It's very early but im willing to say the most games that we are going to lose in this upcoming season is 3. The only team i would feel safe putting my money on to beat us would be WV, and only because they've done it on so many other occassions. Them and Pitt are the only teams that can out match us in talent but Pitt's talent is young and WV lost a lot of their starting defenders and their best WR in a core of really weak WRs to graduation. Out of 11 starters on Defence, WV lost 7. But the only team that i think is better than us is WV but you alway have to expect something crazy to happen, ex. Maryland, Cincinnati, Uconn, Louisville.
The defense and the lack of a "go to" back has me a little concerened. If I knew Schiano was willing to open up the play book more I would feel better. My prediction for this year is ....10-2. We will lose the WV and either Fresno or South Florida. Another bowl game is easily in reach with "wins" vs UNC, Navy,Morgan State,Pitt, Syracus & Army. That gives us 6 win. Then the games that could go either way but we should be favorite Cin, Uconn, Lousiville, so we go 2-1 there and even if we lose both tough games we go 9-3. Not a BCS game, but we should still get a decent bowl (hopefully either the new one or Mienieke bowl).
I am going to say 8-4. I would love to be 10-2, but special teams are going to be a big challenge and the defense is a big question mark. I think Rutgers will upset WVU in a shoot out, but lose to Pitt, UNC, Cinn, & USF..
I am hoping manny Abreu lives up to expectations this year and that our LBs become a strength by the end of the year.. But the DL is a little small. I am not as concerned about the running game because I think Teal will play well this year (If Sciano allows things to open up of course).
my guess is 9-3 taking losses from WVU, Cinn and fresno. Im not sold on Pitt yet. and USF i think will be close.
As for our spread of running/in the air im not concerned about it... we have a bunch of talented receivers this year who appear to have stepped their game up as well as out RBs. The only thing that concerns me is our defense needing to be more well rounded... I like our secondary but we really need to contain the run this year. just my .02
I agree, Run Defense will be the challenge. Our Linebackers are young and I am curious about how our D-Line will develop (this was our strongest point 2 years ago).
I would be concerned about the run game with the losses on the line and Ray, but Schiano has done a great job of recruiting lineman. As for the backs, I am pulling for a full recovery on Kordell Young, but if not, one of the kids will emerge.
I think a lot of these games are toss-ups at this point, but here is my (what i consider a realistic) prediction:
FRESNO STATE - Win
NORTH CAROLINA - Win
@ NAVY - Win
MORGAN STATE - Win (By this time I figure we have broken the Top 25)
WVU - Loss
@ Cincinnati - Loss
CONNECTICUT - Win
@ Pittsburgh - Win
SYRACUSE - Win
@ South Florida - Loss
ARMY - Win
LOUISVILLE - Loss
The games I underlined are what I consider "sure things." Overall I thik 8-4 will be a solid year for RU. I think there is potential to do better, but it would take some exceptional performances by new players (running backs, offensive and defensive linemen, and especially special teams) for us to actually run the table and win the Big East.
I am predicting 9-3. I think we will start off the season with a win over Fresno and go 5-0 before facing West Virginia. That game has got to be huge to everybody who is associated with Rutgers as a fan player, or coach. How many times do we have to take it on the chin from the Hillbillies before we get it all together and BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THEM? They should be circled on our schedule every year.
I don't know how many of you rememeber this, but some 20 years ago when Bill McCartney was coaching Colorado, he made beating Nebraska ( Osborne' s Huskers, not today's sad sacks) the focus of his schedule. They had one about one out of the 30 previous meetings. Well, Colorado beat them 3 years in a row and in 1990 won a share of the NC. I believe that is how we must treat WVU.
Back to the schedule, Connecticut, Cincinnati and South Florida are the real challenges. I'm not buying Pitt or Louisville. Army and Syracuse should be automatic.
Win 2 of the 3 games I mentioned above and we've had a great year, maybe 10-2.
What is really nice is that we start out with 2 (non-competing) Nationally televised games, and if we are fortunate enough to win both, I would imagine the WVU game will go national. With Louisville on Thursday night at the end..that will give us 4 games worth of exposure. Not sure who is responsible for the Thursday night games (Trangese or Mulchachy) but I think it's helped in a lot of ways.
