PISCATAWAY – Rutgers soccer wanted this bye week.
Badly.
The Scarlet Knights have misplaced 4 straight video games. They’re banged up. They wanted a while to regroup and discover some solutions to get this season again entering into the best path once more, needing two extra wins to earn bowl eligibility for a second-straight season.
The primary eight video games have been tumultuous. Rutgers had some huge moments – beating Washington in a incredible primetime ambiance at SHI Stadium was the spotlight – but in addition a number of lows, together with the blowout loss to Wisconsin at dwelling and the loss to UCLA, additionally at dwelling.
The dream many followers had about this being a “particular season” has mainly ended, although largely for causes nobody may’ve seen coming.
However there’s nonetheless time for the Scarlet Knights to show issues round.
With that mentioned, listed here are 5 bye-week ideas and observations:
1. Too many individuals underestimated the lack of Mohamed Toure
It was dangerous information for Rutgers on the time.
And it turned out to be a nasty omen.
When Greg Schiano introduced shortly earlier than the beginning of the season that Toure can be out for the season with a torn ACL, it meant the Scarlet Knights’ protection, anticipated to be the staff’s spine, can be with out its greatest participant.
Or, as Schiano known as him, it’s “alpha.”
Toure may’ve left after final season and headed for the NFL. He had 93 tackles, together with a team-leading 9½ for loss and 4 sacks.
As a substitute he selected to come back again for yet another season. Issues clearly didn’t go as deliberate.
However you substitute a participant of his caliber simply. Or in any respect.
Toure in some ways was the chief of the protection on the sector. He raised the play of the remainder of the unit.
Whereas the Scarlet Knights did have some depth at linebacker, with youthful gamers like Dariel Djabome, Moses Walker and Abram Wright, they don’t have Toure’s expertise or veteran savvy.
To not point out how a lot he helped Rutgers’ go rush.
Shedding Toure harm this protection significantly, greater than most individuals realized on the time.
2. Might the mounting accidents on protection result in modifications?
As if Toure’s harm wasn’t sufficient, extra have simply piled up.
Linebacker Tyreem Powell, who missed the primary three video games recovering from a torn Achilles, has been banged up. So have cornerbacks Robert Longerbeam and Eric Rogers. So have defensive ends Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey. And security Flip Dixon.
On it goes.
A number of have tried to play by way of their illnesses, however that’s a tough factor to do. They’re clearly restricted. Even being a step slower causes issues, particularly towards the velocity of Massive Ten offenses.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how Schiano handles this within the ultimate 4 video games.
Will he play or begin youthful gamers extra as a result of they’re more healthy than the banged-up veterans? It’s one thing he indicated he would possibly have to do.
Nonetheless, how a lot would that assist?
Sure, Rutgers has depth, nevertheless it’s not as if it’s limitless. And what you would possibly acquire in more healthy gamers, you sacrifice in expertise, and in some spots, sheer expertise.
3. Rutgers’ protection nonetheless must be higher
This goes again to discovering solutions in the course of the bye week, one thing defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak and Schiano have to do.
As a result of whereas the protection is badly banged up, it will probably’t maintain taking part in on the disappointing degree that it has been.
The Scarlet Knights should be higher on that facet of the ball – and that features tackling. Rutgers had 10 extra missed tackles Friday towards the loss to USC.
Schiano has beforehand mentioned that six a recreation (two at every degree of the protection) are to be anticipated.
Double digits?
That’s pricey.
Harasymiak and his employees want to seek out methods to place their gamers in higher place to succeed. They should tighten issues up in the course of the week.
Once more, it’s one week. Not sufficient time to make wholesale modifications.
However they need to make changes to maintain this protection from delivering disappointing performances prefer it has been.
4. Rutgers can discover two extra wins, nevertheless it received’t come simply
Rutgers hosts Minnesota, then performs at Maryland, dwelling towards Illinois and on the highway towards Michigan State.
The sport towards the Golden Gophers is filled with storylines.
Schiano vs. PJ Fleck. Rutgers’ offense vs. defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, the Scarlet Knights’ former linebackers coach. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca and QB Athan Kaliakmanis towards their former program.
Nonetheless, it received’t be a straightforward recreation for Rutgers. Minnesota has received three in a row, together with a rout of Maryland final week. The Golden Gophers are a strong staff.
Whereas Rutgers struggled towards Maryland the final couple seasons, the Terrapins are down this season, particularly with out quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who carved the Scarlet Knights’ protection up (though their offense is seventh within the Massive Ten in whole yards per recreation with 433.5, so that they’re nonetheless formidable).
But when Rutgers can get a little bit more healthy and remedy a few of its points on protection, that’s positively a winnable recreation.
Whereas Illinois is ranked No. 24, the Illini have been everywhere. They beat Nebraska however wanted extra time to beat a nasty Purdue staff. So Illinois might be susceptible.
Michigan State beat Iowa two weeks in the past, however then misplaced to a down Michigan staff. So the Spartans are form of exhausting to foretell.
However additionally they have 4 wins. There’s an opportunity they’d have to beat Rutgers within the finale to earn bowl eligibility, so that they’d have loads to play for.
So Rutgers has winnable video games remaining.
Within the Massive Ten, although, nothing is a positive factor. And few wins come simply.
5. Kyle Monangai’s standing
Monangai has been banged up, however one way or the other he’s discovered a technique to play by way of it, absorbing hit after hit every recreation.
Schiano known as him one of many three hardest gamers he’s ever coached. Monangai reveals why on a weekly foundation.
That’s additionally why the sight of him leaving the sector towards USC was so regarding.
Monangai, who has 931 dashing yards to date this season, units the tone for Rutgers’ offense.
Any time with out him can be a serious downside.
The Scarlet Knights must hope that’s a problem that received’t come to fruition, however Monangai’s standing will seemingly stay unclear till shortly earlier than the Minnesota recreation.
This text initially appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers soccer: Ideas, observations throughout bye week
