Run, Ray, Run! The 2007 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Thread

[jutang403]

Every week just staying consistent, down goes Norfolk ST.

[GiantFisch]

Yeah.

Today, Rutgers isn't playing.

They play Maryland next Saturday, I'll have more on that later.

In the meantime, watch this video that recaps the Rutgers-Navy win from Week 2. I expect (for some reason) Maryland to be on Navy's level.

[Irish]

Britt is one of my fav WRs at the moment. Love watching him play, runs nice crisp routes most of the time, and has good hands. Rutgers is a good team this year.

[GiantFisch]

Game #4 Completed

Maryland 34 - #10 Rutgers 24

Yep.

This loss sucks.

A sold out crowd, everyone screaming their heads off, the atmosphere was perfect for football. (Well, near perfect, there was some junk going on in the student section during half time and the jumbotron/sign guy messed up the Star Spangled Banner. No, I'm quite confident the national anthem doesn't end with a question mark, you ass.) Only no one told the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.

I have to hand it to the Maryland Terrapins. They did exactly what you have to do to beat Rutgers. Stop them quick on offense, keep their defense on the field, and run at the tackling-limited linebackers with your big and beefy running back while making crucial passes. A couple turnovers, a couple field goals, and you got a win. Beat Rutgers by playing like...Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights played like garbage, like a team that shouldn't be ranked in the top 50. If they are still ranked, it'd be amazing. The quick touchdowns at the end of the first half teased everyone by thinking that Rutgers woke up. They didn't. It shouldn't have come down to a crucial drive with less than 3 minutes and 0 time outs - but it did and Mike Teel reverted to 2005 Mike Teel form (and made some bad throws). The defensive backs were mostly OK, but the defensive line and linebackers were gassed and got burned all day long. The offense would get a first down and then nothing. Ray Rice somehow got 97 yards and a TD; but given the situations Rutgers was in, they had to pass and Teel would make a bad pass more often or not (and when he didn't, sometimes the TE/WR dropped it).

Rutgers played poorly and deserved their loss. The bye week hurt. Getting hyped to #10 hurt. Not waking up in front of 44,000 - paying large amounts of time, money, and energy for the team, to see them succeed - in red screaming for you hurt.

The National Championship dream run was just that. A dream.

But the Big East can still be dominated.

If only they wake up.

Please wake up, Rutgers.

[Irish]

That game made me sad. Terps shouldn't have won on paper. YEt they seemed to have dominated...Wake up call?

[GiantFisch]

Mike Teel is the reason why Rutgers lost this game. 3 picks and probably 4 should-have-been-picked. The last drive - the last pick - they were driving. They had the tight end on the wide right WIDE OPEN - but no, the play was for the middle so Teel wasn't smart enough to use his EYES and look around.

GOOD QUARTERBACKS KNOW TO CHECK DOWN OR THROW THE BALL AWAY INSTEAD OF THROWING RIGHT TO THE OTHER TEAM.

Rutgers shouldn't be in shock for this loss - entirely deserved. They didn't block for Ray Rice running, they had trouble playing defense all night long, and MIKE TEEL SUCKS.

You want to get off the bandwagon? Go ahead. I don't care. Thank Mike Teel before you go.

[GiantFisch]

Well, well, well. I completely forgot to update this. Quick recaps:

GAME #5: Rutgers @ Syracuse. First quarter? Bad. Teel threw a pick on his very first pass. Everything else? Good and expected. Teel played much better. Rice ran all over the place for 196 yards and 3 TDs on 39 carries - man of the match, for sure. Defense woke up and stopped the Orange cold. Rutgers win 38-14.

GAME #6: #2 USF @ Rutgers. Short version: FAKE! Nuts only a FG. Keep up with them! Oh where is the defense! There it is. Offense, finally! GO TIQUAN! Dang it, USF just tore through us! Defense is here, DAMN IT HE DROPPED THE PUNT AGAIN! Alright, moving ahead, not enough go for the FG, OK, but...what...NOOOOOOO-YEEEEEEEEEEAH!!! Oh come on Schiano, you're letting them right back into this! SACK! SACK! SACK! WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN! WE WIN!

Rutgers 30 - USF 27, man of the match: Eric Foster - 2 sacks including the important one at the very end, rushing ar Groethe all night long. Props to Ray Rice's 181 yards but no TDs and to Andrew Dapaola for the fake FG TD pass.

Game #7: WEST VIRGINIA COMES TO RUTGERS. If Rutgers can do it...oh man, the Big East could still be in sight...!

GO KNIGHTS!

[PhillyLikwiD]

When then Thrusday night lights come on something special happens down in P-way. Even with the Eagles like miscues on special teams and an unexpected fumble in the 4th quarter by Ray Rice, the play calling and halftime adjustments turned what would have normally been a long night into a great victory. The trick plays made the difference of the turnover battle and the season isn't over at all. If the Knights can get a W against West Virginia at home, Lowville on the road, and Cincy takes a division hit then they can get the Big East crown. In a season where upsets have been happening since week 1 all over the country, I wasn't surprised by this at all.