(AP)

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

PISCATAWAY — Gareef Glashen remembers it mostly for fans storming the field afterward, but his performance Oct. 4 against Michigan's Devin Funchess went a long way toward the end result.
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Don't look now, but Rutgers' pass efficiency defense numbers are about 30 slots better this year than 2013's program-worst finish.

Part of it is conference culture — you wouldn't mistake the Big Ten for the gun-slinging AAC — but head coach Kyle Flood has a reason that's easier to quantify.

"I think having another birthday has helped the secondary," Flood said Tuesday. "I think that's always the case with a player. Guys like Anthony Cioffi, Nadir Barnwell, Delon Stephenson having another year in the system and being able to stay as healthy as you can. That year of experience and maturity helps them grow."

Rutgers' pass numbers are down across the board this season, when it has faced 100 fewer passes and surrendered 17 fewer touchdowns in the same span.

	Attempts	Completions	INTs	Pass yards	Touchdowns
2013	410	265	7	3,285	29
2014	306	178	7	2,260	12

Players say a simplified scheme and continuity in the back end have paid off. Eleven different players started in the secondary a year ago.

"You get a chemistry," corner Gareef Glashen said. "Guys are more comfortable with each other. We know what each other's going to do based on practice. It's just believing in the man next to you and behind you."

That same chemistry will be tested Saturday, when it's uncertain whether Barnwell, who has started six games, will play with an upper-body injury. 

That would leave Glashen, Cioffi and freshman Dre Boggs against future pro Connor Cook. Stephenson could slide down to the line of scrimmage if needed, Flood said.

Last year, Rutgers faced four NFL draft picks at quarterback, including Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr, who went in the first two rounds. 

By Saturday, it will have seen three QBs in the top 50 in passing efficiency in 2014. Starter Gary Nova ranks 19th nationally.

(AP photo)

I chatted today with Bleacher Report Michigan beat writer Adam Biggers and Sports in the Mitten about Saturday's Rutgers home game against the Wolverines (starts at 21:30 mark).
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Nadir Barnwell was surprised as anyone when he found Ian Thomas in Rutgers' Hale Center facility, but he  didn't mind his fellow corner's return.
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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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Gareef Glashen hasn't played in a football game in nearly a month, but the junior cornerback will likely be called upon extensively Saturday against Houston. That's how dire Rutgers' secondary complexion is right now.

You can find Wednesday's Trentonian story on Glashen and Rutgers' pass defense linked, but here's some additional video from after Tuesday's practice:

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Kyle Flood is dealing with a makeshift cornerback rotation, one that could've looked different based on past recruiting efforts. (AP photo)

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

Despite the presence of three players 19 years old or younger in Rutgers' cornerback rotation, head coach Kyle Flood said Thursday expectations for the group wouldn't change.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Cornerback Gareef Glashen will miss the next two games because of personal reasons, leaving Rutgers with only four scholarship corners with experience this week against SMU.
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Kyle Flood said Monday that cornerback Lew Toler could impact Rutgers' game plan with his evaluation of Eastern Michigan's personnel. (Tyler Barto/ file photo) 

By Tyler Barto

Twitter: @Tyler_Barto

tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Head coach Kyle Flood said Monday that Rutgers' defensive coaches will likely ask Lew Toler about Eastern Michigan's personnel but little else for Saturday's game.

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