Norfolk State @ Rutgers preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2007 ) Norfolk State 0, Rutgers 59

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights would be a logical and popular choice to play in the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 30 at Yankee Stadium. But they hope New Yorkers will forgive them if they make travel plans a little further away, like say a BCS bowl game in Miami, New Orleans or Glendale, Ariz.

Coach Greg Schiano is starting his 10th season. His Scarlet Knights have had four consecutive seasons with at least eight wins and bowl victories. The Scarlet Knights went 9-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big East in 2009, tying for fourth place.

The Scarlet Knights are picked to finish fifth by Big East coaches, but with a few breaks and a staunch defense, hope to challenge for the title.
They open with what figures to be a fairly soft September schedule Thursday night against Norfolk State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Football Championship Subdivision.

Rutgers and Norfolk State have met just once, in 2007, with the Scarlet Knights rolling to a 59-0 victory. Rutgers scored on seven consecutive possessions for a 45-0 halftime lead. Ray Rice had three touchdowns for Rutgers.

While the Knights don’t have a back as talented as Rice, they do boast one of the nation’s best defenses and seem to be a physical mismatch for the Spartans.
Looking at just the size of the starting linemen, you would think Norfolk State would have a big advantage. The Spartans’ starting offensive line averages 312 pounds to the Rutgers’ defensive line average of 263 pounds.

Rutgers graduated All-Big East cornerback Devin McCourty and linebackers Ryan D’Imperio and Damaso Munoz, but return one of the nation’s best defensive lines, led by Jonathan Freeny, Alex Silvestro and Scott Vallone.

Rutgers led the nation last season in fumbles recovered and tackles for loss and was fourth in sacks. The Knights also led the Big East in total defense and scoring defense.

Though just a sophomore, Tom Savage is the Big East’s most experienced quarterback. Savage threw for for 2,211 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. One of his favorite targets is fellow sophomore Mohamed Sanu, who caught 51 passes for 639 yards and three touchdowns in 2009. Sanu also rushed for 346 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Joe Martinek rushed for 967 yards and nine touchdowns.

Norfolk State won its final four games of 2009 to finish 7-4 and 5-3 in the MEAC.

The Spartans will likely try to control the running game behind its massive and experienced line and junior power back DeAngelo Branche.

In 2009, Branche rushed for 922 yards and had five games of at least 100 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Expect him to get the ball often early as the Spartans break in new quarterbacks Chris Walley and Jake Strickler.