Rushing defense ranks 118th out of 120 in FBS In rushing for a school-record five touchdowns six weeks ago, Temple’s Bernard Pierce exposed the weakness of the Maryland defense. And each game since, the Terrapins’ opponents have exploited it.
On Saturday, when Boston College rung up 372 yards on the ground, the Eagles did it behind an injury-riddled offensive line and with a back who began the season No. 3 on the depth chart. It was the first time that sophomore Rolandan Finch (39 carries, 243 yards) rushed for 100 yards in a game.
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As Maryland (2-6, 1-4) prepares to host Virginia (5-3, 2-2), the Terps’ top objective is to stop the run.
| Up Next |
| Virginia at Maryland |
| When » Saturday, 12:30 p.m. |
| Where » Byrd Stadium |
| TV » Ch. 5 |
“We haven’t been good in run defense. It’s something we talk about every day, every week,” Edsall said. “We’re trying to take our pieces that we have and put them in the right places based on what the other teams are doing and who we are.”
At the moment, Maryland is small, inexperienced and depleted. The front seven the Terps started on Saturday averaged 244 pounds (as listed on the roster) and included four freshmen and two sophomores. On Tuesday, Edsall admitted that freshman defensive end Keith Bowers, listed at 260, actually weighs 233.
Sensitive to recent criticism that he is an excuse-maker, Edsall refused to take the bait Tuesday.
“I’m really glad that you brought that up,” Edsall said when a reporter suggested his defense was small and young. “I wish you would write that. Because if you write that and say it, then I can’t get blamed for it.”
In an effort to get bigger in the front seven, Edsall has moved Darin Drakeford (6-0, 240) from Will linebacker to Star, where he replaces much smaller Mario Rowson (6-3, 190). Alex Twine (6-0, 220) takes over at Will, while Demetrius Hartsfield (6-2, 235) returns to start in the middle after missing a month with an injury.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to stop the run a little bit better, having a little more physicality,” Edsall said. “We know we’re not big up front. So what we’ve got to do is find ways to help our guys get penetration, knock people off the ball, get another guy in the box.”
Maryland has given up an average of 234.8 yards rushing a game, ranking 118th out of 120 teams in the FBS. The Terps’ all-time high is well out of reach — the 317 yards a game yielded by Mark Dufner’s 2-9 outfit in 1993. But a comparable record might be unavoidable if the Terps don’t fix their most glaring weakness.
“I think that some of the guys that are younger, it’s kinda like crowd shock,” senior tackle Maurice Hampton said. “They just freeze up. I’m not pointing fingers at them. Even some of the older guys miss their assignments. All it takes is one guy for us to mess up.”
Maryland can’t afford another such effort against Virginia. The Cavaliers have three backs who average better than five yards per carry — Perry Jones (643 yards rushing), Kevin Parks (471 yards) and Clifton Richardson (286 yards).
“You’d like to be able to make them one-dimensional,” Edsall said. “We haven’t been able to do that so far.”
