If Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano falling to the turf while running out of the tunnel was the low point of this day, it was a good day.
The 55-year Schiano, and hopefully the tv cameraperson he ran into, are alright. And Rutgers, playing in front of a sellout home crowd, won their season opener.
The Scarlet Knights rolled to a 61-14 win over Temple, Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium.
With expectations ramped up this season, Rutgers gave their fans more reason to believe they’re ready to take the next step in Schiano’s second stint as head coach.
There were a few uneven stretches of play which will need to be addressed before week 2. However, for a team projected to compete for bowl game placement this season, opening the season with a win is what matters most.
Here are my 3 takeaways from the game:
Too early for judging this offense…
Rutgers jumped out to a 26-0 lead over Temple midway through the second quarter. If there’s one thing I’ve learned watching College Football, it’s that no lead that early in a game is safe. It was the defense for the Scarlet Knights, however, which helped propel them to an early big lead.
Quarterback Noah Vedral finished 15-of-27 for 138 yards with a passing touchdown while also running the ball 71 yards on nine carries. The dual-threat for Vedral will be a must for Rutgers this season. What we should all keep an eye on, especially after week 1 is the running game.
Isaih Pachecho (15 carries, 48 yards, one touchdown) will be a focal point in the offense this season. But keep an eye on freshmen Kyle Monangai (eight carries, 28 yards, two touchdowns) and Jamier Wright-Collins (four carries, 35 yards).
Let the playmakers do their thing
If Rutgers is to meet offseason expectations, the playmakers need to lead the way.
Wide receiver Bo Melton (six catches, 59 yards, one touchdown) looks like we’ll be seeing him on NFL Sundays in the future.
Aron Cruickshank (206 total yards) has the skills to become an elite weapon in this offense and on special teams. The Brooklyn native is on the Paul Hornung Award watch list (honoring the nation’s versatile player).
An aggressive effort from the defense and special teams
The defense for Rutgers played aggressive and kept Temple off balance all day.
Adam Korsak had six punts at an average of 47.9 yards. His 56-yard punt pinned Temple at it’s own 1-yard line and setup a sack in the end zone by Olakunle Fatukasi.
On the free kick following the safety, Cruickshank had a 57-yard return which set up a 25-yard field goal by Valentino Ambrosio. For the Scarlet Knights, this sequence set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Keep another eye on Fatukasi, he’s one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten conference. Moreover, he’s named to the Bednarik Award watch list for the best defensive player in college football.
What’s next for Rutgers football?
A week 2 showdown at Syracuse is what’s on deck for the Scarlet Knights.
Image: Greg Schiano – AP
