Sure, a program that until last year laid moribund for 25 years and until last year hadn't been to a bowl game since 1987. Eastern has been what Rutgers fans feel they are now, a losing program in a tough conference (Don't sleep on the MACtion!) with no way up. Rutgers fans, for their contempt at the game probably all feel, even a weak RU team, is going to roll EMU. B1G vs MAC right? Walkover.
In the words of a college football guru, "Not so fast my friends."
Rutgers better get a lead. Eastern will NOT be outworked in Piscatawy today, it's the whole schtick the program revolves around now. They play HARD for 60 minutes. They won a lot of games last year in the 4th quarter. They condition. Hell, the fact they've changed Rynearson Stadium to "The Factory" tells you how this program sees itself. They went down to Baton Rouge last season, controlled Leonard Fournette and darned near tipped LSU on the road. Honestly, the hard work mantra DID work last year and continues to. A program with zero identity for 30 years now has one. RU is going to find Eastern a tough, and annoying team to play. EMU is also one of those dangerous MAC squads as they have upperclassmen who have experience. Brogan Roback is a quality QB. They have receivers who catch they ball. If EMU gets a lead they will run the ball until the sun goes down. Their offense if effective yet low-risk. EMU played in a bowl game last year (lost by 3) but this is now a program that believes in itself and these kids will run through any wall for head coach Chris Creighton, who was on many voters' short lists for national coach of the year honors.
Now, is EMU as good as we see from MAC school Western Michigan who played in a Big 8 bowl and almost upset #4 USC last weekend? No, they're not. Not yet certainly and Rutgers should have an advantage in player personnel, face it, the B1G lures better players. RU head man Chris Ash has to know he's got an issue today. He HAS to win this game. Lose to a MAC school, no matter their standing, and the bottom falls out of this Scarlet Knights season and the positives taken from the toe-to-toe with #8 Washington last week are all but forgotten. Ash has to put his best players in the best position to control and dominate a game. His ballers have to ball better quite simply. Gus Edwards and the RU backfield have to punish EMU up front and take the clock game Eastern wants to play away from them. RU should be running for 150-200 yards today, but will they? Can the offensive line keep Kyle Bolin upright and looking downfield and grind down the clock? That'll be the key. EMU will move, and will score but Rutgers needs to keep this game 'in front of them'. Rutgers will need their best effort in a long time today, perhaps similar to the tussle they game Michigan State a couple years back when MSU came in #4 in the land and RU almost beat them.
Rutgers better be up for this game because Eastern would LOVE to put a B1G scalp in their trophy case just like rivals Western Michigan and Central Michigan have in their pockets over the years.
Jersey City Desk Fearless Forecast (Alumni Edition)
Eastern Michigan 28
Rutgers 24
Again RU fans, this Brogan Roback is good and you'll be calling him bad names all day is Johnny's guess.
No comments:
Post a Comment