Big East Week One Review

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

Best game: This one wins by default–considering the week consisted of mostly blowouts, Minnesota’s overtime victory over Syracuse was by far the most competitive contest. Greg Paulus played a sound game under center in his collegiate football debut, going 19-for-31 with a touchdown, a strike which found a wide-open Mike Williams late in the first quarter. More impressive was how he and the Syracuse team responded after the first snap of the game sailed over Paulus’ head and was recovered by Minnesota deep in Orange territory. Despite renewed spirit and improved play, the story didn’t have a happy ending: it was Paulus’ interception, thrown in the team’s first series in overtime, which led to the Gophers’ 23-20 victory. The turning point of the game was Syracuse’s inability to move the ball on offense after halftime. They did not score any points and only managed a total of 38 yards in their six second-half possessions.

Team of the week: It was about midway through the first quarter when Cincinnati emerged as the conference favorite once again. Getting ahead of ourselves? Perhaps, but the Bearcats looked that good in their manhandling of Rutgers in a 47-15 romp. Quarterback Tony Pike was perfect on the team’s first drive, leading them 81 yards down the field for a touchdown. He and the Cats never looked back. Pike finished the game with 362 yards passing and three touchdowns. The offense was running on all cylinders, from the line to the wide-outs. Most impressive were Marshwan Gilyard, who pulled down eight receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore D.J Woods, who posted a career-high 71 receiving yards and made an outstanding reaching grab to set up the team’s first touchdown. For a defense that had a ton of question marks, Cincinnati made a lot big plays against the run and picked off three Rutgers passes. Senior Aaron Webster had one of those interceptions and laid the hit of the week on Rutgers receiver Tim Brown. It’s way too early to crown anyone just yet, but Cincinnati couldn’t have started their quest in more impressive fashion.

Laying an egg: For Rutgers, the season opener was a chance to start off a promising season with a conference victory while they unveiled their newly-renovated stadium…but they were flat-out humiliated. The team looked unprepared and out-coached—on the opening drive the Scarlet Knights’ defense played like they had never seen a no-huddle offense before. The quarterback play was just awful and the offensive line, the unit that was supposed to be the most stable on the team, didn’t provide space for the running backs to shine. It was an all-around disaster.

Freshman Watch: Pittsburgh isn’t ready to anoint Dion Lewis the next LeSean McCoy just yet, although the 5’ 8” tailback surely looked like an all-conference player in week one, propelling the Panthers to a 38-3 victory over Youngstown State. On 20 carriers he rushed for 129 yards and his two touchdowns in the first half put the Penguins away early.

The one bright spot for Rutgers in week one was the play of freshman Mohamed Sano. The 6’ 2” receiver showed good hands and size and caught a couple of tough throws in traffic. The freshman from New Jersey finished with ten total catches for 101 yards. Sano also caught a two-point conversion thrown from fellow freshman, quarterback Tom Savage. This glimpse into the future of Rutgers’ offense was the lone positive in the game for the Knights.

Best player you never heard of: Last year, Connecticut defensive end Lindsey Witten was limited because the Huskies rotated their defensive ends. Now the team is relying on the senior to step up, and he didn’t disappoint in the team’s opener—he was a playmaker, recording two sacks and a safety in Connecticut’s 23-16 win. Expect him to be among the conference’s sack leaders by year’s end.

Photo Courtesy of the University of Cincinnati

Q&A: Courtney Greene, S, Rutgers

Click to listen to NFL Draft Bible Player Spotlight with All Big East safety Courtney Greene. Hosted by Bo Marchionte.

We are 18 days away from the NFL Draft. You have been pretty busy with workouts. Can you take us through how your Pro Day was?

Greene: It went real well. I think I started well at the Combine. I ran a good time in my 40 and did all the drills I wanted to do good. So I just wanted to go to my Pro Day and do drills and my broad jump. I felt like my broad jump wasn’t far enough at the Combine where my legs where kind of tired so I did it again and jumped 9’11. I was proud of that one. I looked real good in the drills so now I'm just trying to go out there and show them that I’m moving my hips and stuff, showing the guys that I can move.

Have you been talking with any teams since the Combine and your Pro Day? Any teams showing an interest in you?

Greene: At the Combine I had three interviews with the Broncos, Browns and Jacksonville. The Broncos came out here and worked me out. Atlanta came out here and I was just at the Jets yesterday and I’m going to the Giants on Thursday.

Anyone who loves football loves guys who play with that smash mouth mentality. Growing up, did you follow guys with that style or was that just a instinct and you just falling into that role?

Greene: I think I just fell into it growing up at the same time as Ray Rice. Not too many running backs growing up were going to run for touchdowns with Ray on the team so I had no other choice but to play defense. At a young age I just grew into it and figured I’d the best on defense and he would be the best on offense.

What kind of honor was it being named team captain at Rutgers, and what kind of leader where you?

Greene: It was a big honor. There was a whole bunch of guys on our team that could have been named captain. Then there was six of us and you don’t see that happen at too many programs with six captains in one year. So it was a honor, all six of us being named captain. It was just a honor to just lead the guys. Starting 1-2, then 1-5, and that’s when leadership had to kick in. We got all ours guys together and just understood that the coaches were giving us the right game plan and it was us that weren’t putting in the time or effort to it done on Saturdays. We turned that around and won seven straight.

Since the season ended you had your Combine and Pro Day. When is the next time you think you’re going to be able to relax?

Greene: I don’t know to tell you the truth. (Laughs) On the 17th all the visits and stuff stops so I will get to relax from then until the Draft. I’m just going to take it in with my family and just enjoy the moment. It's my childhood dream and I'm just excited with what God has put in front of me.

Talking about that childhood dream. Talk about when the realization of becoming an NFL player started to take root.

Greene: I think in high school. Growing up with Ray, we always spoke about it. We decided to go to the same college and in our first year we were both freshman All Americans. From that moment on we both knew we had what it took to get it done in college. It just wasn’t a high school thing where we were just dominate in high school. So from that moment on I knew this dream was going to come true, it was just a matter of when. Ray took his chance last year and I stayed in for my senior year to stay with these guys and get my degree. Now it's my turn.

Actually I was going to ask you that. You could have went pro last season. Earning your degree, was that a big reason why you returned?

Greene: That was the main reason. I spoke with my mom and she told us growing up that anything you start, you have to finish. I think that set in when I had to make my decision with Coach Schiano. I just wanted to finish what I started. I think I owed it to Rutgers and to my mom to come in and finish what I started and I'm finishing school right now. I’m coming from class, so it’s kind of different. But I’m just taking it in and enjoying the process right now.

Speaking about your former teammate Ray Rice, do you guys stay in close contact?

Greene: All the time. We always call each other, hit up a few jokes. Actually, we hung out last week. I went down to Baltimore to just get away for a little while for three days to be with him.

Are you going to miss the college life or are you ready to move on to the next level?

Greene: I think I’ve been out of college for a year. I think I when I decided to make the decision to come back my mind was in the NFL. So I prepared like I was in the NFL, did some partying and no one ever told me (Laughs) so yeah, I’m ready for the next step.

How about some teammates like Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, facing those guys in practice. How was that?

Greene: Exciting, because you never know what’s going to happen with those two guys. Two great players that just made us better. I think they made our defense better each year. It showed in the end results—every year we were among the top teams in the country and those guys made it possible. Going against a guy like Kenny, he’s so physical and fast and just wants to catch every ball that’s up in the air while going against Tiquan, who’s flashy and fast, makes it troubling for a defense and that helped us out the last seven games. We all put it together and they played well and we played well and won seven straight.

Speaking a little Scarlet Knight football. Who are some of the more flamboyant and fun guys on the team?

Greene: (Laughs) I don’t know...Ah, I’d probably say Joe Lefeged, a sophomore safety who’s going into his junior year now. He's the real clown on the team but he’s going to be a great player. If people don’t know him yet, they are going to know him this coming year.

With the Draft being 18 days away, what are your plans when April 24 rolls around? Are you going to spend it with family, are you going to get away from the television set, or are your eyes going to be glued to it?

Greene: I really don’t know what I’m going to do yet. (Laughs) Probably the first day with some friends and see what my status is. I'm not going on the first day...I doubt I'll even watch it. I'll probably just go out with my family to eat and have fun a little bit. Then the next day, wake up and wait for my name to be called. I'll just sit around with my family and just have fun that day.

You played under three secondary coaches while at Rutgers. Has that helped make you more well-rounded? Can you share your thoughts on that?

Greene: I think it helped me. I think there are two different style of coaches. One was more aggressive and one was more X and O’s. I think that helped me out a lot. Coach Pinkham made me a smarter football player this past season. He explained to me that it’s not just about your position but about everybody and everything that’s going on on the field. That made me a better player. I was just excited for the opportunity to be coached by him.

Playing in the Big East, who were some of the stand out offensive players that come to mind?

Greene: Obviously I think about Pat White when you think about a guy from the Big East, and West Virginia and what they have done at that program. He had a tremendous season. I remember him when we played him as a freshman, we played him out here and he had 199 (yards) against us. I told them it was a fluke then he came out the next three years and did the same thing to everybody. That’s a guy to think about. Another to think about is Kevin Malast (linebacker), who is on our team and actually got to chill with him a couple times. He’s a cool guy, I'd look for him to be nice pick.

During your downtime what are we going to find Courtney Greene doing?

Greene: Probably just go home to my mom. I'm at school a lot and when I’m not in class, I'm probably doing workouts for the teams and visiting teams. So probably just go home relax with my mom. I can’t wait to go home and go to church with her and just relax.

You plan on getting mom anything special when you finally get to the NFL?

Greene: (Laughs) I’m sure I’m going to get her something. This is our goal. It’s been our goal for awhile. I’ve been the one doing it but without her I wouldn’t be in this position. So definitely have to get her something nice.

How are your workouts going? You said you worked out with the Jets yesterday
and you're working out with the Giants later this week. You doing mostly the same drills on each visit, or do they change things up on you?

Greene: Each one is different. I think they mix up the schemes and stuff, and what techniques they teach. They try to make you do different things to see if you will fit and do the drills they actually want you to do. It’s all been different but it’s football and everybody back-peddles, everybody brakes, and everybody has to have smooth hips as a safety. So it’s the same stuff, just different techniques. I think all of them have been going real well so we'll see what happens.

Growing up, were there any teams you rooted for?

Greene: (Laughs) Actually, it’s Green Bay.

Really?

Greene: I actually liked watching Brett Favre He wasn’t even a defensive player, it was just Brett Favre, and I liked watching him play, the way he played the game.

That’s pretty neat, a physical defensive player like yourself saying Brett Favre. That would be a good trivia question.

Greene: (Laughs)

If we put you under the helmet of a NFL team, who would you remind us of out there?

Greene: I don’t know. My favorite player was Sean Taylor before he passed away. Butif there was someone I look like, I’d probably pick him.

With a couple minutes left here, I like to shut things down with something I call Quick Slants. You ready to go?

Greene: (Laughs) Yeah...

If you had to pick one of these occupations would you rather be a lead singer of a boy band or a male runway model?

Greene: Runway model.

Which competition would you get farther in, Dancing With the Stars or American
Idol?

Greene: Dancing With the Stars.

Pretty good dancer?

Greene: Yeah.

Or can’t you sing?

Greene: No, I can’t sing.

Would you hold a live tarantula in you hand?

Greene: Yes.

Wow, we usually get a “no”. Okay, last question. If one of these embarrassing things was going to happen to you, which one would you pick—would you prefer to get laid out on a kick return by a kicker, or get beat deep by a offensive lineman for a touchdown on a trick play?

Greene: (Laughs)

So imagine going to the game tape where they are going to show you getting laid out by a kicker or be beaten by a tackle.

Greene: Laid out by a kicker. At least we didn’t give up a touchdown.

Great answer, spoken by a true defensive-minded player.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Rutgers)

Rutgers Pro Day: Searching For First No. 1

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – With 41 scouts from 27 NFL teams in attendance for the Rutgers Pro Combine held Monday, most of the buzz was surrounding junior wide-receiver Kenny Britt and his chances of being the first Scarlet Knight ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

“I think he’s right on the cusp,” draft expert Mike Mayock of the NFL Network said. “I was just talking with a couple of scouts about that… I think the Giants at 29 are an interesting pick. I think when you start getting in-and-around anywhere from pick 25-to-40; you know right on the cusp of the first round is where I’ve heard most of the scouts talking about. From watching tape I think that is where he belongs.

“He’s down plus-or-minus ten or twelve pounds from the combine, he’s cut-up, he looks great. I thought he ran solid routes. His 40, I had him at 4.43 and 4.45 on my watch, so his 40 is down a little bit. But more importantly the tape I watched this year I thought his hands were a little inconsistent early in the year, but I thought he caught the ball real well at the end of the year. What I wanted to see was how natural he catches the football in person. He had one drop (today) on a real-difficult pass and everything else I thought he handled real well.”

Britt looked crisp in his route running and didn’t even tire as he and his fellow receivers caught nearly 70 passes from fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Teel.

“I am trying to improve my status every day, just working-out hard trying to improve,” Britt said “I feel I ran real well in my 40. I just want to prove what I can do.”

When asked about all the first round hype Britt said he wasn’t concerned.

“Truthfully, I don’t even think about it at all,” he said “I am just trying to work out and get better.”

When asked what teams had shown interest Britt wouldn’t get into specifics: “Nobody has been calling me; I give all the calls to my agent… He said a few people have been calling from around here–especially the tri-state area. I do have a few team-workouts this week.”

Mayock also offered his thoughts on Teel, and his chances of making an NFL roster.

“He’s the kind of kid that’s going to be in an NFL camp,” Mayock said. “I think he’s the kind of kid that’ll work his tail off and will show enough to get an opportunity, and that’s the key in the NFL at the quarterback position, to show enough–especially with minimal reps. If he is smart enough to handle it with minimal reps–and I think he is–he’s got a chance to stick and develop.”

Teel mentioned the Jets and Bears as teams that have expressed interest in his services.

But the day wasn’t all about speculation and opinions, the players went through the normal series of drills, highlighted by the always anticipated 40-yard dash. The best time of the day was recorded by senior cornerback Jason McCourty with a 4.32. Senior wide receiver Tiquan Underwood finished strong with a 4.34, while Britt’s best clocked-in at 4.40. Two of the more impressive times came from the defensive side as senior linebacker Kevin Malast clocked-in at 4.60 and fellow senior defensive end Jamal Westerman put up a 4.78.

Even though Rutgers has never produced a player who was chosen in the first round, the program is on-the-rise, and this was none more evident than by the number of scouts and media on-hand.

“You start looking around this program, and this is a pretty-impressive stop,” Mayock said. “One thing I heard from three or four guys today is when you look at the kids–all the kids, not just the big names–you don’t see sloppy kids here. They’re all in shape. I think what it tells me is–I look at the height, weight, verticals, broad jump, all that kind of stuff, it matches-up with all the big-time programs. I was at LSU, Georgia and Florida last week, and they match-up. The Percy Harvins’ of the world are a different animal, but this program matches-up.”

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Rutgers)

Pro Day: Rutgers

* WR Kenny Britt measured at 6’3, 210 pounds and ran a 4.40 40 and 11.56 60-yard shuttle while standing on his results from the combine in the other drills. He also had a 33 1/8 arm length and 9 1/8 hand measurement.

* DB Courtney Green measured at 6’0, 215 pounds and posted a 9’10 broad jump while standing on his other results from the combine. He also had a 8 ¾ hand and 31 ¾ arm measurement.

* DB Jason McCourty measured at 5’10 193 pounds and did a full workout posting 15 reps, 36 ½ vertical jump, 10’5 broad jump, 4.32 40, 4.28 short shuttle, 6.68 3-cone, and a 11.39 long shuttle. His hand was 9 1/8 and arm was 31 ¼.

* QB Mike Teel measured at 6’3 225 pounds and did all but the long shuttle and bench press. He posted a 28 ½ vertical jump, 8’8 broad jump, 5.01 40, 4.59 short shuttle, and 7.65 3-cone. He did not do the long shuttle and had a 31 arm, and 9 5/8 hand length.

* WR Tiquan Underwood measured at 6’1 178 pounds and kept all of his results from the combine except he ran the 40 in 4.34 seconds and posted a 4.16 short shuttle. His hand was 8 ¾ and his arm was 31 7/8.

* DE Jamaal Westerman measured at 6’2 257 pounds and had 20 reps, a 36 ½ vertical, 10’2 broad jump, 4.78 40, 4.38 short shuttle, and a 6.90 3-cone. He also had a 32 3/8 arm and 9 7/8 hand measurement.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Rutgers)

Are They Ready For Some Football?

By JOHN GARRETT - RUTGERS BEAT WRITER

Rutgers has never started 0-3 in the eight years under head coach Greg Schiano, and they’d like to keep it that way.

Coming off two losses at home, in front of national audiences, the Scarlet Knights will travel to Annapolis, Maryland and face a must-win situation against Navy.
The Rutgers defense is ranked 86th overall in the nation and 96th against the run, which means they will have a true test of character come Saturday when they face a Midshipmen squad which ranks No. 1 in the land in rushing. Navy’s ground attack features the nation’s leading rusher – Shun White.

Even though the rankings point to the run defense as the biggest problem two games into the season, the major breakdowns have occurred in the secondary – producing backbreaking results against Fresno State and North Carolina. The woes are puzzling, considering the secondary was looked upon as a strength coming into the season. Luckily for the Scarlet Knights, Navy runs the triple-option. Another problem is the defense has failed to produce a single turnover through two games.

If Rutgers has any plans of salvaging this season, they need to stop worrying about what they did in years past under Schiano, and start getting their act together – quickly.

RUTGERS EXPANDS STADIUM

NJ gov starts raising money for Rutgers stadium expansion.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine has started raising money for a Rutgers football stadium expansion after months of delay due to ethics concerns.

Conflict-of-interest concerns were raised over the multimillionaire governor raising money. So Corzine's chief counsel looked into the matter.

Corzine has agreed to solicit from donors that don't do business with the state or likely won't in the near future.

The university wants to expand its 43,000-seat stadium to 56,000 seats. Corzine and state Sen. Ray Lesniak said in December that they would help raise $30 million after pulling state support for the project.

Football coach Greg Schiano and Rutgers Athletic Director Robert Mulcahy sent a letter this week to 24 potential donors.