Here's what Rutgers football is saying as it preps for battle vs. No. 1 Ohio State
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PISCATAWAY – The formula is pretty simple for Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano.
The reason why No. 1 Ohio State is, well, No. 1, is clear.
“They kind of just go out and execute,” Schiano said. “There’s a difference between being a really talented team and being a really talented team that executes. This is a really talented team that executes.”
And that’s the team that Schiano’s Scarlet Knights will have the task of trying to slow down when it plays the defending champion Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22.
Ohio State is loaded at every position.
There’s talent everywhere on both sides of the ball.
It has elite depth at every position.
For a Rutgers team that’s had an arduous season – especially defensively – nothing about this trip to Ohio will be easy.
The Scarlet Knights’ offense will be tasked with trying to score against the nation’s top defense. Ohio State is allowing just 211.6 yards per game, 128.7 passing yards per game and 82.9 rushing yards per game.
Opponents are scoring a paltry 7.2 points per game against Ohio State.
The unit is led by defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, a Bill Belichick protégé who was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots and later the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
Patricia’s in his first season working for Ryan Day.
“First off, they’re very, very talented,” Schiano said. “Second, they’re really well coached. So they execute very well. Matt Patricia has done a magnificent job. You can see his fingerprints all over it. I’ve known Matt for a long time. It doesn’t surprise me one bit. They have a very good coaching staff that’s coaching very good players. When you add all that up, it adds up to a very good defense.”
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has been one of the Big Ten’s top signal-callers this season – he’s second in the conference with 2,705 passing yards. Kaliakmanis has faced talented defenses this season, but none quite to this level.
“I love these kinds of opportunities,” Kaliakmanis said. “I don’t shy away from them. I really do love opportunities. You can talk about how good you are, now you’re going to see the best. Let’s see what you do. Nothing but respect. They’ve got a really good defense. They do a lot of different things. They’ve got a lot of good players. We’re going to have to be at our best and that’s the bottom line.”
Rutgers’ defense, meanwhile, is in for an equally lofty challenge.
Ohio State is averaging 441.3 yards per game and 279.5 passing yards per game, second in the Big Ten.
Quarterback Julian Sayin is completing 80.1 percent of his passes – having a weapon like Jeremiah Smith, arguably the best receiver in the nation, to throw to certainly helps.
“He is a fantastic talent,” Schiano said of the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Smith. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s detailed. Runs great routes. Great catch radius. The last 18 targets, he’s caught them all. That’s like going four or five games in baseball without getting out. It’s like being on base every time for four or five games. That’s hard to do. Certainly it takes a quarterback throwing you the pass, which Sayin is an excellent player.”
For a Scarlet Knights’ defense that’s ranked last in the Big Ten all season, nothing about this will be easy.
The Buckeyes are No. 1 and championship contenders – again.
Ohio State is loaded with talent – again.
“You can really say that across the board with their football team,” Schiano said. “They’re an elite-level team. That’s why their No. 1.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football preparing for battle vs. Ohio State
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