Why 2 of Rutgers' young QBs 'can play any system'

No one outside the Hale Center knows for sure what John McNulty's offense will look like this fall. In fact, the returning Rutgers offensive coordinator likely doesn't have it all nailed down yet. 

However the scheme comes together, quarterback trainer Tony Racioppi - a former two-time Division III All-American at Rowan who coaches at The Hun School and works out of TEST Football Academy in Martinsville - believes his two Rutgers pupils, sophomore Johnathan Lewis and freshman Artur Sitkowski - will be fit for McNulty's offense.

"When we train, we train for all systems," Racioppi said. "We'll do a ton of pro-style, under center drops. A five-step game, a seven-step game and play action. All different concepts and routes you can run off them, getting their feet aligned and their base aligned. How to reset their base to a second or third progression. And then we'll do some shotgun stuff. They'll be ready for really any system."

Lewis, who played sparingly last fall as a freshman, and Sitkowski, a recent early enrollee, both figure to vie for the starting job this season in what should be a wide-open competition with incumbent starter and senior Gio Rescigno, freshman Jalen Chatman and potentially senior transfer Tom Flacco also in the mix. 

Lewis and Sitkowski worked with Racioppi over the holiday break as part of a quarterback training group that included Bucknell's John Chiaranzola, Temple's Frank Nutile, Pitt's Kenny Pickett and former Rutgers quarterback Mike Dare, now at Sam Houston State, as well as Hun quarterback Patrick Holly, who will play at Harvard. Racioppi is also working individually with Lewis and Sitkowski about 2-3 times a week. 

"We worked on fundamentals. Being balanced in the pocket, how to be a sequenced thrower, and throw the correct way, working on rhythm drops and resets, climbs, slides within the pocket. We talked about progression reads, how to work the pocket with their eyes and their base," Racioppi said.

"Both can play any system. They're both big, strong, talented kids; great kids who love football. They've definitely progressed from a fundamental standpoint. It's a big jump, going from high school to playing Division 1, fundamentally. I appreciate coach (Chris) Ash letting me work with them. I'm just trying to help out the program in any way I can."

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook