Blogs > Rutgers Rundown

Devoted to the daily goings on with Rutgers football, both at High Point Solutions Stadium and behind the scenes.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Inside Rutgers' high play count with Chas Dodd in shotgun against Connecticut



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Chas Dodd said Saturday he's most comfortable out of the shotgun, and that's probably why 60 of Rutgers' 67 plays in a 28-17 loss at Connecticut came out of the formation.

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Early deficits force Rutgers' Paul James to adapt


By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Having worked with Chas Dodd with the second-team offense the last two-plus years, Paul James said Monday that little will change with a new quarterback under center.
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Monday, November 25, 2013

Rutgers' Brandon Coleman, Chas Dodd could redevelop on-field chemistry


By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Brandon Coleman has seen all of Rutgers' quarterback changes firsthand — senior Chas Dodd and junior Gary Nova swapping starts in 2011, Nova taking nearly each rep a year ago and now Dodd returning to a starter's role.
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Friday, November 22, 2013

Rutgers' Kyle Flood says he will evaluate all options after another loss

Head coach Kyle Flood said Friday that Rutgers' current offense isn't structured for pass-heavy situations. 
(AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

After a game in which his starting quarterback completed less than 50 percent of his passes for the third time in four tries, head coach Kyle Flood promised another re-evaluation Friday.
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Inside Rutgers' down sack numbers from defensive ends



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

I published a story for Wednesday's Trentonian on Rutgers' declining sack numbers from defensive ends, but here's more that didn't make it to print: 
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Monday, November 18, 2013

Rutgers offense lags again with latest loss to Cincinnati

Quarterback Gary Nova's completion percentage dipped this season to 57.2 percent with sub-50 percent efforts in two of Rutgers' last three outings. (AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Lost in Rutgers' 52-17 loss Saturday to Cincinnati was an offense that again failed to find its footing.
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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Clarice Tyree, mother of former Rutgers player Jevon Tyree, doesn't ask for firings on ESPN

Rutgers defensive coordinator Dave Cohen allegedly verbally abused former player Jevon Tyree during a spring study session. (AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_ Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Clarice Tyree, the mother of former Rutgers player Jevon Tyree, said Sunday on ESPNews that her son received repeated text messages from defensive coordinator Dave Cohen in the spring but Jevon did not want to respond.

Jevon Tyree and the Tyree family alleged Friday via NJ.com that Cohen verbally abused Jevon Tyree and bullied him, which led to him being ostracized from and quitting the team.

Clarice Tyree called it a "verbal assault" Sunday.
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Saturday, November 16, 2013

Long-term recruiting effect of Rutgers' woes remain to be seen

Allegations involving defensive coordinator Dave Cohen, pictured, could be potentially troubling, but Rutgers' on-field performance could caution recruits more. (AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — At 3:29 p.m. Saturday, Rutgers defensive coordinator Dave Cohen quietly jogged off the field at High Point Solutions Stadium escorted by the team's director of athletic relations.

The first into the tunnel, Cohen made his way under the veil of cover.
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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Rutgers' Ruhann Peele to play more early downs at corner against Cincinnati


By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — An injury — what else? — will lead Ruhann Peele to playing his most extensive snaps to date Saturday at cornerback against Cincinnati.
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Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa on injures: 'I'm coming for everybody'



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Steve Longa is issuing an obvious mea culpa: he is not trying to injure his own teammates. The redshirt freshman middle linebacker has a recent habit of doing so, capped by Lorenzo Waters' high-ankle sprain Oct. 25 against Houston.
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Monday, November 11, 2013

Rutgers uses caution but thinks Paul James could carry full workload

Running back Paul James (lower right leg) is expected to be near-fully healthy Saturday against Cincinnati. 
(AP file photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Running back Paul James practiced in full Sunday for the first time in nearly eight weeks, a sign his lower right leg could withstand consistent pounding in a game.

Head coach Kyle Flood said he would reserve judgment on the sophomore until he saw him practice later Tuesday, but all indications are James, listed as probable, could receive a bulk of the carries Saturday for the first time in five games.
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Re-assessing Rutgers' cornerbacks before playing Cincinnati



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Head coach Kyle Flood said last week he didn't have a solidified depth chart in mind at cornerback, which received several reinforcements within the last few weeks.

That will change later Monday morning when Flood releases his two-deep for Saturday's game against Cincinnati. In the meantime, here's a re-introduction to the usual suspects at corner:
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Sunday, November 10, 2013

Rutgers commit, Nottingham corner Saquan Hampton offers another option in secondary



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

HAMILTON — The initial purpose of Joe Rossi's visit to Nottingham High School may not have led him to  Saquan Hampton, but the 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback earned an offer at his head coach's prompting.
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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Ruhann Peele's shift to corner leaves subtle shift in Rutgers' receiver rotation



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Despite redshirt freshman Ruhann Peele's move to corner for at least the next two games, Quron Pratt says it doesn't affect Rutgers' receiver rotation.
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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Running back Paul James practices as Rutgers backfield gains depth



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — The backfield Paul James returned to Wednesday looks awfully different from the one he left Sept. 21 with a lower-leg injury.

True freshman Justin Goodwin has emerged as an every-down back. Junior Savon Huggins appeared serviceable last week on passing downs. James, Rutgers' leading rusher, said he wanted to return last week against Temple, but team medical personnel had other ideas.
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Monday, November 4, 2013

Rutgers' time trailing increases noticeably in last three games

Rutgers receiver Andre Patton eyes a pass against Houston on Oct. 26, when the Scarlet Knights fell behind for 41:42. (AP photo)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Rutgers has trailed 47 percent of the time in regulation through eight games this season, but more than two-thirds have that figure has come in the Scarlet Knights' last three games.
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Sunday, November 3, 2013

Rutgers' revolving door at kicker continues entering bye week



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Head coach Kyle Flood said Sunday he isn't ready to name his starting kicker for Rutgers' next game Nov. 16 against Cincinnati, muddying an already unclear position.


Kyle Federico went 1-for-2 on field goal attempts Saturday in a 23-20 victory against Temple, missing a 40-yard effort on the final play of the first half. He also missed a PAT.
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Saturday, November 2, 2013

Inside Rutgers' fourth-and-short stop against Temple



By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Rutgers stopped Temple and quarterback P.J. Walker, pictured, on a late fourth down Saturday. (AP photo)

PISCATAWAY — On fourth-and-inches with less than two minutes left Saturday against Temple, Rutgers' defense ran a play it hadn't shown all day.
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