Guest Blog Post – Rutgers vs. USF

On Wednesdays, I’m going to try and get a friend to write a guest post for me.  The first guest blog in the history of this blog is…my good friend Shiro Tohari!  Shiro shares his insight in the upcoming game for our alumnus school team: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights!  To be honest, I haven’t followed too closely this year, especially after attending our game against Cincinnati (who is vying for a chance to play in the BCS).

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I realize this is a Jets blog, but staying semi-on topic I’d like to discuss my beloved Scarlet Knights.

Understandably, some of my posts are going to come off with a slight ‘first game of the season’ impression but I couldn’t help that with this being my first post and what not.  Hope you enjoy, and I always enjoy criticism!

We have a matchup coming up on Thursday night against the USF Bullfrogs with the Knights looking to push their winning streak to 4 years.  The Bullfrogs come into Scarlet Nation with a 6-2 record (2-2 conference) fresh off an impressive victory against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Rutgers sports an identical overall record 6-2 but a slightly less impressive conference record. (1-2) Pollsters have the Bullfrogs ahead of Rutgers by about 10 team ranks.

The immediate thing you have to worry about is their new quarterback, B.J. Daniels.  B.J. Daniels, like Grothe, is a dual threat quarterback.  Similarities and differences?  Well, besides both of them being a dual threat and being listed pretty closely (around 6 foot, 200 pounds although I feel the numbers on Grothe are a little generous) they’re pretty different quarterbacks.  While Grothe is known to make things happen on his feet, I feel B.J. Daniels has better physical attributes everywhere; stronger arm, quicker, and faster.  Obviously Grothe has the upper hand in experience but based on Daniels’ games against FSU and WVU he really is no slouch.  He’s excellent at throwing on the run (something Grothe was also pretty decent at) as viewed from last week’s game, where everytime WVU defenders looked to contain him on the run, he would throw a dagger down their throats.

What is the immediate concern here?  Historically, the Knights have had trouble containing fleet footed quarterbacks.  It’s hard to tell how they will do this season, considering they haven’t really faced any meritable mobile quarterbacks.  (Pike is quite mobile but the Bearcats don’t make him carry quite often, as was the case in our opener)  However, for as long as Schiano has been here, a notable dual threat that consistently burned us was now NFL pro Pat White.  Russell Wilson was also running at will against our defense during last year’s bowl game until a hit knocked him out of the game.

Many people would like to point to the fact that in Grothe’s 3 years, he has struggled every game against the Knights.  Well let me tell you something; after watching Daniels’ play the past few weeks, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Daniels operates on a faster gear.  Liked noted previously, I’m always concerned with the Knights ability to contain a fast quarterback.  While we’ve had good success against Grothe, forcing him into many costly turnovers, I can’t say with full confidence that we will be able to enjoy the same amount of success against Daniels.  Sure, he’s a freshman, but our secondary is also full of holes.  Considering the Bullfrogs barely have a legitimate running game, I would expect the Scarlet Knights defense to dial up a healthy amount of blitzes.

As much as I’d like to talk about defense, all the excitement on the Knights comes on offense with our freshman phenom Tom Savage.  Obviously Savage has ways to go, but I like what he’s been doing this season and although the staff is understandably trying to keep his plays controlled, you have to love that he’s only thrown one pick. Detractors may say he’s not spreading the ball around enough, what with Sanu appearing to be his favorite target and Tim Brown creating big plays, but who could blame him?  No other receiver has really stepped up and big things WERE expected of Brown and Sanu this year after all.

Much hype surrounded our offensive line this preseason, but we’ve only been decent in pass protection and horrendous on the run.  At first glance, it’s hard to notice with our leading rusher Joe Martinek averaging 5 yards a carry, but overall our team’s rushing stats have been largely inflated by a punchless FIU team,  Martinek’s late game outburst against the Terps, a weak Army team and two non-BCS opponents.  In reality, our expected best player coming into the season, Davis, has been largely a disappointment and the rest of line has also not performed up to par.  The Bullfrogs’ Pierre-Paul and Selvie (who is very over-rated I shall add) look to pose a tough matchup.

How do the Scarlet Knights take this Thursday showdown?  Well, as our mantra goes, we’ve got to chop it away.  Our defense needs to prevent the breathtaking big plays Daniels is capable of, as our offense is not designed to catch up when behind big. (please ignore the Tim Brown slant play from two weeks ago) Ryan D’Imperio will need to bring his consistent play on defense and the secondary will have to make something happen.  (Devin McCourty, I’m sure you’ll have some scouts to impress.) On offense, we will have to build a solid running game to take pressure off of Savage.  The way the line allowed Joe Martinek to run the ball will definitely dictate the pace of the game; Joe is probably the most consistent runner on the Scarlet Knights and as long as he has a path of a yard’s length ahead of him, he’s always a good bet to fall 3-4 yards forward. I’d also like to see more of DeAntwan Williams, as he appears to be a lot more talented than both Jourdan Brooks and Joe Martinek.  (I’m a big fan of Joe M, but I’ve got a little Rocket bias going on here.)

KEY MATCHUPS:

USF Secondary vs Tim Brown:  Tim Brown is likely to get a good amount of yards as the Knights No.1 receiver.  Look for the Bullfrogs to keep him doubled for most of the game.

USF D line vs RU O line:  The trenches will dictate the pace of the game and the line will have to come up big for this one.  I like Davis’ chances against Selvie but they key may very well be stopping Pierre-Paul.

B.J. Daniels vs RU Secondary:  Daniels will keep us guessing all day so play of the DBs will be key in containing him. If the secondary can create one or two turnovers I think we’ll have a good chance at taking the game.

SHAMELESS PREDICTION:  As we’ve always come up big in these weekday night games, I predict that we’ll take this one in a what has become an all too common thriller of a game between these two schools.  On offense, I expect Joe Martinek to bring a modest game on the ground with Brown creating one or two big plays.  The defense will contain the passing game while allowing the occasional big run or two by Daniels.

FINAL SCORE:  RU 28, USF 21

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to clear it up…this blog is not necessarily a Jets blog — it should be though

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