2002 Statistics

written by Dave Bagchi

Rutgers runs the basic I-formation and rarely mixes it up. Like his personality, coach Schiano is determined for his team to not have to use a bag of tricks just to win games. In fact, the only gamble Schiano seemed to take was starting true freshman QB Ryan Hart in his first game against then top-ranked Miami late in the season. Rutgers returns two QBs who each started four games, senior Ted Trump and sophomore Ryan Hart. Ryan started five games total, and though his numbers were poor, he showed poise and solid arm strength. Hart has NFL potential (like alumnus Mike McMahon and Ray Lucas) and will be the man this season. So much so that junior Ryan Cubit left the team this off-season and transferred. There is depth here, too, but untested.

The Scarlet Knights have returning experience at running back. The stable is young; it is also a group that has gained valuable experience the past two ears. Quick-and-small backs Markis Facyson and junior Clarence Pittman must improve on the team's 2002 average of three yards-per-carry. Pittman has a nice burst. The prevalent theme for Rutgers will be to get the guys on the field who can produce. Marcus Jones and Jason Nugent will get their chances. Nugent is player who could effectively help the team's running attack. He has great instincts (played both ways in Canadian prep ball) and needs to be more than the special team's maven that he was last year. Nugent and Hart will provide a few steady seasons in Rutgers' backfield. Brian Leonard is a candidate for the fullback position, with Ray Pilch moving to tight end. Leonard, the all-time leading scorer in New York state high school football, moves up from last year's scout team.

On a unit that averaged just 14 points and a measly 214 yards per game, one must go to the offensive front to find this team's weakest link. All the talk about Ryan Hart is useless if the Scarlet Knights cannot shore up their pass protection. A veteran 2002 Rutgers' line allowed 51 sacks. Departures could be a blessing in disguise, or the start of it getting worse. Coaches will have their hands full molding a unit with only three returning starters. Returning up front are seniors Marty Pyszczymuka, Brian Duffy, Rich McManis, and Mike Williamson, who all drew starts last season. Pyszczymuka started all 12 games at center, and battled through a broken bone in his wrist the last half of the season. All of the newbies have size, but no starting experience. Spring will give much consideration to some of these younger guys, like sophomores Randy Boxill, William Vogt and Justin Peyton. Considering the success Schiano had at Miami with the junior college ranks, look for Rutgers to seek some help along the offensive front accordingly.

Receiver and tight end are question marks. The past two years, WR Aaron Martin has been the most dangerous player on offense. Sophomore receivers Shawn Tucker and Corey Barnes will get plenty of action. Junior Jerry Andre is a proven downfield threat that appropriately stretches defenses. Both Andre and Tucker are big targets for Hart. Barnes is more the speedster, and he should see his time limited more to three-receiver formations. TE LJ Smith will be missed - under-sized junior Chris Loomis will attempt to replace him as will starting FB Ray Pilch as he attempts to adjust to the new position. Since Schiano came aboard, Rutgers tends to use TE, so expect Loomis and backup Pilch to be called upon early and often.

written by Dave Bagchi

The improvements were minimal, but they did occur. Rutgers allowed only 38% conversion rate on third downs, and, from watching them, 2002's unit was able to frustrate opponents much more than in prior years. Schiano's defensive background finally showed in the Miami and Tennessee games. In both games, the defense was able to couple pressuring the QB and excellent coverage downfield.

Most improvements happened in the pass coverage areas and three-quarters of the starting secondary returns. Senior Nate Jones is an in-your-face cover guy. Simply put, Jones is the best player for the Scarlet Knights and one of the more underrated in the conference. A replacement must be fournd for the graduated Shawn Seabrooks, a two-time Defensive MVP. At the other corner, Brandon Hall led the Scarlet Knights with 18 pass breakups and four interceptions. Expected to start in 2003 is speedy sophomore DB Dondre Asberry and junior Eddie Grimes. Asberry was a big-time recruit for Schiano out of alumni-rich Northwestern high in Miami. This unit becomes the nucleus for any 2003 defensive schemes. If this area fails even marginally, it will be another long year in the Garden State.

Despite those minimal improvements, teams proved the way to (still) beat Rutgers is to pound them relentlessly with your running game. The Scarlet Knights allowed 207 yards-per-game and nearly five yards-per-carry. Rutgers employs 4-3 formations for most of the game. Five of the front seven on defense will return next year.

Along the defensive line, the Knights will turn to a pair of seniors for veteran leadership, DE Raheem Orr and DT Gary Gibson. Orr led the team with 4.5 sacks coming off the edge and Gibson helped solidify the middle. At the other end, Peterson has speed and can make the big plays, but has to step up for more than just eight TFLs. Joining him will be Ryan Neill with nine starts from a year ago before he was sidelined for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. The rest of the DLs will be inexperienced. Again, look for Schiano to turn to the junior college scene for help here as well as giving a shot to some incoming recruits.

At LB, seniors Brian Hohmann and Brian Bender return to lead the way after earning 12 starts each last season. Bender was able to shake the injury-bug and accumulate 81 tackles. Hohmann is recognized for a "motor" that never stops. With junior Ishmael Medley and sophomore Will Gilkison, the goal is to add bricks to a line-backing unit based on these smaller, speedier guys. Seeing how Schiano was a major part of the decision to move Dan Morgan from RB to LB at Miami; perhaps he will look to do the same with some athletes at Rutgers.