Big plays remain for taking
Logan Ryan considers the cornerback’s role in run defense like a chess piece.
“You have to know your role,” Ryan said, “and you have to know your position.”
The Rutgers football team’s junior cornerback was part of a secondary that appeared several moves ahead Thursday of South Florida, accounting for three of the Scarlet Knights’ four takeaways.
But the unit knows it could have added more after tripling its turnover total against the Bulls.
“We can’t leave them on the field,” Ryan said. “We have to finish those plays. That starts with me and goes to everybody else. It’s something we can improve on.”
Ryan had an opportunity to earn his first interception of the season Thursday, but he could not hold on. Senior cornerback Marcus Cooper’s aerial attempt ended with a deflection that found the hands of a South Florida receiver.
And USF wide receiver Andre Davis wrestled away senior free safety Duron Harmon’s would-be interception on a jump ball.
“You have to, when you look at any game, look at what are the things that helped you win or lose the game, and for us last week it was helping us win the game,” said head coach Kyle Flood. “But you also have to be critical of what you did and say, ‘OK, what are the things we did in that game that could have cost us?’”
The Knights’ run defense likely did not fall under that category.
Rutgers allowed only 95 yards on the ground against USF and gave up only 3.3 yards per carry. Ryan continues to play a major role against the run, contributing nine tackles at USF en route to a third-best 20 stops on the season.
Part of Ryan’s opportunities stem from his position on the boundary, where he is generally closer to the ball. But another is Ryan’s desire to be “the greatest cornerback ever,” Harmon said.
“I like to be around the ball,” Ryan said. “I like to fly around and play hard. … I’m going to find a way to get in on each and every tackle if possible.”
The Knights’ scheme, which requires corners to play a role in run defense, help’s Ryan’s cause.
Ryan posted 67 tackles last season, good for third on the team. New England Patriots cornerback and former Knight Devin McCourty, who mentored Ryan as a freshman, recorded 80 tackles in 2009 at corner.
“[Ryan is] aggressive, physical,” said senior corner Brandon Jones. “We do take a lot of pride in being that edge to the defense and turning it back to the cavalry and letting other guys make plays, as well.”
Flood said he will make a decision on sophomore running back Savon Huggins’ status for Saturday’s game at Arkansas later in the week.
Huggins continues to nurse a lower body injury he suffered Sept. 8 against Howard. He did not play Thursday at South Florida, paving the way for sophomore Jawan Jamison’s school-record 41 carries.
But Flood said redshirt freshman Paul James, who suffered a lower body injury during training camp, could see his first career playing time. James was limited following an injury he suffered during the team’s final preseason scrimmage.
“He’s been out running around with us a little more,” Flood said, “and we think he’ll have some availability for us on Saturday.”
James walked on last season after finishing his career at Glassboro High School (N.J.) as the program’s second-leading rusher in school history.
Junior right guard Andre Civil’s status, meanwhile, continues to improve after he practiced Sunday night, Flood said. Civil missed the USF game and left the Howard contest early because of injury.
Because of the Knights’ Thursday kickoff at South Florida, they now enjoy two extra days of preparation for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks boast senior quarterback Tyler Wilson, who missed their game Saturday against No. 1 Alabama because of a concussion.
Flood called Wilson an elite quarterback “just on physical talent alone.”
“Extra preparation is always a positive,” Flood said. “Ultimately, will it turn it into a win for us? We won’t find out until next Saturday, but we did have a practice yesterday, which was a little different than what our normal practice would be.”
