With the announcement that Athan Kaliakmanis is the new starting quarterback for the American football, the offense will invariably be different this fall. For former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel, this move could work to benefit the pieces that were brought in to augment this offense through the transfer portal.
With Rutgers now it is possible to insert Nyseim Brantley It is Dymere Miller through the transfer portal at the wide receiver position, there is certainly some potential for the offense to be more prolific in the passing game. Last year, the offense was improved for Rutgers, but the passing game still struggled in the Big Ten.
And Teel believes Kaliakmanis, who beat out Gavin Wimsatt this spring to become the starting quarterback, has the skills needed to maximize these talented wide receivers.
Last year Wimsatt had the fourth lowest quarterback rating in the nation. Kaliakmanis was eight places higher, but is considered the best pure passer.
But with Brantley and Miller, there is potential for Kaliakmanis to progress on offense.
“I think as time goes on down there they continue to have better and better players – coach Schaino was showing that on his first try as time goes on better players come in and on the second try better and better players are starting to come over time,” Teel told Rutgers Wire.
“So you look at your people every year. In fact, they actually look at it every week because things change throughout the season. In your opinion, you have some weapons and you understand that. To get to the next level in the Big Ten, you’re not in Iowa, where you’re only going to hit the ball fifty times a game. You’re still developing a program and an offensive line and units like that.”
Teel, the all-time leading passer in Rutgers program history, believes that’s where Kaliakmanis can help balance the attack in a way the Scarlet Knights have been unable to do effectively for nearly a decade.
“So now you have the ability to throw the ball and open things up a little bit for the run game and you want to take advantage of that, you want to be able to take advantage of your outside guys,” Teel said.
“You have the best running back coming back in the Big Ten. So I think you look at it from a holistic point of view: how do I get the best players on the field? And how do you place the best players on the ball? You have two or three receivers who are two or three of the best players on offense and you have to find a way to get the ball to those guys.
