Quick Analysis of Upcoming Football Season From Patrick Stevens
One of these years, Maryland is going to stitch together an explosive offense that can alleviate pressure on a defense that is usually somewhere between “bend-but-don’t-break” and “quite solid.” This probably isn’t going to be that year.
The Terrapins haven’t averaged 400 yards per game since 2003, and have only cracked 30 points a game once in that span (2010). With a young offensive line, a new quarterback (either Caleb Rowe or Oklahoma State graduate transfer Daxx Garman are the obvious candidates) and four of last year’s top five pass-catchers gone, a breakout year doesn’t look likely.
In other seasons, that would be offset by stability on defense. But Maryland brings back just one starter in the front seven, and it flips schemes from a 3-4 to a 4-3 under new coordinator Keith Dudzinski. The unquestioned highlight of the roster (besides Groza Award winner Brad Craddock at kicker) is a secondary featuring cornerbacks Sean Davis and Will Likely. That’s further incentive for teams to run on the Terps, who gave up more than 200 yards per game on the ground last year.
Maryland’s first year in the Big Ten was a moderate success, and it was wise to take advantage of vulnerable situations at Michigan and Penn State to snag road victories. It was also the second consecutive 7-6 season, which isn’t far from the level the Terps typically rose to in their latter years in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
This, however, looks like a rebuilding year, and a brutal seven-game stretch in the middle of the season probably won’t yield much success. Maryland’s path to bowl eligibility is clear: Open with three straight home wins, upend Indiana and Rutgers at the end and hope to snag one or two in the center of the schedule. Treading water isn’t remotely exciting, but it’s probably a best-case scenario for the Terps.
Maryland Football
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