BigEastSportsBlog.com

Rutgers (5-2, 0-2) at UConn (4-3, 1-2)

TV: SNY

Kickoff: Alright, I had to take a minute and dry the little spots around my eyes. I’m sitting here on my couch, feeling awfully emotional. I cannot even imagine what’s going through the heads underneath the helmets up there.

I’m glad ESPN’s producing team put its cameras on Tim Brown quickly. The Rutgers wideout counted Jasper Howard as one of his best friends (did you notice the RIP JAZZ on his eye black?) and it gave me a warm fuzzy seeing Shamar Graves trying to shore him up.

Kickoff attempt II: Rutgersguy, I totally agree w/ you on the axe thing. I am SO not into it.

14:48 left in the 1st Quarter: I JUST asked Greg Schiano if teams were kicking away from Devin McCourty. Or if he and Joe Lefeged could line up in a T so that Devin could take those kickoffs. That’s a helluva way to start the game and take away momentum. Devin really is having a great year. Ispoke to a few scouts a couple weeks ago who’re really liking what they see out of him. And having his twin Jason already in the league (with Tennessee) certainly helps. Jason can give him all sorts of advice.

Jason was at West Point, btw, last week. Wearing Devin’s Rutgers hat, teasing Joe’s kickoff return efforts from the previous week (Jason said he watches every single game, on the computer or on TV, and he DVRs them too… I guess so he can gather ammunition) and defending Tiquan Underwood (who also had a bye) for not coming up to West Point.

13:32 left in the 1st Quarter: Good effort by the defense to keep it to just a field goal. But also nice response by UConn. Rutgers 7, UConn 3.

How about Syracuse already scoring on Cincinnati? That one’s 7-7 with 4:13 to play in the first.

11:30 left in the 1st Quarter: You’re right, very unimpressive first series. Greg Schiano has said he wants to involve Jack Corcoran more and I have no reason to think that that’s just lip service. At the same time, this offense doesn’t exactly have a lot of snaps to go around. If you had a line to Kirk Ciarrocca, how would you want to see the snaps divided?

left in the 1st Quarter: FatCat, how’s the little pumpkin? Spanky, did you figure out how to send the pictures to send us a shot of your two?

8:30 left in the 1st Quarter: Kashif Moore, in case you don’t recall, is the player who held Howard after he’d been stabbed and was bleeding out. Heck of a catch and run by him. Speaking of tightrope runs, Carlton Mitchell and USF were totally robbed on that call last night in the West Virginia game. The replay unequivocally showed his foot was inside the sideline the whole time. At least the Bulls still scored on that drive. Noel Devine’s Heisman hopes have to be done now.

4:55 left in the 1st Quarter: I understand throwing the ball to Kordell because he’s kept safer in space. But he says he’s healthy and that his knee is 100 percent. I wish we could see more of him running the ball. He has an explosion that’s truly genuinely unique.

By my count, UConn has 69 yards off offense, Rutgers has 29.

3:05 left in the 1st Quarter: Damaso Munoz got his pick. But not a score… Last week at Army, he told me he was going to catch it bad this week after Beauharnais scored. Ryan D’Imperio and Antonio Lowery have both returned picks for TDs this year, leaving Munoz as the only starting (or main) linebacker without a score. He didn’t have much room to run there, but hey, Rutgers will take it. That’s +15 on TOs this year.

1:43 left in the 1st Quarter: RUNJ, I did a story this week on the line’s pass blocking vs its run blocking. I wasn’t quite getting why one area was improving so much faster than the other, but then I had to think about everything more that goes into run blocking. I’d say it’s worth a read. Hey, that’s why I wrote it. ;)  Here it is.

End of the 1st Quarter: Spanky, what do you mean “playing on the Jasper Howard” thing? Meaning the announcers, or that UConn looks motivated?

I have to say I now totally get why people complain about this feed. It IS frustrating that ESPN doesn’t produce these games in HD. I was told, however, by a very good source, that it’s on the Big East for not pushing for the HD. This person, who has close knowledge of the TV negotiations, said ESPN would’ve done the games in HD if the Big East just asked for it. Hmmm… maybe next year?

UConn has 102 yards in 6:27, Rutgers has 27 in 6:56. Rutgers hasn’t yet converted a third down (0-for-4) and they’ve produced exactly two rushing yards on six carries. That’s two freshmen playing defensive tackle for UConn. I’m just saying.

Start of the 2nd Quarter: No one answered my question: if you could do the divvying, how would you like to see Rutgers’ touches divided on offense?

13:51 left in the 2nd Quarter: Holy cow, why did Zach Fraser force that throw? And doesn’t he know NOT to throw over the middle while he’s falling backwards with everything broken down around him? Yikes. He’s theoretically not even a regular back-up. He’s the one who won UConn’s starting job out of camp and who Edsall kept insisting for a while would return as the starter when he got hurt.

12:02 left in the 2nd Quarter: Rutgersguy, you don’t say how you want the run/pass divided, you don’t say how you want the carries divided (Martinek, Brooks, Young, Williams, Wildcat), you don’t say anything about this theoretical tight end RUNJ and FatCat speak of… I need more details!

Spanky, Kevin Haslam told me that the run blocking scheme is exactly the same as it was last year and that it’s being taught exactly as it was last year. He said, as I quoted him in that article, that all it is is execution right now. In the beginning, communication might’ve been an issue, but now… guys just need to do their jobs, he said.

6:09 left in the 2nd Quarter: Did everyone see Tim Brown hold up six fingers and look to the sky after that TD catch? (A sweet TD catch, yes.) Tim and Jasper Howard both grew up on 62nd Street in Miami and their cousins are in a rap group together. Tim and Jasper would’ve gone to Edison together, but Tim’s older brother went to Northwestern and so he wanted to play there. Still, they were extremely close, they were always at each other’s houses and Tim said his mom’s been a wreck since the news, that she’s calling Tim constantly saying, “That could’ve been you.” I don’t know, I wonder if UConn is almost too emotionally spent by all of this. It’s a lot to have to “play” for someone’s memory. Rutgers 14, UConn 3.

5:52 left in the 2nd Quarter: Wow. Robbie Frey gets this crowd absolutely back into things with a 100-yard kickoff return. Devin McCourty really didn’t have the angle on him. I don’t know what they’re reviewing. It sure looked like the ball crossed before his knee went down. And yes, the ruling on the field stands. Rutgers 14, UConn 10 and we have a game.

2:16 left in the 2nd Quarter: How about Mark Harrison coming home? Tom Savage had all sorts of time to throw that one and AD really did a nice job on Lindsey Witten there. As the announcer just said. I swear I typed it before he pulled out his little yellow pen! Really! Rutgers 21, UConn 10.

Incidentally, has anyone seen the “6″ Greg Schiano said the Scarlet Knights would be wearing on their helmets? Where is it?

Halftime: What’s UP TOP?  And yes, Harrison IS from Connecticut. This whole scrolling up to the blog doesn’t work for all of you does it? I’ll talk to my supervisor about moving to the chat software for the next game.

So quick stats: Rutgers now has 164 yards to UConn’s 165. The Scarlet Knights still only have 25 rush yards (on 16 carries, UConn is 12-for-43), but as you said, the run blocking’s not really doing it, so why keep at it? Both teams have three penalties for 25 yards both teams have a return for a TD and the big difference is 2, that’s 2 TOs for UConn, 2 TOs gained for RU.

9:58 left in the 3rd Quarter: Florida State’s up on NC State. How did Pitt ever cough up a lead to that team. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s still only up 21-7 on Syracuse. Do you think Cincinnati really needs to dominate up there in order to keep from dropping in the polls again? It’s like voters are looking for a reason to keep Cincy out of the title talk… of course, USC could lose up at Oregon tonight.

8:47 left in the 3rd Quarter: Good job by Zaire Kitchen getting over there. Uh-oh, is he hurt? This kid seriously needs the injury gods to smile on him. Speaking of being through the ringer, Rutgersguy, this guy’s been through everything. His knees have been rebuilt three times, he’s plugged along and never complained… oh, I so hope he’s okay.

It’s hard watching on TV, I will say that. The game moves a little more quickly, though. I need to figure out why.

7:42 left in the 3rd Quarter: WHAT?! The UConn right tackle is furious, he’s screaming at someone and the camera pans away? I want to see what’s happening! Frazer’s not making a strong case for himself with three picks. Yikes. David Rowe’s really coming along for Rutgers isn’t he? I’ll always remember him telling me last year how he had to go to one of the McCourty brothers and ask them to ask the coaches if he could have a different number than the 27 he was assigned. He was worried people would see the 27, the four-letter last name beginning with “R” and then, realizing it wasn’t actually Ray Rice, start to boo. Cute kid.

Now for the really cute kid… Here again is our favorite fan (hey, we have to breed them early… let’s just hope the Big East Sports Blog is around when he starts reading!), in the spirit of the holiday.

No one’s come trick or treating at my door yet. Which means I’ve eaten far too many KitKats myself.

13:24 left in the 4th Quarter: Wow, sorry, just as I wrote that, I got some trick or treaters. What is with even the little kids’ costumes being so darn, uh, revealing? If I’m every so lucky to be a mom, I can promise you my daughter will not be wearing a skirt as short as that ladybug.

Anywho… UConn looks officially spent to me. Tired and spent. And I agree with all of you: why take the foot off the pedal here? Two scores, with nearly a quarter to go, is not the time to get conservative.

Ooh, Louisiana Lafayette is tied with FIU. If FIU gets a second win, does that make that more of a quality win for RU? And how about Iowa still down to Indiana AT HOME? Maybe the Hawkeyes were examining those computer results (which said they were the top team in the BCS) far too closely. They’ve got 13 minutes to swing things.

12:15 left in the 4th Quarter: You have to tackle guys DOWN. That was an extra, what, five yards?

11:19 left in the 4th Quarter: Is someone taking notes on what a tough tight end does? Very, very nice catch by Ryan Griffin and now an equally nice run by Andre Dixon.

10:19 left in the 4th Quarter: Griffin’s third down catch looks even better now. Great cut by Marcus Easley and UConn’s going for two – throw to the lineman! Look at that flip into the end zone! We saw this in Louisville a few years ago with Rutgers and, I believe, Jeremy Zuttah. I know the play was originally drawn up for Pedro Sosa, who swore he was more athletic than Zuttah, but he was hurt then. Well, UConn’s back into things. Rutgers 21, UConn 18.

10:19 left in the 4th Quarter: Oh my – Randy Edsall is going ape! Holy cow! I would be too! That’s an awfully late call, isn’t it? After a commercial, forever after the two-point conversion? I wonder if Coach Edsall’s fire can pump up his guys. Rutgers 21, UConn 17.

3:49 left in the 4th Quarter: What a waste of an RU drive. This is it for the Huskies. Does Frazer have it in him? How the heck did Moore drop that?!

Holy cow Iowa turned it on. That’s a 42-24 final. When I last wrote about that game, the Hawkeyes were down 24-21, with I think 13 minutes to play. Does UConn go for it on this fourth-and-two? Would you?

2:41 left in the 4th Quarter: They do, I would’ve and UConn makes it. This is the drive right here… now it’s fun. I wish I was there to hear the crowd.

2:11 left in the 4th Quarter: What is with these drops? That was actually a strike, it was definitely good for a first down. Argh!

2:01 left in the 4th Quarter: Helluva catch by Smith, if it was indeed a catch. Well, the review says it was.

1:03 left in the 4th Quarter: Kashif Moore! Down to the seven with 1:03 to go. That earlier call, nulling the two point conversion, really is playing big right now, isn’t it. That “Let’s Go Huskies” sure sounds loud on my TV.

:49 seconds left in the 4th Quarter: Spanky, you can look, it’s not over. Down to the two-yard line, and Rutgers takes a time to set its defense. Two yards. Two yards. They’re putting the headset on Tom Savage, prepping him in case UConn scores?

:44 seconds left in the 4th Quarter: Nothing and once again Rutgers calls time. I don’t know. Do you prep for IF UConn scores? I suppose you have to. Spanky, are your eyes open?

:43 seconds left in the 4th Quarter: Oh My! How do you throw? How do you throw? Fourth and two and the fullback’s running in and a couple wideouts and oh my!

:38 seconds left in the 4th Quarter: Terrific block and Todman’s in. Kick is good and it’s 24-21 with 38 seconds to play. Rutgers has one timeout left, UConn has none and oh wow. Greg’s talking to his kick return team. UConn better settle down. This one’s not over yet.

:33 seconds left in the 4th Quarter: One timeout, 19-yard line, freshman Tom Savage fires to Tim Brown! Holy crap, Tim just ran away from everyone. He didn’t even need a block. He caught it at the 36, he ran all the way, and you know what, Jasper Howard is indeed being honored. Tim again put up six fingers to the sky for his friend. He wanted to go to the funeral Monday, he told me Greg Schiano said it’d be better if he stay on campus and stay focused and so he instructed his mom – who went to the funeral with his brother and his two sisters – to take his Papajohns.com Bowl game jersey and ask Jasper’s mom to put it in his casket.

:17 left in the 4th Quarter: Those are a lot of down faces. Seventeen seconds isn’t inconsequential. Something can happen. Hell, Rutgers only needed five seconds.

:08 left in the 4th Quarter: One last play left. My heart rate’s up, that’s for sure. I wonder how many reporters went down to the field, or left to go down to the field, after the UConn TD and missed Tim’s TD.

That’s the ballgame. Wow, that was a really quick handshake between Edsall and Schiano. Nothing like the one Bill Stewart and Edsall shared last week. Maybe they had a conversation before? Maybe there’s nothing Greg has to say after that?

I’m with you, rutgersguy, I do indeed feel sad for UConn. What a way to go down. What an effort.

This is a big, big, big win for Rutgers. There’s a big difference between 1-2 and 0-3 in league play, especially if those two losses are to the two best teams in the league. Confidence can’t be underrated.

Alright, that’s it for today. Thanks a ton for everyone who came on-line. You sure helped the afternoon go, and eased the “pain” of not being up there in Storrs. Have a happy halloween!