For Temple football head coach Stan Drayton, the challenge of facing Rutgers this weekend rests in the Big Ten program’s ability to be multiple and move the ball in a variety of ways. Drayton, in his first year as head coach of Temple, knows that his team is facing a big task in terms of the talent Rutgers has on their roster.
In particular, on offense.
Temple has had a hot-cold start to the season. Sitting at 1-1, they beat Lafayette 30-14 last weekend after a rough season opener where they lost 30-0 at Duke.
As for Rutgers (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten), the Scarlet Knights put up 66 points this past weekend against Wagner. They also moved the ball quite effectively in the second half of their season-opening win against Boston College.
Factor in the physicality of the Rutgers offensive line along with their quarterback rotation (Gavin Wimsatt and Evan Simon along with Wildcat quarterback Johnny Langan) and Drayton says his team is facing a strong offense.
“Both Wimsatt and Simon are very talented football players. They both bring their own strengths and weaknesses to the game. I see a lot of strength, not a whole lot of weakness,” Drayton told reporters on Monday during his weekly press conference.
“But Wimsatt being the bigger of the two can play with his feet. When he decides to run the football, you’re looking at a 6-foot-3 220-pound ball carrier that you got to tackle. Simon’s a guy who manages tthe pass game really well, throws with good accuracy. But also when it’s time for him to use his feet, he’s very effective. They’re very multiple formationally.”
As for the running game, that was the focus of Drayton’s attention. Against Boston College, in particular in the second half, the Scarlet Knights simply pushed around their ACC opposition.
The winning drive in that 22-21 win came late in the fourth quarter. Rutgers went 96 yards on 12 plays, all on the ground.
A team can’t do that unless the offensive line is dominant.
“They do a lot…
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