College Football News Preview 2020: Rutgers Scarlet Knights Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Offense
Get to 400 yards. First, the offense under the new coaching staff has to be able to hit 300 yards on a regular basis after averaging just 273 per game.
Scoring was a problem, long drives were a problem, turnovers were a huge problem, passing inefficiency was a problem, a steady running game was a problem – everything was a problem.
But offense has been a steady issue for years. Considering the defense has rarely been a rock, and it won’t be special this year, the O just has to keep things moving.
Rutgers came up with over 400 yards of total offense just twice last year – and those were the two games it won.
The O generated over 400 yards just once in 2018 – and that was the only game it won.
Over the last four seasons, Rutgers is 5-0 when it gets to that 400-yard mark, because that’s what it usually takes just to stay alive in most games.
To take this even further, lower the bar a bit to 397 yards, and the program is 21-3 when it gets there going back to the 2013 opener against Fresno State.
Biggest Key To The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Defense
Rutgers defense, start by helping yourself out. The D was dead last in the Big Ten in third down stops, it was dead last in sacks and tackles for loss, and it was dead last in takeaways.
But that’s not a new thing for the Scarlet Knight.
The 2012 defense forced 32 turnovers – and hasn’t busted past 20 since then.
Last season? Ten. Ten takeaways, and six came in three games against UMass, Indiana and Ohio State. That means there were a mere four turnovers forced in the other nine games, with just two fumble recoveries outside of two generated against the Buckeyes.
Help the offense, help you, defense, with big plays and easy field position chances.
Key Rutgers Scarlet Knights Player To A Successful Season
QB Noah Vedral, Sr.
Or Johnny Langan, or Artur Sitkowski. The offense needs a playmaker at quarterback, and it just hasn’t worked for a long, long time, no matter who has stepped in.
On the plus side, the Rutgers passing game hit more than 50% of its passes for the first time since 2015. On the negative end, four quarterbacks threw a pass last season, and they were all mediocre.
Vedral was a good recruit for UCF who followed Scott Frost to Nebraska. Banged up, and with Adrian Martinez the main man under center, Vedral is looking for a home. At the very least, he’s a mobile option with a live arm to add another option to the mix.
Key Game To The Rutgers Scarlet Knights Season
at Maryland, Oct. 31
This falls under the Let’s See Where The Program Is At category. Maryland might be better in Year Two under Mike Locksley, but it’s missing a whole slew of pieces and should be in for a struggle.
That was an issue last year for the Terps, too, and they blasted Rutgers 48-7 in Piscataway. This time around, no one is expecting a run to a bowl game or anything for the Scarlet Knights, but two months into the first season with Greg Schiano back at the helm … let’s see where the program is at.
– Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Rutgers Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 146 – Rutgers 31
– Red Zone TDs: Opponents 36-of-52 (69%) – Rutgers 10-of-26 (38%)
– Passing TDs: Opponents 25 – Rutgers 7