Rutgers football vs. Maryland preview: 3 keys for the Scarlet Knights

PISCATAWAY – Rutgers football has a major opportunity in front of it, a chance to play a struggling Maryland team and pick up a badly needed victory coming out of the bye week.

The flip side is that the Scarlet Knights are also struggling badly, having dropped four of their first five games, and will only have a chance to beat the Terrapins if they take considerable steps forward in multiple categories.

Rutgers has beaten Maryland in the teams’ last two meetings, but had dropped five of the previous six games to the Terrapins.

Both teams are facing scrutiny and speculation about their futures. That will only be amplified for whomever loses this game, which kicks off Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.

The Scarlet Knights are hoping they won’t emerge on that side.

Here are three keys for Greg Schiano’s team:

1. Contain Maryland quarterback Malik Washington

Washington is the type of signal-caller who can challenge any defense, especially the Scarlet Knights’ unit.

At 6-foot-5, 227-pounds, Washington is a strong-armed quarterback who can also inflict damage with his legs – once he gets momentum, he’s a large force for defenses to have to reckon with.

So far this season he’s thrown for 1,352 yards with seven touchdowns.

He’s also rushed for 56 yards and one score on 31 carries – he ran for 303 yards and four touchdowns last season.

On the Terrapins’ second offensive play against Rutgers last season (an eventual 35-20 win for the Scarlet Knights) Washington broke off for a 73-yard touchdown run.

Rutgers’ defense has to keep him in check.

“He can beat you with his feet, he can beat you with his arm,” Schiano said. “He's really, really talented.”

2. Limit Maryland wide receiver Chris Durr Jr.

The 5-foot-11, 173-pound Durr Jr. is Washington’s top weapon.

A Wyoming transfer, Durr this season has caught 46 passes for 476 yards (eighth in the Big Ten) with four touchdowns.

Durr is going to challenge the Scarlet Knights’ secondary, which at times this season has left receivers wide open in the middle of the field.

In a game like this, one or two broken plays could spell disaster for Rutgers.

3. Avoid turning the ball over

This is going to be a consistent key for Rutgers because it truly is integral for the Scarlet Knights’ chances.

They are not a good enough team to overcome mistakes. They cannot kill scoring opportunities and simply bounce back.

That’s been clear too often this season.

Schiano said quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who suffered an injury against Indiana two weeks ago, is back at practice and is in line to start against the Terrapins.

After struggling with interceptions early in the season, the Boston College transfer appears to have settled in and looks more comfortable in the offense and more confident in his decision making.

Lonergan must protect the football – and that goes for the entire offense.

The Terrapins have five interceptions, tied with Penn State for sixth in the Big Ten.

Score prediction: Rutgers 24, Maryland 20

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers football vs. Maryland preview: 3 keys for the Scarlet Knights