Staggering Knights host undefeated Buffalo
If you looked at the Rutgers schedule heading into the season, you had to think the Scarlet Knights would open the season by going 2-1.
Beat Texas State, lose at Ohio State, beat Kansas. Then come home to play Buffalo with a real chance to go to 3-1.
But things don’ t always work out the way you planned.
Yes, the Knights defeated Texas State. But then came road losses at Ohio State and Kansas — and 107 points allowed in two games.
Now, a visit by Buffalo of the MAC — 3-0 Buffalo that comes to New Jersey as 3?-point favorites.
“It’s a very good football team, it’s going to be a big challenge,” coach Chris Ash told his weekly media gathering.
The way things are going, everything will be a big challenge for this Rutgers football team. Having lost players to a credit card scheme, missing Blessaun Austin, probably their best defensive player, and playing with a true freshman quarterback, the Scarlet Knights have been mere fodder the past two weeks.
Monday, Ash said Artur Sitkowski, who has started the first three games, will start again this week. But not necessarily. He said Sitkowski “is our starter, still,” but then said, “I didn’t say he wasn’t, I didn’t say he was. He is the guy who has started the last three games. We have to find a way to protect the football, and that starts with the quarterback position.”
Sitkowski’s numbers are dreadful. He is 33 of 67 (49.3 percent) for 290 yards, one touchdown and a whopping seven interceptions.
“Sunday and Monday are evaluation days and game-planning days,” Ash said. “We are evaluating what we’re doing, and who we’re doing it with, at all positions, including the quarterback position.
“There have been a lot of good things from that position. The most glaring are the turnovers, and we just can’t overcome those turnovers right now,” Ash said. “We’ve got to look at what we’re doing, what we’re asking him to do, and how we get that cleaned up.”
While the Bulls, off to their first 3-0 start in FBS, are favored at Rutgers this week, this game opens a three-game homestand for the Knights, who need to dig in before this season gets out of control.