Will look into some more specifics later on in the week, but there is a general theme with some supporting evidence behind that that could I think people are realizing - Rutgers is entering dumpster fire mode.
That probably isn't really a shock as we have seen a few things over the past couple of weeks to support that that have been posted on here already. Now before the season started, I felt that there could be an implosion factor in play that could work in KU's advantage looking at the schedule. There were a few teams that look like they could be in for a rough season and have some additional pressure on them to beat KU (we may actually have back-to-back games with this in play). Rutgers certainly looks like a possibility for this...
Now I think a lot of people will look at only scoring 3 points at Penn State and see that as a signal of hope. Possibly true, but I don't put a ton into that because Penn State has a good defense (so far, I know you can't put too much stock into everything this early in the season). What I do put a lot of stock into is the Washington State game. Here is a fun fact for you - so far in the early part of the season KU is ranked higher in total offense per game and total points per game than Washington State (again, I know way too early in the season to put much stock in this)...they put up 37 points at Rutgers...I think it is possible KU could put up some points on Rutgers...
The other thing that KU fans know all too well about is the ball just not rolling our way. That is currently happening with Rutgers, both with coaching and players. We know about the Flood suspension and the factors leading to that - those are just things you don't want to deal with in the early part of a season. It also looks like things aren't nearly as organized without Flood, which isn't a good thing either...
Now with the players part, this has been a problem even before the season started. There were a few noticeable transfers out of Rutgers over the past couple of months. Then there is the Leonte Carroo suspension - they have played three games and he has only played in two games, yet he still accounts right now for over 25% of the teams receiving yards. Then there is Paul James - I watched him two years ago and I was absolutely floored by the kids 180+ yard performance against Fresno St - it was one of the more impressive performances I saw that year...but then he got injured last year and it looks like he still hasn't recovered as he isn't the leading rusher for the team this year. Then there is the QB spot - overall, Laviano's numbers don't look that bad...but he is in a declining trend and his backup is a highly regarded transfer from LSU who was pretty good taking over for him in the first game after he got injured...a slow start could mean some pressure to switch QBs in the game (we know about that as well...), which a QB controversy during a coaching suspension can only add to game pressure for the Rutgers staff...
That's not to say KU is all roses in this matchup. We have our own problems and this will be the staffs first road game of the year. This certainly won't be a walk in the park for KU. But I keep thinking back to the offseason looking at the schedule and thinking to myself there has to be a few games out there where we will be facing teams going through some adversity...and I think we are entering that stretch...
That probably isn't really a shock as we have seen a few things over the past couple of weeks to support that that have been posted on here already. Now before the season started, I felt that there could be an implosion factor in play that could work in KU's advantage looking at the schedule. There were a few teams that look like they could be in for a rough season and have some additional pressure on them to beat KU (we may actually have back-to-back games with this in play). Rutgers certainly looks like a possibility for this...
Now I think a lot of people will look at only scoring 3 points at Penn State and see that as a signal of hope. Possibly true, but I don't put a ton into that because Penn State has a good defense (so far, I know you can't put too much stock into everything this early in the season). What I do put a lot of stock into is the Washington State game. Here is a fun fact for you - so far in the early part of the season KU is ranked higher in total offense per game and total points per game than Washington State (again, I know way too early in the season to put much stock in this)...they put up 37 points at Rutgers...I think it is possible KU could put up some points on Rutgers...
The other thing that KU fans know all too well about is the ball just not rolling our way. That is currently happening with Rutgers, both with coaching and players. We know about the Flood suspension and the factors leading to that - those are just things you don't want to deal with in the early part of a season. It also looks like things aren't nearly as organized without Flood, which isn't a good thing either...
Now with the players part, this has been a problem even before the season started. There were a few noticeable transfers out of Rutgers over the past couple of months. Then there is the Leonte Carroo suspension - they have played three games and he has only played in two games, yet he still accounts right now for over 25% of the teams receiving yards. Then there is Paul James - I watched him two years ago and I was absolutely floored by the kids 180+ yard performance against Fresno St - it was one of the more impressive performances I saw that year...but then he got injured last year and it looks like he still hasn't recovered as he isn't the leading rusher for the team this year. Then there is the QB spot - overall, Laviano's numbers don't look that bad...but he is in a declining trend and his backup is a highly regarded transfer from LSU who was pretty good taking over for him in the first game after he got injured...a slow start could mean some pressure to switch QBs in the game (we know about that as well...), which a QB controversy during a coaching suspension can only add to game pressure for the Rutgers staff...
That's not to say KU is all roses in this matchup. We have our own problems and this will be the staffs first road game of the year. This certainly won't be a walk in the park for KU. But I keep thinking back to the offseason looking at the schedule and thinking to myself there has to be a few games out there where we will be facing teams going through some adversity...and I think we are entering that stretch...
