Dec. 29
Champs
Sports Bowl
Maryland 24 ... Purdue 7
Maryland outgained Purdue 206 yards
to 21 on the ground and held on to
the ball for almost forty minutes in
a methodical, surprisingly easy win.
The Terps scored the first 21 points
of the game helped by two Sam
Hollenbach touchdown passes
including a perfect 46-yard strike
to Darrius Heyward-Bey. Purdue got a
little bit of momentum going into
the locker room on a 12-yard Greg
Orton touchdown catch with thirty
seconds left, but never got going in
the second half. Dan Ennis connected
on a 22-yard field goal for the only
points in the final thirty minutes.
Player of the
game ... Maryland RBs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore combined for
183 yards on 38 carries
Stat Leaders: Maryland - Passing: Sam
Hollenbach, 15-24, 223 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Lance Ball, 18-98 Receiving:
Darrius Heyward-Bey, 4-81, 1 TD
Purdue - Passing:
Curtis Painter, 23-36, 264 yds, 1
TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jaycen Taylor, 6-19 Receiving:
Dorien Bryant, 8-101
Notes & Thoughts ... Purdue's
defense was shaky all season long,
and it got flat-out steamrolled over
by Maryland's offensive line,
especially Stephon Heyer on the left
side. While there weren't too many
big runs, the Terps were able to
consistently crank out yards helped
by a great job of downfield blocking
by the receivers. ... Where was
Purdue's offense? Sure, Dorien
Bryant and Greg Orton cranked out
some receiving yards, and Curtis
Painter wasn't awful throwing for
264, but there was little pop and
nothing to suggest the offense was
going to make any noise. Maryland's
run defense isn't that good,
but the Boilermakers only netted 21
yards and didn't make any commitment
to the ground game. ... Maryland
controlled the ball for 23:34 in the
second half. It was the fault of
Purdue on both sides of the ball.
... Ralph Friedgen made his
reputation as an offensive wizard
when it came to the passing game,
but his teams are always best when
they run effectively.
|
2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 6-6
2005 Record: 9-3
Preview 2006 predicted wins |
| 9/2 |
William & Mary W 27-14 |
| 9/9 |
MTSU
W 24-10 |
| 9/14 |
at West Virginia L 45-24 |
| 9/23 |
FIU
W 14-10 |
| 10/7 |
at Georgia Tech L 27-23 |
| 10/14 |
at Virginia W 28-26 |
|
10/21 |
NC State
W 26-20 |
| 10/28 |
Florida State
W 27-24 |
| 11/4 |
at Clemson W 13-12 |
|
11/11 |
Miami W 14-13 |
|
11/18 |
at Boston Coll L 38-16 |
| 11/25 |
Wake Forest
L 38-24 |
| 12/29 |
Champs Sports Bowl
Purdue W 24-7 |
|
|
2005
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 6-5
2005 Record: 5-6
Preview 2005 predicted wins |
| 9/3 |
Navy (in Balt)
W 23-20 |
| 9/10 |
Clemson L 28-24 |
| 9/17 |
West Virginia
L 31-19 |
| 9/24 |
at Wake Forest W
22-12 |
| 10/1 |
Virginia
W 45-33 |
| 10/8 |
at Temple
W 38-7 |
| 10/20 |
Virginia Tech L 38-9 |
| 10/29 |
at Florida
State L 35-27 |
| 11/12 |
at UNC W 33-30 OT |
| 11/19 |
Boston College
L 31-16 |
| 11/26 |
at NC State L 20-14 |
|
Nov. 25
Wake Forest 38 ... Maryland 24
Wake Forest cranked out a 21-point
first half run on a long drive
culminating with a two-yard Kevin
Harris touchdown run, a 19-yard dash
from Kenneth Moore, and a 49-yard
Willie Idlette catch. Three Demon
Deacon interceptions of Sam
Hollenback killed Maryland's
momentum even with touchdown runs
from Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball
early. Isaiah Williams pulled the
Terps within seven early in the
fourth quarter on a five-yard catch,
but Wake Forest answered with a
ten-play, 76-yard drive ending with
a one-yard Rich Belton touchdown
run.
Player of the
game ... Wake Forest RB Kenneth Moore ran 27 times for 165 yards
and a touchdown
Stat Leaders: Maryland - Passing: Sam
Hollenbach, 14-26, 182 yds, 1 TD, 3
INT
Rushing: Keon Lattimore, 23-119, 1 TD Receiving:
Isaiah Williams, 3-65, 1 TD
Wake Forest - Passing: Riley Skinner, 10-13,
125 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Kenneth Moore, 27-165, 1 TD Receiving:
Willie Idlette, 4-64, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Turnovers
have been killers for Maryland over
the last two weeks blowing its shots
to get into the ACC title game by
giving the ball away too often
against Boston College and Wake
Forest. Sam Hollenbach's three
interceptions were hardly excusable,
while on the other side of the ball,
the linebackers made far too many
tackles down the field. This might
have been a nice bounceback year for
the program, but after the last two
weeks, it's turned into a bit of a
disappointment.
Nov. 18
Boston College 38 ... Maryland 16
Jolonn Dunbar
returned two fumbled for touchdowns
in the first five minutes and DeJuan
Tribble returned an interception 42
yards for a score as Boston College
got back in the hunt for the ACC
title. Matt Ryan connected with Tony
Gonzalez for a 34-yard touchdown and
Brandon Robinson caught a 17-yard
scoring pass as BC went out to a
28-3 lead and coasted from there.
The Terps only managed three Dan
Ennis field goals before Danny
Oquendo got into the end zone on a
nine-yard catch.
Player of the game ...
Boston College LB Jolonn Dunbar took
two fumbles for touchdowns for a
14-0 BC lead.
Stat Leaders: Maryland
- Passing: Sam Hollenbach,
27-42, 249 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Keon Lattimore,
13-40 Receiving: Danny
Oquendo, 6-65, 1 TD
Boston College -
Passing: Matt Ryan, 19-29, 249
yds, 2 TD
Rushing: L.V. Whitworth, 21-100
Receiving: Tony Gonzalez,
4-76, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Maryland
simply didn't execute early against
BC and it was out of the game before
it even started. The four turnovers
proved to be way too much to
overcome, but the offense kept on
fighting even though it wasn't
getting nearly enough production.
Even after a disastrous performance,
the team has to gear it back up
because the Atlantic title is still
a possibility. If Miami rises up in
the Orange Bowl and beats BC, and
Maryland beats Wake Forest, the
Terps are in the title game against
Georgia Tech. To beat the Demon
Deacons, the running game has to be
more effective, the turnovers have
to stop, and the efficiency on the
pitches has to be better.
Nov. 11
Maryland 14 ... Miami 13
Maryland only got six first downs
and had the ball for just 22:51, but got two huge plays from Darrius
Heyward-Bey in the first half on touchdown catches from 65 and 96 yards
out for a 14-0 lead. Miami came back on two Jon Peattie field goals and
a 28-yard Ryan Moore scoring catch, but the offense failed on two final
drives with Kirby Freeman getting picked off late, and a fumble off a
punt return ending any hopes.
Player of the game ... Maryland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
caught five passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kirby
Freeman, 14-27, 140 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Javarris James, 22-78 Receiving:
Ryan Moore, 5-50, 1 TD
Maryland - Passing:
Sam Hollenbach, 11-16, 202 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Lance Ball, 10-41. Receiving: Darrius
Heyward-Bey, 5-175, 2 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... In an
emotional game, Maryland took the momentum from Miami early on with the
two huge plays from Darrius Heyward-Bey, and then the defense did the
rest. Wesley Jefferson and Erin Henderson combined for 27 tackles to
help pick up the slack for the awful offense that gained just 96 yards
outside of the Heyward-Bey touchdown catches. It might not have been
pretty, but Maryland is the first team since the 1985 Florida Gators to
beat Miami and Florida State in the same season. Beat Boston College,
beat Wake Forest, and it's on to the ACC title game.
Nov. 4
Maryland 13 ... Clemson 12
Maryland upset Clemson with a Dan
Ennis 31-yard field goal as time ran out to stay in the hunt for the
Atlantic Division title. Two big calls shaped the games as Clemson RB
C.J. Spiller ran down a fumble and was tackled close to the end zone,
but after it officially being ruled a safety, it was determined that he
was down at the one. Two plays later, QB Will Proctor connected with
Thomas Hunter for a 71-yard play which led to an apparent James Davis
touchdown run, but that was killed by an illegal procedure penalty. Jad
Dean kicked his fourth field goal of the game hitting from 22 yards out
with just over two minutes to play leaving the door open for the Terps.
Maryland got a seven-yard touchdown catch from Danny Oquendo in the
second quarter.
Player of the game ... Maryland QB Sam Hollenbach
completed 23 of 34 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown with an
interception
Stat Leaders: Clemson - Passing: Will
Proctor, 18-27, 251 yds
Rushing: James Davis, 20-90 Receiving:
Chansi Stuckey, 8-129
Maryland - Passing:
Sam Hollenbach, 23-34, 247 yds, 1
TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Keon Lattimore, 10-38. Receiving: Joey
Haynos, 6-52
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... With four
wins in a row, Maryland got itself into the Atlantic Division race, and
now it controls its own destiny with Boston College and Wake Forest to
close. Win those two games, and the Terps will be the shocker of the
season playing for the ACC title. How are they doing it? Gritty play
from QB Sam Hollenbach, who isn't doing anything flashy, but he's coming
through when the team absolutely needs him to. The defense did a
fantastic job of holding the Tiger running game to only 143 yards. To
nitpick, there could stand to be more of a running game.
Oct. 28
Maryland 27 ... Florida State 24
Florida State outgained Maryland 458 yards to 223, but the
Terps took advantage of good field position to get up to a 27-14 lead
with Darrius Heyward-Bey catching two touchdown passes, including one on
a 30-yard play after putting a great move on the Seminole secondary,
two Dan Ennis field goals and a two-yard touchdown pass to Dan
Gronkowski, but the Noles fought back. Xavier Lee, who played in place
of an injured Drew Weatherford, connected with Chris Davis for a 17-yard
touchdown pass in the third quarter and got the offense in a position to
tie it late, but Gary Cismisia's 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
The two teams combined for 23 penalties.
Player of the game ... Maryland QB Sam Hollenbach
completed 12 of 20 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Florida State - Passing:
Xavier Lee, 22-36, 286 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Antone Smith, 14-83, 1 TD Receiving:
Chris Davis, 8-132, 1 TD
Maryland - Passing: Sam Hollenbach,
12-20, 131 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Keon Lattimore, 10-43. Receiving: Darrius
Heyward-Bey, 3-57, 2 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
In case you haven't noticed, Maryland has
won three straight and have become bowl eligible with key games ahead
against Clemson, Miami, Boston College and Wake Forest. With only one
ACC loss, to the Coastal Division's Georgia Tech, the Terps are still
right in the mix for the title. The offense needs more pop and more
production from the running game, and the penalties have to slow down,
but QB Sam Hollenbach is efficient and the D is forcing the big breaks
it needs. Don't discount how much confidence the team is playing with
right now.
Oct. 21
Maryland 26 ... NC State 20
Maryland was helped by three NC
State turnovers on the way to a 20-0 lead with a four-yard Josh Allen
touchdown catch and a two-yard run from Lance Ball. NC State was able to
get back into it with short touchdown runs from Andre Brown and Toney
Baker along with a 65-yard punt return for a score from Darrell
Blackman, but Maryland recovered the onside kick after the Baker score
and finally put it away. Dan Ennis nailed four field goals for the Terps.
Player of the game ... Maryland LB Wesley Jefferson
made 13 tackles and came up with a quarterback hurry
Stat Leaders: Maryland - Passing: Sam
Hollenbach, 7-9, 115 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Lance Ball, 17-77, 1 TD Receiving:
Keon Lattimore, 3-72
NC State - Passing:
Daniel Evans, 15-26, 145 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 29-95, 1 TD. Receiving: John
Dunlap, 4-43
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Adam
Podlesh had a whale of a game punting the ball. With a nasty finishing
kick, Maryland desperately needed this win. While it might not have been
the most complete game against NC State, but it capitalized on all the
mistakes and held on (but barely) late. Even though the running game was
decent, it wasn't anything sensational, while Sam Hollenbach had an
effective game even though the game was taken out of his hands.
Oct. 14
Maryland
28 ... Virginia 26
Down 20-0 at halftime, Maryland
roared back with 28 straight points
highlighted by a 56-yard Keon
Lattimore touchdown run followed up
by a 45-yard Erin Henderson pick for
a score on Virginia's ensuing drive.
The Cavaliers, who got a magnificent
game from QB Jameel Sewell, got a
44-yard scoring grab from Kevin
Ogletree, who scored twice on the
day, with 2:37 to play, but Sewell's
two-point conversion attempt failed.
Thanks to the running of Lance Ball,
who ran for a one-yard score in the
third quarter, Maryland was able to
run out the clock. Sewell ran for a
36-yard score, connected with
Ogletree for a 38-yard touchdown,
and Chris Gould kicked two field
goals for the first half lead.
Player of the game ... Maryland RB Keon Lattimore ran
15 times for 114 yards and a
touchdown and caught three passes
for 37 yards
Stat Leaders: Maryland - Passing: Sam
Hollenbach, 17-28, 171 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Keon Lattimore, 15-114, 1 TD Receiving:
Darrius Heyward-Bey, 5-39
Virginia - Passing:
Jameel Sewell, 13-21, 243 yds, 2 TD,
1 INT
Rushing: Jameel Sewell, 10-92, 1 TD. Receiving:
Kevin Ogletree, 3-122, 2 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... Maryland
appeared to be suffering a hangover
effect after the crushing late loss
to Georgia Tech the week before, but
the offense woke up against Virginia
just in time to get a key win to
keep bowl hopes, and distant ACC
title dreams, alive. The defense had
major problems with the Cavalier
offensive balance and the offense
took a while before it started to
move, but Sam Hollenbach got hot
when he needed to and Keon Lattimore
and Lance Ball ran well in the
second half. The road gets tougher
the rest of the way playing NC
State, Florida State, Clemson,
Miami, Boston College and Wake
Forest. Getting the two wins needed
to go bowling will be hard.
Oct. 7
Georgia Tech 27 ... Maryland 23
Georgia Tech overcame several early
errors to score 13 points in the
fourth quarter on touchdown runs
from Reggie Ball and Tashard Choice,
and then the defense hung on as
Michael Johnson ruined Maryland's
final drive with two sacks. Calvin
Johnson started off the scoring with
a ten-yard catch, but Maryland
scored the next 17 points starting
off with a 100-yard kickoff return
for a touchdown from Josh Wilson.
After a three-yard Joey Haynes
touchdown catch in the second
quarter, the Terps only managed two
field goals the rest of the way.
Player of the game ... Georgia Tech RB Tashard Choice
ran 26 times for 138 yards and two
touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Maryland - Passing: Sam
Hollenbach, 16-24, 190 yds, 1 TD, 1
INT
Rushing: Lance Ball, 23-116 Receiving:
Darrius Heyward-Bey, 5-111
Georgia Tech - Passing: Reggie Ball,
13-25, 161 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Tashard Choice, 26-138, 2 TD. Receiving:
Calvin Johnson, 10-133, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
How
mentally tough is Maryland? We'll
find out over the next few weeks as
the Terps try to get over the tough
loss at Georgia Tech with winnable
games ahead against Virginia and NC
State before facing Florida State.
The pass protection wasn't there
against the Yellow Jackets, but Sam
Hollenbach was able to keep his head
through most of the game. Even under
pressure, Lance Ball found a few
holes and ran relatively well.
Sept. 23
Maryland
14 ... FIU 10
Maryland got two touchdown passes
from Sam Hollenbach in the first
half and then hung on for dear life
as FIU's last gasp pass was picked
off at the three by Christian Verner
in the final moments. Hollenbach and
Maryland took advantage of FIU
mistakes to score on short drives
with a 14-yard touchdown pass to
Josh Allen in the first quarter and
a five-yard pass to Isaiah Williams
with ten seconds to play in the
half. FIU's Samuel Smith took a pass
89 yards to tie it at seven, but the
offense could only manage a 26-yard
Dustin Rivest field goal the rest of
the way. FIU outgained Maryland 310
yards to 275.
Player of the game ... Maryland RB Lance Ball ran 19
times for 82 yards.
Stat Leaders: FIU - Passing: Josh Padrick,
15-32, 221 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: A'Mod Ned, 15-88 Receiving:
Chandler Williams, 5-76
Maryland - Passing:
Sam Hollenbach, 17-30, 158 yds, 2
TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Lance Ball, 19-82. Receiving: Darrius
Heyward-Bey, 4-35
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Uh oh.
Either Maryland was on a big letdown
after the loss to West Virginia and
with Georgia Tech coming up, or the
offense is in big, big trouble. Who
only rolls for 275 yards on FIU? The
running game was ineffective, and
Sam Hollenbach dinked and dunked all
game long with almost nothing
working beyond ten yards. If the
offense plays like this next week,
the Yellow Jackets are going to tee
off.
Sept. 14
West
Virginia 45 ... Maryland 24
West Virginia got out to a stunning
28-0 first quarter lead highlighted
by breathtaking touchdown runs from
38 and 37 yards from Steve Slaton
and a five-yard touchdown catch from
Darius Reynaud. Slaton almost had a
third score, but he fumbled into the
end zone. It was West Virginia's
night as Brad Palmer recovered.
Maryland had a few chances to make
things interesting, but West
Virginia kept answering. A 28-yard
Dan Ennis field goal got the Terps
within 21 with : 49 to play in the
first half, but Reynaud returned the
ensuing kickoff for a score. The
Mountaineers outgained the Terps 340
yards to 122 on the ground.
Player of the game ... West Virginia RB Steve Slaton
ran 21 times for 195 yards and two
touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: West Virginia - Passing:
Pat White, 6-9, 43 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Steve Slaton, 21-195, 2 TD Receiving:
Darius Reynaud, 4-28, 1 TD
Maryland - Passing:
Sam Hollenbach, 24-45, 211 yds, 2
TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Lance Ball, 12-50, 1 TD. Receiving: Joey
Haynos, 8-51, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... There are
positives to come out of the blowout
loss to West Virginia. The team kept
battling and fighting even with
things were hopelessly out of reach.
QB Sam Hollenbach hung tough and
made some good throws despite being
bounced around a little too much.
When he got a chance, punter Adam
Podlesh was fantastic. Things will
be much better next week against FIU
before diving into the ACC schedule
at Georgia Tech. The offense has to
be a bit more consistent by then.
Sept. 9
Maryland 24 ... Middle Tennessee 10
Maryland was outgained 321 yards to
271, but still coasted with two
touchdown runs from Lance Ball, a
one-yard score from Sam Hollenbach
and a 37-yard Dan Ennis filed goal
for a 24-3 lead late into the third
quarter. Middle Tennessee moved the
ball, but could only manage a
42-yard Colby Smith field goal until
late in the third quarter when
Eugene Gross ran for a two-yard
score. Two Blue Raider fumbles
proved costly early and the Terp
offense was helped right off the bat
by a big opening kickoff return by
Josh Wilson.
Player of the game ... Maryland RB Keon Lattimore ran
13 times for 86 yards and caught two
passes for 20 yards.
Stat Leaders: Middle Tennessee - Passing:
Clint Marks, 22-41, 216 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Eugene Gross, 13-74, 1 TD. Receiving:
Bobby Williams, 7-71
Maryland - Passing:
Sam Hollenbach, 11-16, 139 yds
Rushing: Keon Lattimore, 13-86. Receiving: Josh
Haynos, 3-45
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ... The
offense had better be far more
explosive and far more productive
against West Virginia, or things
will get ugly. Middle Tennessee's
defense isn't that great, but the
Terps struggled to get anything
consistently going and had a hard
time putting the game out of reach.
On the plus side, QB Sam Hollenbach
was decent, if not spectacular, and
the running tandem of Keon Lattimore
and Lance Ball got the job done
early on.
Sept. 2
Maryland 27 ... William & Mary 14
Maryland coasted scoring the first
17 points of the game with short
touchdown runs from Lance Ball and
Keon Lattimore in the first quarter.
William & Mary got on the board
midway through the second quarter on
a nine-yard Elliott Mack touchdown
run, but the Terps closed out the
half with a three-yard scoring run
from Ball. W&M got it's final score
on a 49-yard touchdown catch from
D.J. McAulay late in the fourth.
Player of the game ... Maryland LB Wesley Jefferson
made 11 tackles and one sack
Stat Leaders: William & Mary - Passing:
Jake Phillips, 16-31, 127 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Elijah Brooks, 17-62. Receiving:
D.J. McAulay, 5-82, 1 TD
Maryland - Passing:
Sam Hollenbach, 9-15, 153 yds
Rushing: Keon Lattimore, 13-89, 1 TD. Receiving:
Danny Oquendo, 3-55
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean Basil? ...
Maryland
was never really threatened by
Williams & Mary, but the offense was
hardly impressive only converting
two of ten chances on third down and
not putting things way out of reach
early on. The running game was
effective cranking out 213 yards
averaging 5.3 between Keon Lattimore,
Lance Ball and Josh Allen. To beat
West Virginia in two weeks, there
will need to be more all-around
explosiveness.
2006 Maryland Preview
Maryland Preview |
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth
Chart
|
Further Analysis
This new world of ACC football means
there's a razor-thin difference between being a bowl team and an
also-ran.
NC State was average and finished 6-5. Maryland was 5-6 and sat home
for the bowl season. Of course, after winning 31 games in the first
three seasons under head coach Ralph Friedgen, Maryland has been
hoping for being more than merely in the hunt for a bowl game. But
that's been the case with a reloading team that has played tough
team after tough team after tough team.
The problem hasn't been beating the top teams, Maryland
didn't do that when it was hot, it has been beating the above-average ones. From 2001 to 2003, the Terps went 2-7 against the nine
teams that finished with nine or more wins getting blasted in
several of those losses. However, they only lost one (7-3 to Georgia
Tech in 2003) to a team that finished with fewer than nine
victories. In 2004 and 2005, Maryland actually wasn't horrible
against teams that finished with nine or more wins going 2-4, but it
lost eight games against the above-average. Part of the issue has been an improved ACC. Part of the issue has
been a Terp team trying to find itself. The 2006 team should be
closer to the early days of the Friedgen era.
Rarely do teams get a shot in the arm talent-wise the way Maryland
gets one this season. 2004's top rusher Josh Allen is back after missing all of
last year with a knee injury. One of the team's top offensive tackles, Stephon Heyer, is back, as is rising linebacker Erin Henderson, brother
of former Terp star, E.J. Those three alone help an already good
foundation that might be bowling without them.
The potential is more than there. Yes, no one associated with a good
football team likes the dreaded P word, but it fits with a big, fast,
inexperienced receiving corps that, even without Vernon Davis, has the
p-p-p-po ...capability to be a strength as the year goes on. The line
should be better, the backfield should be great, the quarterback
situation should sort itself out with a few good options, and the
defense should be even better than last year if a steady pass rusher can
be found to help tackle Conrad Boiston.
So now it becomes about beating the good ACC teams,
especially in the Atlantic Division after going 1-4 last year. The
coaching staff has stressed a sense of urgency. The players have been
practicing with the intensity to get back to winning again. Now we see
if Maryland football can be the real deal again.
The
Schedule: Outside of a road trip to West Virginia, the season starts
off nice and easy with wins already put in the bank against William &
Mary, MTSU and FIU before nasty dates at Georgia Tech and Virginia to
start the ACC season. On the plus side, four of the final six games are
at home including three against Atlantic Division foes. However, two of
those home games are against Florida State and Miami.
Best
Offensive Player: Senior RB Josh Allen. Lance Ball will likely be
the opening day starter and he could hang on to the job giving the
offense steady production. That means Allen will be fresh. The senior is
back from a knee injury suffered in 2004 and is 100%. With his home run
hitting ability, he adds a dimension lacking from the attack last year.
Best
Defensive Player: Senior CB Josh Wilson. There might not be a better
open-field tackling corner in the ACC. He's 5-10, 182 pounds, and
finished fourth on the team with 73 stops while also becoming the team's
best coverman. He has the speed and skills to play on Sunday.
Key player
to a successful season: Senior QB Sam Hollenbach. Or Jordan Steffy,
or Bobby Sheahin, or Chris Turner, or (for next year) Josh Portis. Maryland got decent
play out of Hollenbach last season, but there were too many
interceptions and not enough big plays to anyone not named Vernon Davis.
With the baby-young receiving corps to deal with, Hollenbach has to be
razor sharp right off the bat.
The season
will be a success if ... The Terps win eight games and beats at least one really,
really good team. A win at West Virginia would immediately signal that
things have turned back around, but home wins over Florida State and
Miami would be more important. They're still about a year away from
seriously challenging for the ACC title, so this has to be a
positive-step sort of a season.
Key game:
Nov. 4 at Clemson. Maryland needs the tough division road win in
Death Valley to have any hope of winning the Atlantic. Clemson should be
a contender for the ACC title and is sandwiched in between Florida State
and Miami on the Terp schedule. With a trip to Boston College to finish
up the four game run, a loss at Clemson could also mean a possible
four-game losing streak late in the year.
2005 Fun
Stats:
- Touchdown passes:
Maryland 15 - Opponents 4
- Maryland opponent scoring: 3rd quarter: 48 - 4th quarter 118
- Punt return average: Opponents 12.6 - Maryland 5.9
The Last Time Maryland…
…played in a bowl game…2003 (Gator Bowl vs. West Virginia)
…missed a bowl game…2005
…pitched a shutout…2003 (Citadel)
…was shutout…2004 (Virginia)
…scored 50 points…2004 (Duke)
…went undefeated…1951
…won a conference title…2001 (ACC)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…1993 (Scott Milanovich)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2002 (Chris Downs)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…1992 (Marcus Badgett)
…had a first-round draft choice…2006 (TE Vernon Davis)
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