Projected 2008 depth chart
Kevin Brock (RS-SR 6′5, 255 lbs), Craig McGovern (RS-SR 6′3, 255 lbs), Shamar Graves (RS-SO 6′3, 230 lbs)
Today, we’ll go back to the offensive side of the ball. Between James Jenkins, Marco Battaglia, L.J. Smith, and Clark Harris, Rutgers has produced a fair number of tight ends in recent memory. In the early part of Schiano’s tenure, the prominence of Clark Harris and Sam Johnson in the offense was based more out of necessity than any other factor. Arena leaguer Ryan Hart will never be confused with Jeff George. Not only did he lack the arm strength to throw downfield to Shawn Tucker or Marcus Daniels; but both of those split ends missed many games in their tantalizing careers. Through a combination of these factors, Hart learned to depend on tight ends Clark Harris and Sam Johnson, along with fullback Brian Leonard and wide receiver Tres Moses.
Johnson, an exemplary blocker, might have very well had a chance to continue his career in the NFL if he had not suffered a series of concussions in college. Harris was his polar opposite; a former high school WR that bulked up but still functioned as more of a Joe Jurevicius-type role in the offense. Beset by injuries leading up to the draft, poor workouts, a disappointing senior season, and rumored attitude issues, Harris has to this point failed to latch on to a NFL team after sliding all the way to the seventh round of the 2007 draft before being selected by the Green Bay Packers.
One of the reasons that Harris (and Leonard) saw his role decrease was the ascension of Mike Teel in 2006, much more of a classic dropback quarterback than the precision-based Hart. With a relative cannon under center, the primary targets of the offense the past two seasons have primarily been receivers, often Kenny Britt on an unfettered Go route. Last year, Rutgers looked very much the part of a traditional, pro-style vertical passing offense. Leonard and Harris were still valuable safety nets for Teel in 2006, and their presence was sorely missed last season.
