The Daily Targum Football Wrap 09.29.17

Jon Spilletti Sports Editor

It seems as though Ohio State was made for the Rutgers football team — in the worst possible way.

In strolls a team with the 18th best rushing offense in the country with 919 yards to take on another team who has noticeably struggled at stopping the run through its first four games.

Being able to guess which team is which is one thing Scarlet Knights fans can look forward to.

This Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Rutgers (1-3, 0-1) will return to High Point Solutions Stadium to battle No. 11 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0) in its second primetime matchup of the season.

But for head coach Chris Ash, it is not the running game of Ohio State that scares him, it is the unit that can stifle his.

See beatdowns on Page 4

September 29, 2017

Gameday Page 2

KNIGHTS GAMEDAY RUTGERS VS. NO. 11 OHIO STATE

GAME 4: High Point Solutions Stadium, 7:30 P.M. TV: BTN

RADIO: Rutgers IMG Sports Network/WRSU

Rutgers battles fitness, depth issues Jon Spilletti Sports Editor

Football is as physical as it is mental, and sometimes those two are not mutually exclusive.

The clock reads 60 minutes, but it is essentially a three-hour affair of game action, position setting, playcalling and timeouts — of which there are often way too many of the media variety.

After practices throughout the week, a battle on Saturday will take its toll on any player, college or professional, but of course, it affects some more than others.

That is never more evident than when injuries hamper the depth of some teams, which is a problem the Rutgers football team has been dealing with on certain units this season, especially in its 27-17 loss to Nebraska on the road last weekend. “(In the) second half we wore out, just a lack of depth up front on the (defensive) line started to show up there in the third quarter,” said head coach Chris Ash. That lack of depth is partly responsible for the Scarlet Knights’ inability to stop the run in the second half Saturday, as the Huskers’ running backs Devine Ozigbo and Mikale Wilbon rushed for 105 and 79 yards respectively.

The team outran Rutgers, 206 to 88, all without its usual starter in Tre Bryant, a fact that should pose major worry squaring up against freshman J.K. Dobbins and runhappy quarterback J.T. Barrett against Ohio State this Saturday.

But the issue does not stop with the defensive line.

If it did, Rutgers’ offensive line may have pushed through meaningful 3rd-and-1s and 4th-and1s late in the contest to move the team upfield — that did not happen.

Where the defensive line has struggled through physical wear and tear brought on by a lack of range at the unit, the offensive line has been subject to its own mistakes, a clear sign of mental fatigue through the Saturday afternoon endurance test that is a football game.

“In both the Washington game and in the Nebraska game, when I felt like we did wear down a little bit — it was really the latter part of the third quarter

that that happened in both games,” Ash said. “But in the Nebraska game, after you watch the film, it wasn’t so much wearing down as it was more of the self-inflicted issues like I just mentioned offensively.”

Those self-inflicted mistakes involved a host of needless penalties that resulted in a 97-yard touchdown drive in which penalties extended the possession three times on third down.

Besides some questionable playcalling late in the game — it was the difference between just another loss and the Knights’ first Big Ten win in two years, its last coming in the 55-52 win over Indiana on the road back in 2015.

It is fatigue, wear and tear and mental mistakes like those that manifest themselves physically — not just on the offense and defense, but on the special teams as well.

The Rutgers defense and special teams unit were guilty of having slippery hands Saturday, allowing players like Ozigbo and assorted receivers gain valuable yardage up the field.

The most criminal of these examples came at the tail end of the second quarter, when two members of the special teams unit

missed clear tackles on Nebraska’s De’Mornay Pierson-El, leading to a 63-yard punt return and allowing the Huskers to score a touchdown on the ensuing play.

On all three phases of the game, the Knights find themselves vulnerable to wear and tear both between and within games. With that, the question of whether Rutgers can at least mentally keep with Ohio State this Saturday remains to be answered.

As Ash alluded to in his press conference on Monday, self-inflicted mistakes have been a running narrative throughout the still young 2017 campaign. It is obviously an issue that plagues every side, but it is especially damaging to a Knights team that cannot afford the crutch of mental errors and injuries.

“It’s a concern. There’s no doubt about it. It’s been a concern,” Ash said. “We felt like going into the year that if we could stay healthy like we did last year that we would be fine if we got an injury. We’re on pretty thin ice and that’s where we’re at.”

INSIDE the

NUMBERS RUTGERS (1-3, 0-1)

PASSING CMP YDS K. Bolin 57.3% 642 RUSHING NO. YDS G. Edwards 62 259 37 R. Martin 172 RECEVING NO. YDS J. Washington 15 135 J. Grant 12 113 D. Mitchell 9 122 DEFENSE T. Morris S. Hampton D. Roberts

TD 3 TD 2 1 TD 1 1 0 TKL 28 26 22

INT AVG 6 160.5 LNG AVG 25 4.2 22 4.6 LNG AVG 27 9 40 9.4 33 13.6 SCK INT 0 0 0 0 0 0

SCHEDULE Sept. 1 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Nov. 25

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @jon_spilletti and @TargumSports on Twitter.

OHIO STATE (3-1, 1-0)

PASSING J. Barrett RUSHING J. Dobbins A. Williams RECEVING P. Campbell K. Hill T. McLaurin DEFENSE D. Webb E. Smith D. Arnette

CMP 63.3% NO. 69 23 NO. 18 18 12

YDS 966 YDS 520 131 YDS 322 177 126

TD 10 TD 3 2 TD 2 1 2 TKL 25 22 21

INT AVG 1 241.5 LNG AVG 52 7.5 5.7 43.7 LNG AVG 74 17.9 22 9.8 20 10.5 SCK INT 0 1 0 0 0 1

SCHEDULE Washington EMU Morgan State Nebraska Ohio State Illinois Purdue Michigan Maryland Penn State Indiana Michigan State

L 30-14 L 16-13 W 65-0 L 27-17 7:30 p.m.

TBA Noon Noon TBA Noon TBA TBA

Aug. 31 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Nov. 25

Indiana Oklahoma Army UNLV Rutgers Maryland Nebraska Penn State Iowa Michigan State Illinois Michigan

W 49-21 L 31-16 W 38-7 W 54-21 7:30 p.m.

TBA TBA 3:30 p.m.

TBA TBA TBA Noon

Key Matchup Rutgers O-Line vs Ohio State D-Line

The Rutgers offensive line is arguably the most improved unit on the entire team. The Ohio State defensive line is looked at as one of the best in the country. As the saying goes, football games are won and lost in the trenches. If Rutgers can control the line of scrimmage on offense, it will give the Knights more opportunities to score points and upset the Buckeyes. If it goes the other way around, it will be a long game for the Knights.

Rutgers Athletics Creed

Junior linebacker Trevor Morris heads a unit that has to contend with Ohio State’s impeccable running game this Saturday night.

We are Scarlet Knights, the most PASSIONATE fans in college athletics.

We CHEER our teams, win or lose.

We STAND when our teams enter and exit the field of play.

We WELCOME our opponents and their fans as guests in our university home.

We RESPECT all student-athletes and celebrate their efforts.

We know our ENTHUSIASM on game day helps to recruit the nation’s best.

We STRIVE to make everyone’s experience enjoyable.

We are the STATE UNIVERSITY and BIG TEN proud.

This is RUTGERS.

JEFFREY GOMEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: OFFENSE

BO MELTON WIDE RECEIVER

TARIQ COLE LEFT TACKLE

DORIAN MILLER LEFT GUARD

JONAH JACKSON CENTER

MARCUS APPLEFIELD RIGHT GUARD

KAMAAL SEYMOUR RIGHT TACKLE

JEROME WASHINGTON TIGHT END

DAMON MITCHELL WIDE RECEIVER

KYLE BOLIN QUARTERBACK

JANARION GRANT WIDE RECEIVER

GUS EDWARDS RUNNING BACK

Freshman 5’11”, 185 lbs.

Junior 6’6”, 320 lbs.

Fifth-year senior 6’2”, 300 lbs.

Sophomore 6’4”, 299 lbs.

Junior 6’5”, 308 lbs.

Sophomore 6’6”, 312 lbs.

Junior 6’4”, 258 lbs.

Graduate transfer 6’2”, 213lbs.

Graduate transfer 6’2”, 212 lbs.

Fifth-year senior 5’10”, 178 lbs.

Graduate transfer 6’1”, 235 lbs.

DAMON HAYES CORNERBACK

KIY HESTER STRONG SAFETY

SAQUAN HAMPTON FREE SAFETY

ISAIAH WHARTON CORNERBACK

Sophomore 6’1”, 198 lbs.

Junior 6’0”, 208 lbs.

Junior 6’1”, 207 lbs.

Junior 6’1”, 205 lbs.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: DEFENSE

KEMOKO TURAY DEFENSIVE END

SEBASTIAN JOSEPH NOSE TACKLE

JON BATEKY DEF. TACKLE

KEVIN WILKINS DEFENSIVE END

TREVOR MORRIS WLB

DEONTE ROBERTS MLB

ROSS DOUGLAS SLB

Fifth-year senior 6’5”, 252 lbs.

Fifth-year senior 6’4”, 305 lbs.

Junior 6’3”, 300 lbs.

Junior 6’5”, 306 lbs.

Junior 6’1”, 232 lbs.

Junior 6’1”, 235 lbs.

Fifth-year senior 5’10”, 205 lbs.

Gameday Page 3

September 29, 2017

KNIGHT KNUGGETS

BY THE NUMBERS

3

The Rutgers offensive line has given up just three sacks in its four games this season. Ohio State has a very strong defensive line, which will be a tough test for the Knights.

14

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett already has three starts against Rugters. In those games he has scored 14 total touchdowns, nearly five per game, and enough to consider him a Rutgers killer.

298

The Rutgers defense is giving up 298 yards of total offense per game, good for 24th in the country. On the other side, the Buckeyes are ninth in the nation with 549 yards of offense per contest.

46.3

Rutgers has played Ohio State three times since the Knights joined the Big Ten. They have lost all three games by an average of 46.3 points each game.

BIG QUESTION Will Rutgers be able to run the ball against Ohio State’s D-Line?

Lester Erb Running Backs Coach

The Ohio State line has been talked about plenty this season and will present a big challenge for the Rutgers offensive line and running backs. The Knights have struggled to consistently run the ball this seaosn.

THE ADVANTAGE GOES TO OFFENSE

Ohio State can attack the Rutgers defense in any way imaginable. J.K. Dobbins is arguably the best freshman running back in the country and J.T. Barrett is playing his fourth game against the Knights and he always plays well against Rutgers.

DEFENSE

The Buckeye defensive line received loads of preseason hype but has not lived all the way up to those expectations. Still, players like defensive end Nick Bosa are game-changers and make the Ohio State defense tough to play against.

COACHING

Urban Meyer is one of the top three coaches in the entire country and the best in the Big Ten. He has won national championships at Florida and Ohio State and consistently has his teams ranked in the top-10.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Buckeyes are ranked at or the near the top in Big Ten special teams categories.

Kicker Sam Nuernberger is 7/7 on field goals, punter Drue Chrisman has been solid and they lead the conference in kickoff return average.

X-FACTOR

When you look at Ohio State, the x-factor is clearly quarterback J.T. Barrett and his ability to run the football. With Janarion Grant hampered by injury, Barrett is the best playmaker on the field.

MOMENTUM

After a loss to Oklahoma, the Buckeyes rolled to two straight wins against Army and UNLV, scoring 54 points on the Rebels. Meanwhile, Rutgers is coming off a disappointing loss to Nebraska.

RUTGERS WINS IF

OHIO STATE WINS IF

Kyle Bolin starts hot and stays hot.

The Buckeyes can stop the run.

Kyle Bolin has proven he can get the offense off to hot starts. Ohio State has a vulnerable secondary and Bolin could take adavantage of that.

If Ohio State can stop Rutgers from running the ball, the Knights won’t have many options on offense and will have a hard time moving the ball.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “(Ohio State has) got size, they have got explosiveness and they have got depth and they have got experience.”

Chris Ash Head Coach

TARGUM’S FINAL VERDICT Ohio State, 41-14 No one really expects Rutgers to win this game, the Targum included. Ohio State is simply too talented all over the field for the Knights to be able to compete.

Graduate transfer quarterback Kyle Bolin was voted a captain by his teammates in his first year at Rutgers, providing key leadership this season. JEFFREY GOMEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017

Bolin provides irreplacable leadership Griffin Whitmer Associate Sports Editor

A brief look at Kyle Bolin’s stats this season would suggest the Louisville graduate transfer has been a disappointment for Rutgers. But the stats don’t tell the story, as Bolin has been — and will continue to be — one of the most important players on the team.

Make no mistake, true freshman Johnathan Lewis is the future of the program. But he is not ready to be a full-time starter.

Bolin, on the other hand, was voted as a captain by his teammates after just a few months of being on campus. He has already developed a strong chemistry with his teammates and is a leader in the locker room and on the field. The value he brings to the team as a leader and as a facilitator at the line of scrimmage cannot be understated.

“It’s (an) honor to be named a captain and to be looked upon as a leader by your teammates,” Bolin said of wearing a “C” for captain on his jersey. “Having that ‘C’ represents what you’ve done in your offseason to prepare.”

Against then-No. 8 Washington in the season opener in primetime, Bolin marched the Knights right

down the field and threw a beautifully placed ball to Janarion Grant for a touchdown on the first drive of the game. He showed that he could put together a legitimate scoring drive against a power-five team, something that the Rutgers quarterbacks simply could not do last season.

Bolin would struggle for just about the rest of the game, but in the fourth quarter, found sophomore receiver Dacoven Bailey for a touchdown on fourth down, his second touchdown pass against a very strong Washington secondary.

The next game against Eastern Michigan, Bolin struggled a lot.

He threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter on a potential game-winning drive that just about sealed the win for the Eagles. It was a bad mistake and there is no way around that.

But he bounced back against Morgan State and played a clean game, marching the offense up and down the field, then made way for Lewis to score touchdowns. While the freshman got all the glory, Bolin put him in those positions with his ability to move the team into the red zone.

Against Nebraska, it was an eerily similar start to the Washington game, with Bolin leading the team to a touchdown on the first drive of

the game. Except Bolin was much better, making just about every throw possible and stretched the field with multiple passes beyond the first down sticks. The same thing would happen, as the Knights’ offense went stagnant for the rest of the game, as the other touchdown was scored by the defense and the field goal was a result of great field position on an interception.

“We come out energized,” Bolin said of the offense’s fast starts. “We come out on fire and ready to go.

And I think sometimes as an offense we kind of take a step back and not play with as much confidence as we did in the beginning.”

Those fast starts followed by an inability to move the offense later in the game have been the biggest thing holding back Rutgers this year, but if Bolin can create more offensive consistency, he will prove that he belongs as the starting quarterback.

“We just got to come out every single drive like it’s our first drive and make sure that were locked in and playing to our full potential,” Bolin said.

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @GriffinWhitmer and @TargumSports on Twitter.

UPSET September 29, 2017

Gameday Page 4

Rutgers’ rushing defense remains worry with Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, J.T. Barrett waiting in wings

beatdowns Knights head into matchup outscored by Ohio State 107-7 in last 2 meetings continued from FRont “Well, at Ohio State, when you look at Ohio State over the years, there’s one thing that’s been pretty consistent, and it’s been a pretty good defensive line,” Ash said. “This year is no different. They have got an outstanding defense.”

It is a side of this Knights offense that had been relatively consistent up to the game against Nebraska, but the backfield only mustered up 68 rushing yards throughout the entire contest, with graduate transfer Gus Edwards’s 58 leading the way.

But to avoid a repeat of last year’s 58-0 defeat at the hands of the Buckeyes, keeping Ohio State’s freshman J.K. Dobbins and even its quarterback J.T. Barrett from finding cracks in the defense is as crucial as it gets.

Dobbins has not let his 69 rushing attempts go to waste, as he has over 300 rushing yards more than the player next to him on the team with 521 in total, notching 3 touchdowns on the way.

That player next to him is Barrett, who has had no issue running the ball out of the pocket with 217 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns of his own.

“Absolutely,” said fifth-year senior defensive end Darnell Davis, on whether or not the defensive line will be able to pick up any

Fifth-year senior Darnell Davis contends that the defensive line has the ability to control the pace of any game through sacks. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017 sacks against Barrett. “We can do it against anybody in the country. ... We can get to them. We just gotta scheme around them and do us. And just — keep like I said before — clean up those mental

errors. Because if we clean up and play a great game — not perfect, but a great game — we’ll get to them.”

As Davis mentioned, part of the Knights’ inability to stop its

opponents in the run game has been mental errors, which has led to untimely missed tackles and penalties. In the case of the Nebraska game, that cost the team its win.

At the moment, the sole bright spot on the defense remains the secondary — despite the unfortunate season-ending injury to Blessuan Austin — as the unit has collected five interceptions over the last two games, with junior safety Kiy Hester grabbing himself a 33yard pick-six last time out.

Of course, where Rutgers excels on defense is also where Ohio State hits the least. Wide receiver Parris Campbell remains far and away the greatest threat for the defensive backs, but other than that, the Buckeyes will most likely attack the Knights where it hurts — and that is in the middle and through the defense.

Approaching a fixture that favors the other side with a combined score of 107-7 the last two times out, prospects look dim, especially when the matchups so heavily point to Ohio State running up the score, literally.

Rutgers has shown in the past that its conservative play style just does not align with taking big games from big teams, but people around the Knights camp are still optimistic. If not for the final score, then for the attendance.

“When you get a team like Ohio State coming into town, I am hoping that it will be an outstanding environment,” Ash said. “A lot of people are going to want to come and watch Big Ten football, and an opportunity for us to go out and play a common opponent from last year and again measure improvement that we’ve made from last year to this year.”

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @jon_spilletti and @TargumSports on Twitter.

After losing on the road to Nebraska last week, the Scarlet Knights come back home and welcome Ohio State to High Point Solutions Stadium. The Buckeyes stand as one of the toughest competitors Rutgers has faced yet this season. JEFFREY GOMEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017

CITY?

Gameday Page 5

September 29, 2017

What to watch for vs. Ohio State: Greg Schiano’s defense remains pivotal unit in Scarlet Knights’ way

return

of the pass-catching corps for Rutgers this season, but outside of him, nobody has been able to establish themselves as a legit receiver and reliable target. The receivers struggled mightily to get open against Nebraska after the first drive and did not give quarterback Kyle Bolin much to work with. Janarion Grant’s health is still up in the air, but guys like graduate transfer Damon Mitchell need to step up to help the play of Bolin and create a more dynamic offense. Fans love to criticize Bolin’s play, but it isn’t his fault when there is no one to throw to.

Can Rutgers finally contain Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett on Saturday? continued from back Hence, the Ohio State defensive coordinator’s return is the top thing to watch for when Rutgers takes on the No. 11 Buckeyes this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Greg Schiano’s Defense In his second season as the Ohio State defensive coordinator, Schiano has had high praise for his defensive line, which is widely regarded as the best unit in the country. He noted that it is the best defensive line he has ever seen, which includes his two years in the NFL with the Buccaneers.

Through four games, the Buckeyes rank just 59th in the country in rushing defense, giving up 139 yards per game. Meanwhile, Rutgers ranks 37th in that same category, giving up 119 rushing yards pergame. While the Buckeyes boast future top NFL draft picks in Nick Bosa and Sam Hubbard, the defensive line has yet to show its true potential this season.

Johnathan Lewis’ snap count The much-anticipated true freshman quarterback has seen his snaps drastically vary over the last three games. He did not play in the season opener against Washington, got just two snaps

In three games, he has nearly 1,000 yards of total offense and 14 total touchdowns. In his final performance against Rutgers and the pressure from his own fans to perform better this season, Barrett may just be due for a huge performance, which would be a surprise to no one.

J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber Dobbins made headlines when he earned the starting running back job as a true freshman, a huge accomplishment at Ohio State. He has not disappointed, running for 181 yards in the team’s first game of the season against Indiana. Weber, who started for the Buckeyes in 2016, has been banged up to start this year but should be good to go on Saturday. The combination of Dobbins, who is currently sixth in the nation in rushing, with Weber, who ran for over 1,000 yards last year will be one that the Rutgers defensive line might have a difficult time with, especially considering the way it played against Nebraska a week ago.

Rutgers wide receivers Junior tight end Jerome Washington has been the star

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @GriffinWhitmer and @TargumSports on Twitter.

True freshman quarterback Johnathan Lewis saw just one snap against Nebraska and may see an increased role against the Buckeyes. JEFFREY GOMEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017 in a loss to Eastern Michigan, scored 5 touchdowns against Morgan State, then only played one snap against Nebraska last week. Offensive coordinator Jerry Kill admitted he regrets the way he used Lewis against the Huskers. Ohio State has an elite defensive line but a young secondary, so it will be interesting to see how Lewis is utilized against one of the best teams in the conference.

J.T. Barrett’s running ability Historically, Rutgers has struggled with running quarterbacks. But Barrett specifically has absolutely torched Rutgers in the three games he has played against them. He has twice rushed for 100-yards against the Knights defense and scored 4 touchdowns with his legs. What makes him so dangerous is his ability to throw keeping the defense honest.

Graduate transfer wide receiver Damon Mitchell leads Rutgers wide receivers with 122 receiving yards on just nine receptions. The former Arkansas athlete has been a key body on offense with the many departures from last year’s wide receiving core. JEFFREY GOMEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017

Gameday Page 6

TRUST THE September 29, 2017

Loss of Blessuan Austin puts pressure on CBs Griffin Whitmer Associate Sports Editor

If you were thinking of one player that the Rutgers football team’s defense could not afford to lose, junior cornerback Blessuan Austin would most likely be at the top of that list.

And as it so happened, the Scarlet Knights lost their three-year starter last Saturday when he tore his ACL against Nebraska, an injury that will keep him out for the rest of the 2017 season.

In steps sophomore Damon Hayes, who despite his age, has plenty of experience on the Rutgers defense and will look to fill Austin’s shoes as one of the two first-string cornerbacks.

“It’s a blow for our team, but (an) opportunity for Damon Hayes to step up and be the full-time starter,” said head coach Chris Ash in his weekly press conference on Monday. “He played in place of Blessuan and did some good things.”

Like Austin and his now co-starter Isaiah Wharton, Hayes has an aggressive style of play. His skill-set perfectly fits Ash’s defensive philosophy, as he gets up at the line of scrimmage and plays receivers in tight man-to-man coverage. Sometimes it leads to deep balls where he’ll be flagged for pass interference, but that does not concern Ash, as he attributes that to the unit’s aggressive attitude.

Last season as a true freshman, Hayes had a pick-six in a Big Ten road game at Minnesota, a play that brought the Knights within 1 point and nearly catapulted them to their first and only conference win of the season.

And according to cornerbacks coach Henry Baker, Hayes lacks no confidence, as he is one of the most vocal trash talkers on the team.

But despite all of the good things about Hayes, being a full-time starter in the Big Ten is something he will have to get used to — and fast.

He is tasked with lining up opposite Ohio State receivers like elite-speedster Parris Campbell or

any of the seven other Buckeyes that have already caught a touchdown pass this season.

But Wharton, in his third year as a starting cornerback, said that Hayes is ready due to the increased role he played in the secondary before Austin’s injury.

“Damon’s ready,” Wharton said.

“We’ve been rotating. ... All three of us (before Austin’s injury). ... We’re all on the same page and Damon’s ready.”

With eight Big Ten games remaining in the season, the competition level will only increase, and Wharton noted that there is no hiding from the top receivers on the other team.

At Rutgers, the best cornerback won’t follow the best receiver. Instead, they play their sides and trust the scheme.

“No one’s taking the number one receiver. We play our sides and whoever throws it to each side, we gotta make plays when our number’s called,” Wharton said.

Losing Austin is definitely crushing for both the secondary and the defense as a whole, especially considering that Rutgers has the 34th-ranked passing defense in the country.

And now it’s next man up for the Knights and after Hayes, there is not much experience. There is Kobe Marfo, who has little to no experience in Big Ten games and then there’s converted safety Zane Campbell and true freshmen Tim Barrow and Edwin “Tank” Lopez.

The bottom line is there isn’t much flexibility for Ash and defensive coordinator Jay Niemann, so Hayes needs to step up and stay healthy in order for the Rutgers secondary to continue its early success in the 2017 season. “(We) got to continue to improve and develop but (I) really like Damon,” Ash said. “(I’m) excited for him to go out and have this opportunity being a full-time starter.”

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @GriffinWhitmer and @TargumSports on Twitter.

Sophomore cornerback Damon Hayes will be thrust into a starting role at cornerback following Blessuan Austin’s season-ending injury.

JEFFREY GOMEZ / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017

Head coach Chris Ash’s rebuild at Rutgers has closely mirrored former head coach Greg Schiano’s through two years at the program. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / PHOTO EDITOR / SEPTEMBER 2017

Ash’s rebuild similar to Schiano’s Jon Spilletti

Rutgers could very well finish with one win this season. It could just as well finish with four if the team finds ways to close big games Rutgers fans that are impatient the way it tends to start them. with head coach Chris Ash’s progBut Schiano’s return to Piscatress should abandon their short away evokes a nostalgia that is not memories and look no further than afforded to Ash in the present — his the career of former head coach was a process that did not come to Greg Schiano. fruition for half a decade.

It at least should be a source of That, of comfort to know course, is neithat Ash’s 3-11 start ther to say that through rough“It takes a lot of time, effort and a lot of people to get it Ash’s time at ly one and a half years at the helm done but hoping to be able to rebuild and get it back to Rutgers will mirror Schiaof the Knights was where it was during his time here.” no’s nor that prefaced by similar the pieces have numbers from his Chris ash lined up to this predecessor two Head Coach point perfectly. times over.

But it is Schiano arrived enough to say on the Banks removed from the worst five-year appreciation of what he and his that setbacks like the Knights have stretch in program history, as Rut- staff and players accomplished seen in the early season — throwing away an Eastern Michigan matchup gers went 11-44 under the guise of during his time here.”

At the end of Schiano’s first year and slipping up in a winnable affair Terry Shea from 1996 to 2000.

Though former head coach as head coach, Rutgers finished versus Nebraska — are not indicaKyle Flood’s tenure at Rutgers — with two wins — exactly the same tive of the destination.

As Ash will say himself, Schiastrictly in terms of win/loss record as Ash’s first season.

For all the talks of regression no’s path in taking Rutgers to a Big — was above average, the ways he went about achieving that notwith- among the ranks in Piscataway and East powerhouse is a similar one he standing, the move to the Big Ten how Ash’s squad should double its wants to forge in the Big Ten. In fact, was just about as disadvantageous win total from last season, he could it is one of the major reasons he dons to an incoming head coach as a pro- just as well point to the 2002 cam- that Rutgers polo each Saturday.

“It’s remarkable what they were gram sapped of a winning season paign that boasted one win.

It took time. And though it is able to do, and you know, that’s ... for nine years.

The latter was what Schiano in- counterintuitive to lose games and honestly that’s one of the reasons think “this is what should be hap- that I made the decision to come herited in 2001.

After enjoying a dismal season in pening, we’re rebuilding,” it should here is because it’s been done be2000, in which the Knights finished at least cease to be an indicator of fore,” Ash said. “It takes a lot of 3-8, Schiano assumed the reins and, Ash’s success at High Point Solu- time, effort and a lot of people to get it done but hoping to be able to slowly but surely, turned around a tions Stadium.

At the end of his second year, rebuild it and get it back to where it program that was so used to the celSchiano and his crew were 3-20. It was during his time here.” lar of the Big East.

It is a stor y that Ash in partic- was not until his fifth season that For updates on the Rutgers ular can resonate with, and it is the Knights would have their first a source of admiration from him winning season since 1992 and its football team, follow @jon_spilletti and @TargumSports on Twitter. first bowl game since 1978. to Schiano.

Sports Editor

“I’ve always had a great appreciation for what Greg did here at Rutgers and what he accomplished and the way that he built the program up,” Ash said. “And having been here and listening to all the stories and really getting a good feel for this place, you know, I do have a greater appreciation, but I’ve always had a pretty high

PROCESS September 29, 2017

Gameday Page 7

Student news preview with Ohio State’s The Lantern Griffin Whitmer

Sheffield picked up multiple pass interference penalties against UNLV. Ohio State’s offense has improved as it put together longer drives that finished with touchdowns against Army and UNLV, but it has yet to prove it can have as much success against a more talented defense, like Rutgers’.

Associate Sports Editor

The Rutgers football team is set to take on No. 11 Ohio State this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in its first conference home game of the season.

In anticipation of the matchup, the Daily Targum reached out to Colin Hass-Hill, sports editor at The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper, for insight on the Buckeyes.

Colin was nice enough to oblige and can be found on Twitter @chasshill for news and updates on the Ohio State football team.

Q: I’ve noticed Ohio State fans have been critical of JT Barrett’s play this year and many people have been calling for Dwayne Haskins to start. Is this criticism fair? How would you evaluate his play this year?

A: J.T. Barrett is a solid, experienced and consistent performer, especially in the run game, but does not possess a strong arm and is not a threat in downfield passing which leads to criticism. Though Barrett lacks threats at receiver, he has not done himself any favors, overthrowing wideouts on intermediate routes and missing potential pass catchers deep down the field. On the other hand, Dwayne Haskins possesses the best arm of any quarterback on Ohio State’s roster. He played substantial snaps in the Buckeyes’ 54-21 blowout victory over UNLV last week and flashed the arm talent. However, he is very unlikely to supplant Barrett due to his relative lack of game experience. Despite Barrett’s shortcomings, he has still proven to be a dynamic runner, leader and winner. He has started 33 games for the Buckeyes and holds many school and conference records, including the most career

Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett has had numerous field days against Rutgers through three games, amassing 14 touchdowns and almost 1,000 total yards. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / PHOTO EDITOR / OCTOBER 2016 touchdowns accounted for in the Big Ten, which he set last week.

Since Barrett arrived on campus, head coach Urban Meyer and the quarterback’s teammates have praised his mentality and this season, Barrett became the first threetime captain in program history.

Q: The defensive line has obviously been hyped up a lot this season. How has that unit performed this year?

A: Defensive ends Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis and Jalyn Holmes have caused havoc in every game this season, except Ohio State’s 31-16 loss versus Oklahoma in Week 2. Bosa, who is the highest-rated defensive player by Pro Football Focus through

four weeks, leads Ohio State with three sacks and seven tackles for loss. He has looked unstoppable at times and seems likely to develop into a high first round pick. Lewis, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Hubbard have combined for 5.5 sacks.

On the interior, defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones has created havoc penetrating opposing backfields.

This group is one of the most talented units in the nation. To make the next step and be in contention with the very best units, the line must dominate against the best offensive lines in the nation. Oklahoma’s line combined with quarterback Baker Mayfield’s elusiveness gave the Buckeyes their only struggles of the year.

Q: What did Indiana do so well early on against the Buckeyes in the first game of the season and has Ohio State fixed those weaknesses?

A: Indiana entered the first halftime of Ohio State’s season leading the Buckeyes 14-13. Nothing went well on either side of the ball. Indiana’s offense picked on Ohio State’s inexperienced cornerbacks as quarterback Richard Lagow completed 40-of-65 passes for 410 yards. Ohio State’s offense struggled to find a rhythm as three-and-outs plagued the unit. Neither problem has been completely solved. Though cornerback Denzel Ward has played well, cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Kendall Sheffield, a junior college transfer, continue to be liabilities.

Q: What type of running back is JK Dobbins and what makes him so good?

A: Ohio State could have suffered against Indiana as Mike Weber sat out the season opener, but that wasn’t the case. True freshman running back J.K. Dobbins, who was hyped up by his teammates throughout fall camp, started in his place and exploded for 181 rushing yards, the most by any player in their debut in program history. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound La Grange, Texas, native is a slippery ball carrier who combines impressive speed and explosion with jukes and jump cuts. He doesn’t just use his athleticism, though.

Running backs coach Tony Alford said Dobbins picked the offense up faster than any player he had seen in his 22 years as a coach. Though Dobbins has only played four games, he has been the Buckeyes’ most consistent playmaker as he has averaged 7.5 yards per carry and leads the Big Ten in rushing.

He will be a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2018 and 2019 as he continues to mature physically.

Q: How has former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson been as the offensive coordinator?

A: When Kevin Wilson was hired in January as co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach along with co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day, many people thought Ohio State’s offense, which sputtered over the second half of last season and did not score against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, would drastically change. That has not happened.

The offense looks very similar in many respects as Barrett has once again struggled in downfield passing and the offense could not get into a flow against Oklahoma and in the first half of the Indiana game.

The reality of the offensive changes thus far have been less drastic than many expected, given Wilson’s explosive offenses in the past.

Q: What is your prediction for the game?

A: I picked Ohio State to win 38-17 because though I believe Rutgers’ defense might give the Buckeyes some early troubles, the more talented team will pull ahead in the second half. This will be a great test for Ohio State’s offense as it has decimated lesser competition, yet mightily struggled against Oklahoma, which led to the Buckeyes’ only loss of the season.

Rutgers has consistently struggled against Ohio State, losing by a more lopsided margin each year. Last season, the Knights lost by a score of 58-0, one of their four Big Ten shutout losses on the year. DIMITRI RODRIGUEZ / PHOTO EDITOR / OCTOBER 2016

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @GriffinWhitmer and @TargumSports on Twitter.

Griffin Whitmer Associate Sports Editor

When you think of the Rutgers football program in the 21st century, the name Greg Schiano holds more weight than any, as he transformed the program from perennial cupcakes to an 11-2 season in 2006, reaching as high as No. 8 in the national polls. If Schiano was never the head coach at Rutgers, it is hard to imagine the Scarlet Knights ever being considered for the Big Ten Conference, let alone receiving an invitation.

Saturday night marks his first return trip to the Banks as a coach since he left after the 2011 season to take the head coaching job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).

See return on Page 5

EDWIN GANO / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR