Injuries source of woes for Terps and Eagles Injuries have played a major role in helping spoil Randy Edsall’s first season at Maryland. But coming off three straight losses to ranked ACC foes, the Terrapins have a chance to break through Saturday against a team in similar straits. The injuries suffered by Boston College have been no less debilitating.
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While the defense of Maryland (2-5, 1-3) has been depleted, it has been the offense of Boston College (1-6, 0-4) that has been crippled.
The Eagles have lost running back and preseason ACC player of the year Montel Harris (knee), who is seeking a medical redshirt to redo his senior year. In addition, the offensive line has been patchwork all year. Guard Nate Richman (back) remains out of the lineup.
| Up next |
| Boston College at Maryland |
| When » |
| Saturday, 3 p.m. |
| Where » |
| Byrd Stadium |
| TV » |
| CSN |
“There’s a lot of crucial positions, but you have to have the secondary because if the ball is going over your head, you don’t have a defense,” Boston College coach Frank Spaziani said. “And you have to have an offensive line because if you can’t get out of the backfield, you don’t have an offense.”
That has been the problem for a BC squad that traditionally relies on a power attack — big linemen paving the way for shifty backs. The Eagles rank 102nd in the nation in rushing (114.3 ypg) and 107th in total offense (311.3 ypg) and 108th in scoring (18.7 ppg).
The positive for BC this week is that it faces a Maryland defense that ranks 110th against the run (215.1 ypg), 109th in total defense (442 ypg) and 94th in scoring (31.4 ppg). The Terps will return linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield, out since suffering an injury three games ago against Georgia Tech. Linebacker Darin Drakeford returned last week in the Terps’ 41-16 loss at Florida State.
Although the Eagles are hurt, they still start offensive tackles that measure 6-foot-8, 302 pounds in John Wenzel and 6-7, 303 in Emmett Cleary and favor their distinctive brand of football, according to Maryland tackle Joe Vellano.
“They really want to power the football,” Vellano said. “They want to run the ball and set up play-action.”
Both teams are mired in losing streaks but have flickering bowl hopes. BC, coming off its best game this year, a 30-14 loss at Virginia Tech in which it led at the half, doesn’t play a ranked team the rest of the way. Neither does Maryland, which can afford only one more loss.
“The season’s far from over,” quarterback Danny O’Brien said. “It starts against Boston College. Hopefully we can fill up the stadium.”
Maryland will look for a new beginning behind either O’Brien or C.J. Brown at quarterback. The starter will be determined before the game and will have to monitor BC linebacker Luke Kuechly, the runaway leader in the ACC with 16.9 tackles per game.
“You can’t slip up against a team like this,” O’Brien said. “They are 1-6. But they’re very competitive, especially on the defensive side of the ball. They have some really great players. I’m gonna have to be focused on them if we want to survive another week.”
