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Greg Schiano previews big matchup with Ohio State in weekly presser
By Nick Schultz
Published:
Rutgers has a big-time opponent coming to SHI Stadium this week.
No. 11 Ohio State is getting ready to make its way to New Jersey for the Week 5 matchup. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a loss to then-No. 19 Michigan in which they scored 10 second-half points to pull within one possession of the Wolverines.
It’s worth wondering if Rutgers can carry that momentum into another top-15 showdown this week at home. But it won’t be easy. The Buckeyes are led by CJ Stroud, who’s 2nd in the B1G in with 321 passing yards per game. Ohio State also leads the league with a 53.33% 3rd-down conversion rate, while Rutgers’ 3rd-down defense is the best in the conference at 21.57%.
That’s one of Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano’s biggest keys to the game. Here’s more of what Schiano had to say:
Schiano on the 2nd half vs. Michigan and carrying it over to Ohio State: "I think the B1G is a very tough league and every game is its own entity. … We need to be really physical and really precise. Michigan's line was very good, and Ohio State's may be better, so here we go."
— Nick Schultz (@NickSchultz_7) September 27, 2021
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano on the offensive line: "We're making progress. It's not close to where I want it to be, no. But we're making progress. … We have a long way to go."
— Nick Schultz (@NickSchultz_7) September 27, 2021
Schiano again confirmed offensive lineman Reggie Sutton is going to need surgery and is out for the year. He suffered a knee injury in practice last week.
— Nick Schultz (@NickSchultz_7) September 27, 2021
Schiano on the importance of third-down defense against Ohio State: "Third-down offense and defense, it keeps you on the field, keeps the drive going, or you get off. We certainly make a big deal of it around here on both sides of the ball."
— Nick Schultz (@NickSchultz_7) September 27, 2021
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.