Niemann Notes--Takes from his 8/4/17 Chat with Reporters

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, whether on defense or special teams, and that game experience will also translate into added competition.

Asked what his main focus was, Niemann was quick to say "rushing defense." It's no secret that the rushing defense was putrid last year, as there were too many injuries and not enough experienced players in the two-deep of the front seven. Of last year, Niemann stated "we weren't getting the disruption and the physicality at the point of attack that we need to be successful." Seemingly that will improve, both with the addition of the occasional 3-4 look on third down, and with the better strength and conditioning of the players. In particular, Niemann noted that he's "been very pleased with how physical" Kemoko Turay "has been at the point of attack." A unique talent, if Turay is healthy and Rutgers can line him up in a way that will get him going, he can be a disruptive force. I look for Turay to have a big year, both in terms of sacks and tackles for loss. Also, I like the addition of the 3-4 in certain circumstances because it allows Rutgers to have an additional linebacker on the field that can run to the ball and minimize long gains for the opposing rushers.