Illinois is a true barometer game

[TM514]

We need to focus on being 1-0 this week. Last week we finished 0-1. One point is all that matters weather you lose by 1 or 77.

 

[srru86]

Trentonian
After three games against top-five teams, Rutgers shows ‘outstanding’ attitude for season’s second half

 

[imbazza2]

After watching the Ill vs Purdue game and seeing the BTN standing for both division, this is the toilet bowl of the conference.
the winner of this game will be the team that make the least mistakes in;
penalties
blocking assignments
fumbles
Interceptions
and COACHING
Both teams are playing very sloppy and coaching MUST clean up errors in missing assignments.
Lovie said it in his press conference "it is a team sport and when some of the players miss assignments it cost the team a game" << some what paraphrased "
But this is where both teams are at
This is early week coaching that is needed. We both lost last week and again as Lovie said "I do not know which is worst getting blown out or losing a close one, I think this (a close one) hurts more."
Both coaches have a major job to pick up their team.
The winner we will see Saturday.
Good execution wins the day

 

[soundcrib]

Win!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Lets see we scored 7 points vrs Iowa(who is not that good) zero vrs OSU,Zero vrs Michigan..what makes anyone think we can run the ball,our only offensive option,with a QB who has no run threat in a power spread vrs anyone left on the Schedule? EVERY team left will just run blitz and the result will be the same no points,no wins the rest of the season in this offense set. Bye the way the defense is slowly losing players weekly due to the inept production of Meherringers offense he continues to run,with RBs now switching to defense backfield...again.

I'll say it again: Laviano left 21 points on the field vs Iowa. We had NO problem moving the ball - well running it - on them otherwise. That being said if you think Illinois has anywhere close to the type of athletes, and skill players, that OSU and Michigan have - even down to 3rd team, maybe - I don't know what to tell you. Remember, I get it, we are seriously lacking in the talent department, but that doesn't mean an Illinois is suddenly going to thump us out there on the field. Outside of their DL they're almost as devoid of talent as we are.

 

[BlockR]

I'll say it again: Laviano left 21 points on the field vs Iowa. We had NO problem moving the ball - well running it - on them otherwise. That being said if you think Illinois has anywhere close to the type of athletes, and skill players, that OSU and Michigan have - even down to 3rd team, maybe - I don't know what to tell you. Remember, I get it, we are seriously lacking in the talent department, but that doesn't mean an Illinois is suddenly going to thump us out there on the field. Outside of their DL they're almost as devoid of talent as we are.

Good points Nuts,just hope the walking wounded on defense hold up for this game..and someone can throw a pass to someone who will then catch same pass..on Rutgers.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Good points Nuts,just hope the walking wounded on defense hold up for this game..and someone can throw a pass to someone who will then catch same pass..on Rutgers.

The injury situation on D, due to our depth issues, sucks.

 

[Kbee3]

I'll say it again: Laviano left 21 points on the field vs Iowa. We had NO problem moving the ball - well running it - on them otherwise. That being said if you think Illinois has anywhere close to the type of athletes, and skill players, that OSU and Michigan have - even down to 3rd team, maybe - I don't know what to tell you. Remember, I get it, we are seriously lacking in the talent department, but that doesn't mean an Illinois is suddenly going to thump us out there on the field. Outside of their DL they're almost as devoid of talent as we are.

Yeah but our O-line hasn't given any indication that it can handle anything like the quality of the Illinois DL. And our qb play is...how do you say it....suspect. How do we score ?
Illinois' offense isn't anywhere near what we faced in OSU and Michigan obviously. But they'll get plenty of opportunities with our new 1-2-3 punt offense.
Perhaps we can get some key turnovers. Our our qb steps up big-time Or somebody...anybody has the game of their career.
Otherwise, it's gonna be just another sad day for RU football.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Yeah but our O-line hasn't given any indication that it can handle anything like the quality of the Illinois DL. And our qb play is...how do you say it....suspect. How do we score ?
Illinois' offense isn't anywhere near what we faced in OSU and Michigan obviously. But they'll get plenty of opportunities with our new 1-2-3 punt offense.
Perhaps we can get some key turnovers. Our our qb steps up big-time Or somebody...anybody has the game of their career.
Otherwise, it's gonna be just another sad day for RU football.

Check out thread I just started comparing Illini vs Iowa D's.

 

[BoogieKnight]

Yeah but our O-line hasn't given any indication that it can handle anything like the quality of the Illinois DL. And our qb play is...how do you say it....suspect. How do we score ?
Illinois' offense isn't anywhere near what we faced in OSU and Michigan obviously. But they'll get plenty of opportunities with our new 1-2-3 punt offense.
Perhaps we can get some key turnovers. Our our qb steps up big-time Or somebody...anybody has the game of their career.
Otherwise, it's gonna be just another sad day for RU football.

IL D line is no better than Iowas whom we ran for 200 yards against.

 

[soundcrib]

Starting QB vs Illinois?

 

[RU31trap]

This game is a back breaker for Rutgers reputation as a B10 member and coach Ash's ability to win a game against a weak opponent at home. Every sports network is perched on a branch looking to see who is the worst team in the B10. I feel for both programs and HC's.

 

[Kbee3]

IL D line is no better than Iowas whom we ran for 200 yards against.

Uh....RU had a guy named Grant for that Iowa game.
His loss has left RU with no receivers that scare anyone and little in the way of speed.
That makes the O-line's job that much harder.....and they really haven't been up to it.

 

[Wolv RU]

That goes for most teams at this level half way through the season. None of the schools we have coming up are OSU. They also have drop offs between their starters and backups.

Sure it does, though I don't know how many teams have lost two of their top 5 players (including the unquestionably best player on one side of the ball where the team is really struggling).

 

[mdh2003]

Umm, ok. So, we got a No on the rational discussion re: current staff for the rest of this year. Checkarooski. Looking forward the best pizza in NJ threads.

So, anyone had any good pizza lately?

 

[Retired711]

Newark

I'm not even sure Camden had an MBA program then.

 

[bac2therac]

do people still think we are going to a bowl...this game was indeed a true barometer and speaks for itself

 

[Caliknight]

People thought we'd be bowling?!

 

[bac2therac]

yes check first or 2nd page of this thread

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Our barometric pressure has dropped to that of a major hurricane.

 

[MADHAT1]

People thought we'd be bowling?!

I bet the people that though RU was going to a bowl refused to feel they wouldn't
before bowl hope was eliminated .
No matter how bad the team might be looking , there are some who refuse to give up hope until every shred of it is destroyed .

This year's team looks bad, the coaching doesn't look like it's helping and from every angle RU looks like it might not win another game, but since RU isn't eliminated from getting a bowl bid I'll say RU is going bowling because I refuse to give up hope.
I'll let the fans that say Ash will be successful and is only having trouble because of the mess Flood left give up hope for this season and blame everything on Kyle.

As for me, Ash deserves some of the blame and so does his assistants, but they also deserve a Mulligan on this season being a disaster because of the changes they are implementing, the talent they have on hand and this being on the job training for the HC and OC with the DC having mid major experience as a DC and now in a P-5 conference without the talent level to overcome the offensive shortcomings that put the D on the field longer than it should be. He is a ? mark because 20 of his 25 years as a coach was at the FBS level before taking the NIU DC position

The OC is young and in his first year as an OC in the FBS level, was an OC at James Madison for 1 season, but I think that might not have given him the experience he needs
to overcome changing the RU O from what uit was into what he wants to run with the talent he has now.

The STC has 35 years experience , even being Illinois' DC in 2006, but I wonder how good he really is even with all that experience since the last 2 seasons he was Quality Control at OSU in 2014-15 and seemed to be out of FB since he was Akron's STC in 2014-15

I'm not saying they are not good hires, but can't be called sure fire winners yet, because of the way RU is looking now.
That said, I believe one mistake Ash did make when he was putting together his staff was not hiring a QB coach and let Mehringer learn how to be an OC without having to teach the QBs the right way to play their position along with his other duties.
But that's hindsight and something I thought every RU HC needed to do