MIAMI FOOTBALL

Miami regroups for second Big Ten foe

Scarlet Knights bring different style, experience

By MIKE SMITH
Miami takes its second 2025 dip in the Big Ten pool Saturday when the RedHawks visit Rutgers. It's a chance for MU to redeem itself, or at least gain some traction on offense after struggling mightily in last week's 17-0 loss at Wisconsin.
Zero for nine on third down  may not say it all, but the stat says a lot.
​Granted, the RedHawks . . . 

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. . . opened 2025 with no returning starters on offense. However, especially with veteran and dual-threat QB Dequan Finn at quarterback, many fans were hopeful for a more productive evening. 
• Unfortunately, this week's matchup will be telecast on Peacock, so making arrangements to view the game may take some preparation. 
But, hey, preparation is a key this week. In his weekly press conference, Head Coach Chuck Martin indicated both offense and defensive units will be challenged Saturday. 
• While Miami's defense surrendered just three firsts half points and 10 through three quarters, they will face a Rutgers team that defeated Ohio 34-31 in Week 1. 
• The Scarlet Knights converted just 1-of-10 third down opportunites but kept several drives going by converting 5-of-5 fourth down gambles.
• In addition to the Scarlet Knights running for 147 yards, Rutgers senior QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed 18-of-24 passes for 252 yards and a pair of TDs. 

"Rutgers (is) a different challenge," Martin said.  "Offensively, (they're) a totally different animal than the team we just played. -- style and experience. They've got a lot of guys back on a team that was really good a year ago. They run it. They throw it. They're really physical. They're nasty up front, (and) they've got a quarterback that can do a lot of different things and (also) makes great decisions. It will be a really, really great challenge for our defense.: 
• Offensively, Miami must learn from Week 1 and adapt. Martin emphasized RedHawk offensive problems were widespread. 
"You watch it on tape, and it doesn't make you feel very good. We didn't play very good individually. We didn't play very good as a group," Martin said. "We had 44 plays. I don't think we executed one properly (with) all 11 guys." 

He continued, "We had a lot of things exposed in our first game that we have to work on. Will we get them all corrected this week? Probably not, but we've got to get some of them corrected this week, and a lot of it has to look better to give ourselves a chance. The good news is we came out of the game pretty healthy."
He added, "We have to be more efficient everywhere. ... We have to coach it better. We have to prepare it better. We have to do everything better on offense. 
As for Rutgers allowing 31 points by Ohio, Martin noted two things:
   -- Ohio is a very good offensive team.
   -- Rutgers has "quite a few new guys on defense, so they have some things to clean up. But coach Shiano is one of the better defensive coaches on the planet."

• Except for a couple costly penalties that "should never happen again," Martin said MU's special teams performed well at Wisconsin. He also said that unit must be ready for the Knights. Rutgers' final TD came on a blocked punt.