Rutgers plans to up playing time for deeper group of defensive backs

Change is coming to the Rutgers secondary.

After giving up 306 passing yards to Washington, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said he will deploy multiple cornerbacks and add playing time for two players who were previously used in limited roles through the Scarlet Knights first four wins.

“I think we have to get more guys playing at corner,” Schiano said Monday during his weekly press conference. “I think the issue is the corners are probably taking too many snaps right now. I like to have a three-man rotation going, and I think Bo Mascoe and Al-Shadee Salaam need to play more. I think they are good players.”

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Rutgers, which enters ranked 36th nationally in passing yards allowed per game (179.5), faces what Schiano expects to be one of its toughest matchups yet — and could have an injury concern — in the secondary when the Scarlet Knights (4-0) travel to Nebraska (3-1) on Saturday for a 4 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.

In addition to freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, Nebraska has three wide receivers with impressive size.

“When you’re playing against big wide-outs like that, it tires you out when they lean on you. So we are going to have to be aware of that,” Schiano said.

According to Pro Football Focus, seniors Eric Rogers and Robert Longerbeam have logged at least 80.1% of Rutgers’ defensive snaps as the starting cornerbacks. Mascoe, a freshman, has played 48.1% as the third cornerback while Salaam, a senior and converted running back, has only logged two snaps.

The starters — Longerbeam and Rogers — have average grades in coverage, according to PFF. Longerbeam has given up completions on 11 receptions on 18 targets, a 61% completion percent. Rogers, meanwhile, has been targeted 11 times, giving up eight completions for a 72.7% rate, according to PFF. Longerbeam has three breakups while each has one interception.

The challenge will be taking on a Nebraska passing offense that is averaging 260.8 yards per game and ranks 44th nationally. Its trio of receivers — Isaiah Neyor (6-4, 220 pounds), Jahmal Banks (6-4, 220) and Janiran Bonner (6-2, 220) — will try to create size advantages against Rutgers’ cornerbacks.

“Each one is bigger than the next. I mean, they are gigantic and a very physical group,” Schiano said. “They have drawn a lot of defensive pass interference calls, as you can imagine, because of their size and kind of the way they move defensive backs around.”

Rogers, the biggest Rutgers cornerback at 6-2, 189 pounds, was injured on the second to last play last week. Schiano did not disclose his injury status, instead referring to the pregame availability report, which will be released by the Big Ten two hours prior to kickoff Saturday.

With or without Rogers, the Rutgers secondary will, literally, be presented a tall task.

“What I talk to the DBs about all the time, but it’s really emphasized more, is you need to be really precise with your angles of entry and your coverage mechanics because if you’re at all out of position, these guys have such large catch radiuses, and they can use their body to box you out,” Schiano said. “So you’re really going to have to flip the hips and really be playing good football to be able to make a play on the ball.”