Rutgers Football: Wishlist for the Scarlet Knights’ 2019 season

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 10: Strength and conditioning coach Kenny Parker (L) for the Scarlett Knights talks with quarterback Artur Sitkowski #8 against the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter at HighPoint.com Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan won 42-7. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 10: Strength and conditioning coach Kenny Parker (L) for the Scarlett Knights talks with quarterback Artur Sitkowski #8 against the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter at HighPoint.com Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan won 42-7. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

2. Some changes on offense

Offense makes up the majority of this list because, well, that’s probably what needs the most attention for the 2019 season.

While Rutgers was situated last in total offense in the Big Ten last year, there are some things it can alter to be more productive next season.

This starts with one simple change that effectively would continue to do something the Scarlet Knights started doing this year –– moving Blackshear into the slot and putting Isaih Pacheco in as the main tailback.

This might work for a multitude of reasons. For one, Blackshear has shown that he can be the most versatile player in the offense and this change won’t be a liability. This season, he was the team’s leading pass-catcher with 44 receptions and 367 receiving yards.

Placing Blackshear in the slot would allow the offense’s best playmaker to operate more in open space. As a runner, he honed the ability to catch passes, so this shouldn’t be an issue with him in the slot.

Often times, Blackshear lined up in the slot in certain offensive packages anyway, thus, it’s not exactly a foreign position to him. He would still be able to be in the backfield as well.

Pacheco meanwhile didn’t have a ton of buzz surrounding him coming into the season, but there were some inklings of what he would eventually be able to do when his time came.

This year, he was called upon fairly regularly. He appeared in 11 of the team’s 12 games and was second behind Blackshear for the most carries on the team while gaining 551 yards and three scores.

His running talents were on full display when he broke off an impressive 80-yard touchdown run against a top-ranked Michigan defense.

These two minor but important changes could create more options on offense and keep defenses on their toes.

Additionally, Rutgers should start using its tight ends more in the passing game. One player that was expected to have more of an impact was Jerome Washington. However, his season was beset by injuries.

In his stead was Travis Vokolek, who matched Blackshear for the team lead in touchdown receptions (2). Those catches accounted for half of Sitkowski’s touchdown throws this season.

This stat provides the insight that tight ends (and Vokolek in particular) could be a red zone threat if utilized properly.

Rutgers has other tight ends on its roster that could factor into the rotation like Nakia Griffin-Stewart along with Johnathan Lewis, who the team was considering converting into a tight end.

The Big Ten has seen several teams with tight ends being a major factor in the passing game –– like Penn State, Wisconsin and Iowa –– so why not Rutgers?