Rutgers Football vs. Maryland Preview

The Scarlet Knights will head to College Park, Maryland to take on the University of Maryland Terrapins at Noon this coming Saturday. Heading into this final game of the season, Rutgers currently sits as a 13.5-point underdog. This is despite the fact that Maryland has lost 4 straight and 6 of its last 7 contests. Although Rutgers is on the road, this looms as a winnable game, provided that Rutgers can get something going on offense and plays a mistake-free game. If the Scarlet Knights can pull off the upset, winning their first Big Ten game of the year would be a nice way to close out the season, giving the team momentum heading into the offseason program and the coaches momentum heading into the next recruiting cycle.

Maryland is somewhat unsettled at quarterback. Like Rutgers, the Terrapins have played four different quarterbacks this season, some of that necessitated by injury. Freshman Max Bortenschlager played most of the reps last week in the Terps loss to Nebraska. But two of Marylands qbs, Caleb Rowe and Perry Hills, are both listed as questionable for Saturday. So, it's anybody's guess right now as to who will start. I'll update this post once I know. [UPDATE: Perry Hills starts for the Terrapins.]

Rutgers defensive coordinator Jay Niemann feels that the Terps' "offense doesn't change a whole lot" regardless of who's under center. And really, from my standpoint who starts at QB for Maryland is less of a concern than figuring out a way to stop Terrapins running back Ty Johnson. A complete back, Johnson has rushed for 677 yards at an 8.1 yards per carry clip, and has also caught 13 balls for 180 yards. With the Scarlet Knights defense having been far more suspect against the run than the pass, stopping Ty Johnson has got to be priorities A and B. Head coach Chris Ash mentioned that wideout D.J. Moore is also a player to watch out for. The Terps use Moore all over the offense much in the same way Rutgers used Janarion Grant and now Jawuan Harris.

According to head coach Chris Ash, the Maryland defense plays a 3-4 scheme and that they are a "pressure defense." Giovanni Rescigno will start at QB, although Ash acknowledged that Gio "hasn't been full speed" due to injuries to both his hamstring and knee that he suffered during the Minnesota and Michigan State games, respectively. With Gio a little more banged up than I initially thought I would expect to see Tylin Oden again for multiple series. Ash also said that Justin Goodwin "has earned the right to be the starting running back," and that Robert Martin is now healthy. The Maryland defense has struggled, giving up over 440 yards per game, only slightly better than RU. In terms of pass defense, the Terrapins give up more than 10 passing first downs per contest. That is far more than Rutgers at 7.5. Thus the key to the Rutgers offense may be to try to get big games from Harris and Andre Patton, while also getting Goodwin some short passes out of the backfield. A few quick slants to a back out of the backfield could take advantage of the Maryland D wanting to pressure the quarterback.

All told, I like the chances of Rutgers going down there and having a competitive game, and win or lose, one that will give the guys some momentum going into next season.