How can Penn State avoid the upset against Rutgers? Here are the game’s 2 key matchups
Penn State is trying to build off a shutout win against Maryland by heading on the road Saturday afternoon. The Nittany Lions will have a relatively easy matchup against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and should earn their ninth win.
Let’s take a look at the two key matchups that will impact the game.
Jon Sauber: Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt vs. Penn State’s defense
Broad, I know, but Wimsatt is the kind of player that could be near a major inflection point in his career. He’s very young but just put together a great performance and has a chance to build off it.
The sophomore quarterback left high school early to join Rutgers for the 2021 season and is now on his way to being the quarterback of the future for the Scarlet Knights. Last week he completed 20 of his 34 pass attempts for 236 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State. That’s a good start, but this is the chance to prove he can do it against the best.
Wimsatt is a good but not great athlete who can extend plays with his legs. He isn’t a dynamic runner but will give himself more opportunities because he can move decently well. He can make things happen when he gets moving at full speed but it takes a while to get there. Wimsatt has a good arm and can make plenty of throws but needs to be more accurate to be a Big Ten level starter at quarterback for Rutgers beyond this season.
Penn State’s defense is the exact kind that can make him uncomfortable and will test him in ways that he hasn’t been thus far. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is going to apply pressure by bringing extra pass rushers in the game and should be able to get to Wimsatt. When he doesn’t dial up a blitz, he has a good enough defensive line to get there on their own and corners that can hold up on the outside against a subpar group of wide receivers with Rutgers. That’s going to put Wimsatt in positions where he has to create for the Scarlet Knights.
To be blunt, he probably isn’t good enough to do that yet, and his weapons aren’t going to do much to help him. This is a game where Penn State should overpower Rutgers and outmatch the Scarlet Knights in almost every facet. Wimsatt just happens to be the player with the most important future for Rutgers and the one the Nittany Lions will have to worry about in the future. This matchup is less about this week, which should be a blowout Penn State win, and more about what can come down the road.
Kyle J. Andrews: Rutgers’ DL vs. Penn State’s OL
Wesley Bailey looks the part for Rutgers. He stands at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds and causes some problems for the opposing offenses. His 3.5 sacks on the season ranks him as team leader for the Scarlet Knights. He’s added a fumble recovery and two pass deflections. There’s room for a little pause for Rutgers — he hasn’t had a sack since the team played Indiana Oct. 22 in a 24-17 win.
The issue for the Scarlet Knights is that not many other players have generated pressure on the quarterback. Rutgers has just 13 sacks on the season with linebacker Tyreem Powell providing the second-most pressure with three sacks on the season. Only six other players have contributed to sacks on the year and one of them is a defensive back in Robert Longerbeam.
As for Penn State’s offensive line, freshman Drew Shelton has stepped up in a big way at left tackle since Olu Fashanu went down. The same goes for left guard Hunter Nourzad, who is in for starting left guard Landon Tengwall.
Juice Scruggs has continued to set the tone the entire season at center with aggressive play in the running game and solid feet in the passing game, along with Sal Wormley at right guard and Bryce Effner has been firm as Caedan Wallace’s replacement at right tackle.
The Nittany Lions allowed one sack against Indiana (Nov. 5) and none in last week’s matchup with Maryland. Penn State bullied both teams in the trenches. It would come as a surprise if the Nittany Lions didn’t do the same to the Scarlet Knights.
