Rutgers Football: Another Loss in Piscataway Featuring Terrible Teel

Once again, the Scarlet Knights show up to a nationally televised game only to get their heads handed to them.  There was not a point in this game where it seemed that the Rutgers Football team even wanted to be on the field.  The performance was beyond sloppy and it appeared as if there was no effort on either side of the ball.  The result was a 44-12 clinic put on by the North Carolina Tar Heels.  Where is the blame to be placed for two horrible performances in a row?  The question is more, “Who is not to blame for these two losses?”.

The blame is NOT in the hands of Rutgers running back Mason Robinson, who carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards in the loss against North Carolina.  He averaged 5.1 yards a carry and added 5 receptions for 32 yards.  The blames is not in the offensive line, who only allowed one Tar Heel sack in the game.  To make a side note, the sack was on Jabu Lovelace, not Mike Teel.  Finally, the blame is not on Kenny Britt, who had eight grabs for 109 yards.  Britt also had a six grab, 89 yard performance last week against Fresno State.

So where should the blame be placed?

A.      The coaching staff: When a team loses two games in a row that they should have at least been competitive in, the coaches will take blame.  Where was Kordell Young in this game?  I am not aware of an injury to the running back who posted up 94 yards against Fresno State.  He did not see one carry in this game.  Also I question the calls on fourth and shorts to punt the ball repeatedly in a game that they desperately needed an ounce of momentum.  I question the lackadaisical play of the players in both games and put this one on the coaches.  The defensive coordinator did not seem to have any answers to any aspect of UNC’s offense.  Finally, Greg Schiano has done wonderful things for this team; however he is going to destroy it if he is not careful.  He has answered questions about his starting quarterback Mike Teel and is firm in his stance that he will remain the starter.  Bad choice Schiano, start looking to the future before you do not have one here. 

B.      Mike Teel: I do not understand why this guy is still behind the center.  His performance has hindered this team for three years.  If they had a better quarterback in their 11-2 season, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see them go undefeated.  Ray Rice was the power of the offense this past season, and with him gone the team cannot move the ball effectively.  Finally we get to see Mike Teel take charge, but he does not deliver, just like he never did.  He threw three interceptions and only one meaningless touchdown at the end of the game. He also threw a pair of interceptions last week against Fresno State.  Therefore, this season he has one touchdown and five interceptions.   His passes are erratic and rarely on target.  He leads his receivers into way to many dangerous hits.  With this seasons chances pretty much over, I would like to see a shift for the Mike Teel era ( or Mike Teel error) to a freshman who can be groomed for the future.

C.      Courtney Greene, Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty, and anyone else in the secondary : Horrible.  The term I use for the display of pass defense put on by these defenders.  Play after play there are gaping holes in coverage.  Fresno State and UNC took advantage of Rutgers secondary numerous times.  Replacements need to be found soon if they keep up allowing offenses to deliever with big plays.   

These two losses mean more than just a bad start this year.  Rutgers Football has been a source of much pride to New Jersey and the students who attend the University.  It means enough so that many donations have been received and construction to update the stadium in Piscataway has begun.  If the team begins to lose, they will begin to lose fans in the seats.  They will lose the revenue that a winning football team brings.  They will also look quite ignorant for adding on to the stadium if they no longer sell tickets.  Their recruiting ability will also be ruined if they do not win.  No top high school player wants to play for a losing team in college. 

Solution:  Give the program a future and stop playing the seniors who will not be here next year.  They have played poorly and should lose their starting positions.  Get the freshman and sophomores experience so that they can hit the ground running in 2009 and 2010.  Start looking for a new defensive coordinator and a better staff to put behind Schiano.  This team needs to find a way to win at least seven games this year.  It is crucial to have winning seasons.