Even though Tom Savage handled most of the snaps during practice Wednesday, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is unsure whether the freshman will play or be held out from the lingering effects of a head injury when his team plays at Maryland on Saturday.
“I think he will (play), but we’ll wait and see how he feels,” Schiano said. “I have to meet with the doctors still. They don’t hit him here (in practice). We’ll wait until later in the week to make that assessment.”
Savage suffered the head injury after getting sacked early in the fourth quarter of Rutgers’ 23-15 win over Florida International last Saturday. The injury occurred when defensive end Armond Willis landed on his head, according to Savage.
Although Schiano wouldn’t confirm whether Savage suffered a concussion on the play, the Scarlet Knights quarterback said that the blow to the head “knocked me out cold.”
“It was tough because I wanted to go back in and play, but I had to listen to the doctors,” Savage said Monday, the only day he’s made available to speak to the media during the season. “That play was my fault because the guy was open, I panicked and I tried to run in the middle of the field, which I can’t do. I definitely have to learn from that.”
If Savage is cleared to go, Schiano said he will make his third career start. If not, fifth-year senior Domenic Natale would start under center.
“If Tom is well, he will be the number one quarterback,” Schiano said.
Through three games, Savage has earned rave reviews from Schiano for his temperament and game-management skills. Though he’s completed only 53.1 percent of his passes, the 6-5, 230-pound Savage has thrown for 543 yards and three touchdowns and hasn’t been intercepted in 64 attempts.
And he’s won both of his starts for a 2-1 Rutgers team, which will play its first road game on Saturday.
“The biggest improvement I’ve made in my first three games is just handling the football with Division I talent around me,” said Savage. “My goal right now is not turning the ball over, because with the defense that we play punting the ball isn’t the worst thing.”
Asked what he needs to improve on, Savage mentioned the need to be calm in the pocket.
“I just need to be more poised,” said Savage, who has been sacked seven times in less than eight quarters of action in three games. “With the offensive line we have I never really get hit because of them. I got hit Saturday all because of me. I panicked, I tried rolling out and did stupid stuff. I should’ve just stood in the pocket and made the throws.”
AP-ES-09-23-09 1831EDT
