RUTGERS Quarterback Gary Nova dominates pre-season scrimmage

PISCATAWAY — The few outside observers allowed inside Saturday for Rutgers’ first scrimmage saw an offense that scrapped its conservative roots.

Gary Nova handled all three of the team’s practice settings — traditional down-and-distance, red zone, two-minute drill — with ease, connecting with six different receivers.

He finished 9-for-11 for 175 yards and a touchdown on field-long drives at High Point Solutions Stadium. He went 5-for-5 to five different receivers in a twominute period, capping the drive with a 12-yard score to Paul James. He appeared in control of first-year coordinator Ron Prince’s playbook.

“What probably was the most impressive thing today was the consistency with which (Nova) threw the ball,” head coach Kyle Flood said. “I know there’s a lot more progress for him to make, and he understands that as well.”

During traditional downand-distance settings, Prince’s run-pass ratio was 1-to-1.

The team’s rushing production didn’t match the play-call parity.

Savon Huggins scored on a nine-yard touchdown run during a red zone situation, but he managed only six yards on four carries on prolonged drives. Before the red-zone score, he lost three yards on as many carries.

With Desmon Peoples out, James split carries between the first and second team.

He broke a tackle and ran 17 yards to the end zone during a red-zone period and added 26 yards on two carries in the open field. True freshman Justin Goodwin finished with 42 yards on 14 carries before fumbling an exchange with redshirt freshman Blake Rankin.

“I still think we can run the ball better,” Flood said. “I still think we’re going to need to run the ball better. I’m not displeased — that’s not what I want it to sound like — but I think we can do a better job.”

Prince re-tooled Rutgers’ offense during the spring with heavy zone-blocking principles.

Rutgers taught zoneblocking since Flood’s arrival in 2005 as offensive line coach, but the scheme figures to be more prominent this season. It requires patience in the backfield as linemen block specific zones and try to reach the second level.

Rutgers’ staff will have to wait, as well.

“They are much further along now than they were in the spring in terms of what Ron is looking for,” Flood said of the team’s run personnel. “I’m starting to see it on film. It’s a little bit of leap of faith for the players because they don’t always see the fruits of their labor right away. They have to believe in the system … knowing at some point it will show up.”

Huggins averaged 2.7 yards per carry in 2012, although a 179-yard performance Nov. 17 at Cincinnati was compelling. Huggins says he is more comfortable in a zone-blocking system, which he ran at St. Peter’s Prep.

It’s designed for more off-tackle runs, cutback lanes and longer developing plays.

Nova, meanwhile, showed quicker decisionmaking.

Five of his throws went for at least 20 yards, including two of three during the team’s only two-minute drill. He credits his comfort with Prince, who allows Nova to give input on play calls.

It showed in a 60-minute period Saturday, but Rutgers hopes the feeling isn’t fleeting.

“I saw Gary make some spectacular throws last year,” Flood said. “I think now he’s doing it on a more consistent basis.”