Three Thoughts on Rutgers Football's victory over Miami (OH)
Rutgers Football started the season 2-0 after its 45-17 victory against Miami (OH).
Here are three thoughts after the game….
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ATHAN MAKIN’ PLAYS
It is hard to ask much more from Athan Kaliakmanis through the first two weeks. Not only does the quarterback have a 74.6 completion percentage, but he has already thrown six touchdown passes.
“You know what Athan is doing? He’s running and repeating,” Head Coach Greg Schiano said. “It’s not like we reinvent our offense every day. I just believe so much in cumulative repetitions of doing things correctly. It becomes more second nature, and some of those throws and catches today, Athan and Ian had a tremendous game.”
For reference, the Scarlet Knights completed 18 touchdown passes last season and, if one wants to go back even further, just seven in 2019. This also marked the sixth straight game Rutgers scored 30+ points.
STRONG & DUFF WERE ENOUGH
If Kaliakmanis is the key to Rutgers’ high-powered offense, then Ian Strong and KJ Duff are the engine that keeps the car running.
“Not only did they have a lot of catches, and I don’t really get into the stats much, but they had a lot of DPIs caused,” Schiano said. “They don’t go on the stat board, but those would have been big plays. The reason they got tackled is they had them beat, so I think we are coming around there.”
The duo not only combined for 15 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns, but they also contributed to moving the sticks as Rutgers went 7-for-10 on third down.
While it is still early in the season, it is hard not to be eager to see what Strong and Duff can accomplish this season in the type of offense that Scarlet Knights fans have not seen in a long time.
DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES CONTINUE
While the final score might read a blowout, the Scarlet Knights were in a fight through the first three quarters with their defense giving up several big plays to the RedHawks’ offense.
“The defense is going to be a work-in-progress,” Schiano said. “If it wasn’t, then everything I believe in is not real. If practice is everything, and cumulative repetitions are what make you an elite player, we just haven’t had enough practices with these new guys yet.”
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with 9:17 to go in the second quarter. Miami (OH) was threatening to take a 14-10 lead with a drive that saw quarterback Dequan Finn burn Rutgers with his arm and legs. Bo Mascoe stepped up for the Scarlet Knights though with an interception that he brought all the way down the RedHawks’ 12-yard line.
At the end of the day, Rutgers is 2-0 and has yet to trail in either of its games. However, if it is going to reach its ceiling this season, its defense will need to start resembling a much-improved unit because allowing 808 yards in two games is enough to raise an alarm.
Rutgers will return to action next Saturday when it faces Norfolk State at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on BTN.
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