Rutgers Preview
October 28, 2004 11:21 AM | General
October 28, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The rebuilding job Greg Schiano has done at Rutgers has certainly caught the attention of West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, whose Mountaineer team puts their 6-1 record on the line Saturday against the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway.
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| Safety Jarvis Johnson leads Rutgers in tackles
Big East photo |
“I think anybody will tell you that have followed them that they’ve got more talent now than in the last 20 years … at least certainly more talent than at any time in the last four years I’ve been at West Virginia,” Rodriguez said.
Certainly Rutgers (4-3, 1-2) has made significant progress since losing to West Virginia by scores of 80-7 in 2001 and 40-0 in 2002. Last year, West Virginia had its hands full with the Scarlet Knights in Morgantown, pulling away in the second half to win 34-19.
“They played us very tough last year and we were in a battle with them all the way to the end at our place,” Rodriguez said.
Two areas where Rutgers has made a difference are forcing fumbles and producing sacks. The Scarlet Knights lead the country with 12 fumble recoveries and have managed 27 quarterback sacks.
“You can tell that they’re coached to strip the ball and they lead the league in sacks as well,” Rodriguez said.
The coach admits some of that has to do with their blitzing schemes but he is also impressed with Rutgers’ defensive front four consisting of defensive ends Val Barnaby (6-5, 260, Jr.), Ryan Neil (6-3, 250, Sr.), Gary Gibson (6-4, 278, Sr.) and David Harley (6-1, 300, Sr.). Rodriguez calls Rutgers “one of the most active front fours” that West Virginia will face this season.
“They’ve got guys that are good pass rushers and have got speed,” Rodriguez said. “Usually you get a couple of pluggers there in the middle but all four of them are high-motor guys.”
Rodriguez says defensive line is the single biggest area of improvement in the Rutgers program in the last four seasons.
“Michigan State (19-14 Spartan loss) had a lot of problems with them off the edge: one of their tackles was getting beat,” Rodriguez said. “They do a lot of twisting with their fronts. Our O-line is going to have to be on their toes a little bit more this week. We can’t be lazy up front and stand around because they will get by us.”
Neil leads the team with six sacks while Barnaby’s backup, Alfred Peterson, has 4.5.
Rutgers also possesses one of the conference’s most active safeties in senior Jarvis Johnson (5-11, 200, Sr.), who leads the Knights in tackles with 51. Cornerback Joe Porter (5-9, 190, So.) is second on the team in stops with 44 while middle linebacker Devraun Thompson (5-11, 225, So.) is third with 36 tackles.
Outside linebacker William Beckford (6-1, 222, Jr.) was a prize recruiting catch for Rutgers three years ago and he has seen action in all seven games, making 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Porter leads the defense with three interceptions.
Because Rutgers employs such an aggressive defense it has been susceptible to the pass allowing 13 TD throws this season.
“If a team like Rutgers is going to press you and dare you to throw then you’ve got to have the ability to do it,” Rodriguez said. “They can outnumber you and put everybody up in there. If you can run against it then you’re going to have a good day. If you can’t you better have another answer.”
West Virginia must also come up with some answers for Rutgers’ controlled, West Coast passing attack that leads the Big East with an average of 290.6 yards per game.
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| Quarterback Ryan Hart has four 300-yard passing games to his credit this season.
Big East photo |
Junior quarterback Ryan Hart (6-2, 197, Jr.) completed 31 of 57 passes for 351 yards and a touchdown in last week’s loss at Pitt and has reached 300 yards or more four times this season. Hart had a 311-yard, three-TD performance in a loss at Syracuse and 344-yard, two-TD effort in a win at Vanderbilt.
“They’re averaging almost 42 passes a game so they are obviously throwing the ball,” Rodriguez said. “Some of those passes are almost like runs. There are different ways of trying to control a game and they try to control it with their short passing game.”
Even though it is a short passing game, it is not without risk as evidenced by Hart’s conference-leading 12 interceptions. Hart was picked off four times in last week’s loss to Pitt, including one that went 82 yards for a touchdown. He has thrown seven picks in his last two games.
Senior Tres Moses (5-10, 196, Sr.) is Hart’s favorite target, catching 42 passes for 462 yards in six games this year. He has topped the 100-yard mark twice against Syracuse and Vanderbilt but is still looking for his first touchdown catch. For his career, Moses shows 108 catches for 1,170 yards and six scores.
According to Rodriguez, the one offensive player that must be accounted for is fullback Brian Leonard (6-2, 230, Jr.).
“Quarterback is always the key to your offense but they rid Leonard,” Rodriguez said. “He’s a fullback but he’s really a tailback. They throw it to him and hand it off to him.”
Leonard is the team’s top rusher with 480 yards and five touchdowns, including a 150-yard performance in the season opener against Michigan State. Leonard has also caught 33 passes for 296 yards and two scores. Leonard has a streak of 11 straight games with at least 100 all-purpose yards after getting 106 against Pitt last weekend.
“Most of their big plays are either throwing to Leonard or throwing it to their tight end,” Rodriguez said.
Clark Harris (6-6, 240, Jr.) is one of the most productive tight ends in the Big East, catching 28 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns so far this year. Rodriguez is impressed with Harris’ athletic ability and speed.
“Their tight end is a 6-6, 240-pound guy that can run,” he said. “They’ve created some mismatches by getting him in an open seam against linebackers that he’s faster than. They’re using him more so than in the past and it’s really helping them.”
Rutgers is banged up a little bit at offensive line. Sixth-year senior offensive guard Brian Duffy (6-5, 295, Sr.) left the Pitt game with a knee injury but is expected to dress for Saturday’s game. The Knights also start one of the smallest centers in the conference in converted fullback Ray Pilch (6-3, 260, Sr.). Ron Green (6-6, 302, Sr.) and Pedro Sosa (6-5, 288, So.) man the tackle positions while John Glass (6-5, 300, Sr.) is expected to start at guard.
Clarence Pittman (5-10, 208, Sr.), Markis Facyson (5-10, 195, Jr.) and Justise Hairston (6-1, 210, So.) have combined for just 232 yards on 82 carries at the tailback position.
Because Rutgers has had a tough time running the football, its red zone effectiveness has been so-so. The Scarlet Knights have scored 17 touchdowns in 32 red zone chances so far this year. However, RU has been able to take advantage of having one of the best place kickers in the conference in freshman Jeremy Ito (5-11, 180, Fr.). The Redlands, Calif., native has made 13 of 19 field goal attempts so far this year and leads the league with 55 points. His long field goal is 48 yards done twice.
Saturday’s game is set to kickoff at noon and will be televised on ESPN Regional. Stations carrying the game locally include WJAL (Chambersburg, Pa.), WCHS (Charleston), WOAY (Beckley), WTRF (Wheeling) and WVFX (Clarksburg). WTAE in Pittsburgh has selected to carry the Ohio State-Penn State game and there is a possibility that Fox Sports Pittsburgh may pick up the West Virginia-Rutgers game in the Pittsburgh market. Consult your local listings.
