Greg Schiano, Kyle Monangai, Robert Longerbeam speak to media ahead of road battle with Indiana
Head coach Greg Schiano, junior running back Kyle Monangai and junior defensive back Robert Longerbeam of the Rutgers football team spoke to the media this week ahead of their upcoming game against Indiana. The Scarlet Knights (5-2, 2-2) are coming off a historic comeback win and will look to bring that momentum into the weekend.
Schiano opened the press conference on Monday with positive remarks about the Hoosiers' (2-4, 0-3) football program and their coaches. Unsure of who the starting quarterback will be on Saturday for Indiana, Schiano mentioned that it is essential to be ready for whatever will happen during the game.
"They’re both really good players," Schiano said of Hoosiers’ quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby. "They both can throw it very well. They’re both athletic. It’s going to be a challenge, whoever lines up back there … We’ve just got to get ready for both."
Schiano also spoke confidently about Indiana's defensive strength. He mentioned that the whole team plays with pad level and is stout, suggesting Rutgers must be prepared in all areas, especially against the Hoosiers’ defensive line.
"They make you really check every box in your preparation because they bring pressure from everywhere," Schiano said. "They bring line movements that are hard to block, they rush secondary guys and they have good players."
Within this Indiana season, Schiano mainly seems to be focused on the Knights having the right amount of preparation to be ready for Saturday’s game. Only one win away from being eligible for a bowl game, Rutgers should be ready to put on a fight against the Hoosiers, as it won’t be an easy game.
"We’re going on the road … in the Big Ten against a well-coached, talented football team," Schiano said. "We got our hands full, and we’re going to have to have a great week of preparation because they do challenge you in many ways schematically as well as physically."
During last Saturday’s game against Michigan State, the Knights saw an extraordinary performance from Monangai. Monangai is one of the top running backs in the Big Ten and has really stood out to Schiano as well as the Big Ten community.
"He’s developed year after year," Schiano said. "He's gotten stronger, he’s gotten better as a football player. He’s matured, and now he’s a grown man playing running back."
Monangai mentioned yesterday that "being where your feet are" is an essential part of staying focused when it comes to upcoming games. He says that doing so can be hard, especially knowing what Rutgers can gain from this win.
“We know what happens if we win one more game, but to focus on that would be thinking and focusing on the future, which you don’t want to do,” Monangai said. “We’re just focused on sticking to our process … We put the work in through the week, and then on Saturday, we’ll take care of it.”
Longerbeam forced two fumbles against the Spartans (2-4, 0-3) and has shown a lot of individual development throughout the season. He spoke briefly about what makes the Knights’ defense so formidable.
"As a 'Dark Side,' we just preach being violent, swarming to the ball, and I think that’s what we do well,” Longerbeam said. "We just all try to be on the same page and communicate better."
Longerbeam said that Rutgers' weekly positive outlook, regardless of external circumstances, stems from its emphasis on "chopping" the moment and savoring the close-knit team dynamic. Longerbeam stated that the Knights’ objective every week is to finish the weekend with a 1-0 record, and that is what they hope to do against Indiana.
"Everything goes into the season," Longerbeam said. "You prepare hard every week no matter who the opponent is, and they’re a good football team, so you have to prepare and be ready."
Rutgers will face the Hoosiers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. The matchup will kick off at noon and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network, as well as Fox Sports and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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