Clemson kicker Richard Jackson (19) reacts after missing a field goal against Maryland during the fourth quarter. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Terps Go From “Season Over” to First Place in 3 1/2 Hours
With about four minutes to go in College Park Saturday Clemson kicker Richard Jackson drilled a 48-yard field goal to tie the game. Only he didn’t. Just before the snap Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen had called timeout. After the break Jackson missed wide right.
The Terps fumbled the ball on the next play and with 2:43 left on the clock Jackson had a shot at redemption. Another 48-yard attempt, another one wide right.
Bullets dodged.
It was a rare afternoon this fall. The breaks went Maryland’s way and they held on for a 24-21 win over Clemson.
Maryland’s defense played their best game of the year not giving up any points in the second half and not allowing Clemson to reach the end zone after the first quarter. The Tigers only second-half points came on a C.J. Spiller kick-return touchdown. The Terps limited Spiller to only 79 yards from scrimmage on the day.
Torrey Smith had three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown and added 100 yards on four kick returns.
The bad news for Maryland, Da’Rel Scott had three carries for zero yards and was carted off the field with his left wrist in an air-cast.
Before each game we’ll give Five Reasons to Be Concerned, Five Reasons to Feel Good, and The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction.* As always, we start with the bad stuff.
1. Cal
The Terps opened the season on the west coast playing a team they beat last year. Granted, the Golden Bears are a better team than they were a year ago, but a 52-13 loss was a horrible way for a young team to get started.
2. James Madison
Maryland needed a late TD to tie the game and then a field goal (one that snuck inside the left post before taking a harsh left turn and barely hit the net) to beat an FBS team 38-35 in overtime.
3. Middle Tennessee State
A revenge game against a team from the Sun Belt Conference that beat the Terps in ’08. Maryland got the early lead but couldn’t hold it. They had the lead and the ball in the final two minutes but couldn’t hold it. They needed one stop from the defense but couldn’t get it. MTSU kicks a field goal on the final play of the game and beats Maryland 32-31.
4. 122 and 2
Maryland’s defense has given up 122 points in three games. In the one game against a BCS conference team they allowed 52. In two games against an FBS team and a team from the Sun Belt Conference they’ve given up 35 and 32. Can the new defense stop anyone?
Maryland’s All-ACC running back Da’Rel Scott fumbled twice in the MTSU game. He spent the fourth quarter of a one-point game on the bench watching Davin Meggett get the carries. Coach Friedgen says he hasn’t lost confidence in Scott. Can Scott regain his own confidence and lead the Terps?
5. No One’s Going to See the Game
For the third time in four games the Terps are not on TV. Seriously, isn’t this 2009? How can the only real college football team in a top ten TV market never be on TV? And the Washington Post reports that no one is going to the games at Byrd either. You know things aren’t going well will local papers are calling an ACC school a mid-major.
* Guarantee not valid in Piscataway or anywhere else
Before each game we’ll give Five Reasons to Be Concerned, Five Reasons to Feel Good, and The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction.* We gave you the bad stuff, then the good stuff. Now here’s this week’s pick.
Why MTSU Could Win
They play a spread offense that has been incredibly difficult for the Terps to stop. And now Maryland has to try to stop it without two starting DBs. The Blue Raiders beat Maryland last year and think they can do it again today.
Why Maryland Could Win
A steady diet of Da’Rel Scott with a side order of Morgan Green should lead to big yards and lots of time of possession. Last year MTSU kept the ball for long stretches and Maryland abandoned the running game. If that changes today the Terps are in good shape.
The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction*
There are plenty of reasons for Maryland to be worried coming into this game, but they do have the most talent and should win the game. Look for more than 200 yards rushing and a couple of TDs out of Scott and Green and a much happier result in College Park. The SWAGLESS prediction: Maryland 31, MTSU 23.
* Guarantee not valid in Murfreesboro or anywhere else
Before each game we’ll give Five Reasons to Be Concerned, Five Reasons to Feel Good, and The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction.* We gave you the bad stuff. Now here’s the good stuff.
1. A Dish Best Served Today
The revenge factor sure worked for Cal in week one. Now it’s the Terps turn to play the “we owe them” card. Last year in Murfreesboro, TN the Blue Raiders’ spread baffled Maryland from the start and MTSU got the 24-14 upset. No one would call it an upset if they did it again. Maryland has to play with a chip on their shoulder, and they will.
2. History 101
While the Terps have had their issues against smaller schools in the Ralph Friedgen era (Northern Illinois, MTSU), they haven’t lost home games. Under the Fridge Maryland is 19-2 against non-conference opponents with both losses coming against West Virginia.
3. Unless He Has H1N1 …
Early in last year’s game against MTSU, Da’Rel Scott ran for a 63-yard TD to tie the game 7-7. He finished with 123 yards and averaged more than 11 yards per carry. But he only got the ball 11 times. Last week he only had 72 yards against JMU but played the game with strep throat. If Scott is closer to 20-25 carries then things should be going well for the Terps.
4. They Get Hurt Too
Middle Tennessee State will play today without their top RB, Phillip Tanner.
Maryland should get an emotional boost from one of their injured players when Nolan Carroll plays the role of Willis Reed. Carroll, a senior captain who broke his leg last week against JMU, will join his fellow captains at midfield for the coin toss.
5. We’re in First Place in the ACC Atlantic
OK, we’re tied for first at 0-0 but still. Here are the standings entering today’s games.
Maryland escaped with a 38-35 OT win over James Madison. JMU missed a 41-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime, then Maryland got inside the 10 before new kicker Nick Ferrara won it with a 26-yarder.
Maryland led 21-6 in the second quarter but couldn’t score for the next 23 minutes. By then JMU had taken the lead 28-21. The Terps scored with 5:09 to go to force the OT.
On their first two plays in the extra session Maryland gave the ball to Da’Rel Scott. That equaled the amount of carries he had in the entire second half. Maryland cannot continue to abandon the run. Scott is an All-ACC runner and needs carries if Maryland is going to salvage this season.
The breakout star of the game was Torrey Smith. He had eight catches for 80 yards, an 81-yard kickoff return for a TD, and an eight-yard rushing TD.
On the offensive side our prediction was dead-on. We had the Terps scoring 34, and in regulation they put up 35. What we didn’t see coming was a second-straight disastrous game for the defense. Giving up 52 to Cal is bad, but it can happen. Giving up 35 to JMU is another story.
Up next, a revenge game against Middle Tennessee State, Saturday at 3:30 at Byrd.
Before each game we’ll give Five Reasons to Be Concerned, Five Reasons to Feel Good, and The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction.* We gave you the bad stuff, then the good stuff. Now here’s this week’s pick.
Why JMU Could Win
That’s what they do, win games. They’re a Top 10 team in 1-AA and made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. And after the CAA went 2-0 against the ACC last week they won’t be intimidated.
Why Maryland Could Win
Speed, strength, and anger will all be in the Terps favor. Da’Rel Scott and Morgan Green should have some big holes to hit and that will end up giving Chris Turner plenty of time to find his speedy receivers in single coverage.
The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction*
The Terps could easily lay an egg, they’ve done it before. But they have too much size, too much speed, and too much to play for this weekend. JMU will get a steady diet of Scott and he should have over 100 yards and a couple scores. The Swagless prediction: Maryland 34, JMU 17.
Before each game we’ll give Five Reasons to Be Concerned, Five Reasons to Feel Good, and The Absolutely 100% Guaranteed Prediction.* We gave you the bad stuff. Now here’s the good stuff.
1. The Running Backs
Maryland is very talented and very deep at RB. Da’Rel Scott finished second in the conference in rushing last season and made the preseason All-ACC team. He was suspended for the first half of the Maryland’s Humanitarian Bowl win over Nevada. In the second half he ran for 174 yards and two TDs.
Davin Meggett had nearly 500 yards last year in a backup role. Morgan Green ran for 72 yards and a touchdown in the Humanitarian Bowl. And we haven’t even mentioned true freshman Caleb Porzel who may be the fastest player on the team.
2. The Wide Receivers
Torrey Smith set the ACC’s single-season record for kickoff return yards last year, including a 99-yard score in the bowl game. Now as a sophomore he’ll be unleashed on offense. And the Terps will easily go seven-deep at WR. Look for junior Emani Lee-Odai and sophomore Ronnie Tyler to have big years.
3. Chris Turner
The senior is entering his third season as the starting QB. He doesn’t make amazing plays. He doesn’t make too many huge mistakes. He doesn’t put up great numbers. But there is one thing he is great at, playing in big games. In his 20 starts he has a record of 5-1 against teams ranked in the Top 25.
4. A Brand New Defense
Maryland has a new defensive coordinator, Don Brown. His scheme is said to be baffling, full of stunts and blitzes. Eric Prisbell has an interesting article about it in The Washington Post. Coach Friedgen says he still can’t figure it out and he’s seen it all summer. Cal could have a very tough time dealing with it considering they have no film and no real way to prepare for this defense.
5. Kenny Tate
On the defense most people talk about LB Alex Wujciak as the star and best pro prospect. But S Kenny Tate has been the talk of camp. Even Coach Friedgen is gushing.
“When we recruited you, you told me you wanted to be an impact player,” Friedgen told Tate. “Right now you are an impact player. Keep playing the way you are playing. You are a force.”
“We’re saying all this, we haven’t played a game yet,” Friedgen acknowledged. “But I’ll tell you what: If he does in the games what he is doing now, he’ll get a lot of honors. We can’t block him.”
Route 1 to Lot 1 