Do you remember back in September how frustrated we were over the offense struggling to score points? Rutgers has been absolutely miserable at it. The most points they have scored in a 1-A game was 21 versus Navy. In the past two games the offense has produced 20 points (the defense had a safety against UConn. In the six 1-A games the offense has produced 77 points.

Still, Rutgers defense is strongest against the run.

Brown became the third different marquee back — and the second player who came in as the nation’s leading rusher — to see his rushing numbers take a hit coming out of a game with Rutgers.

The Huskies’ star came in averaging 177.8 yards per game. He managed 107 on 27 carries in the Knights’ 12-10 victory — getting just 7 yards on 13 carries in the second half.

[Shun] White topped the country in rushing at 196 yards per game when Rutgers traveled to Annapolis. He finished with 85 on 16 carries.

Devine? He was averaging 99.8 before facing the Knights. He had 55 yards on 19 carries that game.

“It’s all about our preparation,” said middle linebacker Ryan D’Imperio, named the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Week for his 11-tackle performance against the Huskies. “We don’t just go out there and it happens. It’s not an accident.”

Good thing, because there’s another challenge waiting on Saturday. This time it’s Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy, the Big East’s second-leading rusher at an average of 114.8 yards per game.

“Everyone is a competitor. You like playing against the best,” said defensive tackle Pete Tverdov. “I wish we could play the leading rusher in the nation every week. That would be awesome.

“McCoy, just like the other backs we’ve faced, provides a huge challenge. When you face a back as good as he is, it tests your manhood a little bit. Can you step up to the challenge? Will you be prepared and ready to go?

“This will be another huge test we’ll have to pass.”

But there’s a statistical quirk about what the defensive unit has accomplished: By the numbers, Rutgers isn’t anything special against the run, checking in at No. 72 nationally (out of 119 schools) in that category.

Of course Rutgers lost 2 of those 3 matchups, so I’ll settle for McCoy rushing for under his average if Pitt wins. Yet apparently that defense is why Paul Zeise sort of picked a Rutgers upset.

5. Why hasn’t this program been able to beat Rutgers in its last three matchups? Are these players cognizant of that?

The players definitely know that. They might be best-served to watch films of (former Pitt coach) Walt Harris’s offense run up and down the field against Rutgers defense and incorporate some of the protection schemes into their offense. This offensive scheme seems to be a bad matchup with Rutgers. Instead, we’ll see them try to pound the ball between the tackles against Rutgers and throw short passes — which is playing to Rutgers strengths. I expect this to be a very low scoring game — and I think Rutgers will win again.

I agree insofar as Rutgers’ defense wants to stop the run and Pitt wants to run. So it is strength against strength. It’s just that Rutgers wasn’t very good for most of the Harris time, so to compare them without appropriately taking that into account seems silly. Though, Pitt coaches might take note that Rutgers CBs are under 6-foot (*cough* Baldwin *cough*).

Hey, here’s something familiar. A strong defense, but not creating a lot of turnovers.

Schiano has acknowledged that he has never been through a turnover drought quite like this in his coaching career.

In seven games, Rutgers has produced four turnovers — all against Morgan State, the only non-Bowl Subdivision opponent on its schedule. That makes the Knights 0-for-6 against the rest of their schedule.

And that explains the grim numbers in the latest NCAA statistics: Rutgers is tied for last nationally (with Washington) for fewest turnovers caused, is 116th (out of 119 schools) in interceptions with two and is 108th in fumbles recovered, also with two.

And of course, Mike Teel will still be the QB for Rutgers.