NFL legend Michael Vick has immersed himself in the college football coaching world with Norfolk State, having played two games already. The first game against Towson became a major test, resulting in a 27-7 disappointing loss, while Vick steadied the ship in an overtime win against Virginia State in Week 2. But Vick’s team is now in Week 3 and faces a much more powerful opponent in the Big Ten’s Rutgers, a 44.5-point favorite in the game. Despite those lopsided predictions, Michael Vick isn’t too worried about the game and considers it to be ‘routine’ for Norfolk State.

In a recent interview, Michael Vick was asked about his hopes for the Week 3 game against Rutgers. “Rutgers is 2-0. What’s your message to this team, to your team, and the lessons in this matchup come Saturday?” asked the host. One would have expected Michael Vick to give a balanced response, considering the one-sided nature of the game as per predictions. However, Vick’s response showed why he was the 2010 comeback player of the year in the NFL and a 4 time Pro-Bowler.

“Yeah, well, they’re 2-0 and we feel like we should be 2-0 too. But look, we know we’re going into their house. We understand the magnitude of this game, what it means for them, what it means for us, the opportunity to go compete, compete at a high level, and try to win another football game,” said Vick. But after acknowledging the quality of Rutgers’ team, Michael Vick declared the game to be “just another” game for the Norfolk State.

“It’s just another game for us. We’re going to prepare just like we prepare for anybody else, and we’re not gonna go too much into it,” announced Michael Vick. Yahoo Sports has predicted Rutgers to “roll” to victory, while Si.com predicts a “double-digit win” for the Big 10 team. Moreover, CFN’s Pete Fiutak predicted Norfolk State to “get some points on the board, but Rutgers will call its shot.” But despite these predictions, what exactly is fueling Michael Vick’s confidence? Or is it just an attempt to punch thin air?

Norfolk State struggled massively against Towson in Week 1, managing just a single 8-yard touchdown late in the game. In the second game, however, we saw Vick attempting to incorporate a dual QB system with Otto Kuhns and Isarael Carter under center. It paid some dividends, since the team won 34-31 in overtime. Still, defensive lapses were visible, as Norfolk State allowed big plays, and depth issues persisted well into the second game. All in all, Vick’s team is nowhere near what the Rutgers squad has shown in their last two games, and thus, Michael Vick’s statement might just be an attempt to boost team morale. But can we at least expect a tightly contested game?

Rutgers head coach sends an unexpected reply to Michael Vick

Rutgers has so far played its games against Ohio, winning it 34-31, and its week 2 game against Miami (OH), leading to a comfortable 45-17 win. The wins were surely not flawless, and we saw Rutgers struggling against Ohio’s dual-threat QB, Parker Navarro. For context, the QB had an impressive outing, passing for 239 yards and rushing for 93 yards for a touchdown. Now, the secondary and the D line allowing that kind of performance from a G-5 QB speaks to glaring issues for Rutgers that Norfolk State can capitalize on. However, realistically, Rutgers’ head coach, Greg Schiano, knows the importance of the game for Vick.

“I’m excited for him [Vick]. He’s got a chance to start his coaching career at Norfolk State. … I am happy for Michael, he’s doing a great job,” said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, showcasing the mutual respect. The head coach also praised Michael Vick for his role in the NFL, “He was the fastest guy on the field when he was running the ball. And he had an arm that still to this day has been unduplicated, in my opinion,” said the head coach. The verdict?

Even in the second game against Miami (OH), the defense was a disappointment, even though Rutgers’ offense dominated in the game. Despite the 45-17 win, Rutgers allowed 368 all-purpose yards, showcasing flaws in the D line. The positive for Rutgers then is its QB, Athan Kaliakmanis, notching up 4 touchdowns and an impressive 75% completion in the last two games. The WRs, too, showcase their talent as we saw DT Sheffield opening his game with a touchdown catch and Ian Strong lately becoming a red zone threat. Overall, it’s a game that might look like Rutgers’ name written on it, but Norfolk State can surely come out with some positives.