** 2024 Opponent Preview : Rutgers (Game 6) **

[Husker in WI]

16 hours ago, admo said:

Kaliakmanis has a strong arm and looks a lot better and more accurate than he was with Minnesota.  Plus he has wheels to scramble a bit.

 

I really didn't see anything different - he manages to get good zip on the ball some of the time, but the ball tends to take a long time to get from his hand to the receiver on out routes. He's avoiding mistakes well (something he did not do at Minnesota), but otherwise he's the same guy. Washington did well against Monangai to be honest - he had two explosive runs (28 and 40), but otherwise carried 23 times for 64 yards. He's really good, and if you give a really good RB 25 carries he's going to get his yards. Just can't let him get yards on every drive.

 

They'll take shots if you let them, but I think our gameplan will be similar to Washington's. Focus on slowing down Monangai, secondary focus on not letting receivers get deep, and make Kaliakmanis keep hitting the short routes all the way down the field. He will probably end up with a higher completion percentage than any of us like to see, but for relatively low yards. It's really hard to shut down everything an offense wants to do, and our goals are to not give up explosives and stuff the run. We'll kind of let teams take the short pass options on RPOs, and then tighten down on those situationally or when they get near the red zone and there's just less ground for the defense to cover. 

[Husker in WI]

Interesting chart, I wish they had it for more than the leading rusher on each team. Rutgers is generating significantly below average yards before contact, but Monangai gets solidly above average after contact. Teams know they are running Monangai a ton and making it difficult for them. We are fairly below average on yards before contact, and Dowdell slightly below average at getting yards after contact. 

 

 

I know the run defense has felt a little less stingy than expected, but it's still solid by these numbers. Allowing fewer yards before and after contact than average. Rutgers grades out worse than I expected for a Schiano team, but they have not been great against the run. Get ready for Raiola to throw it 40 times! 

[BigRedBuster]

I’m so pumped to be at this game. Just wish it was a night game. I haven’t been to one since they started doing the pump up stuff after third quarter. 
 

This crowd better come ready to rock even though it’s a day game. 

[admo]

1 hour ago, BigRedBuster said:

I’m so pumped to be at this game. Just wish it was a night game. I haven’t been to one since they started doing the pump up stuff after third quarter. 
 

This crowd better come ready to rock even though it’s a day game. 

By 145pm you better have that perfect - adult beverage juice buzz flowing - and game day face on !!!!  I'm hyped just thinking how fun it could be !!!!! 

 

Na Na Na Na Na.... THUNDER !!!!

 

[BigRedBuster]

1 hour ago, admo said:

By 145pm you better have that perfect - adult beverage juice buzz flowing - and game day face on !!!!  I'm hyped just thinking how fun it could be !!!!! 

 

Na Na Na Na Na.... THUNDER !!!!

 

I think I will. We are starting at 11:00 with a therapy session. Then tailgate. 

[KCBuc]

I’m betting Rutgers. Running team in a windy stadium against a team that has no kicking game. Shiano or whatever his name is, will have his team ready and are fundamentally disciplined. He is Pellini on roids. 

[Mavric]