Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano Previews Indiana Matchup

Rutgers’ 2022 season is on the same trajectory to its Week 8 opponent, the Indiana Hoosiers. Rutgers started the yr with three wins, claiming shut wins on the street in opposition to Boston School and Temple with a blowout dwelling win in opposition to Wagner. 

However the begin of Large Ten play signaled a downfall for the Scarlet Knights, notably as an offense. In three consecutive losses in opposition to Iowa, No. 2 Ohio State and Nebraska, Rutgers’ offense generated 33 mixed factors. After a 14-13 dwelling loss to Nebraska, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano fired offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson. Schiano mentioned considered one of their benefits in opposition to Indiana having a stage of unknown as an offense coming off a bye week, however he expects a tricky matchup in opposition to the Indiana protection. 

“Coach Allen is an amazing defensive coach,” Schiano mentioned. “I adopted him when he was an assistant defensive coordinator. They play actually, actually laborious. I’ve learn the place they’re involved about their tackling, however I have a look at them and so they’re a really bodily crew. I do know when it is your crew, you have a look at the problems otherwise. They need to guys that have been all-Large Ten stage performers. Feels like they are going to get considered one of them again within the secondary. Sounds just like the linebacker will be unable to play, simply by my studying into it. They seem to be a good defensive crew. They play lots of people. They rotate up entrance. They do some issues which are distinctive within the protection construction that they run. It is simply not stuff you see each week, so actually not the very best once you modified offensive coordinators. You simply have to have the ability to adapt to them, so that is what we’ll do.”

Together with the teaching change, Rutgers’ uncertainty at quarterback presents loads of unknown elements earlier than the Hoosiers arrive in Piscataway for Saturday’s recreation. Sophomore Evan Simon has taken the vast majority of snaps at quarterback, finishing 71-of-122 passes for 740 yards, 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Senior Noah Vedral began all 13 video games for Rutgers final season, and he returned from damage in Week 6 in opposition to Nebraska to finish 6-of-15 passes for 133 yards. Simon performed in opposition to Nebraska, too, however threw three interceptions. Sophomore Gavin Wimsatt has additionally appeared in three video games at quarterback. He was dominated out with a lower-body damage in opposition to Nebraska, however Schiano mentioned he’s doing higher and practiced final week. Rutgers hasn’t revealed the starter in opposition to Indiana. 

“I feel we’ll have all three quarterbacks at our disposal. I feel Gavin improved fairly a bit. He practiced final week. Noah’s hand is getting stronger by the day. It is not all the best way again, but it surely’s getting there. And Evan, though just a little bruised up from taking part in a pair video games, I feel final week served him nicely to heal up. So I feel we’ll have our full quarterback pool.”

On the opposite facet of the ball, Rutgers’ protection has allowed 22 factors per recreation, which ranks seventh within the Large Ten. The Scarlet Knights have been particularly efficient stopping the run, permitting the third-fewest dashing yards per recreation within the Large Ten at 91.7. On Monday, Schiano shared his ideas on the challenges of going through Indiana’s fast-paced offense. 

“They’re the quickest tempo crew within the nation,” Schiano mentioned. “They run extra performs than every other crew within the nation. So we’re going to need to get again, get aligned, get the decision and get our cleats within the floor as a result of in any other case they catch you off steadiness, and so they’ve don that to a number of folks. You understand, oftentimes, they movie is not able to go they go so quick. Actually, they wish to snap it with 32 seconds on the clock. So to have the ability to run extra performs than any crew in America, that claims one thing. I feel they will throw the ball round fairly good. Then they get you on some run issues that you just’re not, possibly your ft aren’t fairly as set and so they catch you and so they’ve clipped off some good ones.”

Associated tales on Indiana soccer:

• TOM ALLEN, WALT BELL COMMENT ON JACK TUTTLE TRANSFERRING: Indiana backup quarterback Jack Tuttle determined to enter the switch portal on Monday, however he’ll stay with the crew till the top of the season. Indiana coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Walt Bell expressed their appreciation for Jack Tuttle’s management this season. CLICK HERE
• EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JACK TUTTLE: Indiana quarterback Jack Tuttle is getting into the switch portal so he can play elsewhere in 2023, however not like many transfers, the redshirt-senior captain is staying with the Hoosiers all through this season ”as a result of I like my guys an excessive amount of.” CLICK HERE
• INDIANA SLIGHT UNDERDOG AT RUTGERS: Indiana soccer (3-4) travels to Rutgers (3-3) for a Week 8 matchup at Midday ET. Rutgers begins the week as a three-point favourite. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA LOSES FOURTH CONSECUTIVE GAME: Indiana soccer had a number of alternatives to finish its dropping streak on Saturday in opposition to Maryland at Memorial Stadium, however the Hoosiers fell into related patterns which have plagued all of them season. CLICK HERE