If you have to choose one

zebnatto

All-Conference
May 7, 2008
5,071
3,818
0
Who is the one guy above all others who you think holds the key to Rutgers season? My guess is that this may be a landslide, but let’s test my theory.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
84,728
82,136
113
Anybody but the punter and the long snapper! Agree with AK, but would expand that to the QB position.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RU05

zappaa

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
73,181
89,170
103
Who is the one guy above all others who you think holds the key to Rutgers season? My guess is that this may be a landslide, but let’s test my theory.
AK….No one else comes close.
As great as Kyle is, Brown and Benjamin are no slouches.
However, history proves opportunities for others because of injuries or whatever can produce amazing players.
Ajani could be an incredibly productive player.
I like him as our backup.
 

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
AK could do the most with a good season.
I still see OL as most important.
If AK went down and OL was OK I'm sure another RU QB could do a good job.
If OL gets buggered then it all goes sideways
Even Eli couldn't overcome a poor blocking OL
 

RutHut_rivals

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2017
4,483
4,903
0
I'll go out on a limb and say Miller. If he's a guy that can beat the other teams best corner, then we're in good shape.
 

nutfromSEC117

All-American
Nov 2, 2002
7,775
5,769
0
Aaron Lewis and AK

AK is obvious

Lewis was on some pre season draft boards as 3rd rounder last year . He must take next step to be un-block able by a single player . Demanding a double team will open up Toure and Bailey.
 
Last edited:

Shelby65

All-Conference
Apr 1, 2008
7,643
4,178
66
All the AK answers are off the mark. The proper response is Schiano. Will Schiano let AK actually play the position as a modern offense requires or will the playbook be the same 5 plays as last year with ultra-low risk QB play ? Based on his past performance, AK appears to be a slight upgrade over GW but is rated the worst or near-worst Big10 QB by analysts. Maybe at most Schiano will trust him with RPO which he never let GW do

Prediction - 2024 redux: Schiano only allows mostly short sideline routes and the occasional long passes out of bounds just to keep defenses honest. Very rare third down conversions passing...emphasis on field position and defense.

5 to 7 wins.
 

mdk02

Heisman
Aug 18, 2011
25,939
18,311
113
All the AK answers are off the mark. The proper response is Schiano. Will Schiano let AK actually play the position as a modern offense requires or will the playbook be the same 5 plays as last year with ultra-low risk QB play ? Based on his past performance, AK appears to be a slight upgrade over GW but is rated the worst or near-worst Big10 QB by analysts. Maybe at most Schiano will trust him with RPO which he never let GW do

Prediction - 2024 redux: Schiano only allows mostly short sideline routes and the occasional long passes out of bounds just to keep defenses honest. Very rare third down conversions passing...emphasis on field position and defense.

5 to 7 wins.

How could it be 2024 redux when 2024 hasn't happened yet?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: ClassOf02v.2

RUPete

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
26,846
16,117
0
Aaron Lewis and AK

AK is obvious

Lewis was on some pre season draft boards as 3rd rounder last year . He must take next step to be un-block able by a single player . Demanding a double team will open up Toure and Bailey.
With regard to Lewis hopefully he gets the respect he deserves from the officials so holds are called once in awhile. Never seen guy get held as much as him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kbee3

SBP

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
4,732
4,648
0
My take is this. Its Kyle.
If he can be our Ray Rice, then AK can simply be a serviceable, accurate passer, manager.
 

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
My take is this. Its Kyle.
If he can be our Ray Rice, then AK can simply be a serviceable, accurate passer, manager.
There's a case to be made for that take.
Britt and Underwood had HOF careers between the 20s thanks to Rice drawing all the heat.
Alas even Rice struggled a bit running (2007) until Jean Beljour came in at FB.
If the blocking is robust the QB doesn't have to be Trevor Lawrence.
Everything gets better with balance - I thought that was a cliché but there's a lot to it ( see Andy Reid offenses)
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
11,610
10,722
78
Assuming the lineman are good and don't count, and the defense should be okay, I would say The Manis.

Can’t really assume this. Think of 2021 and Vedral’s performance after we lost Sutton. We have a bit more depth now on the 2 deep but a major injury to a guy like Pierce would be a huge hit.
 

Nycrusupporter

All-American
Jun 8, 2021
4,383
6,511
73
With regard to Lewis hopefully he gets the respect he deserves from the officials so holds are called once in awhile. Never seen guy get held as much as him.
You obviously never saw Lawrence Taylor play. To paraphrase what a Philadelphia lineman once said - We held him on every play. We figured at worst the refs would only call it 3 or 4 times . . .
 

zebnatto

All-Conference
May 7, 2008
5,071
3,818
0
Not at all....the QB doesn't call the plays. That will be the make or break. What will the QB be asked to do is the key question.
OP Here: I was thinking of someone who would actually be on the fiels executing the plays the staff called. Rather than the guy calling the plays. But I didn't stipulate that, foolishly believing responders would understand the question being related to performance. But that's not Shelby. Shelby, self satisfied, can now applaud his own intelligence and ability to awe with his powerful brain.



All the AK answers are off the mark. The proper response is Schiano. Will Schiano let AK actually play the position as a modern offense requires or will the playbook be the same 5 plays as last year with ultra-low risk QB play ? Based on his past performance, AK appears to be a slight upgrade over GW but is rated the worst or near-worst Big10 QB by analysts. Maybe at most Schiano will trust him with RPO which he never let GW do

Prediction - 2024 redux: Schiano only allows mostly short sideline routes and the occasional long passes out of bounds just to keep defenses honest. Very rare third down conversions passing...emphasis on field position and defense.

5 to 7 wins.
 

Shelby65

All-Conference
Apr 1, 2008
7,643
4,178
66
OP Here: I was thinking of someone who would actually be on the fiels executing the plays the staff called. Rather than the guy calling the plays. But I didn't stipulate that, foolishly believing responders would understand the question being related to performance. But that's not Shelby. Shelby, self satisfied, can now applaud his own intelligence and ability to awe with his powerful brain.
You are very welcome for the insight. If it makes you feel better, AK is the player who will impact the season the most. But not the most impactful person, as stated above.
 

RUGuitarMan1

All-Conference
Apr 5, 2021
2,163
3,310
73
All the AK answers are off the mark. The proper response is Schiano. Will Schiano let AK actually play the position as a modern offense requires or will the playbook be the same 5 plays as last year with ultra-low risk QB play ? Based on his past performance, AK appears to be a slight upgrade over GW but is rated the worst or near-worst Big10 QB by analysts. Maybe at most Schiano will trust him with RPO which he never let GW do

Prediction - 2024 redux: Schiano only allows mostly short sideline routes and the occasional long passes out of bounds just to keep defenses honest. Very rare third down conversions passing...emphasis on field position and defense.

5 to 7 wins.
Schiano doesn’t play and doesn’t call the offensive or defensive plays. For those who are interested in the answer and not being a contrarian, it is the overall play and health of the starting QB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zebnatto

zebnatto

All-Conference
May 7, 2008
5,071
3,818
0
You are very welcome for the insight. If it makes you feel better, AK is the player who will impact the season the most. But not the most impactful person, as stated above.
Well, sort of--mostly it's the fact that your response was made only to show off Shelby--to play "gotcha.." If 65 is the year of your RU graduation, you'd be about 80 now which, while quite an accomplishment in itself (I'm class of '74) doesn't undo your need to be a jackass rather than a contributor, as in, your response contributed nothing.
 

Shelby65

All-Conference
Apr 1, 2008
7,643
4,178
66
Well, sort of--mostly it's the fact that your response was made only to show off Shelby--to play "gotcha.." If 65 is the year of your RU graduation, you'd be about 80 now which, while quite an accomplishment in itself (I'm class of '74) doesn't undo your need to be a jackass rather than a contributor, as in, your response contributed nothing.
Nice math Pythagoras. I pointed out the most important person in the upcoming 2024 season, which was the actual question.
 

RutHut_rivals

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2017
4,483
4,903
0
chevrolet GIF