(Photo by Jarrett Baker/Getty Images)
2006 has got to be considered a high water mark for the program. I doubt I would get much argument about that. 11-2, a bowl victory, a final ranking of No. 12. Not too shabby.
And what were the ingredients to the success that season? A stifling defense, a ball control offense, and a young quarterback with one main objective; don’t screw up.
For those of you who follow the Knights, I bet you’re getting goose bumps about now. Does that sound eerily familiar? Kind of like the team we have going into 2009? Yep.
Granted, there are differences. And, as some wise, old, grizzled coach murmured under his breath some years ago after hearing the lofty preseason ranking for his team,
“Preseason polls are crap! You still have to go out and play the games.”
Ah, sage advice, indeed.
The pieces, however, do seem to be in place for a very memorable year for Rutgers football.
The defense will again be stingy, perhaps more so than 2006. The line will be difficult to run on, the secondary will make life tough on receivers and quarterbacks, and the linebackers will be flat out nasty.
Oh, I could get more specific about the individual players, or the defensive schemes and blitz packages that will be flying all around the stadium, but that’s what all those preseason publications like Athlon, the Sporting News and Phil Steele are for.
As for the offense, a quarterback needs too, and will, emerge. That may sound like a tall order, but remember what I said about 2006. We only need someone behind center who doesn’t screw up.
I realize that may sound a bit more simplistic than it really is, but it is at least on the periphery of truth. Although Mike Teel left the school this past year as the all-time leader in just about every passing category, his role in 2006 was that of caretaker, not play maker.
Just take care of the ball, manage the clock. I think that worked out fairly well.
We’ve all heard this a thousand times….offense wins games, but defense wins championships.
The pieces are in place. The coach has brought in the kind of player that succeeds not only on the field, but also in life. The fans are as rabid as they have been at any point over the past 140 years.
The stadium expansion is moving along nicely. The Big East is without a clear favorite, and the Scarlet Knights will field the most talent that has ever graced the banks of the Raritan.
Oh, and one more thing…
It’s time.
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