Wednesday September 30, 2009

Maryland Preview

Maryland Preview
Maryland enters Saturday’s game with Clemson with a 1-3 record. Their only win was a 38-35 overtime affair with James Madison in College Park. The three losses include a 52-13 loss at Cal, a 32-31 last second defeat to Middle Tennessee and a 34-13 loss to Rutgers last week.

Perhaps the biggest storyline coming out of the Terps’ campaign so far has been turnovers. In the Rutgers loss last week they turned it over five times. Maryland turned it over four times in the loss to Middle Tennessee, so the Terps have turned it over nine times in their last two games.

One factor that seems to be the rear its head in games at Maryland is the condition of the turf. As of the morning, www.weather.com calls for a 30% chance of rain Friday and Saturday but Tiger fans can recall bad field conditions at Byrd Stadium through the years.

The Terps returned five starters on offense including Da’Rel Scott (5-11, 200, Jr) at tailback. Last season Scott rushed for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns. This season he has 297 yards rushing and is averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He has three rushing touchdowns so far this season. Scott has to be considered one of the top backs in the league.

Chris Turner (6-4, 220, Sr) returns as the starter at quarterback. As a junior, Turner was 214 of 374 for 2,516 yards for 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. This season Turner is 82 of 136 for 962 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Torrey Smith (6-1, 200, So) is the leading wide receiver for Maryland with 18 catches for 386 yards and a couple of touchdowns. He also leads the league in all-purpose yards with 245 yards per game.

The offensive line is inexperienced. The Terps return Bruce Campbell (6-7, 310, Jr) at left tackle and Phil Costa (6-3, 300, Sr) at center. They start true freshman Bennett Fulper (6-4 290) at right guard.

Maryland has been OK on offense. They are 10th in the league in scoring with 23.8 points per game, 8th in the league in total offense at 351 yards per game, 9th in the league in rushing with 111 yards per game and sixth in the ACC in passing with 240 yards per contest.

Their issues on offense have come in terms of sacks and turnovers. The Terps are last in the league in allowing 14 sacks in four games and they are last in the ACC in turnover margin with a minus 10 mark.

Defense has been the real issue with this team. Maryland’s defense has been put in poor field position because of turnovers but they are last in the league in three of the four major defensive categories. They allow 38.2 points per game, 411 total yards per game and 201 rushing yards per game which is last in all three categories. Maryland is 9th in the ACC in pass defense allowing 210 yards per contest.

On the defensive side of the football Maryland has only four returning starters. The only returning starter up front is Travis Ivey (6-4, 325, Sr) at defensive tackle. The only returning starter at linebacker is Alex Wujclak (6-3, 255, Jr). The secondary returns Terrell Skinner (6-3, 214, Sr) at free safety and Demetrius Wiseman (5-10 185, Sr) at one cornerback.

The defense has faced a high powered attack in California but the other three teams (James Madison, Middle Tennessee and Rutgers) are not among the nation’s most feared offenses.

There has been nothing special about Maryland’s special teams so far this season. They rank 7th in the league in kickoff returns, 10th in punt returns, ninth in net punting, fifth in field goals and last in the league in kickoff coverage.

Friedgen’s Future
There was an article in Tuesday’s Washington Post concerning Ralph Friedgen’s future at Maryland. The Terps have named offensive coordinator James Franklin as the “head coach in waiting” in College Park and the original idea was that he would take over after Friedgen’s contract ends after the 2011 season. However, some fans are not happy in College Park.

Friedgen came in like a lion but now looks like he may go out like a lamb. In his first three seasons at Maryland the Terps were 31-8 but in the last five seasons plus the first four games of 2009 they are 34-31.

His first team won the ACC and played Florida in the Orange Bowl. His next two teams won 21 games. Friedgen was at his alma mater and he was making people look foolish for not hiring him earlier. But he has not been able to maintain the success.

Friedgen’s first three teams went 19-5 in the ACC. His last five have gone 18-22. At 1-3, Maryland is faced with its fourth losing season in the last six years.

So it is fair to ask the question, “What happened?”

Maybe Friedgen won with the players left over by Ron Vanderlinden. My guess is the Terps are not as talented as other teams in the league because Friedgen and his staff have had a hard time recruiting. Let’s be honest, how do you think Friedgen would be in the living room of the homes of top prospects (save your dining room jokes)?

The above does not paint a pretty picture for this Maryland squad mainly because it is not pretty. There is always the threat that the Terps will play with a sense of urgency and save their season. There is always the chance Maryland stops turning the football over and upsets the Tigers. Clemson has been bigger favorites than this and loss to Maryland.

However, I don’t see it. Clemson has issues but fewer issues than Maryland. Anything other than a win in College Park for the Tigers this weekend would be a huge disappointment.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs.