The offensive line has improved under Pat Flaherty, but the Rutgers football head coach says the ultimate test will be how the unit holds up against some strong Power Five competition this season.
For the past three years, the offensive line has been an area of focus for Rutgers and Schiano, the unit being the weakest point of the roster. But this offseason, a core of younger players took a developmental step forward and have improved, providing quality depth along the line for the first time in nearly a decade.
Enter Flaherty to this mix, and there is a belief that the line can and should be improved.
A former NFL offensive line coach, Flaherty is best known for his time with the New York Giants where he won two Super Bowls. He brings this wealth of experience to Rutgers and a group that very much needs his help.
“It’s the best we’ve been but again, that’s not the measuring stick. The measuring stick are the people that we have to go out and play and win games again. So we’re better,” Schiano told the Big Ten Network this week.
“Pat Flaherty is on board with us as our line coach who you know, is a longtime NFL coach and I (was a graduate assistant) for him back in the late 80s. So I have a long history with him, but I’m really pleased with the way we’re developing and we had a great offseason. I think the guys are physically more mature. It’s a key element, no doubt.”
There is the potential for the offensive line to be serviceable this year, given the amount of returning experience the group boasts. Flaherty’s experience coupled with the growth and development of the line through their own maturation process is a key focal point for Rutgers football as they head into training camp.
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