This is tough game for USF. Definitely will be a close game. Key for Rutgers over the past couple years has been their offensive line which has been able to handle USF's D-line and enable Rice to run very well. I believe Rutgers returns three starter from last years O-line, so it is probably good but not quite as good as in years past. Although the new unit has played all 6 games together this year. Any way you slice it, the game is a tough cover for USF, especially with their propensity for turnovers. Should be a close exciting game that Rutgers can win outright. I will wait until kickoff and take the points. Any thoughts out there? Any analysis from Rutgers fans regarding offensive line play this year compared to last is appreciated. Thanks.
USF @ Rutgers
- Thread starter Dizzayton
- Start date
When the Scarlet Knights face South Florida on Thursday night, they will be facing the now No. 2 team in the country. We asked our Rutgers beat writers to break down the Bulls:
1. What makes South Florida so good?
TOM LUICCI: Two things: Quarterback Matt Grothe and a fast, athletic defense that features the nation's sack leader (George Selvie), a big-play linebacker (Ben Moffitt) and two corners who have a chance to play on Sundays (Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins).
Grothe leads the Bulls in both rushing and passing, with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano saying that's "by design and creation." It probably means the Knights will assign a "spy" to Grothe to cut down on his running.
Selvie has 11.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss, both national-leading numbers, and USF is No. 5 in the country in passing efficiency.
This isn't an explosive offense (averaging 393.5 yards per game) but Grothe makes it all work. It's confounding that he isn't a serious Heisman candidate yet with the year he is having, because he's the leading candidate for Big East Offensive Player of the Year at the moment -- in a league that features Ray Rice, Pat White, Brian Brohm and Steve Slation. That's saying something.
AD: The right mix of talent and leadership. Greg Schiano mentioned today that it becomes obvious that Ben Moffitt is the leader of South Florida's defense just by watching them on tape. You can have all the talent in the world but the on-field guidance is invaluable in reaching that next level.
Having Grothe, who was the Big East Freshmen of the Year, endure some growing pains to go along with his great games helped him become of the nation's top quarterbacks. He's doing everything on the offensive side because he's grown into his responsibilities. It's simply a bunch of guys who have come to realize what it's going to take to be great, not just a promising team that eventually falls short. One of the things that stood out to me in their victory over West Virginia was a sense of focus, which usually isn't that obvious on television. The reactions on defense were quick and precise -- it looked like a professional team in terms of approach, but obviously much slower. Except for George Selvie, of course. That guy's just a beast.
2. Are they a legit No. 2 team?
TL: No question. There's even a case for making USF No. 1 the way this season has played out. The strength of schedule is there. The Bulls have a quality road win at Auburn, which beat Florida and just won at Arkansas. They've beaten a top 10 team in West Virginia. They manhandled a North Carolina team that beat Miami and gave South Carolina all it could handle.
If this team was named "West Virginia" and not South Florida, it would be No. 1 right now. Just as if Ohio State was named "Indiana" instead, there is no way the Buckeyes would be No. 1. So much about the polls is perception. The traditional powers all have an advantage. It's tougher for the new guys on the top 10 block to get the national respect they deserve.
AD: If not them, who else? Right now, you can't put the SEC trio ahead of them, even though I think all three might be better. LSU beat South Carolina, which beat Kentucky, which beat LSU. I think either of those teams could take down South Florida, but you can't put any of them above the Bulls while they're fresh off recent losses. One of them is going to separate from the pack as a one-loss team and make the argument for playing a tougher schedule, but unless South Florida stumbles its way to an undefeated season, they're No. 2 to stay (because Ohio State is going to cruise to an undefeated season with no formidable opponent on the way).
3. Some have called them the Rutgers of 2007. Is that a fair analogy?
TL: Even though they are entirely different teams, it is. But South Florida has played a better schedule after six games that Rutgers did at a similar point last year. It's not even close. The Knights' only quality win to this point was at USF -- by two points.
Neither team started the year in the top 10 but both cracked the top 10.
And now USF has a showcase game on Thursday night on ESPN, just as Rutgers did against Louisville last year.
One other difference: If USF gets by Rutgers, the Bulls have a better shot at going 12-0 than Rutgers did after beating Louisville.
AD: I think South Florida's success is a little less shocking. Rutgers entered last season as a longshot top 25 team, receiving a handful of votes in the preseason poll. The Bulls weren't a highly-regarded team in the rankings either, but their name was thrown around as one of the potential dark horses in the conference race, if not -- and it's still crazy to say this -- the national title picture. Both teams had a star on the rise, whether it was Ray Rice or Matt Grothe.
It just felt like, whether at Big East Media Day before this season or in the preseason chatter, there was a hint that this team could be great. Not good, great. I don't think anyone outside the message-board group was saying the same thing about Rutgers last season.
1. What makes South Florida so good?
TOM LUICCI: Two things: Quarterback Matt Grothe and a fast, athletic defense that features the nation's sack leader (George Selvie), a big-play linebacker (Ben Moffitt) and two corners who have a chance to play on Sundays (Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins).
Grothe leads the Bulls in both rushing and passing, with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano saying that's "by design and creation." It probably means the Knights will assign a "spy" to Grothe to cut down on his running.
Selvie has 11.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss, both national-leading numbers, and USF is No. 5 in the country in passing efficiency.
This isn't an explosive offense (averaging 393.5 yards per game) but Grothe makes it all work. It's confounding that he isn't a serious Heisman candidate yet with the year he is having, because he's the leading candidate for Big East Offensive Player of the Year at the moment -- in a league that features Ray Rice, Pat White, Brian Brohm and Steve Slation. That's saying something.
AD: The right mix of talent and leadership. Greg Schiano mentioned today that it becomes obvious that Ben Moffitt is the leader of South Florida's defense just by watching them on tape. You can have all the talent in the world but the on-field guidance is invaluable in reaching that next level.
Having Grothe, who was the Big East Freshmen of the Year, endure some growing pains to go along with his great games helped him become of the nation's top quarterbacks. He's doing everything on the offensive side because he's grown into his responsibilities. It's simply a bunch of guys who have come to realize what it's going to take to be great, not just a promising team that eventually falls short. One of the things that stood out to me in their victory over West Virginia was a sense of focus, which usually isn't that obvious on television. The reactions on defense were quick and precise -- it looked like a professional team in terms of approach, but obviously much slower. Except for George Selvie, of course. That guy's just a beast.
2. Are they a legit No. 2 team?
TL: No question. There's even a case for making USF No. 1 the way this season has played out. The strength of schedule is there. The Bulls have a quality road win at Auburn, which beat Florida and just won at Arkansas. They've beaten a top 10 team in West Virginia. They manhandled a North Carolina team that beat Miami and gave South Carolina all it could handle.
If this team was named "West Virginia" and not South Florida, it would be No. 1 right now. Just as if Ohio State was named "Indiana" instead, there is no way the Buckeyes would be No. 1. So much about the polls is perception. The traditional powers all have an advantage. It's tougher for the new guys on the top 10 block to get the national respect they deserve.
AD: If not them, who else? Right now, you can't put the SEC trio ahead of them, even though I think all three might be better. LSU beat South Carolina, which beat Kentucky, which beat LSU. I think either of those teams could take down South Florida, but you can't put any of them above the Bulls while they're fresh off recent losses. One of them is going to separate from the pack as a one-loss team and make the argument for playing a tougher schedule, but unless South Florida stumbles its way to an undefeated season, they're No. 2 to stay (because Ohio State is going to cruise to an undefeated season with no formidable opponent on the way).
3. Some have called them the Rutgers of 2007. Is that a fair analogy?
TL: Even though they are entirely different teams, it is. But South Florida has played a better schedule after six games that Rutgers did at a similar point last year. It's not even close. The Knights' only quality win to this point was at USF -- by two points.
Neither team started the year in the top 10 but both cracked the top 10.
And now USF has a showcase game on Thursday night on ESPN, just as Rutgers did against Louisville last year.
One other difference: If USF gets by Rutgers, the Bulls have a better shot at going 12-0 than Rutgers did after beating Louisville.
AD: I think South Florida's success is a little less shocking. Rutgers entered last season as a longshot top 25 team, receiving a handful of votes in the preseason poll. The Bulls weren't a highly-regarded team in the rankings either, but their name was thrown around as one of the potential dark horses in the conference race, if not -- and it's still crazy to say this -- the national title picture. Both teams had a star on the rise, whether it was Ray Rice or Matt Grothe.
It just felt like, whether at Big East Media Day before this season or in the preseason chatter, there was a hint that this team could be great. Not good, great. I don't think anyone outside the message-board group was saying the same thing about Rutgers last season.
Ledger: Rice last to trample SF
Tuesday October 16, 2007, 7:00 AM
NOTEBOOK
He might not know the specific statistics, but he knows.
He has seen runner after runner stuffed, thrown to the ground and brutalized. Every back who has stepped in the way of South Florida's path to the No. 2 spot in the BCS rankings.
Ray Rice was the last running back to surpass 100 yards against the Bulls' defense, reaching 202 yards in Rutgers' 22-20 victory at Raymond James Stadium last year. Since then, South Florida has played 14 games and shut down the ground attack in each one. Last week, Central Florida's Kevin Smith -- the nation's leading rusher at 172 yards per game -- managed only 55 yards.
To prove to critics that this team's rise to the top is legitimate, the Bulls may have to take down the one guy they were not able to figure out.
And Rice knows this.
"I've watched that program really, similar to ours, grow over time," Rice said. "They put a lot of work and effort into what they do."
The speed on the team's defensive line is a primary reason for this success against all types of runners, and it starts with defensive end George Selvie. He leads the nation in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (21.5), already breaking school records in both categories. Since the start of the 2005 season, only six rushers have reached 100 yards on the ground against the Bulls.
Rice, one of them, understands that the challenge is daunting.
"Their defense is athletic," Rice said. "They have two of the best corners in the nation, they're fast up front, similar to us, and you can't run left and right on them ... we just have to try to make plays on them."
After two self-admitted subpar games against Maryland and Cincinnati, Rice said it was a confidence booster for himself and many of the team's younger players to play well against Syracuse -- he finished with 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns, as well as 29 receiving yards on four catches.
Approaching this game, knowing the responsibility on his shoulders to maintain that success, he said that it's important not to look at South Florida as the No. 2 team in the country or, personally, as the team that has shut down every runner since the last time they played.
All he needs is that one step. If he can get past that initial wall and narrowly escape Selvie's reach, he'll be able to challenge South Florida's streak.
"Once I get going to the second level, that's when I'm best as a runner," Rice said. "You have to get a play started for it to be successful. I don't really worry about my stats too much, but I just know it felt good to go out there and have a good game on Saturday."
Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, who accused Rutgers defensive back Joe Lefeged of a helmet-to-helmet hit against quarterback Andrew Robinson, wouldn't discuss the play during yesterday's weekly Big East teleconference.
He submitted the tape of the play to Big East officials for review, but despite calling out an opposing player for a "vicious blow," said conference officials would prefer he not elaborate on his opinion.
"They would rather I not discuss it," Robinson said. "I kind of made my statement yesterday and I think what I stated was correct."
Lefeged was named the conference's top defensive player this week for his six-tackle, two-sack performance against Syracuse, putting up those numbers in limited time as the team's backup safety and nickel cornerback. The honor was soured slightly by the comments made about his supposedly dirty play, but he's taking it in stride.
"It doesn't bother me," Lefeged said. "We're coached to play hard and that's all I'm trying to do, just get to the quarterback any way I can. I try not to pay too much attention to it and just do what I'm doing."
Schiano said that he had not yet been notified of the conference's opinion of the play, but doesn't believe there was any wrongdoing.
"Let me tell you right now that none of our players are taught to do that or do that," Schiano said. "People can do whatever they want, that's their prerogative. Joe was going to block the pass with his hand up, sometimes the quarterbacks think they're going to throw it and duck or go down. It's a contact game."
Ron Girault's status remains questionable, although Schiano's optimism about the safety's ankle injury appeared brighter when he suggested that he could play in a limited role. ... Mike Teel's thumb injury didn't worry Schiano much, but he did add that right tackle Jeremy Zuttah is one of the guys who's a little extra banged up. ...
There were some changes on the depth chart with players returning from injuries, most notably Blair Bines penciled in as Kevin Malast's backup at outside linebacker and Ryan D'Imperio officially the backup at middle linebacker. The second-string tight end position now is a toss-up between Kevin Brock and Shamar Graves.
Tuesday October 16, 2007, 7:00 AM
NOTEBOOK
He might not know the specific statistics, but he knows.
He has seen runner after runner stuffed, thrown to the ground and brutalized. Every back who has stepped in the way of South Florida's path to the No. 2 spot in the BCS rankings.
Ray Rice was the last running back to surpass 100 yards against the Bulls' defense, reaching 202 yards in Rutgers' 22-20 victory at Raymond James Stadium last year. Since then, South Florida has played 14 games and shut down the ground attack in each one. Last week, Central Florida's Kevin Smith -- the nation's leading rusher at 172 yards per game -- managed only 55 yards.
To prove to critics that this team's rise to the top is legitimate, the Bulls may have to take down the one guy they were not able to figure out.
And Rice knows this.
"I've watched that program really, similar to ours, grow over time," Rice said. "They put a lot of work and effort into what they do."
The speed on the team's defensive line is a primary reason for this success against all types of runners, and it starts with defensive end George Selvie. He leads the nation in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (21.5), already breaking school records in both categories. Since the start of the 2005 season, only six rushers have reached 100 yards on the ground against the Bulls.
Rice, one of them, understands that the challenge is daunting.
"Their defense is athletic," Rice said. "They have two of the best corners in the nation, they're fast up front, similar to us, and you can't run left and right on them ... we just have to try to make plays on them."
After two self-admitted subpar games against Maryland and Cincinnati, Rice said it was a confidence booster for himself and many of the team's younger players to play well against Syracuse -- he finished with 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns, as well as 29 receiving yards on four catches.
Approaching this game, knowing the responsibility on his shoulders to maintain that success, he said that it's important not to look at South Florida as the No. 2 team in the country or, personally, as the team that has shut down every runner since the last time they played.
All he needs is that one step. If he can get past that initial wall and narrowly escape Selvie's reach, he'll be able to challenge South Florida's streak.
"Once I get going to the second level, that's when I'm best as a runner," Rice said. "You have to get a play started for it to be successful. I don't really worry about my stats too much, but I just know it felt good to go out there and have a good game on Saturday."
Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, who accused Rutgers defensive back Joe Lefeged of a helmet-to-helmet hit against quarterback Andrew Robinson, wouldn't discuss the play during yesterday's weekly Big East teleconference.
He submitted the tape of the play to Big East officials for review, but despite calling out an opposing player for a "vicious blow," said conference officials would prefer he not elaborate on his opinion.
"They would rather I not discuss it," Robinson said. "I kind of made my statement yesterday and I think what I stated was correct."
Lefeged was named the conference's top defensive player this week for his six-tackle, two-sack performance against Syracuse, putting up those numbers in limited time as the team's backup safety and nickel cornerback. The honor was soured slightly by the comments made about his supposedly dirty play, but he's taking it in stride.
"It doesn't bother me," Lefeged said. "We're coached to play hard and that's all I'm trying to do, just get to the quarterback any way I can. I try not to pay too much attention to it and just do what I'm doing."
Schiano said that he had not yet been notified of the conference's opinion of the play, but doesn't believe there was any wrongdoing.
"Let me tell you right now that none of our players are taught to do that or do that," Schiano said. "People can do whatever they want, that's their prerogative. Joe was going to block the pass with his hand up, sometimes the quarterbacks think they're going to throw it and duck or go down. It's a contact game."
Ron Girault's status remains questionable, although Schiano's optimism about the safety's ankle injury appeared brighter when he suggested that he could play in a limited role. ... Mike Teel's thumb injury didn't worry Schiano much, but he did add that right tackle Jeremy Zuttah is one of the guys who's a little extra banged up. ...
There were some changes on the depth chart with players returning from injuries, most notably Blair Bines penciled in as Kevin Malast's backup at outside linebacker and Ryan D'Imperio officially the backup at middle linebacker. The second-string tight end position now is a toss-up between Kevin Brock and Shamar Graves.
My initial thought is that USF covers on the road thursday and louisville falls at Uconn friday night.
Line looks fishy to me, was expecting a little higher, Rutgers seems to relish the underdog role, especially at home.
