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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
SCOUTING REPORT: RUTGERS SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT AS CHRIS ASH'S THIRD SEASON BEGINS
If history is any indication at all, Rutgers shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Ohio State on Saturday.
In the first four meetings between the two schools since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2015, Ohio State has outscored Rutgers 219 to 24, winning all four games by at least 39 points and shutting out the Scarlet Knights in each of the last two matchups.
Going into this weekend’s second game of the year for both teams, though, Rutgers appears to have a little more momentum on its side than it has over the past few years.
Rutgers’ 35-7 season-opening win against Texas State this past weekend might not be indicative of what the Scarlet Knights can do this upcoming weekend, as the Buckeyes will certainly be much tougher competition than the Bobcats.
That said, former Ohio State assistant coach Chris Ash appears to have the Scarlet Knights making some progress toward being more competitive, and their roster looks to be a bit more talented than it has in years past – starting at the quarterback position, where Artur Sitkowski is a true freshman going into just his second game, but was a highly recruited prospect who received offers from more than two dozen Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including Ohio State.
We start with Sitkowski in our scouting report of the Scarlet Knights as the Buckeyes prepare to host them at Ohio Stadium on Saturday (3:40 p.m., BTN).
QUARTERBACK
8 Artur Sitkowski – 6-5, 224, Freshman
Sitkowski had a solid debut for the Scarlet Knights against Texas State, completing 20 of 30 passing attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate game ever. A pro-style quarterback who shows quick feet despite being primarily a pocket passer, Sitkowski also demonstrated the ability to zip the ball downfield with accuracy that led to scholarship offers from some of the nation’s top programs.
That said, Sitkowski also made some of the mistakes that you would expect from a true freshman, throwing three interceptions, including a pick-six – and getting away with multiple other near-interceptions – and also fumbling once. He took some chances with the football that he shouldn’t have, and that could be an opportunity for Ohio State’s far more talented defense to take advantage, as Sitkowski plays his first ever collegiate road game in a stadium that holds more than 100,000 people.
RUNNING BACK
2 Raheem Blackshear – 5-9, 192, Sophomore
23 Jonathan Hilliman – 6-0, 225, Redshirt Senior
Rutgers’ most explosive offensive playmaker, Blackshear is a triple threat who can make plays as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner. In Saturday’s season opener against Texas State, Blackshear ran the ball 12 times for 62 yards for a touchdown, caught seven passes for 56 yards and another touchdown and returned two kickoffs for 33 yards.
Blackshear’s not a big back who will run anyone over, but he’s fast and shifty, and as he showed last week against the Bobcats, he can even hurdle a defender. That makes him a threat to break a big play – something Ohio State’s defense struggled with in its season opener against Oregon State – any time he touches the ball.
Hilliman, a graduate transfer who ran for 2,238 yards and 26 touchdowns over the course of four seasons at Boston College (one in which he received a medical redshirt), gives the Scarlet Knights a strong one-two punch at the position. A bigger, strong between-the-tackles runner, Hilliman had 15 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns in Rutgers’ season opener.
Isaih Pacheco, a 5-11, 210-pound true freshman who had 11 carries for 75 yards in the season opener, could have the most potential of the entire group and is another candidate to make some plays out of the backfield for the Scarlet Knights on Saturday.
WIDE RECEIVER
18 Bo Melton – 5-11, 192, Sophomore
15 Shameen Jones – 6-1, 185, Redshirt Freshman
7 Hunter Hayek – 5-9, 180, Sophomore
21 Eddie Lewis – 6-0, 182, Freshman
6 Mohamed Jabbie – 5-11, 197, Redshirt Sophomore
14 Everett Wormley – 6-0, 198, Sophomore
Somewhat similarly to Ohio State, Rutgers’ top six wide receivers all see their share of playing time within the offense, and in an offense that will often deploy multiple tight ends at once and/or put another running back on the field with Blackshear lined up as a receiver, none of these players are mainstays. But they offer a variety of skill sets that the Scarlet Knights offense can utilize.
Melton was the most productive receiver in Rutgers’ season opener, catching four passes for 57 yards. Jones and Lewis are freshmen who offer the combination of size and athleticism to emerge as dangerous playmakers. Jabbie is often the lone receiver on the field when the Scarlet Knights go into their three-tight end set, demonstrating their confidence in him as a blocker.
That said, none of Rutgers’ wide receivers have more than one season of playing experience under their belts, and none of them caught more than eight passes last season (Hayek), so they all remain unproven at this point.
TIGHT END
88 Jerome Washington – 6-4, 256, Senior
89 Travis Vokolek – 6-6, 250, Sophomore
85 Daevon Robinson – 6-3, 220, Freshman
44 Max Anthony – 6-0, 240, Redshirt Junior (Fullback)
Because the Scarlet Knights opened their season opener in a three-tight end set on offense, Washington, Vokolek and Robinson were all credited with starts for that game. Because the Scarlet Knights use multiple tight ends frequently in their offense, all three of them see regular playing time.
Washington is the Scarlet Knights’ star at the position and one of the best players on the entire team. A gifted downfield pass-catcher who offers good athleticism to go along with great size, Washington led Rutgers with 28 receptions for 282 yards in 2017, and is a player Ohio State will have to be prepared for on pass defense.
Vokolek and Robinson are less proven players, but both of them have the talent to emerge as breakout players this season, too. Robinson, one of the top prospects in Rutgers’ 2018 recruiting class, caught two passses for 24 yards in his debut game.
The Scarlet Knights also use sometimes a fullback in their offense, too, and Anthony – who has only two career catches (both last season at Ohio State) but is a good blocker out of the backfield – is Rutgers’ top player at that position.
OFFENSIVE LINE
65 Tariq Cole – 6-6, 317, Redshirt Senior
61 Mike Lonsdorf – 6-6, 302, Redshirt Sophomore OR 66 Nick Krimin – 6-5, 308, Redshirt Sophomore
55 Michael Maietti – 6-1, 292, Redshirt Sophomore
73 Jonah Jackson – 6-4, 305, Redshirt Junior
54 Kamaal Seymour – 6-6, 309, Redshirt Junior
The star of Rutgers’ offensive line is Cole, an NFL prospect at left tackle and two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention who is both a strong pass protector and run blocker. He battled a knee injury coming into the season, however, and could be seen limping during Saturday’s game, so it’s unclear whether he’ll be 100 percent for this Saturday’s game.
Seymour, Maietti and Jackson also all started games in 2017, giving the Scarlet Knights four starting offensive linemen with starting experience. Lonsdorf was listed as the starting left guard on last week’s depth chart, but missed the game due to injury, and Krimin made his first career in his place.
As a whole, though, Rutgers’ offensive line struggled to keep pressure off Sitkowski in the season opener – and that came against Texas State. So this unit could very well prove to be overmatched in pass protection against Ohio State’s star-studded defensive line on Saturday.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...improvement-as-chris-ashs-third-season-begins
If history is any indication at all, Rutgers shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Ohio State on Saturday.
In the first four meetings between the two schools since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2015, Ohio State has outscored Rutgers 219 to 24, winning all four games by at least 39 points and shutting out the Scarlet Knights in each of the last two matchups.
Going into this weekend’s second game of the year for both teams, though, Rutgers appears to have a little more momentum on its side than it has over the past few years.
Rutgers’ 35-7 season-opening win against Texas State this past weekend might not be indicative of what the Scarlet Knights can do this upcoming weekend, as the Buckeyes will certainly be much tougher competition than the Bobcats.
That said, former Ohio State assistant coach Chris Ash appears to have the Scarlet Knights making some progress toward being more competitive, and their roster looks to be a bit more talented than it has in years past – starting at the quarterback position, where Artur Sitkowski is a true freshman going into just his second game, but was a highly recruited prospect who received offers from more than two dozen Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including Ohio State.
We start with Sitkowski in our scouting report of the Scarlet Knights as the Buckeyes prepare to host them at Ohio Stadium on Saturday (3:40 p.m., BTN).
QUARTERBACK
8 Artur Sitkowski – 6-5, 224, Freshman
Sitkowski had a solid debut for the Scarlet Knights against Texas State, completing 20 of 30 passing attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate game ever. A pro-style quarterback who shows quick feet despite being primarily a pocket passer, Sitkowski also demonstrated the ability to zip the ball downfield with accuracy that led to scholarship offers from some of the nation’s top programs.
That said, Sitkowski also made some of the mistakes that you would expect from a true freshman, throwing three interceptions, including a pick-six – and getting away with multiple other near-interceptions – and also fumbling once. He took some chances with the football that he shouldn’t have, and that could be an opportunity for Ohio State’s far more talented defense to take advantage, as Sitkowski plays his first ever collegiate road game in a stadium that holds more than 100,000 people.
RUNNING BACK
2 Raheem Blackshear – 5-9, 192, Sophomore
23 Jonathan Hilliman – 6-0, 225, Redshirt Senior
Rutgers’ most explosive offensive playmaker, Blackshear is a triple threat who can make plays as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner. In Saturday’s season opener against Texas State, Blackshear ran the ball 12 times for 62 yards for a touchdown, caught seven passes for 56 yards and another touchdown and returned two kickoffs for 33 yards.
Blackshear’s not a big back who will run anyone over, but he’s fast and shifty, and as he showed last week against the Bobcats, he can even hurdle a defender. That makes him a threat to break a big play – something Ohio State’s defense struggled with in its season opener against Oregon State – any time he touches the ball.
Hilliman, a graduate transfer who ran for 2,238 yards and 26 touchdowns over the course of four seasons at Boston College (one in which he received a medical redshirt), gives the Scarlet Knights a strong one-two punch at the position. A bigger, strong between-the-tackles runner, Hilliman had 15 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns in Rutgers’ season opener.
Isaih Pacheco, a 5-11, 210-pound true freshman who had 11 carries for 75 yards in the season opener, could have the most potential of the entire group and is another candidate to make some plays out of the backfield for the Scarlet Knights on Saturday.
WIDE RECEIVER
18 Bo Melton – 5-11, 192, Sophomore
15 Shameen Jones – 6-1, 185, Redshirt Freshman
7 Hunter Hayek – 5-9, 180, Sophomore
21 Eddie Lewis – 6-0, 182, Freshman
6 Mohamed Jabbie – 5-11, 197, Redshirt Sophomore
14 Everett Wormley – 6-0, 198, Sophomore
Somewhat similarly to Ohio State, Rutgers’ top six wide receivers all see their share of playing time within the offense, and in an offense that will often deploy multiple tight ends at once and/or put another running back on the field with Blackshear lined up as a receiver, none of these players are mainstays. But they offer a variety of skill sets that the Scarlet Knights offense can utilize.
Melton was the most productive receiver in Rutgers’ season opener, catching four passes for 57 yards. Jones and Lewis are freshmen who offer the combination of size and athleticism to emerge as dangerous playmakers. Jabbie is often the lone receiver on the field when the Scarlet Knights go into their three-tight end set, demonstrating their confidence in him as a blocker.
That said, none of Rutgers’ wide receivers have more than one season of playing experience under their belts, and none of them caught more than eight passes last season (Hayek), so they all remain unproven at this point.
TIGHT END
88 Jerome Washington – 6-4, 256, Senior
89 Travis Vokolek – 6-6, 250, Sophomore
85 Daevon Robinson – 6-3, 220, Freshman
44 Max Anthony – 6-0, 240, Redshirt Junior (Fullback)
Because the Scarlet Knights opened their season opener in a three-tight end set on offense, Washington, Vokolek and Robinson were all credited with starts for that game. Because the Scarlet Knights use multiple tight ends frequently in their offense, all three of them see regular playing time.
Washington is the Scarlet Knights’ star at the position and one of the best players on the entire team. A gifted downfield pass-catcher who offers good athleticism to go along with great size, Washington led Rutgers with 28 receptions for 282 yards in 2017, and is a player Ohio State will have to be prepared for on pass defense.
Vokolek and Robinson are less proven players, but both of them have the talent to emerge as breakout players this season, too. Robinson, one of the top prospects in Rutgers’ 2018 recruiting class, caught two passses for 24 yards in his debut game.
The Scarlet Knights also use sometimes a fullback in their offense, too, and Anthony – who has only two career catches (both last season at Ohio State) but is a good blocker out of the backfield – is Rutgers’ top player at that position.
OFFENSIVE LINE
65 Tariq Cole – 6-6, 317, Redshirt Senior
61 Mike Lonsdorf – 6-6, 302, Redshirt Sophomore OR 66 Nick Krimin – 6-5, 308, Redshirt Sophomore
55 Michael Maietti – 6-1, 292, Redshirt Sophomore
73 Jonah Jackson – 6-4, 305, Redshirt Junior
54 Kamaal Seymour – 6-6, 309, Redshirt Junior
The star of Rutgers’ offensive line is Cole, an NFL prospect at left tackle and two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention who is both a strong pass protector and run blocker. He battled a knee injury coming into the season, however, and could be seen limping during Saturday’s game, so it’s unclear whether he’ll be 100 percent for this Saturday’s game.
Seymour, Maietti and Jackson also all started games in 2017, giving the Scarlet Knights four starting offensive linemen with starting experience. Lonsdorf was listed as the starting left guard on last week’s depth chart, but missed the game due to injury, and Krimin made his first career in his place.
As a whole, though, Rutgers’ offensive line struggled to keep pressure off Sitkowski in the season opener – and that came against Texas State. So this unit could very well prove to be overmatched in pass protection against Ohio State’s star-studded defensive line on Saturday.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...improvement-as-chris-ashs-third-season-begins
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HorseshoeFetish
Silver Bullet Supporter
As long as they are back for TCU I'll be happy. Rutgers is getting killed regardless.
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The first one was scored because of the same things (mental mistake by Pryor).
I agree that some of it will improve as the coaches emphasize it and the kids get more experience but I can't shake that gnawing doubt of wondering what they were emphasizing all summer.
Won't matter for the end result again this week, OSU is so far superior to Rutgers along both lines it isn't even funny and the young Rutgers QB is a TO machine.
I just hope we don't go back to 2013 with a dominant DL and a back 7 that makes the offense have to score 40+ to win.
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Problem is we are one injury away from having the whole thing crumble. This team needs more depth, not just individual contributors.
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HorseshoeFetish
Silver Bullet Supporter
Meh..two captains at two different levels of the defense being out would be an issue for anyone. Maybe the offense will shoulder some of the burden for awhile. Things will be fine. Spread will be covered again this week.
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OSU_Buckguy
Head Coach
heaven is finding a youtube stream. not sure if grandma still puts out youtube streams, but that was killer last year.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
WITH WIN SATURDAY, OHIO STATE FOOTBALL WILL BECOME JUST THE SECOND PROGRAM WITH 900 OR MORE ALL-TIME WINS
When Ohio State welcomes Rutgers to Ohio Stadium Saturday, a lot more than a 1–0 start in the Big Ten will be on the line.
With a win over the Scarlet Knights, the Buckeyes will become just the second FBS program with 900 or more wins, joining the Michigan Wolverines, who lead all schools with 943 wins.
Ohio State, in its 129th season of college football, holds an all-time record of 899–324–53, which is good enough for a winning percentage of .725. Michigan and Notre Dame lead all programs with a winning percentage of .729, while Boise State is second at .726.
Fans of the Buckeyes have actually seen the program win 911 games through the years. However, the NCAA made Ohio State vacate 12 wins from the 2010 season after it was discovered players were selling memorabilia. The affair, dubbed “Tatgate,” led to the resignation of former head coach Jim Tressel.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...second-program-with-900-or-more-all-time-wins
When Ohio State welcomes Rutgers to Ohio Stadium Saturday, a lot more than a 1–0 start in the Big Ten will be on the line.
With a win over the Scarlet Knights, the Buckeyes will become just the second FBS program with 900 or more wins, joining the Michigan Wolverines, who lead all schools with 943 wins.
Ohio State, in its 129th season of college football, holds an all-time record of 899–324–53, which is good enough for a winning percentage of .725. Michigan and Notre Dame lead all programs with a winning percentage of .729, while Boise State is second at .726.
Fans of the Buckeyes have actually seen the program win 911 games through the years. However, the NCAA made Ohio State vacate 12 wins from the 2010 season after it was discovered players were selling memorabilia. The affair, dubbed “Tatgate,” led to the resignation of former head coach Jim Tressel.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...second-program-with-900-or-more-all-time-wins
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Networks are starting to crack down on streams which is a shame.
3 things in life I never pay for: Parking, online-taxes, and cable.
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