RUTGERS PREVIEW

Saturday morning I will make that famous drive into New Jersey.  Well, not really that exact one, but it will end at High Point Solutions Stadium and hopefully a Panthers victory will ensue starting at 3:30PM.  Pitt meets the 3-1 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers in the second Big East conference game for both squads.  The game plan will be VERY simple for Pitt this weekend and that is to eliminate mistakes and do NOT turn the ball over.  In Rutgers opening Big East victory over Syracuse, the Scarlet Knights forced 5 turnovers in a double OT victory on the road.

On Saturday Pittfans may feel like they are having a case of déjà  vu.  That’s because Rutgers head coach, Greg Schiano, loves to blitz and create turnovers, much like Pitt’s coaches are trying to build.  Rutgers has been very successful and that is evident by their number one ranking in turnover margin in the FBS with 18 (10 fumbles and 8 picks).  Free safety David Rowe leads the team with four of the turnovers.  Pitt’s offensive line will have to be able to communicate well and pick up the blitzes that will come from all angles on Saturday.  Back up guards Cory King and Ryan Schlieper will have to be even better than the previous game against South Florida (it is looking more and more likely like Lucas Nix may not be healthy enough to play).   Tino Sunseri will have to continue his improved play by keeping the defense off balance and making smart decisions with the football.  If Tino can do that, look for Ray Graham to have another big game, as I am sure the New Jersey native is thrilled to be playing in his home state on Saturday.

On offense is where Rutgers has some problems, and I mean problems.  They rank 79^th in passing and 110^th in rushing.  One advantage they have is at receiver where they are led by Junior, Mohamed Sanu , who already has 43 catches for 428 yards and 5 touchdowns.  He has games of 13 and 16 catches respectively.  The Scarlet Knight receivers, as a whole, are a big bunch.  They all range from 6’2 to 6’6.  This offense should look VERY familiar as former Pitt offensive coordinator, Frank Cignetti  is running the show.  They have trouble exploiting their receiver’s height match up because of an inexperienced offensive line (sound familiar) and the running game has struggled very much.  It is led by Sophomore Jawan Jamison, who is averaging below 3 yards per carry.

Schiano’s normal quarterback musical chair routine continues and probably is not helping.  True Freshman (and former Pitt verbal) Gary Nova and Sophomore Chas Dodd are being thrown in and yanked out with regularity.  For some reason, this is something that has become Schiano’s MO.  It has to be like watching an episode of Jersey Shore for several straight years for Rutgers fans.  “No Ronnie, NO…you embarrassed me..I’m through with you! Ron, look atme, I love you…come here, let’s get back together.”  His routine just cannot give any confidence to any QB during his tenure.

Besides offense and defense, Rutgers special teams are something that Pitt will have to watch carefully.  Jamal Merrell already has 3 blocked kicks (2 FGs and 1 punt).  Todd Graham has said the Tino Sunseri pooch punt is being put on the shelf.  Iwonder how Pitt fans will react to that???  We will see if that helps neutralize Rutgers’ kick blocking and if Kevin Harper can continue to become very dependable for Pitt.

The formula for a victory on Saturday is very simple…play smart football and Pitt should be fine…and I believe they will be.  After the dominating win over South Florida, a good friend of mine and I were emailing back and forth.  What he said rang all too true.  “What a great win!  Now, will Pitt do what many teams in Pitt history have done before?  Win a huge game, and then follow it up with a disappointing performance and lose.”  I don’t think that happens.  I believe they will continue to only get better and the extra two days will help Pitt prepare their offensive line for Rutgers’ confusing blitzes.  Final prediction??? Pitt 45  Rutgers 13.