Numbers demonstrate poor play by all of Terps’ units Since they beat Miami in Randy Edsall’s debut on Labor Day, little has gone right for the Maryland Terrapins.
In losses to West Virginia and Temple, Maryland’s weaknesses have been exposed. Even areas the Terps were counting on as strengths — quarterback and offensive line — are now question marks.
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Statistics reveal that Maryland’s ineptitude is spread equally among all units. The Terps rank 91st in the 120-team FBS in scoring offense (23.3 points a game) and 103rd in both scoring defense (33 ppg) and total defense (424 yards a game).
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| Towson at Maryland |
| When » Saturday, 3:30 p.m. |
| Where » Byrd Stadium |
| TV » CSN |
| Radio » 980 AM |
None of the Terps’ four special team units — kickoff and punt return and kickoff and punt return defense — ranks better than 96th.
The Terps also have been poor in clutch situations. On third-down conversions they rank 81st on offense (38.7 percent) and 111th on defense (48.8 percent). In the red zone they are 91st on offense (73 percent conversion rate) and 103rd on defense (92 percent).
As Maryland (1-2) prepares for Saturday’s game with Towson (3-0), there are no easy answers, although a major injection of intensity seems in order after Saturday’s 38-7 going-through-the-motions home loss to Temple.
“You do the things that you can to motivate them, but you know what? Once you hit the field, you get behind the lines, it’s up to them,” Edsall said. “You prepare them, get them ready, then it’s their job to play with the passion, the enthusiasm, the determination, the physicalness, the toughness to win at this level.”
Edsall talked Sunday of finding players with the right mindset, citing the example of safety Matt Robinson, who leads the team in tackles (36) but is out for the year with a shoulder injury.
“Who are the leaders of this team? If I have to get them ready to play every game, then we’ve got the wrong guys,” Edsall said. “This is what I told them: Who in this room is going to stand up and be the guy to get on people and get people going? Who wants that responsibility on their shoulders?”
On defense, Edsall has been quick to make changes, some out of necessity because of injuries, others in an effort to find the right players. There were more changes in the ever-evolving depth chart released Monday.
Freshman Titus Till will take over at Robinson’s safety slot. With linebacker Darin Drakeford out with an ankle sprain, freshman Lorne Goree will take over at middle linebacker and Demetrius Hartsfield returns to the outside spot he occupied last season. Maurice Hampton has assumed a tackle slot for injured Andre Monroe, becoming the third different starter this season alongside Joe Vellano.
To illustrate the Terps’ lack of depth on defense, six of the players listed as primary reserves are freshmen, including newly promoted Darius Kilgo (tackle), A.J. Hendy (safety) and Cole Farrand (middle linebacker).
According to guard Andrew Gonnella, however, that might be a good thing.
“We have to practice like we’re all freshmen,” the senior said after the Temple game. “At this point we’re starting from scratch.”
