable kid. He comes from a great family. His intangibles are his strength.”

Zagales said Taylor had 80 tackles and 5 or 6 forced fumbles last season, when he helped the Bulldogs advance to the Class 2A state semifinals.

Taylor has yet to visit Rutgers and cannot sign until Signing Day in February.

“He was impressed with (cornerbacks) Coach (Chris) Hewitt who recruited him and he was impressed with Coach (Greg) Schiano,” Zagales said.

Zagales said Taylor met the Rutgers coaches last season when they recruited 5-11 athlete George Baker, who ended up at South Florida.

“Coach Schiano is a great guy, very straightforward,” Zagales said. “They see him as a corner or safety.”

Rutgers is likely out of the running for Maryland DT Raynard Randolph.

Gwynn Park lineman Raynard Randolph is strongly considering Penn State and Maryland so that he can stay close to home, according to Yellow Jackets Coach Danny Hayes, adding “he’ll probably [choose] before the season.”

Ready to lead on day one

Luicci is optimistic, and dropping some knowledge. Welp, there goes my LB preview. Silvestro moving to DT is classic Schiano. Watch the video for yourself at SK.com.

Schiano said “as far as I know” everyone reported back and was ready to go — though he was uncertain about the status of incoming freshman Wayne Warren, who is recovering from knee surgery.

But running back Kordell Young and linebacker Damaso Munoz, both coming off major surgery as well, have been cleared to practice without limitations.

Some of the other highlights from reporting day:

* Munoz will compete with Ryan D’Imperio at middle linebacker, with redshirt freshman Manny Abreu opening as the strongside starter;

* Blair Bines will move from linebacker to defensive tackle, and DE Alex Silvestro (“He has transformed himself. He weighs 250 now,” Schiano said) will be tried at the three-technique spot next to tackle Pete Tverdov as well. Jamal Westerman, tried at tackle in the spring, will move back to end;

* Because of Teel’s experience, the offense may use more no-huddle and hurry-up;

* Schiano hasn’t made up his mind yet whether the majority of practices will be in Rutgers Stadium on the Field Turf or on the grass fields behind the stadium. “It’s 15 degrees hotter in (Rutgers Stadium). Especially early in camp I like to harden our football team,” he said;

* A tent has been erected in the parking lot behind the Hale Center that will serve as the dining area for the players. To offset the loss of those parking spots, one of the nearby tennis courts was paved over and made into a large parking lot.

Keith Sargeant also reports that Edmond Laryea and Zaire Kitchen are healthy and ready to go.

Aditi, when not busy reporting, found the best video ever:

Speaking of Teel, Fooch had an interview with him yesterday. Harvey Yavener wrote his own Teel profile in the Trenton Times.

Keith Sargeant had a profile today on Kordell Young. Given his status as a potential replacement for Ray Rice, it makes sense that Tom Luicci did as well.

edit: from the Trentontian, a spotlight on returning safety Zaire Kitchen.

Your non-camp update

The New York Daily News finally noticed that Rutgers has 3 commits from Brooklyn this year.

An article on GBNreport discussed the pro potential of Mike Teel.

10. Mike Teel, Rutgers - 6-4, 220, SR…. 2007 Statistics: 203-349 (58.2%), 3,147 yards, 20 TD 13 INT
   
This is one player that I see shooting up the draft charts during the season. Teel, who looked overmatched as a sophomore for the Scarlet Knights, had a very good season in his junior campaign. He will have an even bigger year in 2008 after Rutgers lost school rushing leader Ray Rice to the NFL. With stud WRs Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood back, an improvement to all of his junior numbers is completely feasible. He has good size, and has improved in all aspects of his game over his time at Rutgers. If he can improve his decision making and mechanics over the course of his senior season, expect Teel to be a first day pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Caleb Ruch recently won a strongman competition.

The Star-Ledger profiled Brandon Renkart yesterday.

A knee injury will keep Willis McGahee out of Baltimore’s season opener. Their coaches are worried that it may be a lingering condition. Rice is the only healthy back in Ravens camp, and is in the familiar position of getting every single practice rep.

The Ravens have had their fair share of injuries at running back, and they can’t afford to lose star rookie Ray Rice. One fan may have prevented another injury as he caught Rice as he went out of bounds and helped him back onto the field. After the play, Ravens secondary coach Chuck Pagano said, “Sign that fan up. Get him a shirt and a hat.”

Welcome, Fanhouse readers

I would like to thank Chas Rich of Pittblather/AOL Fanhouse for linking here yesterday. I’d like to expound on two points that he made though:

The one thing that stands out, though, is the utter cluelessness from the Rutgers Athletic Department. The stories started breaking on July 22. It took until August 1 before Rutgers finally got around to making it known that the escape clause in the contract didn’t exist. They took that long to find the old press releases and Star-Ledger articles talking about the money coming from Nelligan to help pay for Schiano’s contract.

The athletic department never let the school president know about this, and allowed him to apologize over the lack of transparency and let him confirm a clause that never got into the final contract.

Absolutely, 100% correct. The irony of this situation is that I’ve been forced to defend Bob Mulcahy, someone who I think has had a mediocre at best tenure. This is an AD who was primarily hired for his deep connections in Trenton. His first choice in 2001 to replace Terry Shea was Gary Darnell. New Jersey high school coaches had to beg and plead with him to even give Schiano an interview. He had no experience in college athletics, and it shows in the miserable state of the Rutgers basketball program, and his comprehensive failure to line up a quality OOC schedule for Rutgers. Mulcahy should have immediately briefed Richard McCormick and Jon Corzine to avoid any further confusion. Worse still, is the ironclad grip in which Rutgers controls all information about their football program. That only gives the press a reason to start digging around.

8/5 Around the Big East

Brian Kelly is writing a diary for the Cincinnati Enquirer. He’s either really confident, or really delusional, as Ben Mauk is practicing.

Notes from UConn camp.

Louisville WR JaJuan Spillman is transferring.

If Pitt is going to turn it around this year, Derek Kinder is going to be a major part of it. Pittblather also linked to pieces yesterday about their camp battles and Wanny’s presser. New OL coach Tony Wise is having their linemen drop a few pounds. Pat Bostick is not goint concede the starting QB job to Billy Stull so easily.

Another player has been dismissed from Syracuse. Donnie Webb has some more notes.

USF is already down two. They’re getting antsy for the season to start in Tampa.

Bill Stewart had some thoughts on the first day of WVU practice. Ben Mauk is not the only Big East player awaiting word from the NCAA.