FanPost

Early Thoughts on the game with the bums representing America's armpit

or Buttgers if you prefer

The last few years it seems that Marrone has his team ready to play. It looks like he has done extra scouting and the defense plays well and the offense is able to get rolling. Last year, we started rolling early, and gave the game away late with a few stalled drives, turnovers and then the backbreaking fumble by bailey in OT. (You know, it seems like when the game gets close towards the end you get this premonition that SU is going to blow it, and then they do, like a horror movie, but that is for a different post).

Maybe Marrone understands the importance of dominating this series and not letting rutgers gain influence with recruits and perception. I feel like there are two battles every week. The one for SU to win, and the one for BC, buttgers, and Penn State to lose. Big win for SU, but PSU, bc and rutgers also pulled it out this weekend.

Anyhow, back to my thoughts on the game. With rutgers having a brand new staff, I'm not sure Marrone had the advantage to really scout and prepare for this team as in past years.They have two new coordinators calling plays, so all we have to go on is the first 5 games. Also on a sidenote, Rob Spence, who was the OC here prior to hackett, and came off a firing from Clemson, is now over at rutgers.

My concern is without all this preparation rutgers will come out hot. They'll be fired up in whatever uniform of the week they have on (if youve missed it theyve become the oregon of the big east in terms of uniforms). They have big fast receivers, and our secondary has been owned recently. Just guys running wide open for 20 yard pass plays. I hope we look to put in our biggest and most atrhletic DBs for this one.

Their running game has also looked impressive at times. Theyve had big time recruits coming in at RB and theyve been able to break off big plays at times.

My last concern is the offense. They may need to score 31 to win this game. If they stall and cant get the big pass game going early, it may be a frustrating afternoon. I was impressed with our run game at times on Friday. Jerome Smith was breaking off 4 yards a carry at times. Then the last drive, we were able to run it just about every play. Maybe, in our hurry up, we mix in some under the center, iso runs.

Anyone else have early thoughts/ concerns for the game?