BC vs Rutgers: Scarlet Knights Offense/Defense
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Boston College and Rutgers are looking to move on from their respective week 1 drubbings. The difference was the quality of opponent, but both teams will still see this as a must-win. This Friday night, the teams will face off for the Red Bandana game at Alumni Stadium. The major news of the day is that Rutgers will be replacing quarterback Dylan Lonergan after their loss to UMass.
Offense:
After a four turnover performance, Lonergan left with an injury, handing junior AJ Surace his first career start. The Rutgers offense threw for over 300 combined yards between the two quarterbacks. Surace came in and orchestrated an 11 play, 75 yards touchdown drive, ending with touchdown pass to KJ Duff. The 6-foot-6 second-team All-Big Ten receiver was spectacular with nine catches, 196 yards, and three touchdowns. He will continue to be a focal point on the perimeter and the player BC’s defense will need to focus on — a bit different than the look they saw last week. Outside of Duff, some other receivers did show flashes, but everyone pales by comparison.
Turnovers were the biggest issue for the Rutgers offense, but a no-show in the running game didn’t help. Antwan Raymond was the lead back with 42 yards on 14 carries. Now, Raymond was significantly more effective last season with nearly 1500 yards from scrimmage and a team-leading 15 touchdowns. That was when they had a more effective signal-caller, but he’s still a talented back who will know the Eagles are vulnerable. This should still be easier for BC than last week, and hopefully force more long-yardage obvious passing situations that the secondary can key on. On top of that, BC’s pass rush should make more of an impact after the Rutgers offensive line allowed five sacks to UMass.
Defense
Similar to BC, the Scarlet Knights allowed over 200 yards on the ground and 37 points. UMass fell behind early but was able to respond and score 30 straight points. Running nearly 5 yards per carry, the Rutgers defense could not get off the field and dominated in the trenches. This run defense was a big issue for the program last season, so the changes they instituted under a first year defensive coordinator are clearly not off to an encouraging start.
BC had some success in the ground game between Dickens and McCormack, and especially with McKenzie. They should hammer that all day until Rutgers proves they can stop it. Schiano’s defenses have historically not fared well against more mobile quarterbacks. Pop Watson had 40 yards on them on a handful of carries.
Linebacker Sean Allison led the Knights with eight total tackles and Ty Morris was close behind with six, but all struggled in the tackling department. The secondary struggled in coverage and routinely left receivers wide-open.
The Eagles struggled in pass protection in their first game, but the pass rush they’re facing this week couldn’t muster up a single sack. The transfers Rutgers brought in were outmatched here, so BC’s line will need to similarly impose its will.
BC’s clearest path is to win the lines of scrimmage. If they can run at a Rutgers defense that was pushed around by UMass, they will win this game. They’ll need to do everything in their power to make someone other than Duff beat them on the other end. Rutgers in turn will look to establish Raymond to give Surace some breathing room in his first start and keep things easy. Schiano is seeking his 100th win as Rutgers head coach across two stints, but BC will be full of emotion on Red Bandana Day. Both programs know what’s at stake here.
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