lVXSj.AuSt.69

Image Credit: Bradenton Herald

Opponent: South Florida Bulls (1-0, 0-0 American Athletic Conference)
Location: Raymond James Stadium (65,890)
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2014
Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV/Radio Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Terrapin Sports Radio Network

(Discuss this article on the BSL Message Board here.)

Opponent Preview

The South Florida Bulls are fresh off of a win in their 2014 season-opener against Western Carolina, and now play host to the Maryland Terrapins at Raymond James Stadium. Bulls head coach Willie Taggart is in his second season at the helm in South Florida, and is looking to improve on a dismal 2013 season that saw his squad record just two wins all year. Building a program takes time, and it looks like Taggart has a few key pieces in place in his second year. However, the Bulls are far from what they once were, and far from where they want to be.

Freshman running back Marlon Mack is the new star of Taggart’s pro-style offense, as he ran for 275 yards and 4 touchdowns against Western Carolina last week. 247Sports rated him a 3-star recruit out of high school, and he is proving to be extremely productive already for the Bulls. South Florida may have to rely fairly heavily on the running game this season, at least until sophomore quarterback Mike White proves that he can lead this team with his arm. White struggled in the Bulls’ season opener, completing just 9 of his 26 pass attempts for 181 yards. He did not record a touchdown on the night, and threw one interception.

The Bulls were a Top 25 defensive team last season, but have lost a number of key players on that side of the ball this season. Six key players from defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan’s defensive line have since departed, two of which have made their way onto NFL rosters. With this lack of experience on the defensive line, Bresnahan has switched his defensive scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Maryland fans should be very familiar with the 3-4, as it is what defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has run in College Park since 2012.

The benefits of the 3-4 defense are obvious. It allows a defensive coordinator to get more athletes on the field at once, and doesn’t force him to change personnel if the offense brings on a third or fourth receiver. It also allows for exotic blitz packages, as the fourth rusher could be coming from one of four positions. It is becoming a more popular defense as more and more offenses move to spread schemes and away from fullback-heavy pro-style attacks. While Maryland’s offense incorporates many spread schemes, most of their running plays take plays between the tackles. South Florida’s linebackers will need to be extremely disciplined against the run, as the Terrapins have a plethora of running backs that can hurt defenses with their legs.

Maryland Preview

The Maryland Terrapins are riding high after a dominant 52-7 win over the James Madison Dukes last weekend. JMU simply did not have the strength, the speed, or the talent to match the Terps in front of a big crowd at Byrd Stadium. Maryland’s defense was flying to the ball and the crowd assisted in a number of illegal procedure penalties against the Dukes. The Terps’ offensive line absolutely gashed James Madison’s defense, en route to 5 rushing touchdowns on the day.

Junior running back Brandon Ross led the team in rushing last week, carrying the ball 16 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. He proved once again why he is the best option for the Terps at the running back spot, and showed his versatility as he ran everything from inside zone to counters, power runs to inverted veers. Quarterback C.J. Brown finished third on the team in rushing with 61 yards on 7 carries. He led the team in rushing touchdowns with 3, all of which came in the first half. Running back Wes Brown dominated the second half on the ground, rushing 13 times for 81 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 27 yards. As a team, the Terps rushed for a whopping 285 yards on 50 carries. That comes to an average of 5.7 yards per carry.

But while he excelled in the rushing department, C.J. Brown struggled quite a bit passing the ball. He completed just 11 of his 24 attempted passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. He did not throw an interception in the game. Most of his passes were poorly thrown, especially down the field. He connected on just one of his vertical pass attempts, a 41 yard pass to Deon Long for a touchdown in the third quarter. Even his intermediate throws were poorly thrown, and his receivers bailed him out with receptions on quite a few of them. He will need to tighten up his accuracy if the Terps are to capitalize on their Top 5 receiving corps this season.

The Maryland defense looks to be back in prime form after slipping a bit in 2013. 2012 saw the Terps boast one of the best rushing defenses in the country, and they allowed just 161 rushing yards to the Dukes last week. The first-team defense pitched a shutout, as JMU scored their only touchdown on Maryland’s second-team unit. Safety Sean Davis looks primed to have a massive season, as he was seen flying all over the field against the Dukes. The linebacking corps looks very solid as well, and is an extremely deep unit. Don’t be surprised to see the Terps play six linebackers regularly this season. Yannick Ngakoue and Alex Twine are the two most likely backups to see significant time, and were the starters against JMU last week. Expect Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil and Cole Farrand to see more playing time this week as they work their way back from injuries.

Opponent Interview

This week, I was able to speak with Joey Knight about the South Florida Bulls. Joey is a South Florida Bulls reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, and I’d like to thank him for his insightful responses and for his participation in this article.

BSL: Willie Taggart was the Bulls’ new head coach last season, and had a tough first year (2-10 overall,  2-6 American Athletic Conference). What have been the biggest positives of Taggart’s time in South Florida, and what are you expecting from USF this season?

Knight: The Bulls pass the eye test; they are stronger and faster than in 2013, and appear to have a better grasp of Coach Taggart’s West Coast-based offense. I expect USF to double its win total from last season. Bowl eligibility? Not sure.

BSL: Taggart installed a pro-style offense last season that never really got off of the ground. Mike White has experience now at the quarterback position, and will be the team’s full-time starter as a true sophomore. Who are the players to watch for when the Bulls have the ball?

Knight: The player to watch these days is freshman RB Marlon Mack, who tied the school single-game rushing yardage record (and set the conference record) with 24 carries for 275 yards and four TDs in Saturday’s 36-31 win vs. Western Carolina. Three of his TD runs covered at least 56 yards.

BSL: Defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan is installing a 3-4 defense in South Florida this season. The Bulls had a relatively solid defense in 2013, so how are you expecting this 3-4 look to help them do even better in 2014?

Knight: The 3-4 is designed to put more athletes (i.e. linebackers) on the field, which should help USF more adequately defend spread offenses. However, the Bulls struggled mightily against Western Carolina’s spread, giving receivers a generous cushion that resulted in 374 passing yards by the Catamounts. I anticipate the Bulls being more aggressive this weekend.

BSL: Maryland is one of two Big Ten schools that the Bulls face in 2014, and is the first FBS school that they will play. What are you expecting from this matchup, and what do you believe the keys are for the Bulls pulling an upset against the Terrapins?

Knight: To beat Maryland, the Bulls must be disciplined and aggressive defensively, and must get consistency from their passing game to complement Marlon Mack. QB Mike White, by his own admission, tried to rush things too much last weekend, failing to set his feet or develop a rhythm. If he can settle down and soften up some running lanes for Mack, the Bulls have a chance.

Maryland Interview

This week, I was also able to speak with John Langley about the Maryland Terrapins. Among other things, John writes about the Terps for Testudo Times. His work is always stellar, and I thank him for his participation in this article.

BSL: The Terps had great success in their season opener against James Madison, beating the Dukes by a score of 52-7. What were the biggest things that stood out to you in that win?

Langley: What stood out to me the most was the run blocking. The line got solid push up front and created creases for the backs to run through. The play of the secondary was fairly impressive as well, most notably from Sean Davis. Davis was around the ball seemingly every time he was on the field, whether it be on special teams or defense.

Another thing that stood out to me was Wes Brown and his ability to bully defenders. Brown missed all of last season after some off the field trouble, and he seemed to pick up where he left off. After a year off, it would be easy for any player to struggle early on with reading holes, but Brown seemed ready for the challenge against the Dukes.

BSL: Maryland heads down to South Florida to take on the Bulls on Saturday. What are you expecting from Randy Edsall’s squad in this game, and what are your keys for a Terps victory?

Langley: The Bulls aren’t the same team from years ago, so they don’t pose the same challenge as they did back then. However, they got a nice output from their freshman running back Marlon Mack, who rushed for over 200 yards in their victory over Western Carolina. I expect the Terps to put pressure on the quarterback early and often, as Mike White struggled in his debut this season.

I expect the Terps to come out and pound the football with a mix of runs early and often. Wes Brown showed that he is up to the task in his return, so I expect Mike Locksley to feature Brandon Ross early, and allow Brown to hammer the defense later in the game. Of course, the passing game will be set up by the running game, but the amount of passes thrown will likely be dictated by the success of the running game. 

BSL: C.J. Brown struggled at times in the passing game against James Madison, and was unable to get into a rhythm with his arm. How concerned should Maryland fans be with his opening day performance, and what things does he still need to work on to be the player that Mike Locksley needs him to be?

Langley: Lost in a dominant performance from the team was certainly Brown’s struggles throwing the ball. Most of the errant throws came down the field, but the inaccuracy in the facet is something that is a bit of a concern. With the speed at receiver the Terps possess, overthrows will come as a bit of a surprise to many. On multiple occasions, Brown overthrew his receiver, never giving them a chance to make a play on the ball.

Brown seems to struggle with footwork in the pocket at times, leading to errant throws that have a possibility of being intercepted. Sensing the pressure, Brown tends to lose focus on his footwork, and that has been a part of the struggle.

I would like to see him get into rhythm early with simple passes, allowing his offensive line to give him protection as well as allowing himself to make simple completions. After he gets into a flow, that is when I would like to see some shots down the field.

BSL: The Maryland defense was stellar against the Dukes, and the first-team pitched a shutout while they were on the field. Who stood out to you on the defensive side of the ball, and who do you need to see more from going forward?

Langley: I mentioned it earlier, but Sean Davis really stuck out to me from the defense. Davis was flying around the field, making tackles and was seemingly around the ball the entire game. Davis was solid last season, but he may take an even bigger jump this season if he continues to play the way he played Saturday.

I want to see more from Jeremiah Johnson, not because he played poorly, but because he is returning after missing last season. It will be interesting to see how he evolves as the season goes on. Johnson had a few nice plays, but expectations are high for the veteran of the secondary.

Zack’s Keys to the Game

  • Pound the rock – Maryland’s offensive line had a great day against James Madison last week, so running the ball early and often will be key against South Florida.
  • Get C.J. involved early – C.J. Brown struggled in the passing game last week, so offensive coordinator Mike Locksley needs to give him a few easy throws to get him into a rhythm before he starts taking shots down the field.
  • Force Mike White to pass – Maryland’s defense looked strong against the run against James Madison, and they’ll need to do more of the same against Marlon Mack and the Bulls. Mike White struggled in the passing game against Western Carolina, so the Terps need to force him to prove that he can win the game with his arm.
  • Limit costly mistakes – Road games against underdog teams always have the potential to be a trap game. The Terps will be ready for this game mentally, but an early turnover could be just what the Bulls need to give them confidence in this game. Maryland needs to control the game from the first snap, just as they did against James Madison.
  • Just win, baby – Road games can be thick with adversity, and are sometimes closer than you would like. Any win is a good win, no matter how ugly, especially on the road. Coming home to College Park with a 2-0 record is all that should matter for the Terps this weekend.
Zack Kiesel
Zack Kiesel

Terps Analyst

Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: [email protected].

X