Rutgers Linebacker Tyreem Powell promised something better.

Is this much better?

After three games where its defense looked like it didn’t belong in the same stratosphere as its opponents, the unit responded with the kind of commanding performance many have come to expect from a team that returns so much experience from a top-20 ranked unit. Rutgers wasn’t just good defensively. The problems that plagued the Scarlet Knights during their four-game losing streak disappeared with a dominant second half.

In a game that should have been about Minnesota’s ability to take the ball, it was the Scarlet Knights who turned the defensive game into a 26-19 victory Saturday at SHI Stadium in Piscataway.

Those game-changing pieces? A fumble by Powell and fumble recovery by senior safety Shaquan Loyal at the Minnesota 12-yard line set up the touchdown pass from quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to receiver Ian Strong with 7:41 to play. On its next defensive possession, Jordan Walker sacked Minnesota’s Max Brosmer in the end zone for a safety.

The two plays gave Rutgers tangible evidence of its improvement during the bye week after Powell and his senior leaders vowed to leave it all on the field with four games to go.

Observations

The defense answers every question

If the biggest question of the bye week was could Rutgers fix their defensethe scarlet knights answered with a resounding yes.

By the numbers, Rutgers gave up 39.7 points per game in losses to Wisconsin, UCLA and USC. It responded by holding Minnesota to four scoring drives — three of which came in the first half. He then reared his head in the second half, holding Minnesota to 88 yards in the second half, a total of -14 rushing.

Speaking of that defense

The unit’s best series? Defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak’s huddle forced a three-and-out to start the fourth quarter.

Linebacker Dariel Djabome somehow stayed with the play long enough to sack Max Brosmer on first down. Defensive back Jordan Thompson stripped the ball from Brosmer on the next play. Facing third-and-22, Powell made a first-down save on tight end Jameson Geers, who gained 16 yards up the middle of the field.

Rutgers was also significantly better at playing behind the line of scrimmage. Coming in, Rutgers dropped to 107th nationally in sacks per game and 122nd in tackles for loss. He finished with eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks.

Excusable interception?

This is a fair question considering what Kaliakmanis had done before throwing a critical interception in the end zone.

Minnesota’s defense entered Saturday’s game ranked third nationally with 15 interceptions. It took nearly two quarters for Minnesota’s defense to strike. With Rutgers facing third-and-four at the Minnesota 9-yard line, Kaliakmanis held onto the ball a little too long and was intercepted by Ethan Robinson in the end zone. Robinson put his foot down just before going out of bounds. The NBC camera perfectly captured the finger touch.

The turnover was one of the only blemishes for Kaliakmanis in the first half. Before the interception, Kaliakmanis completed 14 of 20 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

The second half? This was a different story as Kaliakmanis’ hot start was marred by a string of incompletions and drops. After a sensational first half, Kaliakmanis came back down to earth, finishing with three completions in the second half. One of the three went for the touchdown to Strong, though, which put Rutgers ahead for good.

The bud tail fills up nicely

Without standout guard Kyle Monangai out with an injury, Rutgers was able to move the ball down the court thanks to a steady performance from freshman Antwan Raymond and big contributions from sophomore Ja’shon Benjamin, who made his season debut. .

Raymond finished with 22 carries for 73 yards, while Benjamin had 11 carries for 66 yards, including a key 20-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.

The duo began the season as the third and fourth string runners behind Monangai and junior Samuel Brown V.

A nod to the big boys

Monangai’s absence provided another reminder of how important senior Hollin Pierce was at left tackle and the consistent play of Rutgers’ offensive line as a whole. Without the standout defense, the big boys up front opened up some big lanes and didn’t give up a sack in the first half to help the offense stay close in a constant back-and-forth affair.

Speaking of Pierce, the 6-8, 344-pound left tackle has now started 46 straight games going into 2021.

Bonus coverage

— To answer a question raised on the broadcast, the defender St. Anthony was Dante Torres when the two overlapped as the standout receivers in 2022. Torres racked up nearly 4,000 yards of offense and 48 total touchdowns that year for a team that went 11-1. a New York state championship. That year, the two big targets combined for 70 catches for 1,792 yards and 22 touchdowns.

— Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich hit a 51-yard field goal using a two-step run. That was one of four odd special teams scores for the Golden Gophers, who also missed a PAT. Also in the second quarter, Mark Crawford went on a 56-yard play that was nearly blocked but soared through the air without a spin. Then, with 51 seconds left in the second quarter, Crawford deflected a punt that would have been pinned at the Rutgers 1-yard line, but Minnesota’s Za’Quan Bryan fell in the end zone, giving Rutgers a touchback .

— This was the first time Rutgers had ever played a home game on NBC. The Scarlet Knights previously appeared on the network twice when they played Notre Dame in 1996 and 2002. Rutgers lost both games to the Fighting Irish by a combined score of 104-0.

Injury updates

Schiano thought the bye week would result in some needed healing. While four starters on defense were pulled from availability reportone of the most important pieces of its offense – senior linebacker Kyle Monangai – was ruled out two hours before kickoff.

It was the first game Monangai did not start since October 22, 2022. The standout defender had made 26 consecutive starts and 32 consecutive appearances heading into Saturday. Monangai’s starting streak was the second longest on the team behind senior offensive tackle Hollin Pierce who has made 45 straight starts.

Rutgers also played without senior defensive end Wesley Bailey, who Rutgers has announced it will be closed for the season. Bailey hasn’t played since Rutgers lost to Wisconsin on Oct. 12. Bailey has played just four games this season, making him eligible for a redshirt if he chooses that route.

Line

Minnesota opened as a 4 1/2 point favorite. The line continued to move in Minnesota’s favor before settling at 6 1/2 before kickoff, according to several sports books. The total over/under opened at 46 1/2 and settled closer to 44 1/2.

Further on

Rutgers prepares for a trip to Maryland (4-4, 1-4). The game kicks off at 6pm and will be televised on FS1. Overall, Rutgers is 7-12 against Maryland and 3-7 since the two joined the Big Ten together in 2014. The Terrapins will be coming off a trip to Oregon No. 1 before hosting Rutgers. Kickoff between Maryland and Oregon is set for 7:00 PM EST.