By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Here are some quick hits from Wednesday's practice, the final one open to the media before Saturday's home opener against Howard:

Head coach Kyle Flood thinks freshman running backs Josh Hicks and Robert Martin are ready to play, but a numbers game at the position makes it difficult. "It's hard to play three backs in a game, let alone four," Flood said. "Right now Paul (James) and Desmon (Peoples) are playing good football. They'll have to find their way on to the field, first of all, on special teams and then ultimately on offense." ...

Rutgers' Ralph Friedgen ascribes to simple philosophy: just execute

Peoples echoed Flood's comments Monday that he envisions himself being more than a third-down back. "I believe I can contribute just as much as he thinks I can," Peoples said. "I don't want to be a change-of-pace guy all my career." ...

From the Statistically Weird Category, Rutgers faces an offense that managed 68 pass yards (Howard) a week after one racked up 532 (Washington State). "It depends on what they're trying to do," safety Lorenzo Waters said. "It depends on their scheme, what type of plays they like to run, what type of personnel they put out there. For the most part, our philosophy stays the same."

Flood will hold off on making any declarations about punters Tim Gleeson and Joe Roth until results translate to High Point Solutions Stadium. "We need to hit the ball better in the game," he said. "That's just the reality of it. Both of those guys, Joe and Timmy, are working hard. ... It's a performance-based business." ...

Flood said certain scheduling quirks really come down to common open dates in the nonconference. "There are certain things that you'll be open to for the first game of the year that you might not be open to in scheduling for the third game," Flood said. "I wouldn't want to make a trip to the West Coast game three. I just think the trip back, without the long week, would be very difficult."