Terps over W&M; The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Beginning their 2012 season against William & Mary, the University of Maryland Terrapins were attempting to turn the page from a disastrous 2011 season. However, for most of the game today, the 2nd chapter of the Randy Edsall era did not read much differently; as the Terrapins struggled with the Football Championship Subdivision Tribe.

While you would have liked to have seen the Terps take better advantage of their physical advantages, give credit to Maryland for doing enough to escape with the win. Ultimately today proved to be about surviving, getting the feet wet for several Freshman, and hopefully moving that much closer to the return of several injured parts.

The Good:

1) Drakeford and Twine had nice plays off the edge on the first offensive possession for W&M.

2) Following the initial McDougle penalty, Maryland’s defense was able to come-up with a 3rd down stop (the play started on the Terps 15 yard line), and force W&M into a FG attempt.

3) Renfro had a nice 51 yard punt on his initial attempt. The punt coverage was good as well. There was also a great punt, and punt coverage on Renfro’s last punt.

4) On the second W&M possession, ILB Cole Farrand had a nice play, followed by a big sack from DT Darius Kilgo. Kilgo had another good play, on W&M’s first series of the 3rd Quarter. On W&M’s second series of the 3rd, Farrand shot the gap on 3rd and 1, and made a tackle for a 2 yard loss.

5) Diggs got his first reception, on Maryland’s 3rd possession. Diggs made a nice grab on his 2nd catch. Clearly a guy with a lot of confidence and a bounce in his step. With a 23 yard punt return from Diggs, the Terps started their series of the 2nd half at the MD 47. Diggs gave Maryland their initial 1st down of the 4th Quarter, with his 16 yard gainer.

6) The Terps got their initial 1st down on that 3rd series, when Hills found Reid on a swing pass for 11 yards. Reid picked up a very important 3rd and 2 in the 4th with a 5 yard gain. He showed good 2nd effort on the run.

7) After the 2nd Hills interception, W&M took over from the Maryland 9. The defense again stood-up, and prevented the Tribe from finding the end-zone.

8) Hills first nice play of the game came late in the 1st Quarter. After a bootleg, he found Leak for a 20 yard completion.

9) Vellano gave the Terps their first positive turnover, coming up with the interception. Remarkably not at the line of scrimmage, but outside, off the ricochet.

10) Leak’s 2nd catch gave the Terps another 1st down, with pretty much all of the 15 yards coming after the reception.

11) A good block from Devonte Campbell help spring Justus Pickett for 11 yards. Pickett finally put the Terps on the board, with his 4th Quarter 6 yard TD run. Pickett made a man miss in space, on Maryland’s subsequent series.

12) With some time in the pocket, Hills found Boykins for a 17 yard gain to the W&M 22.

13) The Terrapin defense was able to again force a punt on W&M’s last series of the 2nd Quarter.

14) I liked that Hills first throw of the 2nd half was a short drop-off to Furstenburg. The TE should be Hills best friend.

15) AJ Francis collapsed the pocket, and sacked Ortiz late in the 3rd Quarter.

16) Major play from Dorsey, breaking tackles, and gaining 22 yards on 3rd and 8 in the 4th. His gain took the Terps to the W&M 14 yard line.

17) Maryland’s first points of the 2012 season came on a 10 play, 69 yard drive. Hills made a couple of good throws. Diggs, Reid, Dorsey, and Pickett made plays.

18) OLB Marcus Whitfield had a big sack on 3rd down in the middle of the 4th Quarter.

19) Jeremiah Johnson brought the pressure, and Hartsfield recovered the fumble to seal the game.

20) Nice game for Brian Stewart and the Maryland Defense.

The Bad:

1) The 2nd pass attempt from Hills was tipped and intercepted.

2) McDougle was called for pass interference on 3rd and long on the Tribe’s first series. W&M’s 2nd drive was started by a 2nd pass interference call on McDougle. With a minute left in the 3rd Quarter, McDougle picked up yet another pass interference call. He was also beat deep late in the 4th, though the play was not made.

3) Maryland went 3 and out on their 2nd series, failing to pick up the safety blitz on 2nd down.

4) W&M did not connect on the pass, but late in the 1st Quarter, Jeremiah Johnson was beat badly on a double move.

5) The 2nd Quarter started with W&M picking up 3rd and 6th from the MD 40 yard line, as McBride ran for 16 yards.

6) Hills missed Campbell on 3rd and Goal.

7) Maryland’s second series of the 2nd Quarter started at their 39 yard line. The Terps were not able to do anything positive with that good field position though, going 3 and out.

8) Despite out-gaining W&M 133 yards to 87 yards in the 1st half, Maryland went to the locker-room down 6-0 at the half.

9) Despite a height and weight advantage from Maryland’s offensive line vs. W&M’s defensive line; the Terps RB’s (Pickett and Reid) combined for just 13 carries on the Terps 32 offensive plays in the 1st half.

10) W&M picked up 18 yards on their first 3rd down of the 2nd half, with McBride beating several Maryland defenders. On 3rd and 8 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, McBride gave the Tribe another 1st down with a catch along the sidelines.

11) With Maryland driving on their first series of the 2nd half (they were at the W&M 39), Hills was picked off for a 3rd time.

12) Following Maryland’s 4th Quarter TD, the defense allowed a 25 yard run up the  middle from McBride.

The Ugly:

1) Horrible decision on Hills’ 2nd interception. Pushed out of the pocket by the blitz, he floated a pass to nobody in the flank. This allowed W&M to take over at the Maryland 9 yard line.

2) Maryland turned the ball over for a 3rd time in the 1st Quarter, when Reid fumbled on a hard hit.

3) Getting an opportunity as the PK, Craddock missed a short 25 yard FG attempt. Maryland had gone 12 plays, and 63 yards, and was looking to get their initial points on the board.

4) Byrd Stadium’s current capacity is 54,000. There might have been 40,000+ in College Park today. Last season’s results did not help with selling tickets, nor did an opener against an FCS opponent. Regardless of why, when you do not make the home environment as hostile as possible; you only increase the odds of ‘not being able to defend your house.’

4a) Hand-in-hand with this chicken/egg argument, if you struggle with an FCS opponent at home, you can’t expect the audience to turn the page, and climb on-board the Edsall ‘express.’ Even with the Terps lacking depth, this is a game that had to be won, and should have been won more convincingly.