GRAPHIC BY MATT STEELE
G2
G A M E DAY
OCTOBER 16, 2009
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
KnightsGameday RUTGERS VS PITTSBURGH
GAME 6: Rutgers vs. Pittburgh, Rutgers Stadium, 8 p.m. TV: ESPN RADIO: 1450 AM FAVORITE: Pittsburgh by 4.5
Trench warfare to recommence BY STEVEN MILLER CORRESPONDENT
The numbers say it all. The Rutgers football team ranks last in the Big East in sacks allowed, while the Pittsburgh defense leads the conference in sacks. The Panthers are third in the nation in sacks per game, while the Scarlet Knights rank 100th out of 120 teams in sacks allowed per game. When RU meets Pitt tonight, changing those numbers or continuing the trend could decide the game. “I think every game is won in the trenches — whether or not your offensive or defensive line can control the line of scrimmage,” said senior center Ryan Blaszczyk. “If the defensive line controls it, the offense really isn’t going to be able to do much. Whereas if the offensive line controls it, they can do what they want.” Since RU was last seen on national television, the offensive line worked to recover from the fivesack performance by Cincinnati. When they return to the national stage tonight, it is against another dominating pass rush, but the offensive line does not believe there is any more to prove. “I think every time you go out and play, you have something to prove,” said sophomore left guard Art Forst. “You play for these types of games, you play for these types of premier opponents. I’m excited about it.” Twelve different Pitt players, including four linebackers and eight defensive linemen, have combined for their 26 sacks this season, led by junior end Greg Romeus. Romeus has seven sacks on the season — good for second in the Big East — and all came in the past four games against Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) opponents. Even though the Panthers have so many players with sacks this season, they do not blitz often but rely on their defensive line to create pressure, said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. Defending against a four-man front and not the blitz does not make the challenge any more — or
[
INSIDE the NUMBERS
SCARLET KNIGHTS (4-1)
PITTSBURGH (5-1)
PASSING CMP YDS TD INT. AVG. 0 138.6 T. Savage 56.5% 693 4
CMP YDS TD INT. AVG. PASSING 66.7% 1,256 13 3 209.3 B. Stull
RUSHING NO. YDS TD LNG AVG. J. Martinek 75 411 5 61 5.5 51 236 4 57 J. Brooks 4.6
RUSHING D. Lewis R. Graham
NO. YDS TD LNG AVG. 5.6 131 738 7 85 5.5 32 176 3 28
RECEIVING NO. YDS TD LNG AVG. 21 452 2 68 21.5 T. Brown 18 182 0 19 10.1 M. Sanu 84 0 46 28.0 3 D. Jefferson 34 0 20 11.3 3 J. Hayes
RECEIVING J. Baldwin D. Dickerson O. Turner D. Lewis
NO. 27 21 16 12
TKL SCK 1 28 0 27 19 6.5
DEFENSE
R. D’Imperio D. McCourty J. Freeny
BRYAN ANGELES/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Rutgers offensive line ranks 100th in the nation and last in the Big East in sacks allowed per game. less — difficult, said senior right tackle Kevin Haslam. “It’s really all the same, whether you’re going one-on-one with a defensive end or whether you’re picking up a blitz,” Haslam said. “They both have their difficulties for different reasons.” Although RU has not lost to a Dave Wannstedt team in the four years since Schiano’s former colleague took over at Pitt, a strong defensive line is always the mark of his teams. “Dave goes back a long way as a defensive line coach, so that’s always good,” Schiano said. “From Miami, to University of Southern California, to Dallas and the Bears, he always had guys who could rush the passer and he developed them.” While the Pitt secondary only has three interceptions this season, its job is made easier by the defensive line. “Their secondary is very good as well, but they generate such a pass rush that quarterbacks are
forced into making poor decisions,” Schiano said. Freshman quarterback Tom Savage is aware of the challenge ahead, but also confident that his offensive line can handle the Panthers. Nine of the line’s sacks allowed are on Savage, while senior quarterback Dom Natale has been taken down five times. “Obviously it is a step up in competition,” Savage said. “I just have to get rid of the ball quicker and go through my progressions. I make it real difficult on the offensive line because I hold onto the ball for too long. I just need to stay calm back there because the protection’s awesome.” Whether or not that shows in the primetime matchup, the Knights worked all week to get ready for the test. “I think both teams know what they’re walking into,” Schiano said. “Both pride themselves on being physical teams, so there should be some high speed collisions Friday night.”
]
INT 1 1 0
YDS 532 232 169 82
DEFENSE
D. DeCicco A. Gunn G. Romeus
LNG 79 37 26 12
AVG. 19.7 11.0 10.6 6.8
TKL SCK 42 0 33 5 21 7
INT 1 0 0
TD 3 7 1 1
INJURIES Out — S Pat Kivlehan (leg), G Caleb Ruch (leg), Mason Robinson (knee)
INJURIES Questionable — DB A. Berry (shoulder), WR C. Saddler (ankle), DB E. Fields (ankle)
SCHEDULE Sept. 7 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 10 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 31 Nov. 12 Nov. 21 Nov. 27 Dec. 5
SCHEDULE Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 2 Oct. 10 Oct. 16 Oct. 24 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 27 Dec. 5
L, 47-15 Cincinnati W, 45-7 Howard W, 23-15 FIU W, 34-13 Maryland Texas Southern W, 42-0 8 p.m. Pittsburgh 8 p.m. Army TBA Connecticut South Florida 7:30 p.m. TBA Syracuse TBA Louisville West Virginia TBA
Youngstown W, 38-3 W, 54-27 W, 27-14 Navy L, 38-31 N.C. State W, 35-10 Louisville Connecticut W, 24-21 8 p.m. Rutgers South Florida Noon TBA Syracuse Notre Dame TBA West Virginia TBA TBA Cincinnati Buffalo
Key Matchup Rutgers offensive line vs. Pittsburgh pass rush The bottom line going into tonight’s game is that the Scarlet Knights are tied with Connecticut and Syracuse for last in the Big East with 14 sacks allowed, and the Pittsburgh Panthers lead the conference with 26 team sacks.
STARTING LINEUP: OFFENSE
TIM BROWN Wide Receiver
ANTHONY DAVIS Tackle
ART FORST Guard
RYAN BLASZCZYK Center
DESMOND WYNN Guard
KEVIN HASLAM Tackle
D.C. JEFFERSON Tight End
MOHAMED SANU Wide Receiver
TOM SAVAGE Quarterback
JACK CORCORAN Fullback
JOE MARTINEK Running Back
Senior 5’-8”, 210 lbs
Junior 6’-6”, 325 lbs
Junior 6’-8”, 310 lbs
Senior 6’-4”, 295 lbs
Sophomore 6’-6”, 290 lbs
Senior 6’-7”, 295 lbs
R-Freshman 6’-6”, 245 lbs
Freshman 6’-2”, 215 lbs
Freshman 6’-5”, 230 lbs
Senior 6’-1”, 230 lbs
Sophomore 6’-0”, 215 lbs
STARTING LINEUP: DEFENSE
GEORGE JOHNSON Right end
CHARLIE NOONAN Tackle
SCOTT VALLONE Tackle
ALEX SILVESTRO Left end
DAMASO MUNOZ Linebacker
RYAN D’IMPERIO Linebacker
ANTONIO LOWERY Linebacker
DAVID ROWE Cornerback
JOE LEFEGED Strong Safety
ZAIRE KITCHEN Free Safety
DEVIN McCOURTY Cornerback
Senior 6’-4”, 260 lbs
Junior 6’-2”, 270 lbs
R-Freshman 6’-3”, 270 lbs
Junior 6’-4”, 260 lbs
Senior 6’-0”, 220 lbs
Senior 6’-3”, 245 lbs
Junior 6’-2”, 225 lbs
Sophomore 6’-0”, 195 lbs
Junior 6’-1”, 205 lbs
Senior 6’-2”,215 lbs
Senior 5’-11”, 190 lbs
G AMEDAY
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
OCTOBER 16, 2009
G3
KNIGHT NUGGETS BY THE NUMBERS Rutgers has four defensive touchdowns in the last three games, equaling the number of passing scores by RU quarterbacks all season. Also, Rutgers has a four-game win streak vs. Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh offensive line is second in the Big East conference and third in the nation with just four sacks allowed through the Panthers’ first six games of the 2009 season.
Senior wideout Tim Brown is just 114 yards away from surpassing last year’s total of 565. Brown went off for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns in last year’s outburst vs. Pitt.
Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull threw for a career-high 279 yards against Rutgers last season before getting hurt in RU’s 54-34 upset over the 17th ranked Panthers.
4
114
4
279
BIG QUESTION
Can the Rutgers defense continue to get turnovers vs. Pitt and Bill Stull? Bill Stull did not turn the ball over against Rutgers last season before getting hurt. To pressure Stull — who has just three turnovers this year — the RU front seven needs to continue to dominate the pass rush against a tougher offensive line.
PANTHERS QB BILL STULL
BRYAN ANGELES/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Redshirt freshman safety Khaseem Greene (20) will line up against his brother, Pittsburgh’s freshman running back Ray Graham, tonight for the first time since playing Pop Warner.
THE ADVANTAGE GOES TO ...
OFFENSE
Bill Stull and the Panthers have an established attack. The Rutgers offense has been largely anemic.
DEFENSE
Despite winning the stat battle, RU gave up 45 points to its only good foe. Pitt leads the league in sacks.
ALL IN
COACHING
CORRESPONDENT
HISTORY
Rutgers is the only Big East team Dave Wannstedt hasn’t beaten. RU has won four straight vs. Pittsburgh.
MOMENTUM
Friday night, under the lights, in a very important game for Rutgers. The four-straight-wins factor plays here too.
X-FACTOR
Tom Savage’s first real test. It’s his first start against a tough opponent and first in inclement weather.
RUTGERS WINS IF...
PITTSBURGH WINS IF ...
THE RUNNING
THE D-LINE
TAKES
GAME GETS THE
ADVANTAGE OF A
REPETITIONS IT
STRUGGLING
DESERVES.
OFFENSIVE
In bad weather with a freshman quarterback, Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks need to take over on the ground.
RU LINE.
Pittsburgh’s league-leading 26 sacks are a good indication of the pressure it can put on an underperforming unit.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Coach [Schiano] has been teasing me, saying that the best Big East receiver is coming to town Friday. And all I told coach was ‘We’ll see after the game.’”
FAMILY
Safety Greene squares off against brother in Big East tilt BY STEVEN MILLER
If Greg Schiano were to grow bushy facial hair, it would be much better than the Wannstache.
THE
TIM BROWN SENIOR WR
FINAL VERDICT
PITTSBURGH, 31-17 The Stull-to-Baldwin connection terrorizes the RU defense, which can’t get off an effective pass rush
Khaseem Greene plays for a Rutgers football team that preaches family. He wears a wristband that reads, “F.A.M.I.L.Y.,” he studies in a team meeting room where the walls are adorned with the word “F.A.M.I.L.Y.,” and when entering and leaving the practice field, he walks under a sign that says, “F.A.M.I.L.Y.” On the back of the No. 34 Pittsburgh jersey Friday night, it will say “Graham.” But to Greene, that means family too. Greene, a redshirt freshman safety, and Ray Graham, Pitt’s freshman tailback, are brothers and — for just the second time — they will line up on opposite sides of the field. Graham took their father’s name and Greene took their mother’s. They have different mothers, but the name on their jerseys will not be as important as the “F.A.M.I.L.Y.” on Greene’s wristband. “We ended up on different teams one year, and I played against him once [in Pop Warner],” Greene said. “I got a pretty good hit on him one time and he got a nice little move off on me the play before, but I got him back when I hit him.” It was not a guarantee when Graham arrived at Pitt and Greene broke camp in Piscataway, but it looks as if the tailback will get his chance at redemption. Graham and freshman Dion Lewis are the top-two tailbacks in a young Pitt backfield, and Graham averages 5.5 yards per carry. “I’m just looking forward to playing,” Greene said. “Whatever happens — happens; I’m looking forward to returning to Big East play and playing against my brother, but I’m just looking forward to another game.” Chances are, the brothers stopped talking this week. It’s nothing personal, but in the Big East clash, neither can afford to give the other extra motivation.
“It’s something that we did after I left high school and went to prep school — I always talk to him the night before a game, and it’s something we continue to do,” Greene said. “It’s just basically motivational for us. We’ll probably get a little busy [this week], so I’ll just have to talk to him before the game.” Greene played one year at Avon Old Farm before Rutgers, but the pair played together at Elizabeth High School. In Greene’s 2006 senior season, they won the North II, Group IV state championship. “It was a very, very great team that just put it together because of the senior leadership headed by Khaseem,” said Elizabeth
“Once the lights go on and the whistle blows, they’ll do whatever they have to do to win.” CHET PARLAVECCHIO Elizabeth High School Head Coach
head coach Chet Parlavecchio. “He had such a presence on the field as far as game knowledge. He had such poise on the field that I really believe, with Khaseem, there was nothing you could tell him that he wouldn’t understand. The character goes beyond any of my expectations.” Just five games into Greene’s RU career, his character is already on display. Against Texas Southern and leading 35-0, TSU’s Martin Gilbert broke free down the right sideline after a short pass. Greene, seemingly out of nowhere, chased Gilbert more than 50 yards to take him down at the 15-yard line. Referees called the play back because of a Texas Southern penalty, but at the time, Greene thought he saved an insignificant
87-yard touchdown pass in a meaningless game. “That was the kind of kid he was, I believe there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the team, for the welfare of everybody around him,” Parlavecchio said. “If I asked Khaseem to play defensive tackle, he would have been the best tackle on our team. Same thing with Raymond, there is nothing on a football field that Ray Graham can’t do.” The Knights are about to find out exactly what Graham can do when he takes the field for Pitt, not that Schiano is unfamiliar with the tailback. Both Graham and Lewis — the starting tailback who attended Blair Academy in New Jersey — were on the Knights’ recruiting radar and have excelled thus far. “We knew of them, probably Ray more so because of Khaseem and their relationship,” Schiano said. “That’s the inexact science of recruiting, that’s what drives you nuts.” As rare as it is for a true freshman to succeed so quickly, Pitt can thank Greene for helping Graham to mature. It happened all the way back in high school. “They were completely different people,” Parlavecchio said. “Ray is more of a free spirit — he would laugh and joke — but Khaseem was a little more serious. I think Khaseem was a settling influence and he tempered Raymond. If Raymond got frustrated on the field, Khaseem was there to settle the ship.” But do not expect any of the same tonight. In front of a crowd filled with family members and friends — half of which will don their Pitt attire, the other half in scarlet — according to Greene, it will be game-on for the brothers. “Once the lights go on and the whistle blows, they’ll do whatever they have to do to win,” Parlavecchio said. “They’ll hug before the game and they’ll hug after the game, but in between, it’s going to be to win.”
G4
G AMEDAY
OCTOBER 16, 2009
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
T HE DAILY TARGUM’S
OUT
of
BOUNDS WITH J ONATHAN
FREENY
Targum’s Sports Editor Matthew Stein chats with the junior defensive end about fighting crime as a shelled reptile, items on the dollar menu and road tripping to Jamaica ...
ANDREW HOWARD/ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Rutgers senior wide receiver Tim Brown exploded against Pittsburgh last season, racking up 132 yards and two touchdowns as the Scarlet Knights spanked the Panthers 54-34.
Roles can reverse in key home games
O
ver the last four years — the only ones under head coach Greg Schiano that the Rutgers football team has had a winning record — three Big East series stand out. Pittsburgh, South Florida and West Virginia. West Virginia — well, the Scarlet Knights simply cannot win. The Panthers and Bulls are important series because they always end up the same. Every game against Pitt has been a victor y and ever y game against South Florida has been painstakingly huge, and, with an exception in 2005, RU beat Jim Leavitt’s club to send them spiraling to a lesser postseason venue. And Pittsburgh? There has been no common factor as to how the Knights have not lost since 2004 except for maybe Ray Rice, but RU’s distinct advantage is being the only Big East team Dave Wannstedt has never beaten. “They’ve always had their way with us,” Wannstedt said this week to the media. “So I’m sure they’re looking forward to this game.” It just so happens that these are the only three home games left on the Scarlet Knights’ schedule. Three incredibly tough games that will mean so much toward deciding each team’s fate. And three games in which the common trend over the last three years has had a great chance of switching in the opposite direction.
Mind of Stein MATTHEW STEIN Pittsburgh comes into tonight’s game with more talent than at any other point in the Wannstedt era. RU’s biggest weapon, the defensive front that pressures the quarterback and sparks turnovers, could very well end up being neutralized by Pitt’s fierce offensive line that only allowed four sacks through the first six games. South Florida will probably come into Piscataway and trounce the Knights for two reasons. Quarterback Matt Grothe, who made his reputation as being a choke artist against RU’s defense, is out, and his replacement, B.J. Daniels, is much better to begin with. The Scarlet Knights’ history against backup quarterbacks isn’t much to speak of, either. And George Selvie was always a non-factor thanks to left tackles Anthony Davis and Pedro Sosa. This year, Davis, and the rest of the line for that matter, looks more like the field hockey team trying to block the New York Giants. This will finally be the year Schiano beats West Virginia.
Closing out the season at home, with a postseason venue almost certain to be on the line, is the perfect way to the erase memories of 2006 and last season, when RU should have come away with a win separated only by one score. The Mountaineers have a ton of talent, and Bill Stewart is recruiting well, but the man is one of the worst in-game coaches in the conference. All signs point to the Knights coming out hot with a Bowl berth on the line just as they did last year. And even if they don’t win, RU has to come out and compete and play well. You can bet that Schiano is planning on a large number of recruits coming out to these games — all gigantic Big East matchups — and he needs to show these high school talents just what type of competition and what type of games the Knights are capable of playing. If the trends do not change and RU beats Pitt and USF under the lights in front of a national audience again, so be it. You can’t complain with that result. But the Scarlet Knights have to beat West Virginia. It is long overdue. The season, and the future, depends on it. — Matthew Stein accepts comments and criticisms at steinma@eden.rutgers.edu
D-LINE DOMINATES PITT IN SIM’S SHOCKING VICTORY The Pittsburgh defensive line continued its dominant play, sacking quarterback Tom Savage five times, but in our weekly NCAA Football 2010 simulation, the Rutgers defense was up for the challenge and shut down Pittsburgh in a 2810 win. The Scarlet Knights’ defense pressured Pitt quarterback Bill Stull all night with six sacks of their own. Stull, as he did last week against Connecticut, struggled with turnovers, throwing two picks (one by Devin McCourty and one by Joe Lefeged) in the loss. McCourty returned his pick 32 yards for a touchdown; the senior defensive back also had a sack for a safety and limited wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin to four catches for 46 yards.
Savage, despite constant pressure, played well in his first big game as the starter, going 20-for-33 for 149 yards and a touchdown pass to unlikely candidate Pat Brown on an 11-yard connection. Sophomore Joe Martinek got 19 carries and ran for 67 yards and another touchdown. Senior receiver Tim Brown pulled in seven balls for 77 yards. The only Pitt touchdown came on a 56-yard touchdown run by Dion Lewis who finished with 20 runs for 98 yards. The Daily Targum’s simulation is a perfect 5-0, predicting a loss to Cincinnati followed by four straight wins. — Staff Report
Matthew Stein: So what was growing up in Florida like? Jonathan Freeny: Florida’s the bomb. You’ve never been to Florida before? I love Florida — that’s my home. Whenever I go home, I don’t go to too many hot spots though; I just catch up with family and friends and do those types of things. MS: You adjust to the weather yet after three years? JF: Yeah, but it never stops being cold. … I can never get used to that. MS: If you could be one item on the McDonald’s dollar menu, what would you be? JF: I would be the double quarter-pounder, that’s my favorite sandwich. MS: You know that’s not on the dollar menu right? JF: Oh, I would be the apple pies then. MS: What Nickelodeon character are you? JF: That’s a hard one. I would be one of the Ninja Turtles — that was my favorite cartoon growing up. Definitely Donatello, he was my favorite one. MS: If you could go on a road trip with anyone on the team, who would it be? JF: Justin Francis — [he’s] like my best friend on the team — we spend a lot of time together so I have that chemistry with him. MS: Where do you take that trip to? JF: Pretty much anywhere. Jamaica. MS: What hurts the most after a game? JF: The whole body hurts, but I would say mostly the legs, you have to revitalize them going into the next week. MS: Do you freestyle? JF: I don’t do the freestyle thing, but on the team I would say Shamar Graves has the title. MS: What’s the name of your fantasy team? JF: The Untouchables. MS: What do you get from the Grease Trucks? JF: I make my own sandwich. I like chicken tenders, French fries, ketchup and mayo. MS: What’s your favorite picture the Targum has ever run of you? JF: I have no idea. I don’t read. MS: Tattoos? JF: No tattoos. I’ve never seen one that I wanted enough to put on my body. MS: How about grills Tim Brown-style? JF: Nah.
G AMEDAY
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
OCTOBER 16, 2009
G5
GRID PICKS
T HIS W EEK ’S FOOTBALL A CTION
TA R GUM S P O R TS S TA FF Pittsburgh at RUTGERS No. 20 Oklahoma at No. 3 Texas No. 11 Iowa at Wisconsin No. 4 Virginia Tech at No. 19 Georgia Tech Hofstra at Rhode Island Pittsburgh at RUTGERS No. 20 Oklahoma at No. 3 Texas No. 11 Iowa at Wisconsin No. 4 Virginia Tech at No. 19 Georgia Tech Hofstra at Rhode Island
MATTHEW STEIN SPORTS EDITOR OVERALL: 9-6
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Oklahoma
Texas
Iowa
Iowa
Va. Tech
Va. Tech
Rhode Island
Hofstra
Pittsburgh Texas Iowa STEVEN MILLER CORRESPONDENT OVERALL: 7-8
SAM HELLMAN FOOTBALL BEAT WRITER OVERALL: 13-2
Pittsburgh Texas Iowa
Va. Tech
Ga. Tech
Hofstra
Rhode Island
KYLE FRANKO ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR OVERALL: 6-9
WR S U S P O R TS S TA FF Pittsburgh at RUTGERS No. 20 Oklahoma at No. 3 Texas No. 11 Iowa at Wisconsin No. 4 Virginia Tech at No. 19 Georgia Tech Hofstra at Rhode Island Pittsburgh at RUTGERS No. 20 Oklahoma at No. 3 Texas No. 11 Iowa at Wisconsin No. 4 Virginia Tech at No. 19 Georgia Tech Hofstra at Rhode Island
DANNY BRESLAUER GENERAL MANAGER OVERALL: 9-6
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Texas
Oklahoma
Iowa
Wisconsin
Ga. Tech Rhode Island Pittsburgh
ARMANDO MARTINEZ WRSU PERSONALITY OVERALL: 10-5
Two-back approach wears down defenses
Va. Tech
ADAM HELFGOTT SPORTS DIRECTOR OVERALL: 11-4
Rhode Island Pittsburgh
Texas
Texas
Iowa
Wisconsin
Va. Tech
Va. Tech
Hofstra
Hofstra
JEFF TILLERY PROGRAM DIRECTOR OVERALL: 7-3
In this week’s edition of the Rutgers head coach Greg Dane Truxell Football 101, The Schiano. “I do think it speaks to Daily Targum takes a closer look one thing: mental conditioning. It at the Wannstache. is ‘we are going to play this game Just kidding. to the end whether we are winSince both Rutgers and ning or losing.’” Pittsburgh employ a multiple Pittsburgh’s two true freshrunning back system, let’s delve men running backs, starter Dion into the importance of keeping Lewis and reserve Ray Graham, each other fresh and do this to perfection. wearing down defenses On 131 carries this late in the games. season, Lewis rushed In consecutive weeks, for 738 yards and seven late rushing touchdowns touchdowns, and came after a grind-it-out Graham averages 5.5 rushing style wore down yards-per-carry with a opposing front lines. Two trio of scores. games ago against “The benefit that Maryland, sophomore Lewis has is that he JOURDAN Joe Martinek busted out was there for the BROOKS for 130 yards and two spring,” Schiano said. touchdown runs despite “Ray is more elusive gaining only 17 yards on the ground even than Lewis, but they are in the previous three quarters. both dangerous.” Last week, it was true freshAnd they spell each other to man De’Antwan Williams who keep ahead of the tired defensgot in the game against Texas es, making themselves that Southern late and busted out for much more dangerous in over 100 yards and a touchdown crunch time. “I don’t know if I would chalk it up to conditioning,” said — Staff Report
G6
GAM
OCTOBER 16, 2009
NSIVE STATS ... JR. JONATHAN FREENY, 6.5 SACKS, 8 TFL ... S
N J EW
ERSEY
BY MATTHEW STEIN SPORTS EDITOR
JEFF LAZARO
The Rutgers football team recorded a season-high seven sacks last week in a 42-0 victory over FCS foe Texas Southern. Junior end Jonathan Freeny leads the Knights with 6.5 sacks on the season.
BRYAN ANGELES/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
It all starts in the trenches. Pressure begets indecision, indecision begets turnovers and turnovers beget scores. “Our defensive line is getting off the ball and getting to the quarterback. In turn, it’s helping us in the secondary,” senior cornerback Devin McCourty said. “The pressure causes the quarterback to make throws they usually wouldn’t make.” As the takeaways mount and the defensive scores continue, the Rutgers football team’s opportunistic defense gains confidence and begins to dominate games. The numbers explain it all: Eight fumble recoveries and eight interceptions in five games amount to 15 more turnovers than at this point last year. Four defensive touchdowns are tops in the conference, as is the Scarlet Knights’ impeccable plus-12 turnover margin. The biggest cause of all the takeaways? Look no further than the defensive line. Sixteen turnovers are the direct result of the Knights’ 18 sacks. “It’s extremely important,” said junior defensive end Jonathan Freeny, who leads RU and is second in the Big East with 6.5 sacks this season. “Not only do we stress getting sacks, but we try to get
S
sack-fumbles and give the ball back to our quarterback. We tr y to get turnovers and takeaways and give the ball back to the offense.” Though the Knights’ offense has been anemic for most of the season, that has not halted the defense from rebounding from an embarrassing defeat to Cincinnati in the season opener by stringing together a series of near-dominating performances. While some of the defensive strategy remains a bend-but-don’t-break policy, the pragmatism and work ethic is undeniable. “It all starts in the trenches, with us getting pressure on the quarterback and making him alter his throws,” said sophomore defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, who recorded his lone sack this season against Mar yland. “It comes from our work ethic. Every day, grinding out here, working on our technique, getting to the passer.” What makes the success even more impressive is the complete lack of blitzing. The Knights do not employ a blitz-heavy scheme,
QBH... JR. ALEX SILVESTRO, 15 TKL, 8 QBH, 2 FR ... SO. ERIC
E DAY
OCTOBER 16, 2009
G7
SR. GEORGE JOHNSON, 4.5 SACKS, 7 TFL ... SCARLET KNIG
S E ACK
XCHANGE
ILLUSTRATION BY RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
and the defensive front has all but two of RU’s 18 sacks. As is the case with the running back tandem of sophomores Jourdan Brooks and Joe Martinek, keeping fresh is the biggest key. To be precise, an eight-man rotation is. “The eight-man rotation is good,” Freeny said. “Two guys could step right in and become starters, because they basically play equal time during the games anyway.” Freeny is example A in that respect. RU’s sack leader is behind senior George Johnson and junior Alex Silvestro on the depth chart, yet plays more downs than a typical reserve because of the four-defensive end package head coach Greg Schiano often employs during passing situations. Joined by sophomore Justin Francis, the two line up outside Silvestro and Johnson for a formidable pass rush that has wreaked havoc on lesser offensive lines. “Right now, it’s the defensive ends getting the sacks because they’re always one-on-one out there, but no one really sees what the interior guys really do, holding up two or three guys at a time,” LeGrand said. “But as long as we all get sacks, it’s a good thing for all of us.”
The biggest problem is that Freeny and his linemates find the majority of their success against much inferior competition. Through no fault of their own, given the earlyseason schedule, only four of RU’s 18 sacks came against Bowl Championship Series competition, and Freeny did not record one against either Cincinnati or Mar yland. “It depends on what the team does,” Freeny said. “During the game, I have to adjust to the way they scheme for me.” Pittsburgh may not scheme particularly for one player, but the Panthers boast an impressive, veteran offensive line that has allowed just four sacks thus far this season. As Big East play resumes this weekend throughout the rest of the season — with the exceptions of a trip to Army — RU better get used to that. “The of fensive lines are really going to improve. The one we’re playing this week is one of the best in the countr y,” Schiano said. “It’s senior-laden, they are running the football ver y well and they are protecting the quarterback. They’re doing their job description.” Even against the vastly superior offensive lines the Knights are sure to encounter as Big East play rolls along, RU has continually recruited the talent to succeed in the trenches. The unit echoed that as long as each player stays hungry and does their job, success will continue. “It’s like a bull going after a red carpet,” LeGrand said. “When you see the quarterback with the ball in his hand, that’s basically us trying to get to that ball.”
JEFF LAZARO
The Scarlet Knights’ 18 sacks on the season have led to 16 turnovers and four defensive scores. Ryan D’Imperio, Antonio Lowery, George Johnson and David Rowe have all seen the end zone thus far.
JOHN PENA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LEGRAND, 14 TKL, 3 QBH ... SO. JUSTIN FRANCIS, 8 TKL, 5Q
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G A M E DAY
OCTOBER 16, 2009
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
R UTGERS — A HISTORY The Daily Targum takes a look at the 10 most memorable games in Rutgers’ football past
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BY STEVEN WILLIAMSON SENIOR WRITER
By drubbing Texas Southern 42-0 last Saturday, the Scarlet Knights reached the 600-win plateau. While the Rutgers football team has a ways to go to catch up with all-time wins leader Michigan (876), we take a look back at the 10 biggest games in Rutgers football histor y to commemorate the milestone.
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Rutgers orders out for a bowl win — Dec. 29, 2008. NC State 23, Rutgers 29 Trailing 17-6 at the half, it appeared that a third consecutive bowl game victory for the Knights was practically out of reach, but quarterback Mike Teel stepped up in the second half, earning MVP honors in the PapaJohns.com Bowl and sending former Athletic Director Bob Mulcahy out on a high note.
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DAN BRACAGLIA/ MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
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Meet the Spartans — Sept. 10, 1988 Rutgers 17, No. 15 Michigan St. 13 Yes, the Knights finished the 1988 season with a 5-6 record, but they certainly started their year off with a bang by upending the Spartans on the road as they went on to down No. 15 Penn State 2116 for their last win against a ranked foe for 22 years.
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There’s a new sheriff in town — Oct. 9, 2004. Rutgers 37, Vanderbilt 34 Head coach Greg Schiano made his first mark in a big way, beating SEC foe Vanderbilt and quarterback Jay Cutler 37-34 in comeback fashion on the road behind four touchdowns from running back Brian Leonard.
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Knights go bowling — Dec. 6, 1978. Rutgers 18, Arizona St. 34 Although it may have taken the Knights (9-2) 28 more years claim their first bowl victory, RU’s first appearance in postseason play in the Garden State Bowl is noteworthy nonetheless.
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If you’re going through Hell, keep going — Nov. 3, 2001. Rutgers 7, WVU 80 No, this wasn’t a score from a basketball game, but in terms of an indicator of just how far this team has come in less than a decade, look no further. RU traveled to Morgantown ready for a battle, but found itself on the wrong side of a slaughter for the worst loss since 1883.
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Knocking on the door — Dec. 2, 2006. No. 13 Rutgers 39, No. 15 WVU 41 (3OT) Fittingly, the game that would send RU to its first BCS game could not be decided in regulation. After beating Syracuse and getting blindsided by Cincinnati, the Knights’ final game of the season was also its most crucial. It seemed that victory was within RU’s grasp in the fourth quarter when quarterback Mike Teel hit wide receiver James Townsend on the numbers in the end zone. But Townsend dropped it. Though the Knights put six points on the board in the third overtime, they failed to pick up the twopoint conversion and fell to the Mountaineers, putting Louisville in the Orange Bowl.
Pandemonium, Part Two — Oct. 18, 2007. No. 2 USF 27, Rutgers 30
Converted quarterback to wide receiver Andrew DePaola’s only career touchdown pass as a Knight could not have come at a better time. On a fake field goal attempt, DePaola floated a pass to tight end Kevin Brock, who ran in for the score, putting RU ahead of the No. 2 ranked Bulls 27-17 in the third quarter. The Knights held on through the end of the game, weathering two scores by USF to pull of the upset 30-27. Running back Ray Rice flourished yet again, making Swiss cheese out the Bulls’ defense with a 181-yard performance on 39 carries. The win over a No. 2 opponent marked the largest takedown of a ranked foe in school history and was the second major victory in a Thursday night game in two straight years.
BRENDAN MCINERNEY/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Rutgers strikes it rich in Texas — Dec. 28, 2006. Rutgers 37, Kansas St. 10 Twenty-six days after the heartbreaker to the Mountaineers in 2006, the Knights took the field in their second consecutive bowl game — the Texas Bowl. Though they came up five points short of victory in the Insight Bowl the previous year, the Knights put all history out of mind and took it to the Wildcats to the tune of 37-10 for the first bowl win in school history. Junior running back Ray Rice ran over the Kansas St. defense for 170 yards and a touchdown and was named the bowl’s MVP. On a somber note, the game marked the final time the legendary Leonard wore a RU uniform. The St. Louis Rams drafted him in the second round of the NFL Draft THE DAILY TARGUM that April. Birthplace of college football — Nov. 6, 1869. Princeton 4, Rutgers 6 Before the College Avenue Gym even existed or housed the Rutgers basketball teams, the bare field that sat on that site gave birth to one of America’s most beloved sporting events — college football. In an intrastate game for the ages, the Knights took on the Princeton Tigers in front of a crowd of 100, winning 6-4 in the first college football game. Pandemonium in Piscataway — Nov. 9, 2006. No. 3 Louisville 25, Rutgers 28 Could there have been another choice for No. 1? Louisville was the game that finally put the Knights on the map. Down 25-14 at halftime, RU came roaring back in the second half, scoring eight points on a touchdown and two-point conversion in the third quarter before Jeremy Ito became the man of the hour in the fourth. The field became a sea of red as time expired after a second chance field goal by Ito went right through the uprights for the lead, as the Knights capped one of the most emotional wins in team histor y. The Knights vaulted into the national polls and finished the season ranked at No. 12, the highest finish in school history. And RU football hasn’t been THE DAILY TARGUM the same since.
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G AMEDAY
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
OCTOBER 16, 2009
BIGEAST
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MARSHALL at WEST VIRGINIA
GAME OF THE WEEK
Running back Noel Devine, who nets 6.6 yards per carry for 631 yards and seven touchdowns this season, will carry the Mountaineers to their fifth victory of the season over medicore Marshall.
PREDICTION: West Virginia, 34-7
AT LOUISVILLE
CINCINNATI at S. FLORIDA
CONNECTICUT
USF/Pitt was the game of the week, but they already played. The Huskies should be 6-0 this season, but two horrid fourth quarters blew games against UNC and Pittsburgh. A game against a weak Big East opponent in Louisville is the perfect chance for head coach Randy Edsall to help his team rebound and get back in the Big East hunt.
The Bearcats went into South Florida and had their way, trampling the Bulls despite a potentially serious injury. Starting quarterback Tony Pike went down clutching his left arm.
THURSDAY: No. 8 Cincinnati 34, USF 17
BIG EAST POWER POLL Football
JOHN PENA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Huskies named senior Andre Dixon the starting running back for Saturday’s conference matchup against Louisville.
Key Matchup
PREDICTION
UConn QB Cody Endres vs. Louisville secondary
CONNECTICUT, 42-18
Endres was announced the starter over Zach Frazer and takes on a bottom-tier Louisville defense that, despite ranking third in the Big East in pass efficiency, has only eight sacks on the season.
Louisville is pathetic and Endres gives Connecticut an easy victory
TEAM RECORD BIG EAST POINTS 1. No. 8 Cincinnati 5-0 1-0 40 2. No. 21 USF 5-0 1-0 35 3. Pittsburgh 5-1 2-0 29 4. West Virginia 4-1 1-0 25 5. RUTGERS 4-1 0-1 18 6. Connecticut 3-2 0-1 18 7. Louisville 2-3 0-1 9 8. Syracuse 2-4 0-2 6 * Eight points awarded for first place, seven for second place, etc. * Five members of the Targum sports desk submitted ballots
Season depends on Rutgers stepping up vs. Pitt Scarlet Pulse ADAM HELFGOTT
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riday night’s primetime matchup against Pittsburgh is put up or shut up time for the Rutgers football program. At this week’s press conference, head coach Greg Schiano was asked about a comment a national analyst made regarding his program not being up to the level of Pitt. “I’m concerned with being the best we can be,” Schiano told a pack of reporters. “I don’t know if we are in Pitt’s league.” RU needs to show not just Pitt but the rest of the countr y tonight that they are at the Panthers’ level with a win. But Schiano brings up a solid point; in order to beat Pitt at home the Scarlet Knights need to be at their best. The question is: Have we seen the best from RU yet? Week one was an embarrassment against Cincinnati, and the last time the nation saw the Knights they were 0-1. Now the team is 4-1 and the team has a shot at redemption to get back into the Big East mix. The running game is starting to churn and RU boasts one of the better defenses in the conference now. But there are still many questions unanswered about this team. Can freshman quarterback Tom Savage compose himself and be prepared for the biggest game in his young career thus far? The offensive line has been
BRYAN ANGELES/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
True freshman quarterback Tom Savage has yet to turn the ball over and will get his first look as a starter against a Big East opponent tonight against Pittsburgh. less than stellar and Savage knows that first hand. The young QB has been sacked numerous times and suffered a concussion against Florida International when the pocket collapsed. The team is seventh in the league in passing offense and ranks 100 in the nation in sacks allowed. But there is a reason RU has won 11 of its last 12 games dating back to 2008. Simply put, the defense has forced turnovers and made big plays. Rutgers has forced 16 turnovers this season and at least one turnover in its last 11 games; it
ranks second nationally and first in the conference in turnover differential at 2.4. The Knights defense needs to step it up once again when they face a ver y good Panther offense. Steady senior quar terback Bill Stull leads the Pitt offense. Stull has thrown for 13 touchdowns this year and is fourth in the countr y in passing efficiency. He also has a nice big target to throw to in sophomore wideout Jonathan Baldwin, who already has 27 catches on the season. But what RU has to worr y about most is the freshman running back coming out
of the backfield. Dion Lewis is the fifth-ranked running back in the countr y, averaging 123.0 yards per game. Don’t let Pitt scare you too much though, RU fans; don’t forget you have owned the Panthers the last four times these teams have met. None of the four straight games against the Panthers were more impressive than last year’s 54-34 win on the road. Last year it was Mike Teel who exploded for 361 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Knights to an impressive win. It was Kenny Britt and Tim Brown who
each had over 130 yards receiving and at least two touchdowns. And it was a huge interception by Kevin Malast that helped put the game away for RU. Who will step up this season when RU needs a win most? The Knights were 2-5 last season when they traveled to Pitt. The win helped propel RU to five more victories, including the bowl game. This year, the Knights once again need a win against Pitt to help save the season. This time, the record is better than 2-5, but the game means just as much. A win evens the Knights’ conference record and basically guarantees a fifth straight bowl game with cupcake games against Army and Syracuse still on the schedule. The four wins for RU have been less than impressive. Minus a gusty road victory at Maryland, the team has struggled in many areas against lesser opponents like Howard, FIU and Texas Southern. If RU can put it all together then the critics can rest for a week. A win on national television can help erase the disaster from week one and also give great hype to the rest of the season. The exhibition schedule is over and now the big boys come to town. The Knights are going to be tested tonight, and they need to rise to the occasion. Schiano is right — we do not know if Rutgers is in Pitt’s league. History says they are, but history doesn’t mean much in the present. A win tonight is what matters most. — Adam Helfgott is the Sports Director at WRSU and hosts a radio show “The Scarlet Pulse” Friday’s from 6-8 p.m.
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OCTOBER 16, 2009
G AMEDAY
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
Scouting Pitt: Stull, Baldwin lethal connection BY SAM HELLMAN ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
Greg Schiano called him the best receiver in the Big East. Devin McCourty says he could be the next Kenny Britt, only bigger. His star ting quar terback, Bill Stull, doesn’t have enough good things to say about him. The consensus, no matter whom you ask, is that Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin
is going to be a major concern for the Rutgers football team tonight against the Panthers. “Every once in a while there’s a guy on the field that makes you go ‘Wow,’” Schiano said. “Deep balls, he’s very good at adjusting to. He’s fast, big and he really is a Kenny Britt-type guy — and maybe bigger.” Britt, Rutgers’ all-time leading receiver and first round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, had perhaps his best game in scarlet and
ANDREW HOWARD/ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull went off this year to the tune of 1,256 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
white last year against Pittsburgh in a 54-34 victor y when he grabbed five balls for 143 yards and three touchdowns. But, like Britt, Baldwin also exploded in that game as a true freshman. He had 104 yards and a touchdown in what served as his breakout game. “Just watching him and … playing with Britt, and then seeing a guy that moves just as well as Britt and happens to be a little bit bigger than [him], he has incredible talent and it’s going to be a tough matchup,” McCourty said of Baldwin. Stull, Pitt’s first-year starting quarterback at the time, remembers the game too. As well as things went for Teel, they were just as bad for Stull. After a freak injury on a quarterback hit, Stull had to leave the game. But that was last year. This is this year. Stull, who struggled with turnovers last season, is a completely different quarterback this season, compiling 13 touchdowns and just three picks through the first half of this year. “It’s just really good,” Baldwin said of Stull’s evolution. “Last year, to me, we really called last year his freshman year because he’d been here all this time, but he really hadn’t played a whole season. This year he’s so much more comfortable and so much more confident, and it makes him a way better quarterback.” As much as Baldwin, who leads the Panthers with 27 catches for 532 yards and three touchdowns, credits his quar-
ANDREW HOWARD/ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
As a freshman last season, wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin had his breakout game with 104 yards and a touchdown against Rutgers. terback, however, Stull gives all the credit right back to his 6-foot-5 wide receiver. “It’s great having an athlete like that and using his size and speed,” Stull said. “On days when I’m not really on target, guys like him can really adjust to the ball and make plays, which is nice.” But when Baldwin takes the field tonight, despite the accolades, he isn’t the consensus-best receiver out there — not if
Rutgers senior Tim Brown has anything to say about it. “From what I hear from the defense, he’s a great receiver and he can play,” said Brown, who leads RU with 452 yards and two touchdowns. “Coach [Schiano] has been teasing me, saying that the best Big East receiver is coming to town Friday. And all I told Coach was ‘We’ll see after the game.’ I’m coming out to play, and I know he’ll come out to play too.”
JUDGMENT DAY The Rutgers football team faces off against Pittsburgh tonight with a chance to prove that the Scarlet Knights are a changed team since the 47-15 loss to Cincinnati a month ago
BIG BROTHER When RU redshirt freshman safety Khassem Greene takes the field tonight, he will do so against his brother, Pitt tailback Ray Graham. pg. G3
SWARM THE BALL With 18 sacks through the first five games, the Rutgers defense needs to continue pressuring the quarterback to come out on top. pg. G6-7 ANDREW HOWARD/ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR