2008 Season Preview: Quarterbacks

Projected depth chart:

QB: Mike Teel (RS-SR 6′4 220 lbs), Jabulani Lovelace (RS-JR 6-2, 215 lbs), Chris Paul-Etienne (RS-SO 6-3, 190 lbs)

Popular opinion is not very kind to Mike Teel. Between R-rated Facebook messages in 2006, or criticism of his play last season, one could forget that he ranked #17 in I-A pass efficiency last season, throwing for over 3000 yards, and 20 TDs against 13 INTs. He did struggle at times, but most of the criticism of Teel that I read neglects to mention the serious thumb injury that he suffered against Norfolk State last year. Greg Schiano foolishly used the justification that he does not rest starters before halftime, and we all paid the price, as Teel hurt his thumb in the waning minutes of the second quarter. The injury hurt Teel’s accuracy all season, culminating in being barely able to play in games against Army and Pittsburgh late in the year. There’s also some lingering criticism from his first two seasons, where he was extremely green, and was seen as unfairly usurping Ryan Hart’s starting job in 2005.

Second scrimmage today

Per Sargeant, Kevin Haslam has a chance to play vs. Fresno State, but will miss today’s scrimmage. Howard Barbieri will start at LG in the mean time.

A few leftover bits from Monday.

Rutgers’ practices are for the most part closed, although parents (of players and coaches), recruits and university faculty are common sights. On Monday, former running backs coach Robert Jackson, now the director of player development, came out.

Justin Francis, the defensive tackle on a year’s suspension, also patrolled the sidelines. Then there was the unnamed donor, who tossed a football around and then and with former holder Anthony Cali’s assist, twice attempted to kick a field goal.

Brian Bennett, the new BE writer for ESPN.com, wrote the obligatory Teel-by-numbers column. It does have one bit of previously-unknown information though.

Teel injured his thumb in the third game against Norfolk State. Then, at the end of the first half of the Scarlet Knights’ upset of then No. 2 South Florida on Oct. 18, he broke the trapezoid bone on the top of his hand. He played that way the rest of the regular season.

A new and improved attitude could mean a breakout year in 2008 for George Johnson.

George Zoffinger’s war on Rutgers

Or as I call it, Josh and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

It’s absolutely remarkable that Margolin and Sherman are still clinging to their disproven allegations.

Hopefully ESPN.com or someone will pick up Tom Luicci when the Ledger goes under in the next few months. Can’t imagine that he’s too happy about them torpedoing a relationship that he’s worked years to cultivate.

As to the story itself, no one ever accused the Rutgers AD of being competent. No one should accuse them of graft either. They’re just bad at their job, they’re not criminals. They couldn’t successfully embezzle anything if they wanted to.

I’m trying not to sound like a broken record, but it’s really a shame that the sports media; hell, the entire meta-journalism media, hasn’t picked up on what an utter travesty is going on here.