Fact is, the Scarlet Knights may utilize the base 4-3 scheme on 25 percent of their opponent’s offensive snaps. The rest of the time, Rutgers’ defense is either featuring an additional linebacker in a 3-4 look or playing extra defensive backs in nickel or dime sub-packages.
“You’d like to be two-deep everywhere at all the positions that you have and if we’re not than you’d like to come up with some different personnel combinations that give you an opportunity to still be competitive,’’ said Jay Niemann, the Scarlet Knights defensive coordinator. “We have to have contingency plans in that case.