Grading the Bucks: Week 8 -- Rutgers

Heeeeeeeeee's Baaaaaaaaaacccckkkk!

Most said 'changing the QB won't fix the flaws of this offense'.  Most outside of Let's Go Bucks that is.  Captain Smooth returned and their was much rejoicing.

Offense: A
JT comes back and everyone knows their role and thrives.  The line seems to be energized with JT under center.  I think that's because they trust him to make the right decisions.  The receivers know the ball will be there if they're open.  I hate to say this, but Cardale doesn't make 50% of the throws JT made against Rutgers.  They weren't necessarily tough throws but JT takes what's given (see slant to Thomas for 50 yards).  Even the deep ball was in JT's arsenal in addition to near flawless running of the read option.  This team is built for JT's game.  Zeke was bottled up early because Rutgers decided to make that the focal point (note how they couldn't stop anything else).  That being said, Zeke wears teams down and the 4th quarter is Zeke's quarter.  The only flaw was a stupid fumble by JT when Michael Thomas couldn't get out of his way (still, that's on JT). 

Defense: A
Yeah, they gave up the shutout with the scrubs in, but quality performance.  In fact, the performance was near flawless if you take out the first and last drives.  The D looked confused on the first drive giving up some chunk plays to a fairly good Rutgers offense, but tightened up and refused to give any quarter after that.  Conley made a spectacular interception and the defensive line just completely destroyed the Knights.  Bosa & Co. were getting pressure so quickly that they were disrupting handoffs.  It was a complete mismatch on the lines which made for a dominant performance.  Linebackers also played quite well after the poor tackling early.

Special Teams: A-
Didn't really near Cameron Johnston much although his one punt was one of his worst of the year.  No missed PATs, great coverage on kicks, and solid returns each time.  Marshall drives me crazy but he looked good returning punts Saturday. Oh yeah, we blocked a punt too.

Coaching: A-
They finally figured it out.  Cardale has some talent, but this is JT's offense.  Great commitment to the gameplan when it didn't explode out of the gate.  Defensively, they shut down the high powered Scarlet Knight offense.  The biggest question came on the weird 'trick' play called late in the game.  I tweeted out immediately that, had Jalin Marshall thrown the ball, it would have been a penalty.  This was noticed by Kirk (or more likely, some stat nerd in the ESPN booth) and mentioned on the broadcast, but that raises 2 questions: 1) Why was a trick play called in that situation against Rutgers? and 2) Did the coaching staff realize that the play as (likely) designed was illegal?  It stuns me how many coaches, players, commentators, etc. are not completely familiar with the rules.  Maybe he was supposed to fake throwing and then run....but I doubt it.  Maybe he was supposed to 'fake the fake'..I don't know where I am (courtesy of Coach Kline).

Overall: A
Lost the shutout, but this was the dominant performance on which we have been waiting.  This is the team to smash all who think to oppose them.  No mercy for the rest of the year.  The Mission to repeat is back.  Remove all hope from any opposition.  This is our trophy and we ain't giving it up.