Bump N’ Run w/ KT: Monmouth And Fordham Football, Rutgers Bounces Back And The Giants

We are through four weeks of the college football season and at the tail end of week three in the NFL. The first edition of Bump N’ Run went in the books last week and we are on week two of this new column. There is a lot to get to so let’s jump right in.

(Photo by Catalina Fragoso – Double G Media)

Rutgers Bounces Back Against Kansas

The last three weeks in Rutgers football have been tumultuous to say the least. The dismissal of six players, the indefinite suspension of star wide receiver Leonte Carroo and the three-game suspension of head coach Kyle Flood has put a huge black cloud over the program. What better way to get your team back into shape than a visit from perennial Big 12 doormat Kansas Jayhawks.

The 27-14 win over the Jayhawks at High Point Solutions Stadium gave the Scarlet Knights a 2-2 record. The excitement of the win was bittersweet as it was announced that starting defensive tackle Darius Hamilton would miss the remainder of the season due to a lower body injury. While there was some good to be taken from the win, including 312 yards rushing, their next game will be a challenge…against the number two ranked and probably the best team in the country Michigan State Spartans. Well so much for that warm, fuzzy feeling for Rutgers.

Can The New York Giants Ever Win A Game Easily?

So the Giants won on Thursday night against Washington Redskins…but can I just watch a win occur without my chest starting to hurt in the fourth quarter. Big Blue gave up 15 points in final period just as fans began believing that the game was won. If not for the 41-yard touchdown catch by Rueben Randle late in the game, the game may have been closer and 0-3 could have been an reality on Friday morning the Giants.

Going into the season everyone knew the defense would be the weak link. Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive schemes work but only with the right personnel in place. Jon Beason is proving to be a non-factor and without a bonafide pass rusher, the pressure falls on the secondary and without Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie available to an already hobbled unit, it creates holes for offenses to exploit weekly. As the season goes on, the secondary will improve but they are experiencing major growing pains three games into this season.

Fordham Defeats Monmouth In The Bronx

A major shout-out goes to the Fordham Rams defeating my alma mater Monmouth 54-31. Over the last few years, both Fordham and Monmouth have become two of the best programs locally. Fordham appeared in the FCS Playoffs last season while Monmouth finished their first season in the Big South 6-5 last season after the Northeast Conference. The move to the Big South still has me shaking my head but in the constant money grab that was conference realignment and teams just moving conferences like changing socks, you just have to learn to live with it.

In Saturday’s game, Fordham quarterback Kevin Anderson threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns against the Hawks. The two teams combined for over 900 yards of offense in a game that had the Rams leading 35-17 at the half. While the local press looks at only Rutgers on a consistent basis, you have major stories going on in West Long Branch, NJ and Bronx, NY that should be covered. If not for Fordham’s opening week loss to Army on the road, they would be undefeated. Monmouth’s athletic program is in the middle of creating a strong brand especially with their deal with ESPN to broadcast their games on ESPN3. Big things for both programs happening and they deserve more coverage.

Around The Country

• Can we please stop with calling the SEC the best conference in the country? With the exception of Ole Miss and LSU, every other team has poor quarterback play and is overrated. Just because you have your own network, it doesn’t mean your conference is the best. For those who may be in doubt as to who is the best conference in America, look at the Big Ten.

• Amari Cooper is the Offensive Rookie of the Year…yes I am calling it now. He is one of the few offensive skill players who come into the NFL ready to play on Day One. Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns solidified this statement as he went up against one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Joe Haden. In the 27-20 Raiders win over the Browns, Cooper had eight catches for 134 yards just shredding the Cleveland’s secondary and actually setting up his other teammates to catch touchdowns. The Raiders have a stud to go with a quarterback who also has a bright future.

• Is it me or is Tom Brady is playing very angry? Like he remembered he was a late round draft pick and is trying to prove a point. Through three games, Brady is going to make everyone forget about Deflategate by just torching every single team the New England Patriots play against.

• The University of Utah Utes did something on Saturday night that no one does. Utah went into Oregon and blew out the Ducks 62-20. At 4-0 this season, Utah is the surprise team so far in this college football season as they continue on into Pac-12 conference play this weekend. With the win over Oregon, Utah has the upper hand within the conference with three difficult games left on their schedule. They face nationally ranked USC, UCLA and a tough Arizona team inside their remaining eight games and they will most likely be favored in those games. Utah could be making a run at the College Football Playoff in December.