Tigers have picked up new offense, while Terps continue to struggle Under new offensive coordinator Chad Morris, Clemson has made a successful transition to the hurry-up, no-huddle spread. Under new coach Randy Edsall and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, Maryland has struggled to find its offensive identity.
When the No. 8 Tigers (6-0, 3-0) face the Terrapins (2-3, 1-1) in College Park on Saturday, the game matches one offense that has been a surprisingly quick study and one that has not.
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But while Maryland’s identity issues are unsettling for the Terps, they also pose a problem for the Tigers, who don’t know what to expect Saturday night. Will they see more of the pro set Maryland favors when strong-armed Danny O’Brien is at quarterback or the spread the Terps prefer when elusive C.J. Brown is under center?
| Up next |
| No. 8 Clemson at Maryland |
| When » Saturday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » Byrd Stadium |
| TV » ESPNU |
Edsall has yet to name a starter. In his first significant action as a collegian, Brown relieved O’Brien in Maryland’s 21-16 loss last week at Georgia Tech, sparking a comeback with his running ability.
“It’s a challenge. Obviously we hadn’t seen much of [Brown] until Saturday,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s pretty impressive with what he can do.”
O’Brien, last year’s ACC rookie of the year, began the season in spectacular fashion, running the uptempo spread efficiently in Maryland’s 32-24 win over Miami. But in successive games, the Terps have become more conservative, running more and throwing few deep passes, often out of a pro set similar to the one O’Brien guided last year under coach Ralph Friedgen and offensive coordinator James Franklin.
When Brown entered last week, he had success on designed “zone read” runs. He carried nine times for 124 yards, including an electrifying 77-yard touchdown sprint. Throwing out of the spread proved more problematic, however, as Brown completed just four of 17 passes for 36 yards.
“They’ve actually run the zone read a bunch, even with O’Brien. He just hasn’t run it as much as far as keeping the ball,” Swinney said. “But that’s definitely a challenge for us as far as having to prepare for both styles.”
The Maryland defense, conversely, knows exactly what to expect from Clemson. Sophomore quarterback Tajh Boyd leads the ACC in passing, averaging 290 yards a game. He has led the Tigers to consecutive victories over ranked teams Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech.
Andre Ellington (115 carries, 528 yards) is fourth in the ACC in rushing, and true freshman Sammy Watkins (38 receptions, 623 yards) is on pace to become the conference’s most prolific rookie receiver.
The exhausting hurry-up, no-huddle offense will challenge a depleted Maryland defense that is missing five starters and finished last week’s loss with five freshmen in the lineup.
“We only have so many people available,” Edsall said. “[The freshmen] have gone out and are really working to do what the coaches are asking them to do. This week presents a different challenge for us in terms of the scheme that we’re gonna face offensively.”
