Rutgers’ identity, particularly under second-term head coach Greg Schiano, is to run the ball and play tough, physical defense to win its games.
Last week’s 34-31 win over Ohio in the season opener was an anomaly as the Scarlet Knights scored 31 points in the first half, passed efficiently and averaged 14 yards per completion, but had trouble stopping a Mid-American Conference foe.
Rutgers will try to keep its offensive explosive while making improvements defensively on Saturday when it hosts another MAC opponent, Miami of Ohio.
“We have work to do to improve, right? We’ve got to make fundamental improvements,” Schiano said. “Miami’s played for the MAC championship the last two years. They’re going to play hard and we have to be ready.”
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis hit a career-best 18 of 23 passes last week against Ohio for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Running backs Antwan Raymond and CJ Campbell Jr. combined for 158 yards on the ground, with Raymond scoring a touchdown.
But the Knights must get better on defense. They yielded 440 total yards, permitting more than 200 rushing and 200 passing.
Ohio rallied from a 31-17 halftime deficit by outscoring Rutgers 14-0 in the third quarter to tie the game. Jai Patel’s 26-yard field goal with 11:11 remaining accounted for the only points of the fourth quarter, and came on the Scarlet Knights’ 14-play, 67-yard drive that took 7:56 off the clock.
Miami started its season last week with a 17-0 loss at Wisconsin, playing a good defensive game but gaining just 117 yards and seven first downs on offense.
Quarterback Dequan Finn, in his seventh year of eligibility, was held to 83 yards (9 of 18, two interceptions) in the air and 13 net yards on the ground (12 carries).
Finn, who previously starred at Toledo and then transferred to Baylor, where he lost his starting job after three games last year, has been responsible for 93 career touchdowns. But he’s also one of 11 new offensive starters for coach Chuck Martin’s RedHawks.
“DQ’s played a lot of football, (sixth-year running back) Kenny Tracy’s played a lot of football and that’s it,” Martin said about his offense. “(redshirt senior Deion) Colzie’s played some football. Everyone else out there, this was their first go-around, and it looked like it at times.
“There is enough talent there, enough pride there and enough character there,” added Martin, the Redhawks’ head coach since the 2014 season.
This will be the first meeting of the programs.