Rutgers Football: Did the Wheels Start Falling Off in 2007?

No bowl, two consecutive blow-out losses, and strong reminders of the Terry Shea era.  Shea coached Rutgers from 1996 to 2000 and had a Big East record of 4-31.

The New Jersey Star Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro writes, "Rutgers Season Ended With the Eric LeGrand Tragedy." We will never know how much truth is carried in that statement.

We do know this: Before Legrand's horrible injury, Rutgers' season looked as if it never started.  The Scarlet Knights only mustered six points in the first half of their opener with FCS Norfolk State.

They lost home games to a depleted North Carolina team and to Tulane. Rutgers was a three touchdown favorite against Tulane.

In the game where LeGrand got hurt, Rutgers almost lost to Army.

So far, Rutgers has played one good game (UConn) and ten lousy games.

Can it get any worse, giving up 69 points to Cincinnati and 40 points to Louisville—two teams with losing records?

Yes it can get worse!  Rutgers will probably get blown-out in their final game when they travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia.  The Mountaineers are still alive for the Big East Championship and will show up ready to play.

Did the wheels start falling off in 2007?

We all remember the 2006 season when Rutgers finished 11-2 and ranked 12th in the nation.  Based on  2006, and the talent returning, both major polls ranked Rutgers No. 16 in the 2007 preseason polls.

In 2007, Rutgers registered seven regular season wins, a bowl win over Ball State, and a Big East record of 3-4. Talk about underachievement!

There has never been a Rutgers team with more talent than the 2007 squad. This team might have had the most talent of any college football team in the country that year.  How did they lose five games!

12 members of this team are currently on NFL rosters—nine others have played in the NFL at one time or signed NFL contacts as free agents.

The Backfield:  QB Mike Teel, RB Ray Rice, FB Jack Corcoran

Teel played one year for the Seattle Sea Hawks and is currently a free agent.  Rice was an all-pro with the Baltimore Ravens last year, and Corcoran is on the active roster of the Tennessee Titans.

The Receivers: Kenny Britt, Tiquan Underwood, Tim Brown, TE Kevin Brock

Britt was headed for an all-pro season before injuring his hamstring with the Tennessee Titans, Underwood is a back up receiver and kick returner for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brown was a free agent with the NY Giants, and Brock is on the Oakland Raiders practice squad.

The Offensive Line: Jeremy Zuttah, Mike Fladell, Pedro Sosa, Kevin Haslam, Anthony Davis

Zuttah starts for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Fladell was on the NY Giants practice squad, Halsam is on the active Jacksonville Jaguars roster, and Davis starts for the San Francisco 49ers.

Sosa hurt his leg his senior season but had a try out with the Miami Dolphins.

The Defensive Line: Eric Foster, Jamaal Westerman

Foster is the starting defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts and Westerman in a back-up DE/LB for the NY Jets.

The Linebackers: Kevin Malast, Brandon Renkart, Ryan D'Imperio

All three linebackers are currently on NFL practice squads.  Malast is with the Bears, Renkart is with the Steelers, and D'Imperio is with the Vikings.

The Secondary: Ron Gerault, Courtney Greene, Jason McCourty, Devin McCourty

Gerault was a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, Greene starts for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jason McCourty starts for the Tennessee Titans.

Devin McCourty is a leading candidate for NFL defensive rookie of the year with the NE Patriots.