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DB
Courtney Greene |
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2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Greg Schiano
30-41,
6 years |
2006
Record: 11-2 |
|
at
North Carolina |
WON
21-16 |
ILLINOIS |
WON
33-0 |
OHIO |
WON
24-7 |
HOWARD |
WON
56-7 |
at
South Florida |
WON
22-20 |
at
Navy |
WON
34-0 |
at
Pittsburgh |
WON
20-10 |
CONNECTICUT |
WON
24-13 |
LOUISVILLE |
WON
28-25 |
at
Cincinnati |
LOST
11-30 |
SYRACUSE |
WON
38-7 |
at
West Virginia |
LOST
39-41 (3OT) |
TEXAS
BOWL |
Kansas
State |
WON
37-10 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-12, Coaches-12, BCS-16
|
2007
Outlook |
Head
coach Greg Schiano has built a juggernaut that
still has yet to see its best seasons. Sure,
going 11-2 and earning the school its first
bowl win ever (0-2 prior in bowls) are impressive,
as are the many institutions that deemed the
New Jersey-native Coach of the Year (no less
than seven). But this isn’t the first
time notoriously struggling Rutgers has done
well (nine straight winning years from 1972-80).
They even went undefeated in 1961 (stacked with
non-I-A foes) and 1976 (only beat one I-A school
with winning record). But as Schiano said of
winning big when he came on as their leader
in 2000, “we’re going to do it the
right way.” Also their defensive coordinator,
the Knights have risen mainly due to defense,
but also due to a no fills, shove-the-rock-down-your-throat
mentality on offense. To remain in the top 15,
the interior running game will have to be reestablished.
That is do-able. As long as QB Mike Teel can
keep his troops organized and level-headed,
Rutgers will continue to chew clock as they
modestly pile up points (No.22 scoring offense).
The defense has to rebuild its linebacking corps
for the Scarlet Knights to remain in the top
10 in most stopping categories. Otherwise, the
secondary and line will again neutralize foe’s
offensive plans. When Rutgers holds opponents
to under 30 points, they will continue to win.
Look for the “University of New Jersey”
to again battle for the league’s top spot
and remain a national powerhouse that can survive
on a lack of respect and their us-against-the-world
mentality.
Projected
2007 record: 10-2
|
|
RB
Ray Rice |
RUTGERS
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 4.5 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 4.5 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Mike Teel, 164-296-13, 2135 yds., 12 TD
Rushing: Ray Rice, 335 att., 1794
yds., 20 TD
Receiving: Kenny Britt, 29 rec.,
440 yds., 2 TD
Scoring: Ray Rice, 20 TD, 120 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Jeremy Ito, 22-29 FG, 41-42
PAT, 107 pts.
Tackles: Courtney Greene, 82 tot.,
51 solo
Sacks: Jamaal Westerman, 8 sacks
Interceptions: Courtney Greene, 4
for 26 yds.
Kickoff returns: James Townsend,
8 ret., 16.0 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Glen Lee, 1 ret., 15.0
avg., 0 TD
|
|
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|
|
RUTGERS |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Brian Leonard-FB, Shawn Tucker-WR, Willie
Foster-PR/KR, Clark Harris-TE, Darnell Stapleton-C,
Cameron Stephenson-OG |
DEFENSE:
William
Beckford-DE, Ramel Meekins-DT, Devraun Thompson-LB,
Quintero Frierson-LB, Derek Roberson-CB, Manny
Collins-CB, Joe Radigan-P |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
This
will continue to be a grinding offense that methodically
moves the ball so as to keep opposing offenses
off the field. With a QB like Mike Teel, big chunks
classically come via the run setting up the pass.
The junior has the physical tools and can heave
the rock far, but is not the aerial technician
who can win the game at will with his arm. What
Teel does is manage the game and his team well
for the eventual win. It is much easier with the
likes of first-team all-Big East RB Ray Rice slicing
through holes and demanding LBs attention. The
nation’s third leading rusher in ’06,
the preseason All-American’s continued production
is critical for this team to remain a powerhouse.
Many will point to the departure of fullback and
team leader Brian Leonard as the reason Rutgers
may fall back to mediocrity. Those people don’t
know about sophomore Jack Corcoran. If anyone
can replace the unsung impact of Leonard, it is
Corcoran, a gritty former two-way player (LB-FB)
who also was the prep state 215 lb. wrestling
champ. The holes will be opened for Rice, but
can Corcoran also prove he has the soft hands
of the team’s now-departed captain and top
snarler? Replacing the team’s second-leading
catcher – TE Clark Harris – will be
just as important for the stealth of the receivers.
Spreading Teel’s efforts amongst all possible
targets keeps any/all ball-carrying Knights isolated
against chasing defenders, a key to Rutgers recent
surge. Receivers Britt and Underwood use their
size to overmatch often-distracted DBs, and Campbell
embraces his roll underneath. All three, and their
backups, block downfield well. All-conference
senior tackles Jeremy Zuttah (first team) and
Pedro Sosa (second team) are possibly the nation’s
best outside pair and assure Rutgers again finishes
near the top for sacks allowed (only eight allowed
in ’06 to lead I-A). New faces inside will
be led by senior guard Mike Fladell, and along
with replacing Leonard, re-bolstering the line’s
interior will be vital for keeping the Boys from
New Brunswick in the top 25.
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|
OT
Jeremy Zuttah
|
|
|
|
RUTGERS
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Mike
Teel-Jr (6-4, 215) |
Jabu
Lovelace-So (6-2, 200) |
FB |
Jack
Corcoran-So (6-1, 225) |
Jean
Beljour-Sr (6-0, 225) |
TB |
Ray
Rice-Jr (5-9, 200) |
Kordell
Young-So (5-9, 185) |
WR |
Tiquan
Underwood-Jr (6-2, 180) |
Tim
Brown-So (5-8, 150) |
WR |
Kenny
Britt-So (6-4, 205) |
James
Townsend-Sr (6-1, 195)
Dennis Campbell-So (5-9, 175) |
TE |
Kevin
Brock-Jr (6-5, 245) |
Chris
Rudanovic-Sr (6-5, 255) |
OT |
Pedro
Sosa-Sr (6-5, 290) |
Kevin
Haslam-So (6-7, 280) |
OG |
Mike
Fladell-Sr (6-8, 325) |
Dan
Mazan-Sr (6-4, 290) |
C |
Ryan
Blaszczyk-So (6-4, 290) |
Dave
McClain-So (6-4, 285) |
OG |
Mike
Gilmartin-Jr (6-6, 290) |
George
Eshareturi-Sr (6-3, 300) |
OT |
Jeremy
Zuttah-Sr (6-4, 290) |
Mo
Lange-Fr (6-7, 320) |
K |
Jeremy
Ito-Sr (5-11, 190) |
.. |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
This
defense quietly finished as the nation’s
No.4 total defense, and enough of the DL’s
and secondary’s cores come back to think
that they can again be a feared group. Senior
Eric Foster led the team in both tackles-for-loss
(14) and passes broken-up (four) from his tackle
slot, and his all-conference prowess is vital
as there is little experience inside besides his.
Junior DE Jamaal Westerman tied for the team lead
in sacks (eight), but is big and disciplined enough
to secure the outside in running downs. The rest
of the front seven is rather undetermined besides
LB Brandon Renkart. This area will be where head
coach and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano is
measured most – this past year’s recruiting
class is rather defensive laden and some of the
newbies will surely have to chip in up front if
Rutgers is to again measure up on this side of
the ball. Deep, undeveloped pools of bigman talent
exist there in north New Jersey, though speed
exists more than size. Schiano has done a great
job in the past of elevating unheralded recruits
to unimaginable heights, and this 2006 Coach of
the Year (Big East; national - Walter Camp, FWAA/Eddie
Robinson, Home Depot, Liberty Mutual) is a great
enough motivator that people in Morristown and
Hoboken will soon make household names out of
his choices. Safeties Ron Girault and Courtney
Greene are equally good in both run support and
deep coverage, while twins Jason (jr.) and Devin
McCourty (soph.) should be integral in the mix
– Jason as a starting corner and Devin as
a nickel safety. Greene, Girault and the entire
secondary will be another reason the Knights can
hang with Louisville and West Virginia atop the
conference standings.
|
|
DT
Eric Foster
|
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RUTGERS
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
George
Johnson-So (6-4, 250) |
Gary
Watts-Jr (6-3, 240) |
DT |
Pete
Tverdov-Jr (6-4, 260) |
Charlie
Noonan-Fr (6-2, 260) |
DT |
Eric
Foster-Sr (6-2, 265) |
Mike
Ziarnowski-Jr (6-2, 255) |
DE |
Jamaal
Westerman-Jr (6-3, 250) |
Chenry
Lewis-Jr (6-3, 235) |
LB |
Brandon
Renkart-Sr (6-3, 230) |
Damaso
Munoz-So (6-0, 205) |
LB |
Chris
Quaye-So (6-0, 225) |
Ryan
D'Imperio-So (6-2, 230) |
LB |
Kevin
Malast-Jr (6-2, 225) |
Blair
Bines-So (6-2, 245) |
CB |
Devin
McCourty-So (5-11, 185) |
Leslie
Jackman-So (5-11, 180) |
CB |
Jason
McCourty-Jr (5-11, 185) |
Anthony
Miller-So (6-0, 170) |
SS |
Courtney
Greene-Jr (6-1, 205) |
Glen
Lee-Jr (6-2, 190) |
FS |
Ron
Girault-Sr (5-11, 200) |
Ziare
Kitchen-So (6-1, 210) |
P |
Kyle
Cinzio-Fr (6-3, 200) |
Matt
Voliva-So (5-11, 190) |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
After
going 4-for-6 from 40+, senior Jeremy Ito will assuredly
be on the Groza watch list. A new face at punter will
be critical in those close battles upon which Rutgers
seems to thrive, though Ito can carry the load here
if needed. Also critical will be securing a returner
at both spots with Willie Foster now gone.
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