PISCATAWAY, N.J. — If Gavin Wimsatt is going to continue his strong start to the season this weekend against Virginia Tech, then the offensive line must be on point. Rutgers football faces a good Virginia Tech team this weekend, one that boasts a very strong edge rush.
The entire Virginia Tech defense is good, with a pass rush that has five sacks through two weeks. They’ve forced three fumbles while recovering two and they have five passes defended as well as an interception.
For a rebuilding Rutgers offensive line, that pass rush is scary good. They are led by edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who has two sacks and 10 total tackles on the year.
Asked this week about his confidence in Wimsatt against this Virginia Tech defense, head coach Greg Schiano pointed a call to action for his offensive line.
“Gavin I’m confident in. I mean, we need to protect Gavin; we need to be able to – our front five and our running back need to be able to handle their rush,” Schiano said.
“That’s more of a concern. They have three good edge rushers not two, three. And then they’re stout inside and they do some good things schematically. So yeah, it’s gonna be a huge challenge.”
Wimsatt has thrown for 361 yards and two touchdowns this season, completing 54 percent of his passes. He has shown a greater confidence in the pocket this year and better decision-making.
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On Monday during his weekly press conference, Schiano called Virginia Tech “a very good football team.”
“Defensively their front is stout. They have some linebackers that can really run,” Schiano said.
“The secondary, the safeties punish you and the corners can run and cover. It’s a good defensive football team.”