The Knights Watchman

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights kick off the season at home against the University of Washington Huskies in the "War Before the Shore," paying homage to New Jerseyans' time honored tradition of heading for the coast during Labor Day weekend. A rematch from last year's 48-13 thrashing, this revamped Rutgers team heads into the contest as 27.5 point underdogs. I'm not sure what exactly to expect out of Rutgers on Friday night. As Coach Ash said in his game week press conference, "this is a different football team." Half of the Rutgers team has changed over since the end of last season. Counting Justin Davidovicz, who the coaching staff announced will be handling kickoffs, there are twenty-four new faces on the Rutgers two-deep. That includes true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, and transfers. But that does not include a few other players who may see the field on special teams units or as part of certain offensive or defensive packages. As an examp...

A number of former Rutgers players made their presence felt during the third week of NFL preseason action. George Johnson (NFL.com) My pick for the former Scarlet Knight who made the biggest impact is George Johnson who had 3 tackles, including a sack for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other former players who recorded stats or were in the news are as follows: Tyler Kroft: 1 catch for 2 yards Leonte Carroo: 1 catch for 5 yards Mohamed Sanu: 1 catch for 10 yards Kenny Britt: 1 catch for 13 yards Carlton Agudosi: 1 catch for 26 yards Andre Patton: 2 catches for 31 yards Brandon Coleman: 2 catches for 44 yards Jonathan Freeny: 2 tackles Steve Longa: 1.5 tackles Jason McCourty: 1 tackle Marcus Cooper: 1 tackle Duron Harmon: 1 tackle Devin McCourty: 1 tackle Tom Savage: 10/16 passing for 79 yards, 0TD, 0INT A couple players received some unfortunate news: WR Andrew Turzilli was designated as waived/injured by the Giants and is now on injured reserve, and TE Tim Wright was...

The media had the chance to pepper Scarlet Knights Special Teams and Tight Ends coach Vince Okruch this past Friday. Okruch provided them with some personnel news as well as some insights into the teams overall preparedness as they close out training camp. Senior graduate transfer Ryan Anderson has won the job as the starting punter over Michael Cintron. Okruch explained that Anderson "has greater distance; kicks a deeper ball." True freshman Justin Davidovicz will handle kickoffs. The placekicking competition is ongoing between transfer Andrew Harte, a former recruit of Jerry Kill's at Minnesota , and last year's starter, David Bonagura. Whomever shows the most consistency will get the job. There is also an ongoing competition at long snapper, with returning starter Alan Lucy trying to hold off freshman Bill Taylor. Okruch said the team "could have a lot of freshman covering kicks." As an example, Okruch mentioned Edwin "Tank...

Rutgers wideouts coach Jafar Williams spoke with reporters during practice last week. He gave an update on some of the players who were banged up, as well as a preview of what fans can expect from some of the newcomers. Overall, Williams thinks "we're a little bit more explosive" than last season in term of the athleticism of the unit. On what we can expect out of Janarion Grant, Williams said "everything." Damon "Duwop" Mitchell is "a guy right now that's going out and leading by example." Mitchell's brother, Ahmir has "been great" as he recovers from injury. He's an "energetic and very passionate person." On the freshmen: Hunter Hayek "goes out there and makes a lot of plays." Everett Wormley "came in physically able to compete." Bo Melton has a "feel for the position." Shameen Jones "got hurt early in camp" but is "going to be a go...

Last week, Rutgers defensive backs coach Henry Baker answered questions about the cornerbacks. On what has impressed him most about the corners since he's been with the Scarlet Knights, Baker said, "how these guys work...these guys are willing to embrace the process of learning." On whether he's talked with the defensive backs about last year, Baker said that they only go back and watch film "to reiterate how far they've come." Asked about some of the new players, Baker said Edwin "Tank" Lopez "has the willingness to go in there and put his face in there." He also mentioned that Tim Barrow is "coming along" in terms of getting to the point where he can make a contribution. In terms of returning players, senior Isaiah Wharton is "methodical, he knows the defense" and other players "know that they can count on him to be able to do his job." Baker says that Damon Hayes is a "produ...

Linked from scarletknights.com Click on the above image to find out about some of the exciting new things that Rutgers has added to enhance the football game-day experience. Last year, I noticed some new things taking shape over the course of the season. But this year, it seems the new blood in the athletic department has really taken the game-day experience up a notch. Here's some of the new things that stand out to me. "Rutgers Gameday" app There will be a new downloadable app that will give fans information and statistics for all 24 of Rutgers' main campus sports teams. Users can sign up for push notifications and receive discounts. Can't wait to see how this looks. Video Board at Practice Complex The video screen at the Marco Battaglia Practice Complex will broadcast pregame shows and other information related to the game. Food Trucks Along Scarlet Knight Way The long walk from some of the parking lots and bus drop-off to the stadium will be alle...

Jason McCourty (nfl.com) A number of former Rutgers Scarlet Knights had good weeks recording stats in the second week of NFL preseason action. The standout may have been Browns defensive back Jason McCourty, who recorded 4 tackles and recovered a fumble. Other contributors included: Anthony Cioffi had two tackles and a forced fumble for the Oakland Raiders on what was a highlight-reel hit. Brandon Coleman had a catch for 8 yards for the Saints. Marcus Cooper recorded 2 tackles for the Chicago Bears. Jonathan Freeny and Devin McCourty were both in on 3 tackles for the Patriots. Tom Savage completed 8 of 9 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown for the Texans. Quentin Gause and Kevin Snyder each had a tackle for the Broncos. Steve Longa recorded 3 tackles for Detroit. Logan Ryan had a tackle and a forced fumble for the Titans. Mohamed Sanu snagged 2 catches for 25 yards for Atlanta.

After yesterday's practice, Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash took some time speak with the media. The highlight of the chat was the announcement that senior graduate transfer Kyle Bolin was named the staring quarterback. This comes five days after Bolin was voted one of the team's captains for the upcoming season. Since that announcement, it seemed only a matter of time before the coaching staff tabbed him as the guy. Bolin is the most experienced QB on the team in terms of FBS action, having played in 16 games during his time at Louisville , as opposed to the 7 games Giovanni Rescigno has participated in. In addition, Bolin has thrown almost 80 more passes than Rescigno in collegiate action. When asked why the staff went with Bolin, Ash said they felt Bolin "executed," "made good decisions," and "understands the offense." As for Resigno, Ash said that he's "a team guy, he's a competitor" and "he'...

Rutgers co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Bill Busch met with reporters on Friday. He gave an update on some of the key players at safety. Redshirt junior Saquan Hampton "has great range...He also has great coverage skills...That's a tough dude." True freshman Edwin Lopez (aka Tank), Naijee Jones, and Tim Barrow "have all done a great job for us." Redshirt senior Zane Campbell and sophomore K.J. Gray "are playing very well." "K.J. Gray will be very involved right from the get-go...He's got tremendous ball skills and range." Redshirt junior Kiy Hester has "had an exceptional camp." In general, the coach is happy with "the retention they've had from last year" and that by comparison, the players have a "high football IQ." While noting the improvement, Busch cautioned "We're a huge work in progress but we're making strides."

Rutgers running backs coach Lester Erb took a few minutes to meet with the press at Friday's practice. He mainly discussed the attributes of some of the running backs who have stood out in camp. Sophomore Trey Sneed has been "playing with confidence" and has "really done a good job throughout camp." True freshman Raheem Blackshear is "mature, really picks things up well...He brings a different skill set to the unit." Graduate senior Gus Edwards "can run. You wouldn't expect a guy of his size to have the speed that he does and the quickness that he does." Senior Robert Martin "has had a tremendous last couple days of camp." "He doesn't make many mental mistakes." Senior Josh Hicks "is having a good camp. He's been limited a little bit." In terms of allocating playing time, Erb said, "whoever has the hot hand has the hot hand and everyone understands that." The coa...

scarletknights.com Rutgers University has released more information regarding the "War Before the Shore" promotion slated for the 9/1/17 opening night home game against  Washington . There will be some pretty neat giveaways and entertainment options for fans going to the contest. The most talked about part of this promotion has been the announcement that there will be a Jacuzzi atop the Rutgers student section above the South end zone. While this has been widely lampooned in the media, I believe those in charge of hospitality and promotions should be given credit. First of all, it has generated publicity. Second, they knew going in that they would face an uphill battle to get fans to attend the game on the eve of Labor Day weekend. They've created a game atmosphere which should be fun and exciting and worth sticking around for. If the team is competitive in the game, this could be a night to remember. In player news,  Keith Sargeant of NJ.com reported...

Jeremy Zuttah (NFL.com) Former Rutgers offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah was not back on the market for long. Just days after being released by the 49ers, Zuttah was signed to a two-year contract by the Baltimore Ravens, the same team that traded him to San Francisco in March. A Pro Bowl center last season with Baltimore, his previous trade to San Francisco was seen as a move to clear cap space. Baltimore , though, has since experienced some injuries along the offensive line and clearly were very happy to pick up Zuttah with nothing to exchange. And San Francisco essentially moved down in the draft for no reason. His situation is summed up well by Sean Wagner-McGough in his article at CBSsports.com . Best of luck to Zuttah for the upcoming season.

On Wednesday, the members of the Rutgers football team voted for the team captains for 2017. The four athletes who received the honor are senior right guard Dorian Miller, senior defensive lineman Darnell Davis, senior graduate transfer quarterback Kyle Bolin, and junior linebacker Deonte Roberts. I've seen some articles and comments online about the selection of Kyle Bolin being a bit of a surprise due to his status as a one-year graduate transfer. However, from following players and fans of Rutgers football on Twitter, it was clear over the past couple of months that Bolin was making every effort to be a leader among his teammates. He kept a steady dialog with many of them throughout the summer and organized trips to the Shore and things like that. His selection as captain obviously bodes well insofar as his chances to be named the starting quarterback. A large part of being the QB is being the leader of the team, and clearly the guys already view him as one of their ...

Khaseem Greene Former Rutgers linebacker and two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year Khaseem Greene had all charges dropped in a case involving a shooting at an Elizabeth nightclub. The defendant accused of firing the shots admitted that he lied about Greene's participation in the incident. At the time of the shooting, Greene had recently been signed to a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and was hoping to make an impression to stick on the roster. Once the Chiefs received news of his arrest, his contract was immediately terminated. Hopefully, the Chiefs or another team will do the right thing and give Greene another chance. Greene led the Big East in solo tackles in both 2011 and 2012. He finished his Rutgers career with 387 total tackles. Excellent articles about the situation can be found on NJ.com and ESPN.com .

There are a significant number of Rutgers players currently on NFL rosters. It's preseason, and there's a chance not everyone will stick, but it's still exciting to note the progress that Scarlet Knights are making in the pros. This is a list of many of the guys who recorded stats or found themselves in the news this past week. Kenny Britt: caught 1 pass for 4 yards Leonte Carroo : caught 1 pass for a nifty 33-yard TD Brandon Coleman: 3 catches for 23 yards Mohamed Sanu: caught 1 pass for 5 yards Anthony Cioffi: recorded 1 tackle Marcus Cooper: recorded 1 tackle Jonathan Freeny: recorded 4 tackles Steve Longa: recorded 4 tackles Jason McCourty: recorded 1 tackle Logan Ryan: recorded 3 tackles Kevin Snyder: recorded 4 tackles In addition, wide receiver Andrew Turzilli was signed this week by the New York Giants. And in a surprise move, center Jeremy Zuttah was released by the San Francisco 49ers. Zuttah had been slowed a bit with a leg injury, but this was...

On Sunday, Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash took the podium for his Rutgers Media Day press conference. In what was roughly a twenty-minute update and chat with the media, he covered quite a bit of ground, shedding some light on some new faces that are making an impact, slight changes in look and strategy, and giving an updated timetable on the quarterback decision. On the overall vibe of training camp, Ash feels its been "very productive" and that Rutgers has "improved in all areas of our football team." As importantly, the "overall health is good," in the sense that there haven't been any additional significant injuries in the past week. If the team hadn't improved in all areas something would truly be amiss, so that's expected. I'm stoked to hear that the overall health of the team is good, as that could a big factor in determining the outcome of some of the competitive, but winnable games Rutgers has scheduled earl...

After practice on August 10, Rutgers associate head coach and offensive line coach A.J. Blazek took questions from a small group of reporters, followed by a session with the Scarlet Knights' defensive line coach Shane Burnham. It's always a pleasure to hear from Blazek and Burnham, as these are two old school guys who love football. Right guard continues to be a topic of conversation as Blazek and the rest of the staff sort out who the starter will be. Blazek said redshirt freshman Nick Krimin is "doing some good things," redshirt sophomore Zach Venesky has a grinder personality, and that Blazek's "really happy with" redshirt junior Marcus Applefield, who seems to have come on strong after having to sit out Spring camp as he recovered from injury. In addition, Blazek praised guard Dorian Miller as someone who's always asking questions and working to improve despite his status as a senior, and that redshirt sophomore center Jonah Jackso...

The crew at BTN Live stopped by Rutgers' Busch Campus Piscataway on Tuesday, August 8, to do their summer preview. They got to take a gander at the new Marco Battaglia Practice Complex, and they seemed to come away rather impressed with that and the other upgrades that have been taking shape on campus. There are a number of links to videos at scarletknights.com showcasing different interviews and commentary from their visit. Much of content features BTN Live's panel of Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo, and Howard Griffith. Among those interviewed were Chris Ash, Sebastian Joseph, Blessuan Austin, Tariq Cole, and Jerry Kill. I watched most of the content and found some high points that piqued my interest, so I'm going to jump around a bit and share those. Offense Ash on the QBs: "I like the way they're competing. They've embraced the competition." DiNardo on the QB competition, which he felt was mainly between Rescigno and Bolin: "Giovanni and Bol...

Rutgers head coach Chris Ash took a few minutes to speak with the media after a wet and cloudy practice this past Monday. The main topics were the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends, as those are some of the major positions up for grabs, at least in terms of the pecking order. About the QBs, Ash stressed that Giovanni Rescigno, Johnathan Lewis, and Kyle Bolin "were all getting reps with the ls," and didn't seem to want to put anybody in the driver's seat at the moment. I would have to think that simply based on familiarity, if the season were to start tomorrow Rescigno would get the nod, because not enough time has passed to evaluate the other guys enough to firmly unseat him. We'll see what happens in a week or two after they get another scrimmage under their belts. Coach was a little more candid when discussing the running backs, singling out Gus Edwards in particular as someone who has stood out in practice. It's going to be interesting to s...

Rutgers University, the football team, and Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs unveiled the Marco Battaglia Practice Complex on Friday, August 6, 2017. Made possible by an extremely generous donation from Jeff and Amy Towers, the facility gives Rutgers one of the premier complexes in the country. Having been a Rutgers student during Battaglia's time on the Banks, I can attest to the fact that there's not a better representative and player in Rutgers football lore to have named the complex after. It's been a blessing that Marco has been involved with the athletics department again over the past few years. Congratulations to everyone involved for pulling off the construction of this state-of-the-art facility in less than six months. Below is a time-lapse video of the construction, as well has a video honoring the Battaglia's playing career. Each of these videos can also be found at scarletknights.com and at the RVision1766 YouTube channel.

Rutgers defensive coordinator Jay Niemann took a few moments last week to meet reporters for a quick interview. Here are what I thought were the highlights, as well as a few comments: Niemann was asked about the season-ending injury to Tyreek Maddox-Williams and how it will affect the defense. He responded, "It's hard. We're making some adjustments within the linebacking group...That'll go on until towards the end of camp." He mentioned that Eric Margolis, T. J. Taylor, and a number of the freshman have been, and will continue to be, rotated in until they can determine a two-deep. With the move of Ross Douglas to linebacker, the incoming freshman, and assuming that Deonte Roberts and Trevor Morris remain healthy, the Rutgers linebackers are a much deeper group than last season. Maddox-Williams is no small loss, but my hope is that Tyshon Fogg and the other recruits can step up and fill the gaps. Margolis and Taylor have both seen the field quite a bit, whethe...

I've had some time off for a quick vacation, so for the next few days I'll be catching up on some Rutgers football news. About a week ago, Adidas and Rutgers released the promos and images for the black "Stadium Lights" uniforms that Rutgers will wear for the November 4th contest against Maryland at Yankee Stadium. The jerseys are on sale at the Adidas website for $70 at the time of this post. You can check that out at this link . I like the alternate dark Knight helmet as well as the pattern that's subtly embedded in the fabric. It gives it an Adidas feel without taking away from the overall design. Another nice feature is that the chain mail design on the sleeves is more pronounced and pretty sharp. So far, IMO Adidas is doing a stellar job on these uni designs.  

On Saturday, August 12, the gates will open at 9 a.m. for Fan Appreciation Day. From 10 a.m. until Noon there will be an open practice followed by an autograph session. Visitors will receive a free 2017 Rutgers football poster and there will be plenty activities for the kids, including photos with the Scarlet Knight. Check ScarletKnights.com for more details.

From the press conferences and through various news outlets, here's a quick recap of some of the recent roster changes for Rutgers football and a couple comments. Tyreek Maddox-Williams I'll start off with an unfortunate development, Keith Sargeant of NJ.com reported that sophomore linebacker Tyreek Maddox-Williams will miss the season with a knee injury sustained in practice. An All Big Ten Freshman team selection at linebacker, Maddox-Williams will certainly be missed and I hope he has a speedy recovery. The Scarlet Knights are in a much better position than last year to absorb his loss, as the linebacker corps is a deeper group going into the season. First reported by the Pardon My Take podcast, quarterback Tom Flacco has transferred to Rutgers from Western Michigan University . Flacco has been added to the official roster at ScarletKnights.com . The brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Tom is considered a dual-threat quarterback who will ...

This past Monday, Rutgers offensive coordinator Jerry Kill took the mic for his first press conference of camp. Here are the things that struck a chord with me: It bodes well that Coach Kill is seemingly impressed with the freshmen. He said he's been, "pleasantly surprised with the young kids," saying that they are "smart kids that learn very fast." He feels the newcomers have made the team, "more athletic in the skill positions." Hopefully the athleticism will translate into the Rutgers offense being able to stretch the field. Last year it seemed that once Janarion Grant went down, Rutgers had a difficult time connecting on enough deep passes to keep the defenses from stacking the box. The increase in athleticism can also lead to mismatches causing the need for the opponent to double team, facing more zone coverage, and other things that will open up the field. Regarding the quarterbacks, Kill felt he has a "good room," as op...

Rutgers football head coach Chris Ash met with the media on July 31st, for his first official press conference of training camp. This is what stood out to me: It's only fitting that Gio Rescigno started with the first team and received the most first-team reps. Gio finished the spring as the starter and he should start training camp as the incumbent regardless of there being an open competition. Kyle Bolin also received first-team reps, but both Ash and offensive coordinator Jerry Kill have stated that at least four of the quarterbacks (Johnathan Lewis and Zach Allen as well) will get chances with the first team as they determine the starter. Asked about the quarterback competition, and whether the fact that Rutgers is opening against a very experienced and heavily favored Washington team would factor into who gets the opening night start, Ash responded by asserting that the opponent doesn't matter. On who will play Sept. 1, "It's who we feel gives us t...