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DB/KR
Nathan Jones |
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2002
Statistics
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Coach:
Greg Schiano
3-20,
2 years |
2002
Record: 1-11
|
|
VILLANOVA |
LOST
19-37 |
BUFFALO |
LOST
11-34 |
ARMY |
WON
44-0 |
at
Pittsburgh |
LOST
3-23 |
at
Tennessee |
LOST
14-35 |
WEST
VIRGINIA |
LOST
0-40 |
at
Virginia Tech |
LOST
14-35 |
at
Syracuse |
LOST
14-45 |
MIAMI
FL |
LOST
17-42 |
TEMPLE |
LOST
17-20 |
at
Notre Dame |
LOST
0-42 |
at
Boston College |
LOST
14-44 |
|
2002 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2003
Outlook
|
If
Rutgers could translate off-season recruiting
successes into regular season scores, things
would be changing quicker during the Greg
Schiano era. Despite any failures, Schiano
has instilled a change in attitude on this
team, and you can see it in their swagger.
The Knights have been one of the most penalized
teams in the nation the past two seasons.
Schiano promised to turn Rutgers into a
title contender, but so far the results
have been awful.
Minimal
improvements won't get the job done. The
biggest question that has to be asked pertaining
to 2002 is, with all their recent problems,
why didn't they consider starting some of
the younger kids, which included a good
chunk of his offensive line, even once the
season was (arguably) lost? Suddenly, the
Scarlet Knights are a one-win team looking
to reload without many experienced players
to fill the blank spots created by graduation.
If there is a positive for 2003 it is the
schedule. With Buffalo, Army and Navy, the
Knights have a good opportunity to (at least)
triple 2002's single victory win total.
The season begins at Michigan State - an
upset win would provide a giant launching
pad for this program, perhaps even a five
or six win season. We don't foresee it happening.
You have to go back to 1999 to find the
last time the Knights won a Big East conference
game. We don't see that changing this year
either. The Knights will be improved and
use this year as a maturation process for
its young recruits. Schiano has to find
reasons to stay once this season mimics
recent disastrous others. The offensive
line will tell all. But, from Vineland to
exit 14A, none of this is much of a surprise.
Different year, same result. Please prove
us wrong Rutgers, please? Losing to the
Villanova and Buffalo's of the college football
world every year just will not cut the mustard
any more.
Projected
2003 record: 3-9
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|
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C
Marty Pyszczymuka |
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RUTGERS
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 2 |
RB
- 2 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 2.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 1.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS
|
Passing:
Ted Trump, 155-71-11, 740 yds., 4 TD
Rushing: Markis Facyson, 124 att.,
398 yds., 1 TD
Receiving: Aaron Martin, 30 rec.,
284 yds., 3 TD
Scoring: Ryan Sands, 5-12 FG, 18-19
PAT, 33 pts.
Punting: none
Kicking: Ryan Sands, 5-12 FG, 18-19
PAT, 33 pts.
Tackles: Nathan Jones, 84 tot., 69
solo
Sacks: Raheem Orr, 4.5 sacks
Interceptions: Brandon Haw, 4 for
17 yds.
Kickoff returns: Nathan Jones, 26
ret., 28.3 avg.
Punt returns: Tres Moses, 4 ret.,
18.2 avg.
|
|
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7
|
----RETURNING
STARTERS----
|
DEFENSE
- 8
|
|
KEY
LOSSES
|
OFFENSE:
Aaron Martin-WR, L.J. Smith-TE, Josh Hobbs-WR,
Trohn Carswell-OT, Mike Esposito-OL, Howard
Blackwood-OT, Brian Duffy-OG, Ryan
Cubit-QB (transferred) |
DEFENSE:
Will Burnett-DT, Gary Brackett-MLB, Shawn
Seabrooks-FS, Mike Barr-P |
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|
2003
OFFENSE
|
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.
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|
RUTGERS
2003 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
OFFENSE
|
QB |
Ryan
Hart-So (6-2, 195) |
Ted
Trump-Sr (6-2, 215) |
FB |
Brad
Cunningham-Jr (6-1, 240) |
Cedric
Brown-Jr (6-2, 250) |
RB |
Markis
Facyson-So (5-10, 195) |
Marcus
Jones-Jr / Clarence Pittman-Jr |
WR |
Shawn
Tucker-So (6-2, 180) |
Jerry
Andre-Jr (6-1, 185) |
WR |
Tres
Moses-Jr (5-10, 190) |
Corey
Barnes-So (5-8, 165) |
TE |
Ray
Pilch-Jr (6-3, 240) |
Chris
Loomis-Jr (6-4, 240) |
OT |
Mike
Williamson-Sr (6-5, 289) |
Sameeh
McDonald-Jr (6-5, 300) |
OG |
Rich
McManis-Sr (6-5, 310) |
Mike
Clancy-Jr (6-4, 290) |
C |
Marty
Pyszczymuka-Sr (6-2, 280) |
Will
Vogt-So (6-3, 285) |
OG |
Clint
Dato-Jr (6-5, 325) |
Randy
Boxill-So (6-5, 310) |
OT |
John
Glass-Jr (6-5, 320) |
Dan
Biernacki-So (6-4, 300) |
K |
Mike
Cortese-So (6-3, 205) |
Ryan
Sands-Sr (6-0, 225) |
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|
2003
DEFENSE
|
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.
|
|
LB
Brian Bender
|
|
RUTGERS
2003 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters in bold
|
DEFENSE
|
DE |
Raheem
Orr-Sr (6-4, 260) |
Val
Barnaby-So (6-5, 270) |
DT |
Gary
Gibson-Sr (6-4, 290) |
Joe
Henley-So (6-3, 260) |
DT |
Luis
Rivas-So (6-4, 275) |
Joe
Giacobbe-So (6-0, 260) |
DE |
Alfred
Peterson-Jr (6-3, 255) |
Ryan
Neill-Jr (6-3, 245) |
LB |
Brian
Bender-Sr (6-3, 235) |
William
Beckford-So (6-1, 220) |
LB |
Brian
Hohmann-Sr (6-3, 242) |
Ishmael
Medley-Jr (5-11, 230) |
LB |
Will
Gilkison-So (6-2, 230) |
Sal
Fama-So (6-0, 225) |
CB |
Nate
Jones-Sr (5-10, 180) |
Leslie
Collins-So (5-10, 180) |
CB |
Eddie
Grimes-Jr (6-0, 180) |
Brandon
Haw-Sr (6-0, 185) |
SS |
Jarvis
Johnson-Jr (5-11, 195) |
Dondre
Asberry-So (5-11, 180) |
FS |
Terry
Bynes-So (6-2, 210) |
Bryan
Durango-So (5-10, 185) |
P |
Joe
Radigan-So (6-5, 240) |
.. |
|
|
|
2003
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
The
areas that improved most under Schiano's second season
in Rutgers were the special teams. KR Nate Jones returns
after an All-Big East and All-American season in 2002.
Jones, an NC.net 3rd team preseason All-American, averaged
28.3 yards per return with two TDs. Rutgers is extremely
excited about junior PR Tres Moses. Moses averaged 18.2
yards per return in splitting 2002 duties. This year,
he will be the man. Rutgers also did a great job blocking
kicks last season. The kick-blocking unit blocked two
punts and harassed opponents into a meager 34-yard net
average.
In
the kicking game, new sophomore punter Joe Radigan will
shine. The one weakness still prevalent for Rutgers
in the special teams was place-kicker Ryan Sands. In
2002, the senior was an awful four for eight inside
40 yards. Look for sophomore Mike Cortese to compete
for this spot.
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