The players say there wasn?t any point in time where everything came together. But somewhere within the past seven games, things began to slow down for the Maryland football team?s defense, and the young, energetic unit began to speed up.
“You just try to do what they tell you to do, and you don?t really make big plays,” senior cornerback Josh Wilson said of the season?s start. “Once you get into that comfort zone, you can make plays.”
A number of players have found that zone, and the effect is obvious.
“We are starting to get better in certain areas,” Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We have a big test ahead of us this week.”
Atlantic Coast Conference rival Florida State (4-3 overall, 2-3 ACC) comes into College Park after losing to Boston College last Saturday. The Terps (5-2, 2-1) will have their hands full against a multi-dimensional offense.
The Seminoles average 343.8 total yards per game on offense, with a good deal coming from the running back position ? both as receivers and as rushers.
“The best thing to do is stop the run and make sure they?re one-dimensional,” said senior defensive tackle Conrad Bolston, who will move back inside after playing on the end last week.
Seminoles tailback Lorenzo Booker has 288 rushing yards and 255 receiving yards.
“That?s not something that you want to go against,” Wilson said. “He?s an explosive guy. He catches some balls. … He?s a triple threat.”
This game has plenty of implications. Not only is it a nationally televised, prime-time clash, but Saturday?s game could provide the Terps with a bowl-clinching sixth victory.
Still, Florida State is a team that the Terps have beaten only once in 16 previous meetings.
“I think we?re getting a lot better at playing them,” Bolston said. “We definitely feel like we can win.”
Maryland?s defense believes it is up to the challenge.
“Every week, we?re just trying to make sure we?re getting better,” Wilson said. “And right now, it has led us to a lot of success.”
PRIME-TIME BLACK-OUT
» Maryland will be wearing their black jerseys for the first time this year after wearing them twice last season ? in a homecoming win over Virginia and a Thursday night loss to Virginia Tech.
» The Maryland student section will be “blacked-out,” courtesy of a Chevy Chase Bank black T-shirt giveaway before the game.
