The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133554
THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 131 BY ANDREW HUSSEY Rutgers head coach Chris Ash has not yet been able to turn around the program after coming from Ohio State. In his three seasons, the Scarlet Knights have a 7-29 record. In 2018, they went 1-11 — the program's worst mark since 2002. Their lone win last season was a 35-7 tri- umph versus Texas State in the opener. Most of the Scarlet Knights' issues last year came on offense, and there's nowhere to go but up. Out of the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, they ranked last in scor- ing offense with an average of just 13.5 points per game. In nine Big Ten games, the Scarlet Knights did not score more than 17 points and were held to 10 or fewer five times. Rutgers also ranked 128th in yards per catch (9.27) and 127th in completion percentage (48.7). Rutgers' 2018 starting quarterback, soph- omore Artur Sitkowski, ranked dead last amongst all 113 qualified players nationally with a pass efficiency rating of 76.4. The lone bright spot on offense in 2018 was junior running back Raheem Black- shear, who led the team with 586 rushing yards and scored three times on the ground. However, Blackshear only averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and the team as a whole only posted 3.8 yards per attempt. Sophomore Isaih Pacheco is also back af- ter running for 551 yards and three scores on 111 attempts. The two should help the Scar- let Knights improve last year's average of 134.1 rushing yards per game, which ranked 12th in the Big Ten and 106th nationally. The Scarlet Knights return four of their top five receiving options from last season. Blackshear was also the top pass catcher, tallying 44 receptions for 367 yards and two touchdowns. Rutgers' other top pass-catch- ing weapons include junior Bo Melton and sophomore Eddie Lewis, who combined for 52 catches and 418 receiving yards — but neither found the end zone. Rutgers also struggled on defense, giving up 31.4 points per game last season, which ranked 13th in the Big Ten and 89th nation- ally. The Scarlet Knights surrendered 214.8 yards per game on the ground, which was also 13th in the conference and 108th in the country. After last fall's struggles, Ash brought in former Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh to fix that unit. The secondary was the strength in 2018, giving up only 186.7 yards per game through the air, fourth best in the Big Ten and 19th in the country. The Scarlet Knights return a pair of starting cornerbacks in senior Damon Hayes and sophomore Avery Young. The duo combined to start in all but one game last season and accumulated 129 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and 15 passes broken up. Up front, the Scarlet Knights return a pair of starting defensive linemen in juniors Julius Turner and Elorm Lumor. Those two com- bined for 21 starts, 69 stops, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks (all by Lumor) in 2018. The Scarlet Knights face Massachusetts and Liberty in the non-conference slate, and those could be their only victories of the season. The team is likely to remain at the bottom of the Big Ten until the offense dras- tically improves. Notes Rutgers head coach Chris Ash has gone 3-24 in Big Ten play during his three seasons … The Scarlet Knights have not been to a bowl game since 2014 … No Rutgers wide receiver caught more than 28 passes in 2018 and as a group had only one touchdown reception … The Scarlet Knights enter 2019 on the longest losing streak in the nation, having dropped 11 straight and 15 of their last 17. ❑ Rutgers' Big Ten Struggles Are Expected To Continue PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Bo Melton, Jr., WR — Former four-star recruit started in seven games in 2018 … Fin- ished second on the team with 28 catches and 245 receiving yards … Both marks led the wideouts … In 2017, played in every game with three starts and led the team with 20.8 yards per catch. Defense: Avery Young, So., CB — In his first season with the Scar - let Knights, the 6-0, 193-pounder started in 11 games … Led the sec- ondary with 66 tackles and finished second with 10 passes broken up … Also served as the punt returner (6.8-yard average last year). Junior running back Raheem Blackshear led Rutgers in both rushing (586 yards) and re- ceiving (367) in 2018. PHOTO COURTESY RUTGERS GAME 4 • RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS • SEPT. 28 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 4-1 First Meeting: Rutgers 26, U-M 24 (Oct. 4, 2014 at New Brunswick) Last Meeting: U-M 42, Rutgers 7 (Nov. 11, 2018 at Piscataway) Head Coach: Chris Ash, 7-29 at Rutgers and overall (4th year) 2018 In Review: 1-11 overall, 0-9 Big Ten (7th East) Final 2018 Ranking: Not ranked Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2014 (Quick Lane Bowl vs. North Carolina, W 40-21) Big Ten Championships (last): 0 RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Artur Sitkowski (1,158 yards, 4 TD, 18 INT) Rushing: Raheem Blackshear (586 yards, 3 TD) Receiving: Blackshear (367 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Avery Young (66) Sacks: Elorm Lumor and Mike Tverdov (4) Interceptions: Damon Hayes (2) 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Aug. 30 Massachusetts — Sept. 7 at Iowa — Sept. 21 Boston College — Sept. 28 at Michigan L, 42-7 Oct. 5 Maryland L, 34-7 Oct. 12 at Indiana L, 24-17 Oct. 19 Minnesota — Oct. 26 Liberty — Nov. 2 at Illinois L, 38-17 Nov. 16 Ohio State L, 52-3 Nov. 23 Michigan State L, 14-10 Nov. 30 at Penn State L, 20-7