Rutgers game plan is pretty simple

[GoSU96]

Crowd the line to stop the run on early downs, win 3rd down, keep everything in front, and wait for you to make a mistake that sets them up for easy scores.

They don't seem to be bringing a ton of pressure and attacking the backfield on defense, and they are very conservative on offense. They are about working field position and waiting for the big mistake.

The question before Marrone and Hackett is, do they not even bother with the run and live or die with the pass or do they try to run the ball. The wide runs that worked against Pitt aren't going to work against them.

 

[orange79]

The wide runs that worked against Pitt aren't going to work against them.

I said this to a couple people yesterday. RU is much quicker up front. It makes it even more difficult if they decide to stack the box and dare us to throw. I know it sounds cliche, and may be hard to do given our offense recently, but it might make sense to pass to set up the run. A couple medium-range passes (and god forbid a longer one) could free up the line a bit.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Big game for Hackett to shut up doubters like me, a big offensive peformance Saturday would be immeasurable. Unfortunately I dont know if Hackett and Marrone will take the chances downfield we need to.

 

[orangenauburn]

this is exactly the game we need to come out slinging it ... so we will decide to 'establish the run'

 

[RICuse44]

Any word on kobenas status? Seems like we have lost the deep ball threat with him gone. I would still run though. Even Andy Reid runs the football. He can't run but his team runs and it sets up some play action. If you are ever going to throw it deep and you don't have any real burners you need play action.

 

[retro44]

run power plays off tackle,and punt block rush them on defense like we did when we had 9 sacks against them a few years ago.shady had no clue as to what hit them.

 

[bothsocksup]

We need to play more press coverage on the outside, or they will Screen us to death. They have big playmakers at the reciever position who can not just make a man miss in space, but can break arm tackles. We have been getting killed by these screens all year and we will have to make an adjustment

 

[anglerman]

We haven't gotten killed by anything all year really. Also the defense is really playing well right now. Rutgers offense shouldn't scare us.

 

[Faegan]

It will be interesting to see what Butty tries to do given our D shutting down Pitt on the ground.

 

[tipphill]

run power plays off tackle,and punt block rush them on defense like we did when we had 9 sacks against them a few years ago.shady had no clue as to what hit them.

flood is not shady----he is a better coach

 

[SmilinBob]

flood is not shady----he is a better coach

They have a better oline than they did then and Nova can move his feet a lot better than that qb could.

It will be interesting to see what Butty tries to do given our D shutting down Pitt on the ground.

Play it safe run Jammison...throw passes high to their wideouts/bubble screens and wait for their defense/special teams to give them field position.

 

[Noexcuse]

this is exactly the game we need to come out slinging it ... so we will decide to 'establish the run'

I had the same thought, except this year it seems they have been more willing to use the pass over the run. Hopefully we don't have to sit through another frustrating nail biter like last year's game.

 

[SmilinBob]

I had the same thought, except this year it seems they have been more willing to use the pass over the run. Hopefully we don't have to sit through another frustrating nail biter like last year's game.

The SU kids have to make plays. If Nassib throws the ball too hard or a little off...catch the damn ball. Break a tackle or 2 and hold onto the ball.

 

[Opus]

I didn't see much of the UCONN-Rutgers game, maybe 12 minutes in the first half. It did seem that UCONN had a lot of open receivers, especially their tight end. Might be an area we can try to exploit. Not saying our TE's are an area of strength but...just thinking (posting) out loud.

 

[Alsacs]

I would blitz them early and often. While I have no confidence in our DBs except Reddish we can't give Nova or Dodd I don't know who is starting for them anytime. I would send 5-6 guys almost every 3rd down and dare him to throw accurate passes. I know their WRs are big and have talent, but we can't give the QB anytime.

 

[Upstate]

I would blitz them early and often. While I have no confidence in our DBs except Reddish we can't give Nova or Dodd I don't know who is starting for them anytime. I would send 5-6 guys almost every 3rd down and dare him to throw accurate passes. I know their WRs are big and have talent, but we can't give the QB anytime.

Amen to this. I think if SU pressures Nova, this game will be much more manageable. Make this Savage pt. II.

 

[Orangello]

This would be the game to get the TE's involved on quick outs and slants. Hacket has not been using the TE's the last 3 games.

 

[SmilinBob]

Amen to this. I think if SU pressures Nova, this game will be much more manageable. Make this Savage pt. II.

Got to make sure you wrap him up, he does do a decent job of breaking tackles. Hit him so hard it'll feel like falling on the original Carrier Dome turf.

 

[PhatOrange]

rutgers wont' change anything. they'll pound it all game long with jamison (who averages 26 carries a game) and they will take their shots downfield via play action; the safeties can't get beat deep.

Where the syracuse d needs to step up is on 3rd down. if we only rush 3 or 4 and drop everybody back into coverage they will pick us apart. We need to limit them on 3rd downs.

 

[Chip]

I really hope it doesn't happen this way, but this game has potential to look similar to the game that followed our last Friday night win. When we went to Louisville, and they made a few early big plays on offense, a few more late. And we really did nothing offensively until garbage time.

Rutgers has the personnel to make some big plays on offense. They are not consistent, but they can hit them with those WRs and a running game you have to pay attention to. They have the personnel to shut down our offense.

Let's just hope history doesn't repeat itself. We have such little room for errors in this game.