(AP photo)

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

PISCATAWAY — On 25 second-half plays in Saturday's loss at Nebraska, Rutgers' offensive staff made a concerted effort to put backup quarterback Chris Laviano in comfortable situations.

Laviano, who replaced Gary Nova after Nova suffered a right knee injury late in the first half, finished 4-for-9 for 49 yards and with five rushes for 54 more.

Offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen moved Laviano outside the pocket on many of those passes, where Laviano could check to a receiver or tuck and run.

"Everything leading up to the game is the exact same as far as his expectations for me and Gary," Laviano said of Friedgen, who has close ties to Laviano's native Long Island. "He doesn't say, 'Alright, you have this, you have this, you have this.' It's the exact same. As far as play calling, it's whatever he wants to call."

Rutgers ran only three second-half plays from shotgun. On the offense's final scoring drive, Friedgen called for six runs on seven plays.

Wide receiver Leonte Carroo said Laviano was very deliberate in his decision making.

"There were a couple plays where I was open but Chris wasn't sure," Carroo said. "So he took off and ran, which was a smart decision. I told him when he got to the sideline, 'Hey, that was a great decision. Don't force anything you're not ready to throw.' He made a great play."

NOTE: Receivers Janarion Grant and Andre Patton, suspended for one half Saturday, played a combined one snap with Rutgers' offense.

Rutgers' unofficial formation count against Nebraska: 

-12 personnel (one back, two tight ends): 19 plays
-shotgun with 11 personnel: nine plays
-I-formation heavy: nine plays
-shotgun with 11 personnel in trips: four plays
-I-form: four plays
-off-I-formation: three plays
-off-I heavy: three plays
-shotgun with 11 personnel, tight end Tyler Kroft flexed out: three plays
-power-I: three plays
-11 personnel: two plays
-off-I three-wide: two plays
-shotgun with 20 personnel: one play
-I-form three-wide: one play
-goal line: one play

Rutgers' unofficial snap chart for skill-position players:

Player	Burton	Kroft	Carroo	Turzilli	Tsimis	Peoples	Goodwin	Arcidiacono
Snaps	57	52	51	48	24	23	21	16

Player	Agudosi	Martin	Bergen	Patton
Snaps	12	9	1	1

Rutgers' unofficial target chart in the passing game:

Player	Carroo	Turzilli	Kroft	Peoples	Tsimis	Agudosi	Burton	Martin	Patton
Targets	10	5	3	2	2	1	1	1	1