Déjà vu for Terrapins as tackle goes down
Was the “pop” Maryland left tackle Justin Gilbert heard in his knee the sound of history repeating?
Tuesday afternoon, when coach Ralph Friedgen announced Gilbert has a torn ACL and likely is done for the season, it was a reminder of 2009 — when Maryland was undone in large part by an injury-ravaged offensive line.
In Gilbert, Maryland (2-1) loses its most important offensive lineman, a player who had made huge strides from his redshirt freshman year, when injuries forced him into the lineup before he was ready.
“Justin was really playing very well for us,” Friedgen said. “It’s frustrating to be in this situation, but we’ve got to move on.”
Moving into the lineup is redshirt freshman Pete DeSouza, a 6-foot-6, 310-pounder from DeMatha. DeSouza takes over at the less-demanding right tackle slot, while redshirt sophomore R.J. Dill shifts from the right side to the left. When Gilbert was hurt in the third quarter of Saturday’s 31-17 loss at West Virginia, DeSouza came off the bench. The Terps allowed eight sacks in the game, five after Gilbert’s departure.
“My major concern with losing [Gilbert] was that we would be forced to play a redshirt freshman,” Friedgen said. “But DeSouza has played and played well. He got in some situations Saturday that hopefully will help him.”
Playing freshmen on the offensive line was a recipe for disaster last year when Maryland went 2-10 and ranked No. 110 (out of 120 teams in the FBS) in both sacks allowed (3.0 per game) and average gain per rush (3.1 yards).
By game two, true freshman Bennett Fulper and redshirt freshman Dill were in the starting lineup, and Gilbert was a top reserve. The juggling act was such that walk-on Paul Pinegar started at three different positions. This year he is at a fourth position — center.
Friedgen said that starting guard Justin Young also is battling a knee injury. Is Maryland’s injury jinx on the offensive line extending to this year?
“Not at all. The whole offensive line worked their butt off in the summer,” senior running back Da’Rel Scott said. “I trust each and every one of them. Yes, it was a key loss, getting Justin Gilbert hurt, but I just trust R.J. Dill and Pete DeSouza.”
