Rutgers Notebook
PISCATAWAY -- Rutgers sophomore offensive lineman Howard Barbieri can walk into the weight room and stop conversation. Nobody, it seems, wants to offend the strength and conditioning coach. "I hear it all the time, that I look like Jay Butler," Barbieri said of Rutgers' strength and conditioning coach. "The guys on the team call me 'Junior.' " Barbieri can only hope his play gets recognized as much as he does in the near future. So far this summer, it has. The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder has drawn notice from Rutgers coach Greg Schiano and offensive line coach Kyle Flood for his recent play, so much so that the Middletown product is working with the second team. "All I'm trying to do is work hard and show people I can play," said Barbieri, a recruited walk-on who turned down a full scholarship at Division I-AA Wagner to play (and pay) at Rutgers. "I think I showed what I could do in the spring, and hopefully I can continue doing that." Barbieri, who alternated between the tackle and guard spots for the scout team last season, has found a home at left guard, backing up returning starter Mike Fladell. "He's teaching me a lot," Barbieri said. "I'm watching a lot of film on him, seeing what he does and trying to perfect my game to match his level." RICE IS OK While Schiano might've caused a minor tremor when he said star tailback Ray Rice "tweaked his hamstring," Ray Rice indicated it was no big deal. "I'm fine," said Ray Rice, who didn't practice Tuesday on the first day Rutgers donned full pads and tackled. Schiano said Ray Rice likely would sit out the next couple days to "see if it quiets down." "We don't want to mess around," Schiano said. EXTRA POINTS Schiano isn't pleased with the way the tight end competition is progressing, dismissing a question about converted receiver Shamar Graves and turning it into an indictment on the entire position. "We have to play better at that whole position," he said. "It's frustrating. The guy that's playing is (Chris) Rudanovic. The rest of them ... it's five days, I don't know. We'll see." Kevin Brock, currently working on the first team, is battling for the starting spot with Graves, a converted receiver; Rudanovic, a transfer from Indiana; and Michigan State transfer Craig McGovern. Starting left tackle Pedro Sosa was held out of practice with a stinger, according to Schiano. "The trainers thought it would be best ... not to heat it up too soon," Schiano said. Defensive end Jonathan Pierre-Etienne, who played two games as a redshirt freshman last year, is not in camp while rehabilitating hip and shoulder injuries. "His hip is the one that holds him back," said Schiano, who added that Pierre-Etienne will try to return after school starts. QUOTABLE "Jogging the last 5 yards ... you know what that is? Triple overtime!" -- Schiano, shouting through a bullhorn at his team during practice-ending gassers |
