I knew that Al Golden had built Temple up to a respectable level before leaving to take over Miami. I knew that Temple is expected to contend for the Mid-American Conference title. I knew that The Owls played well in their loss to Penn State last week. None of that knowledge prepared me for the 38-7 beating suffered by the Terps today.

I expected a competitive game, where the Terps would pull away late. I thought Maryland needed to get out early or risk the Owls believing they could stay around and compete. Instead, the Temple Offensive and Defensive lines dominated their Maryland counter-parts and did everything they wanted to on the field.

The results of this game, were what I thought could be avoided under Coach Edsall. The thought being that Edsall’s higher level of discipline would provide a more consistent focus for the Terps. While losing to Temple means nothing in the ACC standings, it is the type of loss that cripples a program trying to emerge. After losing to West Virgina, the stadium was 1/2 full today. After losing to Temple today, how many people will be in Byrd for Towson next week?

Nobody is going to care what uniforms you are wearing if you can not win games you are supposed to win.

If you are Maryland, even if you  remind yourself that Virginia Tech lost to James Madison last year and still went to a BCS bowl, you can not get around how ugly today was.

The Good:

1) Hartsfield shot through the gap to sack Stewart on 3rd and 8 to bring the 2nd Quarter. He was all over the field making tackles.

2) We’ve touted the athleticism of Devonte Campbell for some time. Good for him and Brown for doing something productive when they saw on the field.

The Bad:

1) The impact of losing last week to West Virginia was on full display, thousands of empty seats were on display at College Park.

2) Back-to-back 3 and outs for the Terps offense to start the game.

3) On Temple’s 2nd offensive possession, the Owls faced 3rd on 5 on their own 29 yard line, before their QB Stewart rushed up the middle for 18 yards.

4) Down 21-0, MD went for it 4th and 2 from their own 29 yard line. Despite the conversion, with 3+ quarters remaining, I would have preferred a punt in that situation. On 4th and inches to start the 4th, MD was not able to pick up the 1st.

5) Down 28-0, and facing 4th and 2 on the Temple 9, Maryland could not pick up the 1st down.

6) Outside of one 16 yard run, Meggett had 8 carries for 13 yards.

7) Furstenburg was not able to do anything today.

8) Facing pressure, O’Brien was not able to step into his throw (or read the defense), as he threw into triple coverage for his 5th pick of the year in the 4th.

9) Where were the adjustments from the Coaching staff? Maryland wanted to run the ball today. Down 14-0, the Terps had went 3 and out on their first two offensive series. Why didn’t MD go to a larger, max protect type of set, and try and move the ball on the ground?
9a) We know the Owls have a large offensive line, and that MD is lighter, and dealing with injuries (made worse by Monroe’s injury). Still, Temple was not beating you threw the air. I would have pulled a Safety, and added help to the Front 7.

10) After the Campbell TD, the Owls had a 82 yard Punt Return.

The Ugly:

1) Temple’s first offensive play of the game was a 54 yard catch and run, which put the Owls right outside the MD goal line. Two plays later, Temple would cash that in for the TD. The design of the play was very similar to a play Urban Meyer illustrated this morning on ESPN, as used by West Virginia against the Terrapins last week.

2) Andre Monroe has been a bright spot on the line so far, seeing him carted off was hard to watch.

3) On the Terps 3rd offensive series, WR Devin Burns was wide open down the sideline. Had O’Brien completed the pass, it would have been for significant yards and likely a TD. Instead O’Brien missed badly, and MD was forced to punt.The Terps punt attempt was blocked, and the Owls took over at the Maryland 7. Three players later, Temple was in the end zone once again.

4) After getting a sack on 3rd and 8 to force Temple into a 4th and 14 situation in the 2nd Quarter, Maryland picked up a roughing the kicker penalty to give the Owls another 1st down. I believe the penalty was on backup TE Ryan Schlothauer.

5) Facing another 3rd on 1 on defense, Maryland allowed Pierce to rush 44 yards up the middle for a 28-0 Temple lead and Pierce’s 4th TD of the game.

6) Temple was 8 of 15 on 3rd down, Maryland was 4 of 14.

7) Kenny Tate has had 3 games at LB, and has yet to make an impact. The Coaching staff said prior to the year that because he played at the line of scrimmage so often last season; the position switch would not impact him. Tate is too talented to quietly go through 3 games.

8) As excited as I was for Mackall at DE, more often than not his speed is being negated by the size of opposing tackles. Terps have to think about moving him back to LB.

9) De’Onte Arnett is not helping the Terps as a reserve OT. He was one of the most heralded DE recruits in the country. Put him back on the defensive side of the ball and get him into the rotation.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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