PISCATAWAY, N.J. — In Rutgers’ last scrimmage before its Aug. 28 opener at Washington State, the Scarlet Knights’ offense looked as if it were ready for a bowl game … and its much-maligned passing defense looked as if it were just starting spring practice. Glass half-full, or half-empty?
Starting quarterback Gary Nova threw three touchdown passes, and redshirt freshman backup Chris Laviano tossed four more, largely against the first-team defense. Running back Paul James ripped off a 95-yard run.
Nevertheless, it’s hard to read anything into a scrimmage, especially with a host of defensive regulars missing; but with seven passing touchdowns — three of them to wide receiver Andre Patton — was that crisp offense or shaky defense?
“I know we made some plays in the pass game, but we had some stops, too. I have to look at it. More important than look at it in the big picture sense We have to look at each individual and make sure we have the best players on the field,’’ said coach Kyle Flood, who didn’t seem concerned about the big plays.
“For every positive, you can look at it as a positive or look at it as a negative. Part of what we’re doing with everybody playing is we’re getting an idea of where we’re at. Going forward we’ll tighten up the game plan, tighten up the personnel groups and the players that have the right to be out there will be out there.’’
It should be noted a lot of starters and players expected to make the two-deep weren’t there. Linebacker Steve Longa and running backs Robert Martin and Josh Hicks are expected back Monday, while defensive lineman Darius Hamilton, offensive lineman Kaleb Johnson, cornerbacks Nadir Barnwell and Dre Boggs, and wide receiver Andrew Turzilli are expected back Wednesday.
Longa, Hamilton, Johnson and Barnwell are all starters, while Boggs is expected to vie for significant playing time. Flood singled out redshirt freshman defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph for praise, saying “he really showed up.” But after coughing up a school-record 4,056 passing yards last year, the secondary will be under the microscope.
Saturday, Nova was 9-of-13 for 190 yards and no interceptions. He threw a 59-yard Hail Mary to 6-foot-6 Carlton Agudosi (three catches for 80 yards, two scores). Laviano was 14-of-21 for 202 with one pick.
“Today was definitely fun. It’s fun when you play well and not fun when you don’t play well,’’ Agudosi said. “Lav was tearing it up. It was good to see him getting comfortable in the offense and he’s really flinging the ballright now.’’
With Barnwell and Boggs out, Justin Goodwin — last year’s second-leading rusher, who has had just three practices at corner since being moved from tailback — started opposite Gareef Glashen. Goodwin was “He knows how to play. I believe they said he played it back in high school, so he has some ability. He’s got to get his technique down but he’s playing pretty good,’’ Glashen said of Goodwin, who got beaten by wide receiver John Tsimis on the sideline.
“I had a lot of missed assignments, but I’ve got to just get used to it and get comfortable with it. Things were definitely moving faster and I’ve got to get the calls quicker and just know what I’m doing and get ready to play,’’ Goodwin said. Asked if he felt like a corner, he replied, “Almost.’’
Paramus Catholic defensive end Rashan Gary (the top recruit in the country according to Scout.com), Bergen Catholic quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and DePaul running back Kareem Walker (the No. 1 runner in the country in several sites) were on hand.