Rutgers' first meaningful game in November in quite some time takes place against Wisconsin on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at SHI Stadium in Piscataway.
After one win over the initial four games of the season, the Badgers have won four in a row including a 27-7 beat down versus Iowa last weekend. The Scarlet Knights are coming off of a win of their own, a 20-14 victory over Illinois on the road, and will be looking to keep the train moving.
Wisconsin is 3-0 against Rutgers all-time. The two programs first met in 2014 and the Badgers have outscored the Scarlet Knights 116-37.
"Wisconsin is one of the hottest teams," Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said on Monday. "Best defense in America, No. 1 rated defense. Offensively very big and physical. The quarterback has a big arm, running back is really a bruiser and it's a very well coached football team, special teams included. So, quite a challenge, one that I know our players and coaches are excited about attacking. Looking forward to it."
No. 1 defense
Wisconsin boasts the nation's top defense in terms of allowing the least amount of yards per game in the country. Wisconsin is giving up only 214.6 yards on average including a measly 180.3 in away games. The Badgers are excellent against the run (yielding just 49.6 yards per game including 5.3 away!). Wisconsin is also stout defending the air as opponents are passing for just 165 yards per game. Rutgers will have its hands full come Saturday afternoon.
"Well, they're talented first and foremost," Schiano said. "And they're talented at every level. So they're really good in the front. They base out of the 3-4. They're outside linebackers are really good. They're inside backers are really talented --big and physical. Then in the back end, they fit very well. They fit into the run game very well. They understand the coverages and they play multiple coverages. So it's a well coached group, a coordinated group, and a group that's really talented."
Running the ball
On offense, Wisconsin is the third-best Big Ten team in terms of running the ball. The Badgers average 211.9 yards per game on the ground. And just like the defense, that number goes up on road where Wisconsin is averaging the third-most in the country at 254 yards per game. The Badgers earn about 4.5 yards per carry. Rutgers is allowing 143 yards per game on defense in the run game. It has been hot and cold. The Scarlet Knights were good against teams like Syracuse, Michigan, and Illinois, but not so much against others at times.
"I think our guys know where to fit. I think we play with an understanding," Schiano said of his team's improving run defense. "When we have failures in our run defense, it's been tackling and we have to continue to improve it that. We are improving. That's the key. We're getting better at it. This will be a great test. I mean, the running back is a big man. He's 240 pounds and he runs like a smaller back so, this will be a great test. Not to mention a gigantic friends of line that's really well coached."
Injury updates
It is unclear if Aron Cruickshank will get to face his former team this weekend. The former speedy Badger wide receiver and kick returner has missed the last two games after hurting his shoulder against Michigan State on Oct. 9. Rutgers also had a lot of guys in the medical tent in the game against Illinois including quarterback Noah Vedral and nose tackle Julius Turner, but they should be good to go.
"Julius is okay. It's the back third of the season, so everybody's hurting in some ways, but he'll be ready to go. I don't know about Aron. That's gonna be close. I know he wants to. He's been trying to, but there's a difference between want to and physically able and we're never going to put a guy out there and risk their health if they're not ready to go."
Vedral went out of the game several times, yet showed an extreme amount of toughness and came back in. He scored the go-ahead rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter and ran for the game-sealing first down.
"You bring up a great point. Noah is one of the toughest guys if not the toughest guy on a football team," Schiano said. "And when your quarterback is that guy, I think it raises everyone's level. I think the respect that he has on our team is as high as it gets. HE answers the bell over and over again."
Will Gavin Wimsatt redshirt?
Schiano didn't flat out say yes or no when asked that question on Monday. But reading in between the likes, that's more than likely the plan. Wimsatt came in this past Saturday and delivered a strike to receiver Bo Melton on fourth-and-5 with time winding down in the third quarter. Wimsatt can play in three more games to keep his redshirt. The Scarlet Knights have four games remaining.
"It's something you think about. I don't know exactly what to tell you on it," Schiano said. "I kind of have an idea what my thinking is. I'm probably not going to share it. But yeah, it's something you have to consider for sure with every player not just Gavin."
Avery Young returns
Young missed the Northwestern game, but came back against the Illini and made an impact. The safety had four tackles and returned five punts. Young had the third-highest Pro Football Focus overall defensive grade on the team for the game at 66.9.
"Well, it's good to have Avery back for sure. He's an experienced player maybe not at that position. But he's got a lot of playing experience," Schiano said. "Christian Izien, I think he's getting better each week too. So I think the two of them are both on the ascension and we need them to be. Our back end, we had some spotty play in the middle of season. We need to get back to what we know we can do."
Someone's got to start
On the defense for Rutgers, defensive tackle Mayan Ahanotu and defensive end CJ Onyechi have started every game this season, but their backups, Ifeanyi Maijeh and Mohamed Toure, have played more snaps.
Maijeh, a transfer from Temple, has played 256 snaps while Ahanotu, a transfer from Minnesota, has played 215. Onyechi has been on the field for 284 snaps while Toure has seen action for 291.
Maijeh (71.2) and Toure (66.7) have higher PFF grades defensively than their counterparts as well, though Ahanotu and Onyechi are too far behind at 64.1 each. Toure, interestingly enough, has the second highest run defense grade on the team at 75.5. Maijeh is third at 74.6.
"It's really been that way the whole season," Schiano said. "If you look at the numbers between Onyechi and Mohamed, that's really how it's been. And with Ifeanyi and Ahanotu, Ifeanyi has had more reps in game than Mayan just the way it's worked out. Maijeh is on a little more sub packages. We look at them as all starters. Someone's got to start the game. But at those two positions, we really look at them as co-starters. All four of them have been productive players for so we need them to be."
Follow Chris Nalwasky on Twitter @ChrisNalwasky.
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