6 Good Reasons to Be Optimistic About Rutgers Football in 2012

Another season is in the books, and this time, it was a memorable one. After an abysmal 4-8 record in 2010, Greg Schiano and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights were able to come back strong and finish 9-4 in 2011. Predicted to finish last in the Big East, the Scarlet Knights once again were on the last step towards a BCS birth when a season finale loss to Connecticut kept the Knights at, yet again, a mildly meaningless bowl game. Now, don't get me wrong, a 9-4 year after a terrible (and seemingly cursed) 2010 is a huge step forward. A bowl win is all a Rutgers fan wanted for so many years, and now we have some, 5 in a row to be exact. For Greg Schiano, meeting the goal of winning bowl games has made him a household name in the college football landscape. With that said, when goals are achieved, expectations are raised. Now, it is time to prove that his belief in Rutgers Football is warranted.

After showing again and again that they have the talent and coaching to get to the next level, it is time to look ahead to next season to see if 2012 can finally be the year the Knights have been looking for. How many times will a dropped pass, false start, or early out of conference loss be an excuse for Rutgers? How many times are they going to get this close to the mountain top, just to finish 4th in their conference? And finally, how many times are the Knights going to have the opportunity to control their own destiny and squander it down the stretch?

It has been a path of highs and lows for Rutgers fans in the Schiano era. First, you are blessed with players like Ray Rice and Kenny Britt who now score NFL touchdowns at will, along with a player like Devin McCourty who quietly became a first-round draft pick and Rookie Pro Bowl selection. Then, the wall hits, the wall that hits any coach trying to get a team from the basement to the ceiling. The wall of inconsistency. Inconsistency not only in execution on the field, but in recruiting, personnel, and play calling in particular. Rutgers went from a prolific pro-style offense, to losing the next big thing (Tom Savage), to wasting a year on the Wildcat (sorry, Sanu), and now back to taking small name players and turning them into big names. Lets get this straight, many of the best players out of Rutgers were not big recruits, and still, the big recruits that do come to the Banks of the Old Raritan are usually overrated or turn themselves into busts by investing into their ego instead of the "F.A.M.I.L.Y" mentality that Schiano praises.

My point? Ray Rice was a converted cornerback that was wooed away from Syracuse and turned into a running back. Kenny Britt was a 3-star recruit out of Bayonne who somehow stayed out of handcuffs for 3 years in New Brunswick. Mohammed Sanu was a 2-star athlete out of South Brunswick who did not play his senior season due to age restrictions (he was 19 in the fall of his senior year). Steve Beauharnais was a no-name early signing who turned himself into a star linebacker after only a year of college ball. Khaseem Green was a struggling safety who Schiano made into the Big East Defensive POTY at outside linebacker.

So you ask again, my point? My point is that Rutgers isn't your typical program. Rutgers takes small name guys that "buy into the system" and turns them into useful, well coached players that somehow sneak onto and sometimes flourish on NFL rosters. Rutgers doesn't need 5-star recruits that contribute right away, and doesn't need preseason recognition to make themselves feel better. Rutgers needs consistency. Luckily,with this group of players and coaches, consistency may not be the only thing they get, they may get exactly what they need to finally make it to a BCS game in 2012. 

Let's take a look at the reasons to be optimistic about Rutgers Football in 2012:

Another Bowl Victory

Sure, it wasn't the coveted BCS win that Rutgers has badly wanted for so long. However, with that said, bowl wins have become commonplace at Rutgers, and that is something to be proud of. Back in 2005, when the Knights were selected to be in the Insight Bowl, you would have thought Rutgers had won the national championship when in fact, they lost a bowl game that barely made it on TV. After six bowl games and five bowl wins in a row, Greg Schiano has changed the culture in Piscataway. He has changed it from the typical "hope we don't get embarrassed this year," to the "we've got to finally make the BCS this year" attitude he so badly wanted on campus.

This change in attitude is what college football is all about, and finally, Rutgers can have the same feeling that other big time schools have had for generations. Now, it is time for the next step, the step toward a Big East Championship, a BCS game, and a national championship.

With this said, Rutgers fans should not take these bowl wins for granted. It could be worse, and it has been worse. When you think about it, this bowl game was pretty cool. Cool in the sense that Rutgers got to play in New York City, under the big lights of Yankee Stadium, in essentially a home game that all fans could conceivably attend. It says a lot that these coaches and players were able to stay focused, prepare, and beat a Big 12 team that had a lot going for it including a win over Oklahoma State on its resume. It was a good win, so please do not take it for granted. I say this for one reason: you never know when Schiano will get the job offer that takes him away and takes all of his progress with him.

Linebackers

Okay, I know what you're thinking, Khaseem Greene just got carted off of the field in the Pinstripe Bowl and we are supposed to be optimistic about the linebacker position? Yes. According to both Greg Schiano and Khaseem Greene (via Twitter), the Co-Big East Defensive player of the year will miss Spring practice, but both are optimistic that he will be 100% come the 2012 season. Greene has been converted from a mediocre safety to an All-Star and All-American Outside Linebacker. His 140 tackles almost double that of any other defensive player and his timely 3.5 sacks saved the season in many respects. Assuming the predictions are correct and he is ready to go for the regular season, we are looking at a big time linebacker with NFL talent.

Perhaps the smartest player on either side of the ball for Rutgers is Steve Beauharnais at middle linebacker. Finishing the season with 75 tackles and 5 sacks, the junior seemed to be around the ball on every play, with Greene sometimes stealing the tackle statistic. His knowledge of Schiano's defense and hard work ethic show how a small-time recruit can make it big in the right system and with the right coaches. After the loss of Ryan D'Imperio a few years back, it looked as though the Middle Linebacker position would be a question mark with Manny Abreu being a perennial under-achiever. Instead, Beauharnais started making plays in his first days in a practice uniform, and has exceeded expectations with one season still left to boost his draft stock.

On the other side of Beauharnais, the Scarlet Knights will rely on Jamal Merrell to handle the duties. A converted receiver, Schiano claims that the sky is the limit for the 6'4" 200 pound sophomore. Going into his junior year with the expectation of starting, one can only think he will hone his defensive skills further and become all that Schiano thinks he can be. 

It is hard to believe that Rutgers has 3 linebacker that could have futures on Sundays, but that is the predicament they find themselves in. Schiano makes a habit of turning talent into skill, wherever that may be on the field. The imagination and belief to make Merrell a linebacker after lining up at wide receiver shows the innovation that has gotten Schiano to his seat as the most tenured coach in the Big East. His confidence and experience in converting players not only benefits the program, but also puts these players on NFL rosters at positions they never would have imagined. Sounds like a win-win scenario to me.

Logan Ryan

Coming into the 2011 season, all anyone could hope for is for Logan Ryan to live up to the hype. Coming to Rutgers as the No. 1 CB prospect in the state of New Jersey, a lot was expected of Ryan. Unfortunately for Rutgers, many of the high profile recruits never come to fruition (Tom Savage, De'Antwan Williams). With both McCourty brothers graduating along with the reliable backstop of Courtney Greene, it was essential that Logan Ryan become a true shutdown corner. In only his second year on the active roster, Ryan immediately showed his athleticism and will to take on the opponents number one threat on the outside. His 67 tackles ranked 3rd on the team (after Greene and Beauharnais), and his 3 interceptions showed that he was one of those "ball-hawk" type players. Watching his throughout the season, any casual fan could see his confidence rise and his aggressiveness soar. With 2 forced fumbles and 13 pass-breakups, it was hard to believe a player with sophomore-eligibility was willing to and was given the green light to make such risky plays. 

Going into 2012, one can only imagine how high this kid's confidence is right now. I would argue he is a better cover corner than Devin or Jason McCourty ever were in Piscataway, only lacking the special teams skills that both brothers seem to possess. With a full spring practice as the out-right shutdown guy on defense, it is clear that his potential could be reached in his 3rd year.

Schiano always preaches that he needs guys that "buy in" to what he does at Rutgers. Many times, as I've mentioned before, it means being versatile and maybe playing a position you didn't desire to (D.C. Jefferson), or even playing a system you didn't expect (Sanu in 2010). Luckily for Ryan, it looks like his destiny as a Scarlet Knight is set, and it is a destiny that fans would welcome with open arms. He has let the conference and the country know that throwing towards him is a bad idea, and has done it in two active seasons. We are looking at a clear NFL talent, and someone who has clearly bought into what Schiano has going at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Brandon Coleman

Remember the days of Mike Teel throwing the ball up in the air, seemingly to nobody, and Kenny Britt coming down with it for a huge gain? I do, and boy do I miss those days. Mohammed Sanu is and was a heck of a talent for the Scarlet Knights, but rarely ran the "go" route on the outside and won a jump ball on the sideline. That jump-ball receiver has been absent from the arsenal for quite some time...until now. A 6'6" Under Armour All-American with a body reminiscent of that of Britt, Brandon Coleman burst onto the scene after a redshirt year in 2010. Many fans were surprised that he didn't make an immediate impact and seemed to lose hope. After a slow start to 2011, Coleman seemed to finally realize how big and athletic he actually is, and started playing like a veteran receiver. 

With the Scarlet Knights offense, well, struggling in the red zone, it is a breath of fresh air to see a 6'6" monster on the outside that seems to have a knack for the end zone. His 17 catches is not an impressive number, but to gain 552 yards and 6 touchdowns on those catches certainly is. Essentially, he averaged 33 yards a catch and scored one in every 3 touches. That's impressive. Did I mention that his scoring plays averaged 42.5 yards? Wow.

Now, with Sanu making his announcement to enter the draft (good choice), Coleman can focus on becoming a true number one receiver that should certainly have more than 17 catches in 2012. With a supporting cast of Quron Pratt and Mark Harrison to work with, I think the Rutgers passing attack could actually improve next year, and will undoubtedly be less predictable to opposing defenses.

A Running Game Back at Rutgers

Every Rutgers fan seems to try and rerun the Ray Rice "glory days" in their head over and over. And it feels good, I've got to admit. Almost every game over 150 yards rushing, a prolific red zone offense, and a Heisman campaign? Ah, those were the days.

Luckily for Scarlet Knights fans, those days may be back in 2012. After searching for a replacement at running back and never finding it, Rutgers may have found its man (or men) late in the 2011 season.

Starting 9 of the Scarlet Knights 13 bouts, Jawan Jamison burst onto the scene with 897 yards rushing, many of them coming in key games that would not have been won otherwise. His 9 touchdowns led the team, and all of this came in a year where Savon Huggins was supposed to emerge as the go-to guy. Reminiscent of Ray Rice, the 5'8" 198 pound running back has the talent to run in between the tackles, but also the athleticism and vision to bounce it outside and outrun the secondary. I am not saying that Savon Huggins' injury was a good thing, but without it, Jamison could not have gotten the consistent carries he needed to gain confidence and become a true starting back. With Huggins re-entering the mix in 2012, a two-headed monster could emerge in the backfield that will only make the entire offense more comfortable running the pro-style system that Frank Cignetti has brought back to Rutgers. The only question is now what is next for Jeremy Deering? A lightning bolt runner that is too good of an athlete to leave off the field, Deering must now try and work on his route running and hands to become a productive part of the Rutgers offense.

A lot of people have been down on the Rutgers offensive line, and rightfully so, but when a relatively unknown talent explodes late in the season, you have got to give them credit. When Jamison began having success, the offensive line got some pep in their step, started moving faster, and blocking harder. It is tough for an offensive line to get motivated when they are trashed in the media, and the coach barely has the confidence to run the ball. With Jamison's success coming late in the season, the young offensive lineman can gain the confidence they need to believe in themselves and believe in the system.

A running game has been sorely missed on the banks for too long now, with many of our recruiting prayers going unanswered of going elsewhere. With Jamison coming back strong and Huggins hopefully progressing, it will give the Knights a foot to stand on when the passing attack isn't clicking, a luxury they haven't had since the glory days.

Frank Cignetti

Finally, my number 1 reason to be optimistic about 2012 as a Scarlet Knights fan. It is not the next big recruit, or the quarterback situation (which I tried to put an optimistic spin on, to no avail). Instead, it is the Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti.

Coming to Rutgers after two years as a Pittsburgh Panther, Cignetti brought back the confidence in the offense that every fan needed. After too many years of offensive experimentation (much of which scared away the best players and prospects), Rutgers is getting back to what built the new stadium, produced NFL superstars, and got Rutgers to where it is (was?) today. That is, the pro-style offense.

Greg Schiano admitted himself that he wasted a year of talent and development on the wildcat-hybrid offense of a year ago, and badly needed a revitalization to his offense. He also admitted that without that year, both Jeremy Deering, Mohammed Sanu, and the quarterbacks would be better off today. We all know Schiano is a defensive mind, and his decision making on the offensive personnel has been questionable in recent years. There was the year of two offensive coordinators (an idea that just doesn't work), and again, the year of the wildcat. After two terrible decisions by Schiano, he has completely turned his luck around with a pro-style genius that can bring Rutgers back to it's roots. 

Not only did Cignetti bring himself from Pittsburgh, but also brought prized QB recruit Gary Nova with him. Nova, a Don Bosco product, has that Jersey Boy winning attitude that fans became fond of with Mike Teel. It says a lot about Cignetti that he has Nova wrapped around his finger, and brought him back to the state that he grew up winning in. 

In one year with the Knights, Cignetti was able to get Mohammed Sanu the year he needed and deserved, got the offensive line slowly working towards their potential, as well as brought back the running game that Rutgers so badly needed. When dealing with the Quarterback controversy between Dodd and Nova, Cignetti was able to keep both players happy and neither seemed to lose confidence in themselves. A lot of this has to do with the character of both Dodd and Nova, which should not be pushed aside, but the fact that Cignetti did not ruin both of those players this year is something to be proud of. It is so tough to play two quarterbacks and win, never mind win nine games, keep both feeling loose and confident, and finish the year with a huge pass play to clinch a bowl game victory.

After one year at Rutgers, Frank Cignetti seems to have Scarlet Knights fans buzzing with excitement. With his first full off-season ahead of him, it is scary to think what he can do with the talent the Knights have, and help them get the talent they will need to stay playing well and take the next step towards a BCS championship.