2011-2012 Football Previews – Big East Conference – Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Scarlet Knights have been bowling in the latter half of the last decade, which says something considering how futile this program used to be.
Big East 2011-12 Football Previews: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Coach: Greg Schiano
2010 Record: 4-8
Rutgers Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: +5000
Rutgers Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
Schiano has given the Knights a reputation for half-decent football rather than misery and has a couple decent NFL alums to boot (RB Ray Rice and WR Kenny Britt come to mind).
The tri-state area (New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) has always been a good treasure-trove of talent, but most of those players were overlooking Rutgers as an option until recently. Now, some players that might have gone to Penn State or Syracuse or Iowa ten years ago are giving Schiano’s program a long look.
The result is a cluster of players emerging in New Brunswick, NJ that have all-conference and perhaps even professional aspirations.
Schiano certainly gets the most out of the talent he gets; some young players that got experience last year means that Rutgers should show improvement in 2011.
Team Strengths
Rutgers has an excellent pair of receivers for sophomore pivot Chas Dodd to employ in juniors Mark Harrison and Mohamed Sanu. Together with big, skillful TE D.C. Jefferson (6”6, 260 lbs and recruited as a QB) the Knights’s passing attack should be just fine.
Running back Savon Huggins is just a freshman, but he brings tremendous potential to the table. He was one of the top recruits at his position in the nation and is already a respectable 6”0, 200 lbs. He showcases speed, vision and more often lately, freshman RBs are showing they can tote the load.
There will be players to blow open holes for Huggins, including 6”8, 311 lb senior guard Art Forst.
Defensively, the front seven has more experience than the secondary.
Team Weaknesses
The only returning starter in the secondary is senior safety David Rowe, although there may be some tertiary help with players like WLB Khaseem Greene, who had three picks a year ago. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Eyes will be on new starting CBs Brandon Jones and Marcus Cooper, who must prove they can hold up in a conference with plenty of offensive talent.
Both the offensive and defensive lines return experience, but they must prove they are better and not just older. Both units fared poorly in 2010 and will be crucial for the Knights to avoid barn-burning style losses.
Veteran P Teddy Dellaganna moves on, but highly recruited Anthony DiPaula steps in to fill a need. He is talented, but still is a first-year starter.
2011-12 Rutgers Football Prediction: 6-6
Rutgers no longer has the great teams of several years ago, but finishing middle of the pack in the Big East is better than the perennial double-digit loss seasons the fan base – or what little there was of it – was suffering through earlier. Schiano is a master motivator and will be sure to get the most out of underclassman QB Dodd and a talented but young offense.
The Knights must get better in the trenches, otherwise they will probably lose some close games. This team is better than the 4-8 it posted last season, and can likely see some postseason play.
One definite piece of good news for Rutgers fans is the team brought in an excellent crop of freshmen in this offseason; many will get the chance to contribute immediately and they should stock the cupboards for the upcoming few years.
2011 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule
9/1/11 7:30 PM ET NCCEN
9/10/11 12:30 PM ET @NCAR
9/24/11 12:00 PM ET OHIO
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET @SYR
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET PITT
10/15/11 12:00 PM ET NAVY
10/21/11 8:00 PM ET @LOU
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET WVIRG
11/5/11 12:00 PM ET SOFLA
11/12/11 3:30 PM ET @ARMY
11/19/11 12:00 PM ET CIN
11/26/11 12:00 PM ET @CONN
