Tag: eric legrand

Eric LeGrand on Johnny Langan: He’s confusing defenses

Eric LeGrand explains why Johnny Langan is more of an offensive weapon than one might think.

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Part of what makes Johnny Langan so dangerous when he enters the game for Rutgers football is as much about the threat he is with the ball in his hands as it is the confusion he brings to opposing defenses.

In particular, former Scarlet Knights defensive lineman Eric LeGrand said that the insertion of Langan, listed as a quarterback on the team’s roster, can cause all sorts of scheme issues for opposing defenses. On Saturday, Langan was utilized as a quarterback, H-back and as a tight end as Rutgers beat Temple 61-14 in their season opener.

LeGrand spoke with co-host Chris Carlin on the ‘CHOP Weekly’ that airs before and after coach Schiano’s Monday press conference. He provided significant insight on the disarray that Langan can bring to a defensive unit simply because he is so versatile.

 

“That can really confuse defenses. So there’s a spotter that’s opening the box, looking at the personnel on the field. Usually when John Langan came in, he knew he was going to line up at quarterback and now that you have him lining up at tight end, it might confuse that spotter just a little bit, as they’re up in the box as they now have to account for him as a tight end or a quarterback here,” LeGrand said on the show.

“So sometimes it can be a little bit confusing. Now, if you get up to the ball fast enough, might be able to catch them off guard a little bit so we get to see a lot of mixtures and the chess games going on between the coaches and the spotters.”

Langan had a fascinating stat line in Rutgers win. He was 1-of-2 for seven yards, five rushing attempts for 19 yards and two touchdowns as well as one reception for 19 yards.

Why is Rutgers featuring Ray Rice in throwback uniform video?

A promotional video for throwback uniforms by Rutgers football features Ray Rice, whose football career ended in scandal.

Rutgers University made the great choice to feature Eric LeGrand’s No. 52 as it debuted throwback uniforms. LeGrand is the player paralyzed on a kickoff who has done incredible work since suffering the injury on a kickoff in 2010.

The school produced the McCourty twins, who have gone on to long and impressive careers in the NFL. Devin McCourty is a  three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Pro Bowler, and a speaker of stature when it comes to athletes.

His brother, Jason, is also a Super Bowl champ and has played next to his brother for New England since 2018.

Players to proudly promote.

Which begs the question of why the State School of New Jersey decided to feature Ray Rice first in its highlights of Scarlet Knight players in the video about the throwbacks.

Rice is the former NFL running back who never played a down after a video surfaced of him knocking out his wife in an Atlantic City elevator in 2014.

Another curious choice from a school whose players have made curious decisions recently that have led to a coronavirus break among 28 players and other staff members.

Is the downtrodden football program so bad that the best it could do is rekindle Rice? This is one call that should have been audibled.