Rutgers (4-2) at Army (3-4)
Time: 8:00 pm TV: ESPN2
Radio: WOR-710 AM, WCTC-1450 AM
35:00 minutes before Kickoff: The Rutgers band is filing in behind the south end goalpost. The red looks sharp against the night sky. I’m sort of disappointed the games I’ve covered here have been at night. It’s hard to see the river.
I apologize for the later start, but I was upstairs saying hello to John Minko. Most of you likely know him as one of the (great) update anchors at WFAN, but he’s also Army’s play-by-play man and he was also training me this summer when I was learning about anchoring. In any case, John says defensive end Josh McNary is the real deal. He had four sacks last week at Temple, the junior is already Army’s single season (9.5) and career (15.0) sack leader and when asked if he’s seen any of him this week, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said, “I’ve seen more than I’ve wanted to.” John also said 6-10 offensive tackle-turned-wideout Alejandro Villanueva (that’s not a typo – he’s six foot ten) has decent hands. And makes jump balls an Army automatic.
22:04 before Kickoff: There are only six true freshmen starting quarterbacks in the highest level of college football this year. Tonight, we get to see two of them. For Rutgers, Tom Savage makes his first ever start on the road. (Remember, he missed Maryland with the concussion.) For Army, Trent Steelman will be going with a cracked rib and a bruised shoulder. Not that he throws that much anyway. His 407 rush yards lead freshmen QBs; Army’s 66.1 yards per game of passing rank 120th in the country. Out of 120.
19:09 before Kickoff: Brian Dohn of ScarletReport.com just came in from outside (he has two little boys sitting in the stands with his wife) and he said it’s pouring out there. Ha – and I just got a text from a former Rutgers athlete who’s out in the stands and wanting to know if I could swing him a spot inside!
13:00 before Kickoff: Spanky, thanks for coming back. I hope the boys let you stay on the computer! Duh-II, RUMan, Double G, welcome… I’m looking forward to some good conversation. Don’t hesitate if you have any questions or thoughts or need me to find something out. I’ll do my best. I’m sitting in the second row of the press box, next to a stats box, behind all the newspaper writers and a woman with a Pat Conroy book and directly in front of an open window. I need to ask to have that closed…
7:04 before Kickoff: It worked. A gentleman closed that one window and then everyone else along the row asked for the ones above them to be closed too. The cadets just broke their lines (formations?) and ran across the field… it’s still one of the coolest things to see. This really is a great place to watch a game. Rutgers fans are lining the tunnel/pathway where the teams will run out.
5:37 before Kickoff: NEWSFLASH: Anthony Davis won’t start tonight. He was late to a team function and that’s his discipline. Desmond Stapleton will start in his stead. Alright, what’s your guess: does he miss one snap? Two? Or, a whole drive? You have five minutes to get your bets in…
15:00 before Kickoff: It is COMING DOWN. I don’t know if you can tell that on the TV.
10:40 left in the 1st Quarter: Army scored on its opening drive in four of its first five games. It didn’t against Vandy and Temple and then it did again tonight. I think that 21-yard pass on the second snap second-and-six surprised everyone. (It surprised me.) And that big 26-yard run up the gut by Kingsley Ehle wasn’t a bust from my angle – I thought two guys missed tackles right in the scrum by the line of scrimmage. Army, 3-0.
6:10 left in 1st Quarter: FatCat, I’m with you on the football gods thing. Then again, it’s not so bad to have a Saturday to watch football… Brodo, first quarter might be tough, but at least we have a full first drive out. And for those of you wondering, that was NOT Stapleton that got beat on that opening snap sack. Nice to see Mark Harrison get involved and involved early. Someone asked about him on the chat I did this week with State of Rutgers – good eye. Rutgers 7, Army 3.
4:56 left in the 1st Quarter: FatCat’s not so much into the Wildcat, rutgersguy likes it. Do you feel that in this day and age, offenses need some sort of wrinkle, something to mix things up and keep defenses guessing? I’m curious to see if we see Jourdan Brooks on the next drive. We’re in a timeout right now and I really cannot believe the cadets are standing so darn straight. I’m glad I can use the flat-footed excuse for not ever being interested in the US Military Academy. Or is that an urban legend?
1:31 left in 1st Quarter: That 48-yard pass to Tim Brown almost looked unfair. He just motored by no. 3, looking like he wasn’t even breathing heavy. That’s Desmond Stapleton down right now. San San Te’s 27-yard kick is good, Rutgers is up 10-3.
End of the 1st Quarter: Here’s our fan of the night, Zachary. He can’t type yet, but if his dad stays with us, then we’re all good.
Nice blocked punt by Steve Beauharnais. Lucky that punter Jonathan Bulls dropped the snap. Like I said, the rain’s really coming down. Rutgers has 110 yards of offense on 12 plays, Army has 57 on 16 plays and Rutgers is up 17-3.
12:11 left in the 2nd Quarter: I have to say I have no idea where the Kordell-Wildcat came from. I can’t say Sanu’s fumble/hands at the end of last week have anything to do with it – the kid IS a wideout and he WAS a high school QB. Someone up here moaned, “Why does Greg have to try to be cute?” when we first saw that. I’m surprised by the throwing too rutgersguy, especially after that completion for minus-five yards.
11:36 left in the 2nd Quarter: I can’t hear the ESPN feed, so it’s interesting to hear what you all have to say about the broadcasters’ conversation. Brodo was right: one quarter. Or do we think Desmond getting hurt had anything to do with that?
5:40 left in the 2nd Quarter: How right you are, FatCat. Quarterback sneak on third-and-one failed. So again on fourth-and-one and again failed. You’ve talked about how much more physical – and physically superior – Rutgers looks. Running the same play, one that relies on strength, twice, and failing both times… what does that say to you?
You guys are seriously a riot. I’m having a lot more fun reading what you have to say than watching this right now.
1:39 left in the 2nd Quarter: My brother and I had an Atari! This crowd really is sad and I will openly say I would NOT sit in the pouring rain, when it’s 40 degrees out, and dark. The Yankee Bowl will have to be during the day, have to. That was a good mention, FatCat. Does anyone have any questions about the scene here? Or are the announcers filling in the blanks well?
:43.5 left in the 2nd Quarter: Spanky and rutgersguy saying the same thing at about the same time. Okay, this is the dumbest map I’m seeing on the TV screen. Are they really surprised the western part of the country thinks the Mountain West plays better football than the Big East? I really am so over the rip-on-the-Big East thing. Honestly, if West Virginia had just beaten Pitt in 2007 and gone on to the national title game, I think SO much would be different. That maybe didn’t set the league back, but a West Virginia win sure would’ve had the potential to get the conference over the hump and past all the denigrating.
Halftime: There are four teams of Pop Warner kids playing on each half of the field right now. They’re swarming around, playing fast, it’s like real football.
Okay, so Rutgers has 135 yards of offense on 27 plays, Army 118 on the same 27. Rutgers’ breakdown is 19 rushes for 30 yards, 5 of 8 for 105 yards passing. Army’s 21 for 102 rushing, 2 of 6 for 16 yards in the air. Savage has been sacked twice, Steelman hasn’t been sacked yet. The time of possession’s pretty even (14:37 for Rutgers, 15:15 for Army) and the only real difference is that blocked punt for a score. Blocked because the Black Knights’ punter dropped a slick ball. Section 117, I know what you mean about the national attention being a double-edged sword. I’m guessing this one doesn’t draw huge numbers.
14:52 left in the 3rd Quarter: I’m sitting next to a Mr. Galko, who’s a Penn State grad and who very kindly just gave me some Twizzlers. His 18-year old son Eric runs a scouting website called nflhouse.com and he’s in the press box, running around working. I can’t get to the site for some reason. But the Twizzlers are yummy.
12:10 left in the 3rd Quarter: Like that pass by Teddy Dellaganna surprised anyone. Or the illegal formation call either. I AM surprised by Jabu being in today. On Sunday, when I asked if Sanu’s Wildcat package and Jabu’s Wildcat-esque package differed (that sounds so wrong and I am just repeating what Greg Schiano’s called the set of plays) much, Greg said something vague about it coming down to touches and who you want touching the ball. Then later in the week, when he was reminded of the solid game Jabu had here two years ago, he very quickly said, “Very different defense.” I thought that meant the phasing out of the fifth-year senior. Guess I was wrong.
Attendance was just announced as 24,098. I can’t see the seats on this side of the stadium, so I have no idea how reasonable that sounds. There IS a nice contingent of Rutgers fans here though.
10:15 left in the 3rd Quarter: Here come the cadets! Why do the cadets do push-ups? That’s work and shouldn’t celebration not be work? The 17-yard lane to the end zone couldn’t have been any more open for freshman Lonnie Liggins. It’s Rutgers 17, Army 10 and Rutgers really better get its act together. Quick.
6:35 left in the 3rd Quarter: These are the things that are totally maddening to me. Rutgers is plugging along, putting together a nice drive, mixing things up and then, just as the red zone closes in, everything stalls. First-and-10 on the Army 24, Shamar Graves is wide open – and overthrown. Second-and-10, still on the 24, everyone breaks through the line and Joe Martinek somehow manages to stay up long enough to at least save the zero gain. Third-and-10, still on the 24, Savage has ALL DAY – and he overshoots the end zone. Where’d the execution go? San San Te kicks the 41-yarder, it’s Rutgers 20, Army 10.
2:13 left in the 3rd Quarter: Wow, that was fortunate. The ball popped out of Kingsley Ehle’s hands (is it just me or did he look like he was about to cry?), Alex Silvestro jumped on it and Rutgers ends Army’s charging at the Scarlet Knights’ 34. Oh beautiful, five yard penalty to open the ensuing drive. Army’s fans are bouncing. Rutgers’ fans are sitting, hunched over, looking a little miserable. These people are awesome to sit through this.
End of the 3rd Quarter: I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised the Black Knights are being so generous. They DID come into the game with 21 fumbles. They’d lost six. Of course, none of those came in a two minute span as these two just have. People are starting to leave. The Palisades Parkway doesn’t have streetlamps, so if that’s the way they’re going, I understand why. I think Rich Ellerson needs to get another one of his recruiting classes in before we see real progress.
11:56 left in the 4th Quarter: Are you all gone? It’s been a while since anyone’s said anything. Have you switched to another channel?
9:25 left in the 4th Quarter: That’s 20 carries fo 128 yards for Martinek. Brooks has two four 14 and it looks like Rutgers has a run game again. The Rutgers band is playing, the cheerleaders are clapping and the dance team’s twirling. In windsuits of course. So if anyone’s still there, what are you thinking about tomorrow’s Pitt-USF match-up? And do emotions give UConn an edge down in Morgantown?
8:39 left in the 4th Quarter: That ball was out! They’re reviewing it now. I didn’t see who recovered it though… Why is Greg slapping the ref and laughing? I never seem him laughing if a ref’s in the vicinity. I suppose the four fumbles are sort of explained by the rain. Then again, football IS an outdoor sport. The ball came loose before Joe Martinek’s knee was down, Army recovers at the two-yard line and the Black Knights have 8:38 to make up 17 points.
1:26 left in the 4th Quarter: I think Paul Johnson got things going in year three or four. I’d have to check to be sure. And every week’s running isn’t like this because the run blocking has just not been that impressive. Let’s see what Greg has to say about the effort tonight.
Game over, Rutgers wins 27-10. I’m heading down to the post-game remarks and locker room, so this’ll be it for a bit. I am enormously appreciative of all of you who came on tonight – the conversation was great and the game was a LOT more enjoyable because of you. Thanks!
Oh, crap, these penalties are criminal.
2nd and 15, let’s give it to Martinek as we get in the formation that we always run from.
If they’re gonna blitz how about a screen.
Rutgers is gonna lose this game if we keep playing this way. This is horrible execution. Horrible.
These defenders are not staying with their guy – 2 guys are not supposed to key on the QB as he rolls out of the backfield. Where’s the discipline?
The staff is channeling Terry Shea tonight, and now the players think it’s a throwback night to 1990′s. Delay of game after the turnover? Throwing into triple coverage? This will be a very scary 4th period … for a game in which better first half play-calling should have RU up by at least 3 TDs.
If not for these turnovers, I wouldn’t be so impressed with the defense.
How long did it take Paul Johnson to turn Navy into a decent team, Aditi? Stick with the triple option and stop throwing, it’s the best equalizer for these type of teams. Savage has to throw a little more accurately, he’s throwing behind these guys too often. Good bull run by Martinek there.
I think that last TD might pull them out of their run game some and force them to throw it more , which isn’t their strength and should help us.
You know I like the deep ball as much as anyone but I think we try it too often.
Ya know, Brooks need to recognize when a different side of the line is wide open.
Ya know, this is what I envisioned this summer – pounding the defense with Martinek and Brooks and softening it up for the second half. But we don’t seem to recognize that we can do this.
How about letting Corcoran touch the ball near the goalline?
I don’t have a problem with that philosophy but remember this is Army and number two, we haven’t shown any proficiency running it against better competition. If we’re waiting for the 2nd half to finally run well by wearing them out we could be down in the game in the first half, much like the Cincy game. It’s part of the reason I don’t have as much a problem throwing it. Also a team that can pass well is never out of a game and can comeback but a grind it out smashmouth team might have difficulty transitioning to a passing team if they are down by a lot.
I think that’s a few times Martinek has fumbled near the goal line during his career. Got to be better with the ball security, especially at the goal line. It can be the biggest downer to turn it over that deep.
God forbid that Brooks gets another carry!
Aditi, I don’t know if emotions will give UConn the edge against WVU. But for sure it will against us because we’ll be their first home game since it happened. I’m sure they’ll come out with a lot of fire with the support of the home crowd.
How’d they get the ball at the 9 yard line?
I think it was the spot where it hit the first Rutgers player.
OK, Greg, we get it. You’re the head coach and you’re one stubborn SOB. But you’re up 17 with two to play and you can’t put another QB or RB in? And then he complains that his back-ups have no experience. I admit it, I’m just tired of games like this against inferior opponents and the whole shtick at 0-2 and out of the BE after two home games. Let’s BEAT someone for a change. Twenty points from the offense against Army. Just brutal.
I’d say it’s a win and hopefully there weren’t any significant injuries. Other than that, we still have work to do on both sides of the ball. Next week against and emotional Uconn game should be tough.