Greg Schiano discusses the offensive development & more

This past weekend, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano met with the media following the sixth practice of spring camp. He covered a variety of topics during an offseason that is critical in moving the program forward.

Having a new offensive system makes this spring camp especially important in acclimating the players to the coaching staff.

“The coaches understand (Ciarrocca’s) system and they’re coaching it well,” Schiano said. “The players are working really hard to understand it, not just memorize it. There’s a whole concept in learning: if you know the why, you can figure things out and work problems out on your own. If you memorize it, it’s got to be just what you memorized. We’re really trying to get these guys to understand the why. Takes longer on the front end but pays dividends on the back end.”

Of course, development at the quarterback position is a must for the offense to move forward next season. Schiano was asked about the progress that Gavin Wimsatt has made so far this spring.

“He’s developing,” Schiano said. “Like most young quarterbacks, take a couple steps forward, one step back, a couple steps forward, one step back. He’s learning. There’s a lot to learn. Our goal is just can you eliminate making the same mistake twice? There’s plenty of new mistakes to make, let’s make those and learn from those. He’s getting better. He’s getting rid of the ball more quickly, more decisively, having more command of the offense. It is positive.”

It’s obvious finding playmakers at receiver is critical as well. FCS transfer Nasiem Brantley is a candidate for filling a key role next season.

“He is working hard,” Schiano said. “He is recovering from an injury so he hasn’t really been able to go full speed, but he is working hard, he is learning well. I think it will be training camp before we really know what he is capable of. There is going to be a competition in training camp at the receiver spot with a lot of guys fighting it out for reps.”

And for the offense to really click next fall, the offensive line needs to take a big step forward.

“It’s no secret that (offensive line is) the position where we must really make the strides to get the running game going, which will open up the passing game and all the things we want to do on offense,” he said on Saturday following the Scarlet Knights’ sixth practice of the spring. “It starts upfront. We’re making progress. It’s going to be a race against time.”

Schiano discussed the offensive line in more depth as well as several other topics as well. You can watch his full media session here.

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