(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer held his weekly Big Ten conference call Tuesday to preview Rutgers' game Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's part of Meyer's transcript, from his relationship with Greg Schiano to Rutgers' special teams work to game-planning for Kemoko Turay.
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(AP photo)

Rutgers is on to day two of its game planning for Washington State and head coach Mike Leach, whom Kyle Flood said he met briefly at an event this year. What will Rutgers have in store at Seattle's CenturyLink Field?
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(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — In a quick media session Tuesday as Rutgers entered the Big Ten, Kyle Flood reflected on his first conference memory, Rutgers' 2005 season opener at Illinois.
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(AP photo)

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

Despite a nearly 1,200-mile distance, Greg Schiano used to court hundreds of South Florida recruits through his one-day sponsored football camps while head coach at Rutgers.

It was part of his plan to fertilize a program whose only bowl appearance came more than two decades before his arrival.
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Head coach Kyle Flood formally introduced Joe Rossi as defensive coordinator Tuesday after a nearly two-month search. (AP photo)

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

Joe Rossi was introduced Tuesday as Rutgers' third defensive coordinator in the post-Greg Schiano era on the premise that he would keep the team's defensive system intact.

The third-year assistant, who spoke along with head coach Kyle Flood, Ralph Friedgen and Bob Fraser, expressed as much on Tuesday's teleconference.
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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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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

It took a season and a half, but Rutgers has mustered up a quarterback competition again between Gary Nova and backup Chas Dodd. Nova's three-interception performance Saturday against Houston was a driving force, but a culture of instability at the position is a culprit, as well.
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By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Head coach Kyle Flood said Wednesday he gives Rutgers' coordinators flexibility within the overall framework of the program.
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Linebacker Jamal Merrell says the pass-coverage role he played at Fresno State will remain throughout the season. (AP Photo)

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

Jamal Merrell says the pass-coverage role he adopted Aug. 29 at Fresno State is here to stay.

The fifth-year senior often lined up outside the far hash mark, serving as a de-facto nickel cornerback. While most teams will not stretch the line of scrimmage as much as Fresno State, Merrell expects a similar game plan from coordinator Dave Cohen.
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Head coach Kyle Flood begins his first and only season in the American in nearly 24 hours. His close friend, Dave Cohen, will do the same but with more responsibility. (Tyler Barto/ file photo)

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

Dave Cohen, 46, has never called plays at a potential BCS-qualifying school. That will change Thursday night, when Cohen becomes the first coordinator directly outside Greg Schiano's coaching tree to impact Rutgers.

The Trentonian profiled Cohen in its season preview, but here's what Cohen said Aug. 10 at Rutgers' media day that didn't make the cut:

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