Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview 2022: Offense
Yeah, the offense needs to be better. It was the worst in the Big Ten on third downs, it was horrible inefficient, and overall the running game was hit-or-miss, but rocked when it was able to get over 200 yards.
With this team under Greg Schiano it’s all about getting physical. He wants a tough team on defense, and the offense has to be able to pound away and control the tempo, which means …
The offensive line has to be stronger, and there’s a whole lot of work being done to make that happen. After a rough season in pass protection, and with the ground game only averaging 139 yards per game, here come the new guys. It doesn’t help that starting left tackle Raiqwon O’Neal left for UCLA and guard Cedrice Paillant is off to Marshall.
Hollin Pierce is locked in at one tackle, and that’s about it for anything that’s set. There’s going to be playing around with the lineup thanks to several key transfers. ULM’s Willie Tyler will likely work at one tackle, Colorado State’s Mike Ciaffoni and Minnesota’s Curtis Dunlap will push for a guard job,
Leading rusher Isaih Pacheco is done, but second-leading running back Kyle Monangai is back after going for 235 yards and four scores, and Aaron Young is a decent veteran who ran for 205 yards sand five scores. They’re fine – they just need the room.
QB Noah Vedral can also run – he was the team’s second-leading ground gainer last year – but the key to his game is hitting the easy throws to keep things moving. The former Nebraska transfer only threw for 1,813 yards and seven touchdowns with seven picks, but he’s still the main option.
The receiving corps isn’t getting as much as help as the O line received, but it got a boost with Taj Harris from Syracuse and Sean Ryan from West Virginia to go along with ultra-quick Aron Cruickshank. Johnny Langan is a good midrange pass catching tight end.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview 2022: Defense
The defense has to be a whole lot better. Coming up. with lots and lots and lots of takeaways is a given for a Schiano team, but there’s going to be an adjustment with a whole slew of new coaches in the mix starting with Joe Harasymiak from Minnesota as the new defensive coordinator.
The D allowed close to 400 yards per game and was the worst in the Big Ten in pass efficiency defense. However …
The secondary is one of the key areas of experience returning. It was a struggle – the lack of a pass rush was a part of it – but Avery Young is a good prospect at one safety and Christian Izien is coming off a strong year at the other spot.
The corners might give up a bit too much and they need to pick off more throws, but Kessawn Abraham, Robert Longerbeam, and Max Melton combined for 26 broken up passes. Melton came up with three of the team’s seven interceptions.
More pressure needs to come from the defensive front. It’s a smallish line that relies on quickness and a rotation, but the combination of Mayan Ahanotua inside and Mohamed Toure outside isn’t bad – Toure should be the best pass rushing option up front. A whole lot of young parts need to rise up at all four spots.
Losing Tyshon Fogg and Olakunie Fatukasi from the linebacking corps hurts. Tyreem Powell will work in the middle and should be a statistical star, and the job will be to find a steady producer at the other job and a good rotation in the 4-2-5 alignment.
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