You can place a lot of the blame on that six-game skid last year on when defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was paralyzed below the neck after making a tackle against Army. Rutgers won that game to improve to 4-2 but then the emotional toll clearly took the wind of the players’ sails. The offense was a problem last year as it finished 101st nationally in scoring (20.8). New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was hired from Pittsburgh to oversee a return to the pro-style offense that was instrumental in Rutgers’ breakout season in 2006. Chris Dodd is back at QB. He finished 2010 with 1,637 yards passing and 11 touchdowns, including a pair of 300-yard passing games. Leading rusher Jordan Thomas is back, but he had only 417 yards last year as Rutgers ranked 110th in the nation in rushing. Jeremy Deering to moved to running back from wide receiver after rushing for 361 yards last year out of the Wildcat formation. All of the top receivers are back and the offensive line has four starters returning.

Rutgers brings back five starters on a defense that allowed 144 points over the final three games last season. Linebacker Steve Beauharnais is the top returning tackler (79). Khaseem Greene, who started all 12 games at free safety (77 tackles, three interceptions) has been shifted to linebacker.

The Scarlet Knights open their season Sept. 1 vs. North Carolina Central.

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