Three Thoughts on Rutgers Football's 38-19 loss to Washington
It was another tough week for Rutgers Football as it dropped its third straight game after falling to Washington 38-19.
Here are three thoughts after the game….
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NEW WEEK, SAME SCRIPT
Despite the final score reading a three-possession loss, this was a winnable game for Rutgers as it sprang out to an early 10-0 lead. The Scarlet Knights even got the ball back late in Washington territory late in the first half with a chance to take a three-score lead. However, Rutgers squandered it with a three-and-out and a 45-yard field goal missed by Jai Patel.
“To win in the Big Ten, you have to put it together consistently in all three phases, and we were unable to do that tonight,” head coach Greg Schiano said. “We certainly had our chances and played good football at times, but as I told you, consistency is the last thing that comes and we’re just not there yet.”
Rutgers appeared to be headed into halftime at least up 13-7 following a 37-yard field goal from Patel with 39 seconds left, but Washington scratched across a field goal of its own to head into halftime down 13-10.
The second half was where things started to unravel for Rutgers as Washington came out of the gate with a four-play, 75-yard drive to take a 17-13 lead. The Huskies finished the game outscoring the Scarlet Knights 31-6 and sent Schiano’s squad back to .500.
“I think we made too many mistakes in the second half,” Schiano said. “I thought we played better at times on defense, there definitely was improvement, just not enough. As I told the team, ‘you can sit there and moan and groan about it, or you can own it and go back and work and fix it,’ and that’s what we have to do and it starts with me.”
AN IDENTITY CRISIS
Despite all the flaws Rutgers presents right now, perhaps the biggest concern is the lack of identity it presents. Does it have a dynamic offense? At times, yes. However, the last three games have shown it can also go into a shell at times too, combining for 20 second-half points.
“I think we have some really talented players on offense,” Schiano said. “We have to finish the drives and score touchdowns, that’s how you win in the Big Ten. Consistency on the offense, consistency on the defense, and consistency in the special teams. We’re close, but we have to get there.”
Now to the defense. Look, most people knew going into this season this would be a team relying on its offense to win games. But, allowing 30+ points in four of its first six games is hard to withstand no matter who is on the other side of the ball. Early on this felt like it was going to be one of Rutgers’ better games defensively, but in the end, it allowed another quarterback to have a career day as Desmond Williams Jr. finished 21-for-27 for 402 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 13 times for 136 yards and two scores.
“He’s a dynamic player as a ball carrier and as a quarterback,” Schiano said regarding Williams. “We had him dead to rights a couple of times and I figured we had him, and then he got away. That’s what a dynamic guy like that can do for you.”
Even the Scarlet Knights’ special teams have taken a hit, as it marked the third straight week Patel missed a field goal. He is now 7-for-11 on the season.
THE PATH FORWARD
While not much is guaranteed in college football, it is hard to look at Rutgers’ remaining schedule and have a whole lot of confidence. Not only does it welcome a top-10 team in No. 8 Oregon for homecoming next week, but then it has to go on the road and play a feisty squad in Purdue and a quality opponent in Illinois the week after.
“Every week in the Big Ten, for someone to sit there and try to say this game is this and this game is that, that’s not real,” Schiano said. “In the Big Ten, every game is a big, tough, physical, hard game, and this is no exception.”
If the hope is for bowl eligibility, then the Scarlet Knights will likely need to beat Purdue and Maryland and pick off a team they will be a significant underdog against. The Penn State door has seemingly swung open as well with its recent play, season-ending injury to quarterback Drew Allar, and the firing of James Franklin.
With all of that being said, none of it will matter if Rutgers cannot flip the script and find its identity. Only then will the path forward become clearer.
Rutgers will return to action next Saturday when it faces No. 3 Oregon at SHI Stadium at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on BTN.
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