Projected 2009 depth chart

RB: Joe Martinek (RS-SO 6′0, 215 lbs), Jourdan Brooks (RS-SO 6′1, 230 lbs), Kordell Young (RS-JR 5′9, 190 lbs), De’Antwan Williams (FR 5′8, 195 lbs)
FB: Jack Corcoran (SR 6′1, 230 lbs), Andres Morales (RS-JR 6′2, 250 lbs)

During his three years on campus, before departing for the NFL, Ray Rice singlehandedly rewrote the Rutgers University record book. The team road him to a dream, 11-win 2006 season. Every media pundit had Rice on their Heisman shortlist, his publicity helped put the Rutgers football program on the map, and the Scarlet Knight offense sputtered in the first half last season while they were still adjusting to life without the departed Rice. Case closed on Rice being an irreplaceable team cornerstone, right?

My contention is that the common sense explanation here doesn’t quite tell the full picture here. Last year, teams weren’t compensating for Rice’s departure by playing by doubling all receivers downfield (although, they frequently were shadowing Kenny Britt). Mike Teel was playing so badly that opponents had no qualms about stacking eight or nine defenders in the box.

On a similar note, it’s great to have an elite back, but productive RBs are, by and large, relatively easy to find. Breaking in a new one requires some trial and error when it comes to pass protection, or the screen game, but the act of running itself comes naturally (it’s no coincidence that RBs typically have lowest Wonderlic scores at the NFL Combine). It was fair to expect some inconsistency in replacing Rice, but the running game wasn’t going to do fall off a cliff, and it didn’t. Rushing success is just as much a function of having a strong offensive line up front; quality line play is the prerequisite for accomplishing anything on offense.

Sophomore Joe Martinek enters fall camp at the top of the tailback depth chart. Martinek, after impressing on the scout team during his redshirt season in 2007, first saw significant carries against Navy last season while Kordell Young and Mason Robinson were out injured. Martinek looked impressive, but then proceeded to sit on the bench for another month before seeing his workload steadily increase in December.

From last year’s four man rotation, it’s Martinek that has everyone buzzing. He had the highest yards per carry average of the team’s top four runners last year. Martinek was seemingly the only one of the four that possessed both power and short-area acceleration.

“He has a running style like mine a lot,” Leonard said. “He’s kind of a downhill runner, a powerful runner. I’ve been talking to him about training. He’s been a good player; hes a good guy, too.”

That’s a deadly combination; along with his vision, and quick cutting ability, it’s one that brought back fond memories of Ray Rice. No, Martinek isn’t quite Rice. Rice’s small stature actually worked to his advantage, making him harder to tackle, and giving him a low center of gravity. Martinek has a more uptight running style than Rice, does need to use the next three seasons to continue his upward development.

There’s a definite reason to get excited about Martinek. Why were there constant calls last year for him to see more time? Because whenever Joe touched the ball, things happened. That’s undeniable, and precisely why he deserves to enter camp as the starter. It was a terrific freshman campaign. That doesn’t mean that he will be handed the job, nor is he expecting a coronation.

“Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’m going to do the best I can and try to help the team in any way possible,” he said. “I always prepare like I am a starter every year, so I’m ready for anything.”

I’m a believer in Martinek. Let me play the devil’s advocate for a moment though. No, he wasn’t held down by prejudice or bias (cf: conspiracy theories peddled by the same creepy racists that fetishized Leonard, and now venerate Martinek as a symbol of adulation. Leave our players alone you sick bastards.) Joe only saw 76 carries last year; ideally, you’d want to see a larger sample size before declaring anyone a future star. The other reason for caution, or at minimum, somewhat guarded optimism, is recognizing that Martinek did see strategic use last season.

No, Brooks, Young, and Robinson didn’t live up to expectations. They were all young players, with unpredictable career trajectories, but so was Martinek. However, all were surely the victims of subpar run blocking. Rutgers didn’t just lose Ray Rice following 2007; the Knights also lost several stellar linemen. The once-vaunted rushing attack fell from 4.78 to 3.93 ypc, and surely the entire drop off can be attributed solely to losing Rice. In the first half of last season, Rutgers kept shuffling its OL, searching for the right chemistry, and throwing green, inexperienced underclassmen right into the fire.

The line clicking was one of several factors that keyed the team’s midseason turnaround last season, and Martinek was direct beneficiary. If you don’t agree, look at the statistics. Buried in the passing game’s awakening at Pittsburgh was that Kordell Young had his best game of the season up to that point against the Panthers, and followed it up with an even stronger performance against Syracuse the next week. That was the same game that Martinek broke a 45-yarder, but he only had two carries. Young is the one who took the pounding, shoulder the load for thirty carries. (Which, in retrospect, may not be his ideal role in the offense.) Both played well against USF and Army, and Brooks is the one who played best against Louisville (losing a dread in the process).

Martinek’s game against NC State puts him over the top. Nevertheless, don’t forget that Brooks toted the rock in the first half. He did not put up an impressive stat line. However, a big back like that charging into defenders has a cumulative effect. It pays dividends down the road, softening the defense up for a change of pace like Martinek to run wild. Martinek’s skill set may be the best fit for a green OL, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s the best fit as an every down back, or the guy to run behind a stellar unit. Reports indicated that Martinek surged ahead of Brooks in spring practice, but they all have to get through August, unscathed, before the games start to count.

As a defensive-minded coach, I think that Greg Schiano would, if at all possible, run the ball on every single down. That’s what they all want to do. For ball control to be effective, you need a runner that can break tackles and move the chains. Of the other contenders for the job, Jourdan Brooks fits the bill muchmoreso than Kordell Young does, although I suspect that all three will see their share of carries, dependent on many disparate factors.

I don’t know whether the culprit was Schiano or the former offensive coordinator John McNulty, but Rutgers hasn’t been inclined at all to use an even distribution of carries in a running back platoon in recent years. Someone, at least, likes to ride the hot hand; whether it was Rice, or each flavor of the week last year. After Ray Rice established himself as a star in 2006, Brian Leonard was arguably underutilized. The next season, Rice was practically forced into the NFL by overuse; the coaching staff did not insert younger backups Kordell Young and Mason Robinson into even the early stages of blowouts (there are similar issues with playing backup QBs). For the sake of developing underclassmen at the position, my preference would be to try and maintain a level of momentum by earmarking a series or two each week to both give the backups steady work, and give the starter adequate rest. Inconsistent play makes me wary; if a starter does go down, don’t you want the backup to have seen more live action?

It’s my belief that Brooks was hurt far more than the other backs on the roster by the team’s struggles with run blocking last year. Young and Robinson may not break many tackles, but when they do, they have the jets to create a big gain. Brooks can run a 40 yard dash with anyone, but don’t let the dreads fool you: he’s not Steven Jackson. Meaning that, while he’s a big back, he doesn’t quite always consistently hit the whole fast enough, or with enough intensity. Jourdan physically dominated a Navy team where he was arguably bigger than any player on their defense, but struggled when his blockers couldn’t open up holes for him, not even making it to the line of scrimmage at times. He still broke plenty of tackles, but two or three won’t cut it when five or six are in your face. if Martinek could get to the line of scrimmage even a half second faster, that’s the edge he needs to make the run into a positive play, and gain yardage.

Brooks didn’t cut like Martinek last year, he didn’t find holes like Martinek, and because of that lack of short-area burst, it was an all-too-frequent site last year to see Brooks tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. Now, give Jordan more time with strength coach Jay Butler, give the line another year with Kyle Flood, and you can imagine the possibilities.

That is the tantalizing possibility that Jourdan Brooks offers, of a 6′1, 245 lb back who can take it to the house. He will continue to get chances, and deserves to receive them. As the clip illustrates, Brooks, like Brian Leonard, actually gains speed when given enough time to get his legs moving. After going through rough patches during the season, Brooks can still hold his head up high, and look back at the Louisville game as a sign portending more success yet to come. He missed some time later in the spring, but all indications are that Brooks is set to contribute next month.

It was Kordell Young, though, that entered last season perched atop the team’s crowded running back depth chart as Ray Rice’s immediate successor. It’s easy to forget that he led the team in carries last season, 42 ahead of Brooks. Recovering from a knee injury that confined him to a redshirt in 2007, Young earned a starting job in fall camp. His performance against Fresno State wasn’t awful considering the circumstances, but he quickly fell out of the conversion by sitting out for the next month. When Young finally returned in October, he struggled for two games, broke out against Pittsburgh, and put together a solid four-game stretch before succumbing once again to a knee injury.

Which, unfortunately, are the most pressing concern with Young at the moment. He suffered a new, separate injury in the opener against Fresno, one that hampered him for the entire season. Make no mistake; despite the deserved enthusiasm for Martinek, a healthy Young adds his own special dimension to the offense, of a runner capable of generating big plays whenever the ball is in his hands. He has quick feet made for cutting into holes generated by a zone blocking scheme. Now, Young doesn’t break many tackles, which was quite evident in last year’s opener, where he struggled to punch in a routine short yardage play. That’s the fault of the coaching staff; it’s their job to put players into situations where they will succeed, and can best utilize their talents.

Young is supposedly healthy now after missing more time during the spring, although the stereotype with knee issues is that they have a tendency to keep flaring up over time. It’s a big concern for the time being. If he is on the field, however, Kordell Young is likely to see significant touches this fall. (edit: there’s talk about him being a good fit for a third down role. I agree, but I think the staff likes him for a bigger role if possible.)

However, if Young falters again, incoming freshman De’Antwan “I am contractually obligated to add ‘Rocket’ here” Williams is likely to move up the depth chart.

“I highly doubt I will get red-shirted,” said Williams, who could also see time as a kickoff returner. “Even if I have to split time, that won’t be the worst thing.”

Williams, a top recruit out of Northern Virginia, put in a solid performance earlier in the summer at the NJ/NE All-Star Game. Williams, with his 5′8, 195 lb frame, estimated 4.4ish speed, and touted power, seems like the closest of all of these runners to Rice on paper. I did note one key difference at the NJ/NE game though; Williams has power, but seems to be more of a horizontal runner. Rice was always more of a north and south, keep-the-chains-moving type. There’s some Ray in him, but Rocket’s best comparison may be more along the lines of a Maurice Jones-Drew. He’ll have to spar with walk-on Tyrone Putman, who saw work in the spring before succumbing to injury. Mason Robinson could also be in the mix here, but I think he’ll spend most of his time at WR this fall, and will touch on M-Rob when I get to that positional group.

It’s a little tiring revisiting the mid-season 2008 turnaround theme, isn’t it? It may fit no player more than projected starting fullback Jack Corcoran though. He initially arrived on campus billed as a poor man’s Brian Leonard. Corcoran earned a starting job in 2007, but his run blocking was soon publicly questioned by Greg Schiano.

One point of Schiano’s focus seemed to be on the lack of solid blocking at the fullback position. Jack Corcoran, a junior from Atlantic City, seemed to miss two blocks during the course of the game on Saturday. However, Schiano wasn’t ready to say that a change needs to be made.

“I just think we need to say on top of it,” Schiano said. “Jack has done a good job the first couple ball games. Maybe (it’s) just a technique thing. We need to get it fixed.”

Blocking specialist Andres Morales soon took over. Frankly, I was somewhat surprised that Corcoran regained his starting job last fall, and remained in the lineup in the first half last season. He was clearly a talented receiving option out of the backfield; but Mike Teel rarely looked to Jack with the likes of Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood downfield. The running game continued to sputter.

Yet, in spite of the fact that Rutgers enacted several lineup changes to spur catching fire in October, Corcoran was one of several skill position players on offense to maintain his job, and managed to validate the coaching staff’s faith by stepping up his level of play. The improvement was twofold: Corcoran was always seemingly capable of being a dependable third or fourth option in the passing game. Barring the Pizza Bowl against NC State, he still did not play that significant of a role in the passing game, but did see a few more looks.

But what a sight to behold that bowl game was (6 receptions for 62 yards). With Rutgers dealing with inexperience at the WR position this fall, the bowl could portend greater things to come, with Corcoran and TE Shamar Graves playing a larger role in the passing game as security blankets. Jack may have just lacked a chance to catch passes, but he truly did struggle with run blocking. As someone that called for his benching last year, I have to begrudgingly admit that his improvement in that area was one of several catalysts for the team’s improved success running the ball in the second half.

In my defense, I still don’t understand why a pass-catching specialist fullback is starting if Mike Teel never planned on checking down to him. If Rutgers was going to use its FBs exclusively for blocking, it would have made more sense to play backup Andres “Hoagie” Morales. I mean, I wasn’t the only one calling for Morales.

6. It’s time to try Andres Morales at fullback.

Sure, it seems like a minor thing. But Rutgers isn’t getting the blocking it needs from starter Jack Corcoran. Why else would Schiano have kept two tight ends — Kevin Brock and Shamar Graves — in the backfield to block already? Why else would he have called on defensive tackle — yes, defensive tackle — Blair Bines for a play at fullback against North Carolina?

Morales is so entrenched in Schiano’s doghouse it will take the jaws of life to get him out. But the 250-pounder has shown he can block.

Andres is a stocky 250 lbs, seemingly built for flattening would-be tacklers. His role was limited last season after taking over in 2007, and the team struggled for it. With Corcoran’s blocking improved, and the offense actually having a need for receptions at the position, it makes sense now for Morales to take a back seat this year. However, he’ll still need to contribute on short yardage and goal line sets.

It would be a profound surprise if incoming freshman fullback Robert Joseph didn’t redshirt during this upcoming season. If injuries lead to depth issues, RU can always play more multi-WR and TE sets, or move a defender like Eric LeGrand or Edmond Laryea over.

Sure, there’s still some level of uncertainty at this position, but no more than at most situations across the country. All of last year’s main contributors return, and some of them even looked good in the process. This group is buttressed by a top incoming freshman, and will run behind a line that, by all accounts, took a major step forward in the spring. They’ll have less running room than what was available last year, with an inexperienced passing game still looking for its footing; but that area looks significantly ahead of where Rutgers was at entering the 2006 season. It’s a reasonably good group all around. I expect Rutgers to get back to physical, ball-control, kill the clock football this year (coupled with a stout, blitz-happy defense). They’ll try to run the ball down opponents’ throats, and most of the time will be fairly successful in doing so. Add in a far too easy schedule to the equation, and with this unit’s help, RU will resemble the 2006 squad in more ways than one.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

You would think replacing the goal posts would get kind of expensive for a smallish university.  This afternoon, my alma mater Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats handily beat the University of North Alabama Lions in Maryville, 41-7. Next week they will travel to Florence, Alabama (ironically, the home of the Division II championship game at the Unviersity of North Alabama’s Braly Stadium), to face the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the title.  Last year, Northwest won the dubious distinction of making it to the championship game three years in a row…and losing all three times.  Let’s hope this year they don’t add to that distinction.

In other football news, Jourdan Brooks, a running back for Rutgers University, learned the hard way why offensive players–especially running backs–don’t wear long hair that hangs out the back of their helmets.  Perhaps someone on the coaching staff should explain to him that he wants to be like a swimmer: sleek and slippery, with as few handles as possible.  With a haircut, that’s six points.  Check out this little video clip:

During last night’s Rutgers/Louisville game freshman Jourdan Brooks broke out a 62 yard run that featured a great mix of speed and power. The rush features Brooks dropping his shoulder and driving through the first level of defenders and then shedding tacklers as he powers down the line until Louisville’s Travis Norton manages to catch up and drag Brooks down. How did Norton manage to stop him? By taking him down by the dreadlocks, ripping one out of Brooks’ head in the process. Awesome.

From the Newark Star-Ledger:

“I’d have to say on a scale of one to 10, an eight. No, nine,” Brooks said describing the pain of having one of his dreadlocks pulled out. “It hurt pretty bad. I never felt any pain like that. But I’m alright.”

Brooks — who rushed for 126 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown — wasn’t upset about losing a strand of hair however. Nor did he say that the tackle will convince him to cut it. What he was most upset about was not getting into the endzone.

“I was upset that he tackled me,” Brooks said. “I wanted to score there.”

Kordell Young is feeling no soreness after playing last week against Cincinnati. Needless to say, that’s a good thing, especially after he saw about 5-7 more carries than expected. Say what you want about the potential of Brooks, but Young is by far our best running back right now. He has the best vision and patience out of all the backs, and he seems to be the only one who hits the hole with any sort of explosiveness. Robinson and Young may have similar speed, but Young is able to at least break a few tackles and carry defenders with him; Robinson seems to get knocked over by a small gust of wind. Brooks is still playing quite hesitantly, as if he is afraid of fumbling the ball (his difficulty holding onto the ball in practice has been well document). He is running straight up and is carrying the rock with both hands, something that is severely limiting his quickness, flexibility, and lateral movement. Until he gains confidence in himself to hold onto the pigskin, he won’t be as effective running the ball as Kordell currently is.

Furthermore, Young is the best back at pass-blocking and picking up blitzes, and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and work in space cannot be matched by the other three tailbacks. He’s our best option, and quite honestly, I’m expecting a bit of a break-out game this week.

And what about a break-out game for Dom Natale? Will the junior actually see some time at quarterback this week? Schiano just adds to the rumors that the Michigan State transfer will play on Saturday. There’s no denying the fact Greg is at least thinking about pulling Teel if he falters.

Also, Scott Vallone is out for the year. It seems like he was rushed back a bit too early from his foot injury. He will get a medical red-shirt. To state the obvious, this isn’t good news, especially considering out opponent this week. Donald Brown is more of a power back and he will pound it up the middle, meaning Tverdov and Silvestro are going to be working quite a bit. If they get tired or injured, we’re now dangerously thin at defensive tackle.

Kordell Young may finally see some game action this Saturday against Cincinnati. He looked good yesterday in practice, ripping off a 35+ yard run. No Rutgers back has had a single gain of that much in any game this season. Even more promising is that Young is no longer wearing his supportive brace. Now, today’s braces are so light and flexible that one hardly knows he’s wearing it, so from that standpoint, they don’t really interfere with one’s game. But from a psychological standpoint, it has to help Young because it’s a sign that he might finally be over this ACL problem. The absence of the brace should help him mentally on game day.

Now, nothing is definitive, so we don’t really know whether Kordell will see any time this week. But, if I had to guess, I’d say he plays and gets maybe 12-15 carries, at most. I think Schiano expects him to play, but is just being cautious with how unpredictable this injury has been. Also, there’s probably a little “coach-speak” involved here. Why say that he’s playing and tip the Cincy defense off before gametime? Use Kordell as a surprise. Don’t let them know anything they don’t need to know right now.

All-in-all, I think Kordell’s return could spark this team. His speed will be the best compliment to Jourdan’s power running game. All teams are doing right now is stacking the middle of the field because they know Jourdan is going to run it up the gut. With Kordell in there, the defense will need to worry about containment on the outside, and they will also need to defend against the threat of a long run. And Kordell won’t get drilled like Mason does behind the line because of his patience and vision. Furthermore, Kordell’s pass protection is the best out of any of the other backs, and he should provide a little more time for Teel in the pocket. He picks up blitzes well, and the more time Teel has to throw, the better he is. Mike doesn’t like being pressured, and that’s usually where most of his mistakes occur. If Young does play, I’d like to see some double back sets with both he and Jourdan. I think some good things could come out of a formation where both players are on the field at the same time. Let’s use our thunder and lightning backs to the best of our abilities on Thursday.

Can the Scarlet Knights salvage the season? Can Rutgers make a bowl game? Will they be able to overcome a 0-3 start and start playing the way they are capable of? These are all valid questions and to be honest, I don’t know. I want to say yes, but after watching the first three games again, can I really say that with confidence? I am a big fan of Greg Schiano; where would Rutgers football really be without him, but has the luster wore off? Is he starting to lose some of his magic? Is this the same old Rutgers?  Am I asking too many questions to answer??

No. I don’t think, and cannot believe, that this is the same old Rutgers and for anyone to really believe that needs to relax and think rationally. 2008 can be viewed as a learning experience, for the coaches, the players, as well as the fans. There are so many new Rutgers fans that just think this comes easy, that winning comes easily, but the true Scarlet Knights fans understand that football seasons are filled with ups and downs, and you just have to hope that eventually Rutgers will consistently put up solid seasons year in and year out. Powerhouse programs are not built overnight. But you know what the best part of college football is? It’s the fact that you can start 0-3 and look for the positives for next year, to improve during the season and to give your best effort every game. I, fortunately, was able to take something way from the game against Navy, and that is that Jourdan Brooks has some Marion Barber in him and will be a force to be reckoned with. With him, Martinek, Robinson, and Kordell Young, I feel pretty good about our running back future. We just need to use them correctly and take advantage of each one of their skills. We need to use Kenny Britt as he is a big time receiver and pray that he doesn’t leave for the NFL after this year. We need to wake up Tiquan Underwood and remind him that he is a 1,000 yard receiver and to play with some enthusiasm and sense of urgency. We need to realize that even though we are 0-3, it’s a long season, the Big East is down, and Rutgers will improve.  They sure as heck can’t play much worse.

Some quick areas to improve on: depth and discipline on the defensive side. It seems as if the second half of the game, the other team makes the proper adjustments, we get worn down (small defensive tackles?), and make mental mistakes – particularly in the secondary. A lot of new players need to quickly come of age on the defensive side. On offense, it comes down to Mike Teel.  He is a 5th year senior that should have torn Navy up. Teel needs to get his confidence and swagger back to where it was last year. Morgan State can be that anecdote, but then again, I thought the same thing of the Midshipmen. If Teel struggles against Morgan State and West Virginia, Schiano must be prepared with a set game plan and know exactly who the backup QB should be, with the appropriate play calling for that quarterback in mind as well. One mind boggling stat – Rutgers has been outscored 45-0 in the third quarter this year.  Holy moly, Batman – Bam!

If you look at the remaining schedule, Rutgers should feel blessed that the Big East is down this year and that nobody is really pulling away. I can’t look at any team, including West Virginia and say “thats definitely a loss.”  I don’t know if Rutgers can beat WVU in Morgantown (where they are still a force), but I think that they have a shot if they play up to their potential. I also think that Rutgers has a good chance of coming away with a decent record against the other Big East opponents such as Syracuse, Pitt, Cincy, Connecticut, South Florida, and Louisville. Unfortunately, they just as easily can lose to all of these teams (except Syracuse – I hope).

Rutgers fans, try to relax, its a rough start, a very rough start, but the talent is there, the recruiting class is better than ever and the expanded stadium is a huge must for this program. A true fan goes through the tough years and will appreciate it more when we bounce back next year or in 2010. Just look at Michigan and Notre Dame, they are using these bad years to get better recruits and telling them that they can play right away. I expect those programs to be much better next year, just like I expect Rutgers to be much better in years to come, and hopefully this year as well.

Let’s continue to support our team and show some true team pride.  Lets go Rutgers!  Beat Morgan State!

Remaining 2008 Rutgers Schedule:
Sep. 27 Morgan St. 3:30pm
Oct. 4 at West Virginia 12:00pm
Oct. 11 at Cincinnati TBA
Oct. 18 Connecticut TBA
Oct. 25 at Pittsburgh TBA
Nov. 8 Syracuse TBA
Nov. 15 at South Florida TBA
Nov. 22 Army TBA
Dec. 4 Louisville 7:30pm

Camp officially came to a close yesterday, and while questions still remain about the running game and the offensive line, Coach Schiano seems quite pleased with the entire defensive unit and it looks like he’s finally found his #2 tight end . . . sort of. Team captains Mike Teel and Courtney Greene also seemed satisfied with the team’s commitment during what was perhaps the toughest and most grueling camp in Schiano’s tenure on the banks.

First, here are a few comments from the head ball coach about how the team performed this summer. The good . . .

“I’m pleased with our skill guys, our passing game. I’m pleased with our secondary. I’m pleased with our linebackers. I think our defensive line … some guys have come back and have really played well this camp. The offensive line is progressing. (Starting left guard) Kevin Haslam’s injury has allowed some other guys to get some shots they normally wouldn’t have. I think that will make us better, serve us well in the long run.”

. . . and the not-so-good . . .

“We’re not quite clicking, but that’s okay. I would say it’s generally just the entire operation. We do some things really well and there are other things we don’t do so well. The things you would assume are clicking pretty good are Mike (Teel) and the two wideouts (Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood). The secondary is playing well. There’s some other stuff that we need to continue to work on.

“It’s going to take time to get straightened out, but that’s okay. Everyone has issues. No one is perfect.”

So, from the first quote we can gather that the secondary, the linebackers, and the defensive line have all played quite well. So, basically, the entire defense looks like it will be ready for September 1. Coach seems especially pleased with the secondary so far.

From the second quote, I think it’s pretty obvious that the aspects of the team that are “not quite clicking” yet are the offensive line and the running game (ie: missing one block that could spring a big run). Those two areas should be ready for Fresno as well. Hopefully, the offensive line will be solidified on Monday so everyone knows who’s playing where. Of course, a lot of that will depend on Haslem’s availability for the first game; Schiano seems confident Kevin will be ready. And the running backs should now have a chance to rest their legs for the opener; they’ll be ready as well. It’s now just a matter of who will be the starter.

And speaking of the running game, Joe Martinek is still impressing.

As Rutgers broke preseason camp Friday, and with tailback hopefuls Kordell Young and Mason Robinson assigned lightened workloads because of leg fatigue, Martinek was again the tailback-du-jour.

He’s still fourth in a four-player competition to replace Ray Rice — Jourdan Brooks, despite his pass blocking issues, remains just behind Young and Robinson — but Martinek has come from the lower reaches of the depth chart (and from defense) to make an impression.

That means he’s getting a longer look and more reps with the opener against Fresno State a week from Monday — and the tailback situation still unresolved.

The kid just knows how to play. It’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he gets (if any) against Fresno. Coach is going to have some tough decision to make in the backfield; I’m still going with Kordell Young.

Courtney Greene and Mike Teel shared their thoughts on the team’s progress as camp came to an end. Said the two captains:

“I think Coach brings a lot of adversity to our team and that’s something we needed with the young guys needing to step up and play,” Greene added. “I think it was the best one we’ve had since I’ve been here, with guys getting along, acting like they wanted to be here. You didn’t hear anybody saying, “Oh, this camp is too long.’ We just practiced hard everyday and got better.”

Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel agreed, calling it “the hardest training camp I’ve been through in my tenure.” The fifth-year senior said from both a mental and physical standpoint “the push to get better is something that in the long run is going to be beneficial” to Rutgers.

All-in-all, it seems like this year’s training camp went much, much smoother than last year’s. We don’t see any real concerns in any of Coach’s quotes like we did last year (when no one seemed to want to grab the starting Mike spot after D-Imperio went down with his leg injury) and the players didn’t complain one iota throughout the month. And we were also able to stay relatively healthy, save a few bumps and bruises along the way.

And some final notes: Shamar Graves has moved into the #2 spot on the depth chart at tight end. I think we’ll still see a whole lot of Craig McGovern though as he is a much better blocker that Graves currently is. They will both probably see around the same amount of time per game.

It doesn’t look like many freshman will see significant playing time this year. Art Forst is still on the two deep at right tackle, behind Mike Gilmartin. It also seems like Devon Watkis has worked his way into the two deep on the O-line as well; at the very least, he impressed the staff in camp. If Scott Vallone can work his way back to almost 100% sometime throughout the season, he could see some time at defensive tackle. If not, they might just red-shirt him and not risk anything. David Rowe looks like he might earn a spot on the two-deep at cornerback; Brandon Jones could have a shot there as well. But besides those few players, it really doesn’t seem like anybody else will see a lot of time. Guys like Pat Kivlehan and Marvin Booker could see major special teams time though.

Lastly, it’s time to get ready for Fresno. I’ll try to post my depth chart tomorrow, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, you can check out bleed scarlet’s special teams preview.

After reviewing the tape from the previous team scrimmage, Greg Schiano has discovered why the running game was so poor: the backs were fatigued. While trying to explain why the team’s top three backs carried the ball 25 times for a measely 50 yards, Schiano said:

“As I figured, the run game was a lot closer than it appeared,” Schiano said after practice Thursday. “A block here, a step there. As I watched the tape I saw that (tailbacks) Mason (Robinson) and Kordell (Young) probably hit the wall. So we rested them some (yesterday) and let the other guys get the lion’s share of the work.”

Though Young was held to eight yards on nine carries and Robinson managed just 25 yards on nine carries, Schiano said “there’s no panic on my part.”

“I’ve seen them do it,” he said. “With Kordell, I thought it was big the two runs he had during the two-minute drill. He’s tired, really tired, but he was able to pop two runs.

That’s probably one of the best explanations we could have hoped for regarding the situation. Of course, the absolute best response would have been that our run defense is ridiculously good and that we’ll be holding opposing teams to only 2 yards per carry averages throughout the season . . . . sorry, I started to day dream a bit there. Anywho, Schiano says the backs will be ready and I trust his word 100%. We’ve seen what they can do when fully rested (like Kordell ripping off two gigantic runs in practice), so I’m sure they’ll all take it easy before the Fresno game. I feel much better now than I did yesterday about the situation.

And I still have this gut feeling that Kordell will be the starter. He seems to do better in all aspects of the position, not just running the ball. His pass protection is probably better than both Mason’s and Jourdan’s. Also, I’d still like to see Martinek get some reps with the first team offense. He’s been doing well against our 3rd string defense; I want to see what he can do against our starters.

Also, in Luicci’s update: true freshman Marcus Cooper (from Connecticut) is up to 6th on the wide receiver depth chart. So, just thinking aloud, that means Britt, Underwood, Brown, Campbell, and Hayes are the only 5 ahead of him. And it also means that he’s ahead of both Keith Stroud and Tim Wright as far as freshman receivers go. Impressive. I was expecting a bit more from Stroud because of his early enrollment, and I still think he’ll end up as the best wide out from the 2008 class. It’ll be interesting to see how many of the three freshman red-shirt this year because they all have the chance to be very, very good. And with the potential possibility of losing both Underwood (graduation) and Britt (NFL Draft) next year, one of the three could start next season alongside Julian Hayes.

Kevin Haslem should be back for the Fresno game. Haward Barbieri continues to start next to Anthony Davis on the left side of the line in Haslem’s stead.

And a final injury note: red-shirt sophomore linebacker, Al-Ghaffaar Lane, suffered a leg injury in the scrimmage. Schiano says the former Paterson Catholic star will not need surgery.

After the first scrimmage, I wasn’t particularly concerned with the running game, or lack thereof. I mean, let’s face it; the offensive line had 3 new starters, all 4 of the backs vying for the starting spot were left in the shadow of the school’s greatest player ever, and the defense was quite familiar with the offensive snaps and play calling. But now word from the second scrimmage is that the ground attack still has not improved. And I’m definitely starting to get worried. September 1st is coming. And it’s coming fast.

So here’s what our backs managed to accomplish:

Panic is probably too strong a word this early. But there’s legitimate concern after another sub-standard performance by Kordell Young and Mason Robinson. Young had eight yards on nine carries. That gives him five yards on 16 carries combined in the two scrimmages. Robinson had 25 yards on nine carries — getting 21 of those yards on one run.

Jourdon Brooks looks the part, but the redshirt freshman hasn’t shown the explosiveness in games that he does in practice. He continued to have trouble pass blocking and in blitz pickup during the scrimmage, meaning he may be a situational back (read: short yardage).

Still waiting for Joe Martinek to get a longer look. He had 37 yards on four carries, including a scrimmage-long 29-yard run. All the guy does is make plays.

To say those results are bad would be an understatement. And I agree with Luicci on the Martinek note. The kid just seems to make plays; you don’t become the leading high school rusher in state history just by accident. I have a hunch that his competition is making him look better than he really is, however. Remember, he’s putting up those numbers against our 2nd and 3rd team defenses. I’d like to see what he can do against our starters.

How much blame should the O-line get for the bad running game?

Kevin Haslam’s absence at left guard due to an ankle sprain had an effect on the way the line played. No question about that. But there’s just nothing there in the running game yet. No holes. Too much defensive penetration. Not enough push up front.

After a while, opponents are going to notice that Rutgers seems to run a lot of plays behind left tackle Anthony Davis. As good as Davis is — and he could be the best lineman in school history — he is only one person.

I trust Coach Flood to get these guys ready; the man is a genius. I’d bet the running game looks much better once the O-line gets its act together. But there’s no doubt that the concerns are mounting:

Head coach Greg Schiano said he would reserve judgment until after reviewing the film of the scrimmage, but there’s no question there’s growing anxiety over the lack of production in the running game.

“I’ve got to watch the tape,” he said. “I left here last scrimmage saying, ‘Oh, boy.’ Then you watch the tape and it wasn’t that (bad). So we’re going to watch this and see some things.”

It’s hard not to notice the running game being stuck in neutral, even live. Schiano admitted as much when he was asked if any of the running backs stood out and he half-kiddingly said that backup quarterback Jabu Lovelace did.

“We need to run the football better, that I think,” he said. “But let me watch it and see why.”

And Greg wasn’t the only one:

“Obviously, we need to get better in the run game,” Teel said. “We need to run the football better. We’ve got to get the offensive line guys going. It’s tough when one of your starters goes down the day before and you put a new guy (walk-on Howard Barbieri) in and you’re trying to shuffle around a little bit.

“But we need to get better in the running game.”

Teel said he isn’t even looking for home-run carries.

“The biggest thing is we need to get a push (up front),” he said. “We need to get 2 or 3 yards. You don’t need to get it all on first down. If you got first-and-10 to second-and-seven to third-and-manageable — third-and-five or six is a manageable distance, where you usually have a good chance for a first down.

“When you get into third-and-seven-plus, third-and-eight or nine, it makes it tougher.”

Good points by the captain. We don’t need amazing, all conference backs right now. We just need guys who move the ball and don’t lose yardage. That should be enough to let Mike and the wide outs do their thing.

But the backs and the offensive line better get their act together quick. Because Fresno is coming whether they’re ready or not.

Surprise, surprise. Word from today’s scrimmage is that the passing game, led by Mike Teel, dominated the first team defense; the offense scored 4 touchdowns and 1 field goal in it’s first five drives on the day. Teel ended up throwing 10-for-14 for 168 yards, including an impressive 70 yard touchdown drive. Of course, Teel had a slight advantage in the fact that quarterbacks cannot be hit in team scrimmages. Tom Luicci provides his recap on the day’s events. Some highlights:

. . . while Teel was going a combined 9-for-10 for 123 yards at that point, the first-team running game mustered just 21 yards on nine carries.

Mason Robinson got the start at tailback, but saw his day end prematurely after he took a hit just below his hip. He was still the scrimmage’s leading rusher with 48 yards on seven carries against a mix of starters and reserves.

“He’s going to be okay, but he’s hurting right now,” coach Greg Schiano said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, but he’s going to be banged up for a couple of days.”

Hope Mason is okay. And if you think he performed poorly, read on:

Among the running backs, Joe Martinek had one of the more impressive runs — a 20-yard gain against the No. 2 defense. Kordell Young (minus-3 yards on seven carries) and Jourdan Brooks (nine carries for 15 yards) were held in check most of the scrimmage.

Hopefully Kordell and Jourdan just had off days because that’s pretty pathetic. I don’t care how good our passing game is; if our backs don’t provide some form of relief, this offense is going nowhere . . . fast. Still though, I don’t think it’s any cause for concern. It was the first scrimmage of the year and feeling the pressure of trying to replace Ray Rice probably didn’t help. I expect things to improve by leaps and bounds over the next week and a half. And I still hold that Kordell will be the starter come Fresno.

Now, onto the defensive side of the ball:

It wasn’t until late in the scrimmage that the defense took over, halting two Teel-led drives in short order.

“I’m concerned with the way we came out on defense. We turned it on as the scrimmage went on, but you can’t do that,” said cornerback Jason McCourty. “You can’t come out the first half of a game and be flat, and that’s basically what happened.”

Schiano, who doubles as defensive coordinator, said he would reserve judgment on how the unit performed until after he examined the tape.

“It’s hard when you have a veteran quarterback who understands things so well and he knows he’s not going to get hit,” Schiano said. “That changes the whole game. No one is going to come near him. So I hate to be too hard on the defense.

“Mike knows the offense so well, is so fast in his reads, I don’t want to overreact.”

Coach says it best: trying to stop Mike, Ti, and Kenny is not going to be easy, and I wasn’t expecting the defense to stop them today. It’s nice to see that the D finally settled in as the day went on, and was able to adjust to the passing game. As with the running game, I expect things here to improve over the next week or two.

Aditi’s Blog also has a very nice update on the scrimmage. Supposedly, true freshman Brandon Jones, David Rowe, and Patrick Kivlehan have all impressed in the secondary. And remember, Kivlehan didn’t even get his offer until the day before signing day. Impressive, indeed. I’m hearing Jones has worked his way to 4th on the depth chart at corner, and Rowe is right behind him, meaning they’ll both likely see significant action this season. Also, DC Jefferson had a 70 yard touchdown pass to Tim Wright. That’s going to be a deadly combo in the future.

Timmy Brown is also moving back up the depth chart and Schiano had some nice praises for him at the end of the day:

“I think it’s just a continuation of what all went on last spring. As long as Timmy keeps doing what he’s doing. He’s got a tremendous attitude and he’s working hard. He needs to put some hours behind him doing things the right way. If he can log some more hours doing things the right way, you and I know what Timmy’s capable of.”

Also, Ryan D’Imperio is starting to pull away from Damaso Munoz at the Mike.

And as a final thought, just think about this. Our secondary (you know, the one with Courtney Green and the McCourty twins who excelled last year and should be even better this year?) could not stop our passing game. And if they can’t stop it, I don’t know who on our schedule can stop it. It’s scary how good this passing game could be. But still, we need the backs to take some of the pressure off, or this will be a disspionting season.