Chris Ash did plenty of good things while he was Ohio State's defensive coordinator from 2014-15.
He introduced the Buckeyes' new style of rugby tackling and revamped a hapless Ohio State secondary into a championship-caliber pass defense, as OSU went on to win the 2014 national title.
Ash is still trying to rebuild a Rutgers program that is dealing with NCAA sanctions from the previous regime. While the first 16 games of Ash's head coaching career haven't quite gone the way he planned (3-13 record), the former Ohio State assistant has some pieces in place that can make an impact. Eleven Warriors takes a look at Ash's second Scarlet Knight team, which the Buckeyes will face at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, in this week's Scouting Report.
Offense (Spread)
Quarterback: Kyle Bolin (No. 9) 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, redshirt senior
Strengths:
- Very accurate on short to intermediate passes.
- Battle-tested. Played some at Louisville before transferring to Rutgers. Also played Washington at home this season.
Weaknesses:
- Struggles to protect the football. Bolin has thrown six interceptions in four games this season, throwing two each in three games against FBS opponents.
- Struggles on downfield throws.
Running back: Gus Edwards (No. 13) 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, redshirt senior
Strengths:
- A graduate transfer from Miami (Fla.), Edwards also has plenty of experience. Tallied 59 or more carries in three seasons with the Hurricanes.
- Strong back with good speed, can bounce plays to the edge and run effectively between the tackles.
Weaknesses:
- Unproven. Despite his experience, Edwards has just three 100-yard rushing games in his career dating back to 2013, just one coming against a FBS opponent.
Wide receivers: Janarion Grant (No. 1) 5-foot-10, 178 pounds, redshirt senior / Damon Mitchell (No. 5) 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, redshirt senior / TE Jerome Washington (No. 88) 6-foot-4, 258 pounds, junior
Strengths:
- Grant is one of the most explosive players in the country when the ball is in his hands. Lightning quick speed makes him a threat on the perimeter.
- Washington has been Bolin's favorite target this season as he leads the team with 15 receptions. A more athletic tight end, Washington made headlines last week for making a circus catch in a loss to Nebraska last week.
- Mitchell is a dynamic player, having played both running back and wide receiver at Arkansas before transferring to Rutgers in the offseason.
Weaknesses:
- Outside of Grant, this unit is largely unproven. Washington and Mitchell entered the season with just seven combined career catches.
- Grant has suffered another injury scare and has made just 12 catches for 113 yards so far this season. Grant missed most of last season due to injury, receiving a medical redshirt. He did not play against Nebraska last week due to an undisclosed injury.
Offensive line: LT Tariq Cole (No. 65) 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, redshirt junior / LG Dorian Miller (No. 60) 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, redshirt senior / C Jonah Jackson (No. 73) 6-foot-4, 299 pounds, redshirt sophomore / RG Marcus Applefield (No. 71) 6-foot-5, 308 pounds, redshirt junior / RT Kamaal Seymour (No. 54) 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, redshirt sophomore
Strengths:
- Rutgers has good size and athleticism on its offensive line.
- Pass protection. The Scarlet Knights have allowed just three sacks all season.
Weaknesses:
- Average running game. Rutgers averages 163.25 rush yards per game, good for eighth in the Big Ten.
Overall analysis: Much of the Rutgers offense has been pieced together this season with graduate transfers. The Scarlet Knight's starting quarterback, running back, tight end and wide receiver (Mitchell) are all graduate transfers as Ash has tried to find players who can produce.
This offense has taken a step forward from 2016, but still struggles to put up points against FBS opponents. Not including a 65-0 win Sept. 16 over FCS school Morgan State, the Scarlet Knights are averaging just 14.6 points per game. This unit, still trying to jell with plenty of new faces, has struggled to produce points and hasn't shown many signs of life against FBS competition.
The one strength of the Rutgers offense outside of Grant is the Scarlet Knight offensive line. The front five for Rutgers has been able to keep Bolin upright for most of the season, allowing just three sacks, which is second-best in the Big Ten. That said, the Scarlet Knights are in for a tough test against Ohio State's defensive line on Saturday.
Defense (Multiple)
Defensive line: DE Kevin Wilkins (No. 99) 6-foot-2, 306 pounds, redshirt junior / NT Sebastian Joseph (No. 51) 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, redshirt senior / DT Jon Bateky (No. 95) 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, junior / DE Kemoko Turay (No. 58) 6-foot-5, 252 pounds, redshirt senior
Strengths:
- Versatile defensive line, can and will line up in both 4-3 and 3-4 looks up front. Wilkins has the size and ability to play both inside or out for Rutgers.
Weaknesses:
- Pass rush. The Scarlet Knights rank last in the Big Ten in sacks with just three.
- The Rutgers defensive front has struggled to get into opposing backfields all season, tallying 15 tackles for loss, which ranks second-to-last in the Big Ten.
Linebackers: WLB Trevor Morris (No. 15) 6-foot-1, 232 pounds, junior / MLB Deonte Roberts (No. 6) 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, junior / SLB Ross Douglas (No. 21) 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, redshirt senior
Strengths:
- Veteran group. Morris and Roberts are returning starters and the two leading tacklers for Rutgers, and Douglas has experience in the Big Ten as a transfer from Michigan.
Weaknesses:
- Douglas is still transitioning to the outside linebacker position after moving from free safety in the offseason. He played running back at Michigan so while he isn't afraid of contact, he is still learning his position on defense.
- With a subpar defensive line, the linebackers are forced to make a lot of plays at the second level. Not necessarily a weakness for them, but for the defensive unit as a whole.
Secondary: CB Isaiah Wharton (No. 11) 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, junior / SS Kiy Hester (No. 2) 6-foot, 211 pounds, redshirt junior / FS Saquon Hampton (No. 9) 6-foot-1, 207 pounds, redshirt junior / CB Blessuan Austin (No. 10) 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, junior
Strengths:
- The secondary is the strength of the Rutgers defense. The Scarlet Knights have collected five interceptions this season, tied for second in the Big Ten.
- Much like Ash recruited at Ohio State, his cornerbacks have good size and speed and will challenge opposing receivers with the ball in the air.
- Veteran group. Hester is the only non-returning starter in the secondary.
Weaknesses:
- Corners have not been tested much on the perimeter. With Ohio State running more run-pass options and getting the ball outside the hash marks, Rutgers' corners will likely be asked to make more tackles than they have in previous games.
- UPDATE: Austin is out for the season after suffering a season-ending injury against Nebraska last week. Sophomore Damon Hayes would likely be his replacement if he cannot go against the Buckeyes.
Overall analysis: The secondary is the strength of Ash's defense and the defensive line is a major liability. In order to get any kind of pressure on opposing offenses, the Scarlet Knights are going to have to bring pressure from the linebacker level.
Rutgers will almost always have four men at the line of scrimmage on defense, but it will not always look like a true 4-3. Freshman defensive lineman Elorm Lumor (No. 7) is built like an outside linebacker and will be in the game on occasions as a standup end rushing the passer. In those scenarios, Wilkins bumps down to defensive tackle.
In order to stay competitive against Ohio State, Rutgers will need to make some big plays on defense. The Scarlet Knights have the skill in the secondary to do it, but it could be a long night for Rutgers if they can't stop the run game.
Special Teams
Kicker: Andrew Harte (No. 97) 6-foot, 190 pounds, redshirt senior
Punter: Ryan Anderson (No. 96) 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, redshirt senior
Analysis: Harte, a graduate transfer from Minnesota, has missed just one field goal attempt so far this season and has converted on all of his extra point attempts. Anderson has been called on a lot this season, having attempted 22 already this year. He averages 42.95 yards per boot, ranking him seventh in the Big Ten in that category.
The real threat on special teams for Rutgers is Grant, who is statistically one of the best return men in college football history. Grant has eight return touchdowns (five kickoff returns, three punt returns) in his career, tying him with seven other players for the most in NCAA history.
