Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we'll have a separate travel thread.

Date: September 24th, 2011  2:00 PM

Opponent: Rutgers  (1-1, Big East 0-0)

Site: High Point Solutions Stadium

TV: None

Radio:  Ohio Radio

Webcast:  ESPN3.com

Ohio Game Notes

Rutgers Game Notes

Weather

Fan Sites:  ScarletNation.com  (Rivals)   ScarletReport.com  (Scout)

Rutger's media guide, roster and statistics.

Ohio Injury List (status is my interpretation based upon media reports):

LB  Noah Keller - Probable (shoulder)
RB  Donte Harden - Questionable (groin)
TE  Zac Clark - Out (knee)
TE  Derek Roback - Out (back)
DL  Jeff King - Out (knee)
TE  Troy Hill - Out for season (knee)
OL  Matt Pritchard - Out for season (knee)

Frank's phone conference today:

http://rutgers.scout.com/2/1108266.html

Injury updates: Jeff King has an "outside shot of playing," according to Solich today.

Derek Roback is close to returning, but it probably will be next week.

Noah Keller's hamstring is fine now, according to Solich, but another injury makes him questionable for this game. Anyone see this happen?

Donte Harden also was called questionable. "I guess I just list him as questionable right now until we see him actually run. We don’t really quite have a handle on that one right now."

I saw Noah hurt his shoulder on a big, straight up hit around mid-field.  He tried to get off the field by giving the 'take me out" signal, but I think he may have played one more play.  He left the field and the training staff was working on his right shoulder I believe.  Don't know if it was just a stinger, or if it might be some degree of  seperation.
Not sure about Zac, but it didnt look good to me. Watched the med. staff examining his knee, then heavy ice and crutches.  Body language around him did not look good to me.  Hopefully I am wrong !

We open as a 4pt. underdog.

Well put Football Jim.  If we approach this game with the same "mind set" (sorry Larry Hunter fans) as we did the Marshall game we can win it by just doing what we've been doing. 

There is zero chance that Rutgers will overlook Ohio. To win this game, Ohio will have to go toe to toe and beat them. I think they can do that. Go Bobcats.

This one should come down to whether OU's secondary can choke off the big plays.  Rutgers is trying to bolster its O line, but they're doing it with freshmen (or maybe they're trying to embarrass the seniors into putting out more effort?) and they also are trying a freshman RB. That makes their running game pretty iffy.  They've been effective with the passing game, though, so that will put more pressure on OU's secondary.  The secondary will need to play a whale of a game.

Some keys for us:

1.  Control the line of scrimmage.  This is key for any game played; I don't care if it's the Oklahoma Sooners playing Akron.  Games are won on the line of scrimmage PERIOD.  It's even more crucial when you have an opponent who is possibly one of the toughest teams we'll play this season.  We've done a great job at the LOS so far, so we just need to keep up the work.

2.  Big play defense.  We've given up big plays to New Mexico State and Marshall so far.  Rutgers is having some issues with their run game, so I expect them to pass the ball a little more.  If we can contain them to short passes, we will be able to be patient for them to make mistakes.  Bend, but don't break.
2b.  Special teams- can't allow big returns on kickoffs.

3.  Big play offense.  We have a lot of weapons on offense.  Keep Rutgers guessing and we can score a good amount of points.

4.  Turnovers.  After what we saw last saturday, is there any explanation on how crucial this battle is?

5.  Finally, intensity.  We came out like somebody shot our team out of a cannon against Marshall.  We need to at least match that intensity this weekend.

Our offense has been able to mix it up, the special teams is one of the best in the country.  If the defense can play solid for four quarters, we'll be 4-0 going into October.

That would be a career ender, wouldn't it? What a shame.

For sure.....hardly any Ohio talk on the Rutgers board....could be the realignment thing....but I think it's just a total disregard by the fans....here are some of the reasons why one SK fan thinks Ohio is a not a very good team:



*Marshall couldn't tackle.

* TT only has 3 games at QB.

* Marshall and Ohio have terrible kick coverage.

* Rutgers has tons more speed.

* No QB pressure from Ohio.

* Ohio can't secure the ball and will have numerous turnovers.

* Ohio's O Line can't pass block.

* Ohio's D can't handle cutback runs.

* Ohio's last BCS win in 06.

* recent record against the MAC is 7-1.


We'll see.

In Monroesque fashion I'm answering my own question, courtesy of the official Rutgers athletic site:

Rutgers vs. the MAC
Rutgers is 28-18-1 all-time vs. schools from the Mid-American Conference. Saturday's meeting is the first for RU against a MAC opponent since the 2007 International Bowl vs. Ball State (W, 52-30).

Rutgers Against the MAC
Akron 1-0
Ball State 1-0-1
Buffalo 5-1
Kent State 2-0
Ohio 1-1
Temple* 18-16
*None of the games vs. Temple were played during the Owls' current status in the MAC

Schiano vs. the MAC
Under Greg Schiano, Rutgers is 7-1 vs. MAC opponents. The Scarlet Knights have won six straight games vs. the MAC, with the last loss coming vs. Buffalo in 2002.

Schiano vs. the MAC
Ball State W, 52-30 (1-5-08) International Bowl
Buffalo W, 38-3 (8-30-07)
Ohio W, 24-7 (9-16-06)
at Buffalo W, 17-3 (9-17-05)
Kent State W, 29-21 (9-18-04)
Buffalo W, 24-10 (8-30-03)
Buffalo L, 34-11 (9-7-02)
at Buffalo W, 31-15 (8-30-01)*
*Schiano's first game at Rutgers

I also checked in the Ohio records and found that our victory against Rutgers was 13-0 in the Peden era.