Terps need turnaround in Big Ten opener
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are headed to College Park for the Big Ten Conference opener for both programs, but it’s Maryland that better dig deep this week.
After a surprising 2-0 start, the Terrapins (2-1) stumbled badly last Saturday, generating no offense in a lackluster 35-14 home loss to Temple. Minnesota (3-0) has rolled to lopsided victories in two of the first three games, including a 26-3 victory over Miami of Ohio last week.
The Gophers are powered by a staunch defense giving up only 9.0 points and 256.3 yards per game.
Maryland, which totaled a season-low 195 yards versus the Owls, has to get back on track quickly to avoid a loss in the Big Ten opener for just the second time in five years. The schedule does not get easier from here. No. 19 Michigan on the road is next up.
“The best thing you can see about (Minnesota) on both sides of the ball is how hard the play,” said Maryland interim coach Matt Canada. “I think they play extremely hard as a football team. Their defense is giving up nothing right now. Offensively, they’re doing a great job as well.”
Maryland, which had been playing with great emotion in an upset of No. 23 Texas and then in roaring to a 45-14 win at Bowling Green, was listless against Temple. A 16-point favorite, Maryland fell behind early and hardly threatened. Temple stacked the box, took away the strong Terrapin ground game and then sacked Terrapin quarterbacks seven times.
Maryland had 61 total yards at the half and trailed 21-7. The Terrapins also trailed at Bowling Green before flipping a switch.
“We have to start better,” said Canada. “I don’t know why it’s occurring. We didn’t get into a flow. Everything we did was bad. I did a bad job (calling plays).”
Injuries on the offensive line played a role, but the Terrapins never generated much of anything before an announced crowd of 32,057, the lowest total for a Maryland on-campus home opener since 2012.
Mostly the Terrapins put themselves in bad situations and went just 1-for-12 on third down conversions, usually from way behind the chains.
“We had a lot we couldn’t get to,” said Canada. “In the first half, it seemed every second down we did something silly … and all of a sudden it’s third-and-long. So your base offense, which we think we’ve been OK at, we didn’t get to see.”
At a Monday press conference, Canada said he wasn’t planning a quarterback change, sticking with Kasim Hill as his starter, and continuing to use running threat Tyrrell Pigrome off the bench in spots. Neither signal-caller could jump-start the offense against the Owls, who had previously lost to Villanova and Buffalo.
The Maryland defense, meanwhile, allowed a 95-yard, first quarter scoring march, and then two other 10-plus play drives in the first half. Still, Maryland leads the Big Ten Conference in third-down defense conversion percentage at 28 percent.
The Terrapins seemed to be reeling from the outset, playing their first true home game since offensive lineman Jordan McNair died this summer.
The team is playing in tribute to their fallen teammate, and his death has signaled upheaval in the program; head coach DJ Durkin on indefinite leave as the university and an appointed commission study the situation and allegations of bullying within the program’s “culture.”
A further report will be released Friday.
“All we’re going to do is worry about the football game,” said Canada. “That’s our job, that’s our charge and that’s what we’re going to do. I continue to say how proud I am of our players for focusing on their job, on going to school, playing football and grieving Jordan. That’s what they’re worried about.”
