The Knights Watchman

scarletknights.com After two-weeks to work on fundamentals, get a bit healthier, and prepare for Saturday's showdown with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini , Rutgers finally gets the chance to go back to showing the improvement that we saw at the start of the season. Coach Ash said that the staff "took a hard look at all three phases." The Scarlet Knights head into the contest at Memorial Stadium in Champaign to face what appears to be the most beatable opponent on the remaining schedule. Saying the Illini are beatable and then going to their home field and doing that are two different things. Like Rutgers , the Fighting Illini have recently been embroiled in a quarterback controversy. Sophomore Jeff George, Jr., just wrested the job from junior Chayce Crouch. George gives the Illini a QB with a very strong arm who can sling the ball downfield, much like his father. However, in the small sample of his play, he's also been prone to interceptions...

The Scarlet Knights take on the Cornhuskers today in Lincoln , Nebraska , in what is the Big Ten opener for both teams. A few hours before game time, Nebraska is an 11 point favorite over visiting Rutgers . In many ways the Cornhuskers season has mirrored that of the Scarlet Knights. Both teams are 1-2, with Nebraska having won a close opener vs. Arkansas State and then having dropped two close games to Oregon and Northern Illinois . Unaccustomed to a 1-2 start, Nebraska fans are calling for the head of Coach Mike Riley, and the school's athletic director was shown the door yesterday. The Rutgers coaches, in their media appearances this week, stressed the importance of continued improvement. Last week's 65-0 blowout victory over Morgan State allowed the Scarlet Knights to send 71 players out to see some action, especially many true and redshirt freshmen who logged their first bits of playing time. Obviously, the most impressive of the freshmen was quarterbac...

After practice on August 10, Rutgers associate head coach and offensive line coach A.J. Blazek took questions from a small group of reporters, followed by a session with the Scarlet Knights' defensive line coach Shane Burnham. It's always a pleasure to hear from Blazek and Burnham, as these are two old school guys who love football. Right guard continues to be a topic of conversation as Blazek and the rest of the staff sort out who the starter will be. Blazek said redshirt freshman Nick Krimin is "doing some good things," redshirt sophomore Zach Venesky has a grinder personality, and that Blazek's "really happy with" redshirt junior Marcus Applefield, who seems to have come on strong after having to sit out Spring camp as he recovered from injury. In addition, Blazek praised guard Dorian Miller as someone who's always asking questions and working to improve despite his status as a senior, and that redshirt sophomore center Jonah Jackso...