Greg Schiano on Rutgers' first quarter: 'We played about as poor as we can'

Trailing Wisconsin 14-0 after the first quarter, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano summed it up quite simply: not even close to what the Scarlet Knights are capable of.

The Scarlet Knights punted four times in the first 15 minutes and had three three-and-outs. Not only that, they lost defensive lineman Aaron Lewis to a shoulder injury.

Coming in at 4-1 at home, in a winnable game against the Badgers, Schiano and company looked flat.

“Yeah, we’ve played about as poorly as we can to start the game,” Schiano told BTN’s Brooke Fletcher. “We need to get that first quarter out of our system and go play the way we’re capable because that certainly isn’t what we’re capable of.”

Schiano knew what was at stake coming into this game: you have to stop Wisconsin in all phases of the game.

“Yeah, they are a good football team,” Schiano said. “Coach Fickell does a very good job. Has a real strong philosophy on how they want to play the game. Up front, their offensive line I think is big. They are strong.

“You know, you just watch them play against good competition. They are good up front. They lost their starting quarterback and then the second team comes in Saturday and really lit it up against Purdue. You don’t know what — what that is there. There’s not a lot of film to go off, a few games, and a little bit last year. You know, we’ll create a plan on what they like to do offensively but we’re going to have to stop the run and the pass.”

Greg Schiano frustrated with Rutgers’ start

You can’t make too many mistakes against a disciplined football team. And for Schiano and Rutgers to keep piling up wins, they have to be mistake-free.

The first quarter wasn’t the best example.

“So definitely a great challenge,” Schiano said. “But every week in the Big Ten is. What week isn’t, right. The margin of error is very slim, as we saw Saturday. When you come out on the right end of it, you’re really happy and excited.

“And when you come out on the wrong end like Saturday, you know, you’ve got to move forward now ask that’s what we’re doing with Wisconsin. They are very good, so a big challenge.”