Rutgers has been outscored by an normal of 25.4 factors-for every-video game in its very last 5 matchups from Penn State.
But Mike Tverdov is hoping for a reversal of fortunes this period.
“It’s certainly our convert to flip points all over right here and really get rolling,’’ Tverdov explained.
Tverdov is in line to make his seventh straight start off this year at defensive stop — and the 19th of his career — on Saturday when the Scarlet Knights (2-4) host the Nittany Lions (1-5) for a noon showdown at SHI Stadium in Piscataway.
Tverdov talked over the matchup with reporters this week in a concern-and-reply session:
Q: For the protection, how vital was it to finish the 2nd-fifty percent potent against Purdue, shutting down the operate video game following subpar performances in opposition to Illinois and Michigan in the second half, and having handle of Purdue in the second half?
Tverdov: “The protection surely did a better occupation of coming back and answering during the second half. We enable items get a little out of handle in the initial fifty percent. We didn’t do our work just correct. We skipped a handful of tackles. But Coach reiterated to us at halftime, enable us know that we have to do our careers, protected our tackles, and just execute the calls that they give us. That is what we did in the second 50 percent. We realized it was our time to demonstrate up, and switch issues all around, and that’s what we did.’’
Q: What do you see from Penn State’s offense on movie?
Tverdov: “I feel they are a really exclusive team. I don’t think they are what their report suggests they are. They have a large amount of expertise on their group. Their offensive line is really big, athletic. But it is one more chance for us to showcase what we can do, also, as staff. We’re searching at this game as a further week to get superior, another week to acquire mainly because that is the mentality we have each and every week — to acquire — and we’re going to do that at all expenditures. So I’m truly psyched for this activity personally. I know the entire group, and we’re just heading to chop just one play at a time.’’
Q: Your workforce has been fairly competitive with Penn Point out the past two many years. Is that a little something that provides your workforce a very little more assurance heading into this activity?
Tverdov: “Absolutely. We’ve generally played them the previous two seasons towards the conclusion of the time and we weren’t necessarily likely to a bowl sport and it was Penn Point out. So that is the 7 days you actually have to display out and do every thing you can to acquire at all expenses. We’ve played them challenging the past two yrs.
“But, like I said, we’re likely to chop a person play at a time and do what we do as a Rutgers football team.’’
Q: You grew up observing coach Greg Schiano when your brother, Pete, played. What’s the encounter been like participating in for him and the staff getting a bounce-again season?
Tverdov: “It’s amazing. It’s a authentic honor. I’ve usually desired to participate in for Coach Schiano. Acquiring the prospect has been nothing but great the last year or so. Learning so many unique matters from him, and finding a opportunity to enjoy for him, and participating in on his protection, has definitely been specific. It is no surprise why we have been having so much good results. He’s a accurate players’ coach. He cares about us additional than football players. We’re all genuinely privileged to have him as our coach.’’
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