WHEN RUTGERS HAS THE BALL
How quirky is it that the Knights' two highest point totals in games this season have come on the road? Expect that to change Saturday, with Rutgers looking to extend a streak that has seen the offense average 46 points over the past three games. Quarterback Mike Teel, playing the best football of his career, should be able to do enough stat-padding that he will become the school's career passing leader (he needs just 225 yards to do so) and may equal or break Ryan Hart's all-time mark for touchdown passes today as well. Hart's record is 52; Teel has 49 TD passes entering the game.
It's no surprise that Teel's hot hand has also seen wide receiver Kenny Britt take off on another record chase with five 100-yard receiving performances in the past six games. With two games to play -- three if Rutgers goes bowling -- the junior from Bayonne needs 239 yards to break the school's single-season receiving mark of 1,232 yards that he set last season. Interestingly, as Rutgers has evolved into an explosive offense, it has done so without the help of a blocking tight end. Shamar Graves has earned prominent playing time at the position largely because of his receiving skills. Graves has become a luxury Rutgers can use now because the offensive line has finally settled in, with the same five starting for the fourth straight game today -- the longest stretch of continuity on the line this season.
The most impressive thing about Rutgers' flashy offensive showing of late? It has been accomplished with a running game that still ranks last in the Big East. If the Scarlet Knights get the ground game going today -- they ran all over Army a year ago -- another splashy offensive show should be the result.
WHEN ARMY HAS THE BALL
It's no secret what the Black Knights' intentions are: Of the 660 plays they have had from scrimmage this season, 552 -- or 84 percent -- have been running plays. Though Chip Bowden has given the offense a spark since taking over as the starting quarterback seven games ago (leading Army to all three of its victories) the unit averages just 50.1 passing yards per game and Army is completing a mere 42.6 percent of its passes.
But the passing game can be an afterthought because of fullback Collin Mooney and a ground game that averages 257.8 yards per game and has accounted for 17 touchdowns. Mooney, 11th nationally in rushing, is the first Army back to have two 200-yard rushing games in the same season, and his consistency has allowed Army to win a game this season (Eastern Michigan) without the benefit of a completed pass. The option and the running game do come at a price, however: The Black Knights have fumbled 32 times (that's slightly more than three per game on average) and have lost 21. That means a mistake-filled performance against a Rutgers defense coming off a game against South Florida in which it produced six turnovers could be disastrous for Army.
But Stan Brock's team does come in following a bye week, which gave his team more time to work on its turnover issue. Brock acknowledged the detrimental effect turnovers have had on his team by declaring this week that Army would beat Rutgers if it went turnover-free. That won't be easy, since the Black Knights have also been guilty of five interceptions after barely 100 pass attempts.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Rutgers spent a good portion of the week working on special teams, with head coach Greg Schiano saying he wouldn't be able to tell if any real progress was made until today. The Knights will play with a new long snapper (back-up wide receiver Andrew Depaola) and a new holder (punter Teddy Dellaganna) because of a knee injury that is expected to sideline long snapper Jeremy Branch. Jason McCourty seems to have settled in nicely on kickoff returns, but when was the last time PK San San Te was a factor in a game? He probably won't be today, either.
FOUR DOWNS WITH LB DAMASO MUNOZ
Q. You didn't start the first eight games but have the past two and have been effective. How were you able to stay so sharp?
A. It's just hard work. I've started before. I know what it's like to start. I started most of last year. So it's not a new experience for me. I know what's expected when I'm in a game.
Q. Last year they tried to replace you with Ryan D'Imperio in the middle. This year, redshirt freshman Manny Abreu started over you at the strongside spot -- until you reclaimed the starting job two games ago. How have you not gotten down or frustrated?
A. I don't let outside things get me down. I don't worry about that stuff. If I'm the starter or not, I always prepare as if I'm the starter and work as if I am going to get into the game, because I usually do. I never hung my head when I wasn't starting. That's just not me.
Q. Where have all the turnovers caused by this defense come from all of a sudden?
A. I think we're playing great ball right now. The hard work is paying off. We knew they would come if we kept at it. It just didn't happen for us early in the season. Now we're starting to see some results.
Q. You're a Miami native but you've been here four years. Are you finally accustomed to the type of cold weather (in the mid 30s) we're supposed to get today?
A. You can say I am used to it because I've been here so long. But I don't enjoy it, I can tell you that.
HISTORY
Army holds an 18-16 advantage in the series, though Rutgers has won the past three meetings, including a 41-6 rout at West Point last season.
ONE MORE THING
Rutgers fans have a chance to show their appreciation -- and class -- on two fronts today. The first is when Army takes the field. The second is when quarterback Mike Teel breaks the school's career passing record. Both deserve to be acknowledged for different reasons with rousing applause. This isn't the SEC. Rutgers fans are more sophisticated than that. This is a chance to remind everyone of that.
How quirky is it that the Knights' two highest point totals in games this season have come on the road? Expect that to change Saturday, with Rutgers looking to extend a streak that has seen the offense average 46 points over the past three games. Quarterback Mike Teel, playing the best football of his career, should be able to do enough stat-padding that he will become the school's career passing leader (he needs just 225 yards to do so) and may equal or break Ryan Hart's all-time mark for touchdown passes today as well. Hart's record is 52; Teel has 49 TD passes entering the game.
It's no surprise that Teel's hot hand has also seen wide receiver Kenny Britt take off on another record chase with five 100-yard receiving performances in the past six games. With two games to play -- three if Rutgers goes bowling -- the junior from Bayonne needs 239 yards to break the school's single-season receiving mark of 1,232 yards that he set last season. Interestingly, as Rutgers has evolved into an explosive offense, it has done so without the help of a blocking tight end. Shamar Graves has earned prominent playing time at the position largely because of his receiving skills. Graves has become a luxury Rutgers can use now because the offensive line has finally settled in, with the same five starting for the fourth straight game today -- the longest stretch of continuity on the line this season.
The most impressive thing about Rutgers' flashy offensive showing of late? It has been accomplished with a running game that still ranks last in the Big East. If the Scarlet Knights get the ground game going today -- they ran all over Army a year ago -- another splashy offensive show should be the result.
WHEN ARMY HAS THE BALL
It's no secret what the Black Knights' intentions are: Of the 660 plays they have had from scrimmage this season, 552 -- or 84 percent -- have been running plays. Though Chip Bowden has given the offense a spark since taking over as the starting quarterback seven games ago (leading Army to all three of its victories) the unit averages just 50.1 passing yards per game and Army is completing a mere 42.6 percent of its passes.
But the passing game can be an afterthought because of fullback Collin Mooney and a ground game that averages 257.8 yards per game and has accounted for 17 touchdowns. Mooney, 11th nationally in rushing, is the first Army back to have two 200-yard rushing games in the same season, and his consistency has allowed Army to win a game this season (Eastern Michigan) without the benefit of a completed pass. The option and the running game do come at a price, however: The Black Knights have fumbled 32 times (that's slightly more than three per game on average) and have lost 21. That means a mistake-filled performance against a Rutgers defense coming off a game against South Florida in which it produced six turnovers could be disastrous for Army.
But Stan Brock's team does come in following a bye week, which gave his team more time to work on its turnover issue. Brock acknowledged the detrimental effect turnovers have had on his team by declaring this week that Army would beat Rutgers if it went turnover-free. That won't be easy, since the Black Knights have also been guilty of five interceptions after barely 100 pass attempts.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Rutgers spent a good portion of the week working on special teams, with head coach Greg Schiano saying he wouldn't be able to tell if any real progress was made until today. The Knights will play with a new long snapper (back-up wide receiver Andrew Depaola) and a new holder (punter Teddy Dellaganna) because of a knee injury that is expected to sideline long snapper Jeremy Branch. Jason McCourty seems to have settled in nicely on kickoff returns, but when was the last time PK San San Te was a factor in a game? He probably won't be today, either.
FOUR DOWNS WITH LB DAMASO MUNOZ
Q. You didn't start the first eight games but have the past two and have been effective. How were you able to stay so sharp?
A. It's just hard work. I've started before. I know what it's like to start. I started most of last year. So it's not a new experience for me. I know what's expected when I'm in a game.
Q. Last year they tried to replace you with Ryan D'Imperio in the middle. This year, redshirt freshman Manny Abreu started over you at the strongside spot -- until you reclaimed the starting job two games ago. How have you not gotten down or frustrated?
A. I don't let outside things get me down. I don't worry about that stuff. If I'm the starter or not, I always prepare as if I'm the starter and work as if I am going to get into the game, because I usually do. I never hung my head when I wasn't starting. That's just not me.
Q. Where have all the turnovers caused by this defense come from all of a sudden?
A. I think we're playing great ball right now. The hard work is paying off. We knew they would come if we kept at it. It just didn't happen for us early in the season. Now we're starting to see some results.
Q. You're a Miami native but you've been here four years. Are you finally accustomed to the type of cold weather (in the mid 30s) we're supposed to get today?
A. You can say I am used to it because I've been here so long. But I don't enjoy it, I can tell you that.
HISTORY
Army holds an 18-16 advantage in the series, though Rutgers has won the past three meetings, including a 41-6 rout at West Point last season.
ONE MORE THING
Rutgers fans have a chance to show their appreciation -- and class -- on two fronts today. The first is when Army takes the field. The second is when quarterback Mike Teel breaks the school's career passing record. Both deserve to be acknowledged for different reasons with rousing applause. This isn't the SEC. Rutgers fans are more sophisticated than that. This is a chance to remind everyone of that.
