Greg Schiano and the Rutgers football team are wrapping up spring football this week
The 2020 football season saw the return of Greg Schiano as head coach of the Scarlet Knights. His return coincided with a global pandemic that threatened to cancel the season before it even began. The Big Ten did end up playing a shortened season, and luckily for Rutgers none of their nine games were canceled.
2020 ended with a 3-6 record, but anyone who watched the Knights could see that Schiano had the team on the upward swing. The question now is can Schiano and the Knights continue to build on their momentum?
Defense As A Strength
The Scarlet Knights finished 104th in total defense and 83rd in scoring defense last year. Those ratings would imply that the unit needs to significantly improve in 2021 should the Knights wish to build on last year.
The good news for Rutgers is that improvement may come in part from actually having a spring camp to prepare, and the return of some good players on the defense.
Last year the Scarlet Knights were carried on defense by linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi, who led the team with 101 tackles and finished as a 2020 Butkus Award Semifinalist. Fatukasi returns to the Knights for his senior year and should be one of the leaders on this unit again.
Along with Fatukasi, Rutgers sees linebacker Tyshon Fogg, cornerback Avery Young, and defensive lineman Mike Tverdov all return to this year’s squad. These key players will lead a defense that returns almost all its starters from last year’s team.
Truly the only question the staff has about the defense is at safety, where Brendon White’s departure has left a hole.
For Rutgers and their fans, the spring game will be their first look at this side of the team. I would expect to see the unit execute their reads and assignments quicker than they had last year, and possibly make for a long day for the offense who might not be at full strength health-wise for the spring game.
Offensive Continuity
Similar to the defense, the offense is seeing the return of many starters from the 2020 campaign. Key returners are quarterback Noah Vedral, receiver Bo Melton, running back Isaih Pacheco, and lineman Brendan Bordner.
Melton should be looking to improve upon a year that saw him lead the team in most receiving categories in 2020. He will be heading an experienced group that sees the return of Aron Cruickshank and Shameen Jones, the second and third leading receivers from last year.
The return of these receivers, along with Vedral, should mark an improvement upon an offensive passing attack that finished 94th in the FBS last year.
Not to be forgotten though is the running game where running back Isaih Pacheco and the offensive line will work to improve the ground attack. Last year the Knights finished 86th in total rushing, averaging 140.3 yards per game.
Again, like the defense, Rutgers and the offensive unit now have an off-season program to work on things that need to be addressed. If Rutgers can improve either the passing attack, rushing attack, or both then the Knights will be able to build on the momentum of 2020.
Looking At The Future
Coach Schiano talked about how the competition levels are rising at his opening press conference for spring ball. That rise has a direct correlation to the culture he and his staff are building at Rutgers.
Schiano and the Rutgers staff want competition at every level of the roster. Bringing in good talent through the transfer portal and recruiting only add to that competitive culture.
Early enrollees who could push for immediate playing time this year are 4- star defensive back Alijah Clark and 4-star linebacker Kharyl Banton. Clark could take over one of the safety spots that is needing filled, while Banton may be able to push one of the current starters for playing time during the season.
Transfer receiver Josh Youngblood is another player who may be able to push for playing time after a solid start to his collegiate career at Kansas State. Youngblood has been slowed by hamstring injuries this spring, so his availability on Thursday is in question.
Spring ball is a chance for the staff to see these new faces in action in a simulated game. It will be up to the coaches to develop and identify if the players above or any other newcomer is ready to help the Knights win in 2021.