@Rutgers Mike
Okay, so they're a Leach team, which means they're throwing the ball a lot, which doesn't bode well for Rutgers unless their pass D got dramatically better. The offense looked a lot better in Year 2 than Year 1 (51st in total offense vs. 100th) and Halliday improved a lot over the year, I'm expecting him to be pretty good this year. Skill players wise, they return almost everybody of merit, the only problem could be the offensive line as they lost a lot of experience. I think the offense will be better than they were last year, though.
Defensively, it's iffy. They lost their best player and their secondary has been pretty decimated. They weren't exactly world beaters last year either. They were good enough against the lesser teams (shutout Idaho, gave up 7 points on a short field against Kiffin's USC, held Zona to 17 in Tuscon) but they were horrendous against teams with more talent (Oregon, ASU, Stanford). Their line should be fairly good, they lost probably their best player but everyone else is back. LB corps is decent too, their MLB Darryl Monroe will probably get 2nd-team Pac-12 or something. Their D is never going to be Alabama's or Michigan State's, both because of talent and philosophy, but they're trying to be an aggressive 3-4 D that create turnovers and sacks and bends but doesn't break.
I think they beat Rutgers by 10 or more, as it's a really good matchup for Wazzu (judging from last season). Wazzu's strength is throwing the ball and their weakest point on D is defending the pass. Rutgers had a horrendous pass D last year and has Gary Nova at QB (and lost their best WR). However, if Nova turns into a competent QB and Fridge can get that offense going, expect to see a shootout.
Okay, so they're a Leach team, which means they're throwing the ball a lot, which doesn't bode well for Rutgers unless their pass D got dramatically better. The offense looked a lot better in Year 2 than Year 1 (51st in total offense vs. 100th) and Halliday improved a lot over the year, I'm expecting him to be pretty good this year. Skill players wise, they return almost everybody of merit, the only problem could be the offensive line as they lost a lot of experience. I think the offense will be better than they were last year, though.
Defensively, it's iffy. They lost their best player and their secondary has been pretty decimated. They weren't exactly world beaters last year either. They were good enough against the lesser teams (shutout Idaho, gave up 7 points on a short field against Kiffin's USC, held Zona to 17 in Tuscon) but they were horrendous against teams with more talent (Oregon, ASU, Stanford). Their line should be fairly good, they lost probably their best player but everyone else is back. LB corps is decent too, their MLB Darryl Monroe will probably get 2nd-team Pac-12 or something. Their D is never going to be Alabama's or Michigan State's, both because of talent and philosophy, but they're trying to be an aggressive 3-4 D that create turnovers and sacks and bends but doesn't break.
I think they beat Rutgers by 10 or more, as it's a really good matchup for Wazzu (judging from last season). Wazzu's strength is throwing the ball and their weakest point on D is defending the pass. Rutgers had a horrendous pass D last year and has Gary Nova at QB (and lost their best WR). However, if Nova turns into a competent QB and Fridge can get that offense going, expect to see a shootout.
