As Rutgers strength and conditioning coach Kenny Parker set out to reshape the program, he knew exactly where to start.

"Real simple: You've got to start with your trenches, O-line and D-line," Parker said in a recent interview. "They have got to be the grinders of the group. You can have the Percy Harvins, the Braxton Millers, the Tim Tebows -- all the great players of the world -- but if you don't have an O-line and D-line, it doesn't matter. You can have Brian Dawkins at safety, Ray Lewis at linebacker, but if you don't have O-line and D-line, it really doesn't matter."

Parker speaks from experience. He played defensive tackle at Florida from 2000-04 and coached the defensive line at Murray State from 2010-11.

When the winter conditioning program began in January, Parker emphasized the importance of both lines.

"At first, I think they didn't realize how much we stressed that or how much we really did mean that," Parker said. "I think as time has gone on, they're starting to understand that more and more."

Rutgers got dominated at the line of scrimmage when the team posted a 4-8 record last season. The Scarlet Knights ranked 12th in the Big Ten in rushing yards during conference play. On the other side of the ball, Rutgers ranked 13th in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed during conference play.

All of the schemes the coaching staff plans to install in spring practice will be useless if Parker isn't able to get the linemen stronger and tougher.

"That's the group that we're stressing," Parker said. "That's the group we're putting a lot of pressure on and everybody knows it. Not just the O-line and D-line, the receivers know that, the quarterbacks know that -- everybody knows in this whole facility if the O-line and D-line are not better, we're in trouble."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.