Turnover turnaround has keyed solid start
The NCAA prohibits the use of footballs during winter workouts, so this February the Maryland Terrapins carried rolled up towels with the understanding that they never were to touch the ground.
If there was any doubt about coach Ralph Friedgen’s top priority this season, he removed it with his terrycloth decree. After going 2-10 and committing 24 turnovers in 2009, the Terps had to change their bumbling, fumbling ways.
Five games into 2010, so far, so good. Thanks in large part to committing just four turnovers, Maryland (4-1) already has doubled last year’s victory total.
“We’ve been in tough games where the turnover ratio has been going in our favor,” junior wideout Torrey Smith said. “That’s been doing nothing but helping us out. Last year’s team lost the ball a lot and we weren’t getting as many turnovers. You see the correlation. When the opposite occurs, you’re not winning.”
Only one team out of 120 in the FBS has committed fewer turnovers. Army has just one. The Terps also rank No. 4 in turnover margin with a plus-8 and are only getting better. In their last two games, both wins, with freshman Danny O’Brien at quarterback, the Terps haven’t had a turnover.
“Holding onto the football has been a big priority,” said junior running back Davin Meggett, who has yet to fumble in 52 touches. “There’s been a little more focus on it from the [coaches], a little more of a conscious effort [from players] to hold onto the ball.”
Maryland begins every practice with ball security drills for the offense and strip drills for the defense. The emphasis actually began mid-season last year and the results were evident. Even in losing their last five games, the Terps forced seven more turnovers than they committed.
Part of the credit on offense goes to an improved line. Last year, when the Terps averaged only 3.0 yards per rush, they were forced into difficult down-and-distance situations that allowed defenses to tee off on quarterbacks Chris Turner and Jamarr Robinson.
This year, with the same primary backs — Meggett and Da’Rel Scott — Maryland is averaging 4.4 yards per rush and the Terps are throwing more by choice than by necessity. The line also has protected better, allowing 10 sacks in five games. Last year, the Terps yielded 36 sacks in 12 games.
