The University of Maryland Football team ended the 2009 with a 2-10 overall record, including a 1-7 mark within Atlantic Coast Conference play. After beating #23 North Carolina State 38-31 today, the Terps ended their 2010 regular season with a 8-4 record overall, including a 5-3 season within the ACC.
The Wolfpack came into College Park with an opportunity to become the ACC’s Atlantic Division Champion with a victory over Maryland. After NCST quickly grabbed a 14-0 lead, you would have thought they were on the way to that needed win. However, Maryland responded with a 24-0 run reminding everyone NCST was not the only team on the field with something to play for.
With MD’s victory, Florida State is the winner of the Atlantic Division. With the head-to-head win over NCST, Maryland finishes in 2nd-place. If there is any justice, Maryland will be the team that goes to the better Bowl game.
Takeaways:
1) When I interviewed the beat-writer for NCST (Ken Tysiac / Charlotte Observer) earlier this week, he mentioned that the Wolfpack’s Defensive Coordinator Mike Archer liked to bring pressure up-front, but play cautious and deep with the Secondary to prevent big-plays. We talked about the success TJ Yates with North Carolina, and also East Carolina had with their passing games against NCST. With that in-mind, I thought O’Brien and the Terps would be able to move the ball through the air on intermediate routes. Still, O’Brien exceeded my expectations by throwing for 417 yards, 4 TD’s, and zero picks.
1a) Torrey Smith caught all 4 of O’Brien’s Touchdown passes, finishing his monstrous day with 14 receptions for 224 yards. While NCST would still find a way to make things interesting late; Smith’s final TD of the day (71 yards over the middle of the field) gave the Terps a huge 3 TD lead.
1b) O’Brien completed passes to 8 different receivers. I’m convinced that both Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins are going to fully emerge as very dangerous weapons in 2011.
2) NCST’s LB Nate Irving came into this game leading the Nation’s linebackers in tackles for loss. While he made several plays, he did not dominate the action which is a credit to the Maryland Offensive-line, and also to O’Brien for quickly getting rid of the ball.
3) Maryland went into this game wanting offensive balance, but received less than nothing in the running game. (20 carries, -11 yards) Offensive Coordinator James Franklin made the right decision to abandon the run and fully commit to the passing attack.
4) Don Brown’s Defense allowed over 400 yards and 30 points, but still made plays. The Maryland defense constantly was in the face of Russell Wilson, and 4 Terps had sacks. (AJ Francis, David Mackall, Justin Anderson, and Drew Gloster) Also, Eric Franklin added a pick.
5) Wilson finished with 311 yards passing, but he accomplished that on had 60 pass attempts.
Maryland should feel good about what they accomplished this regular-season. Yes, it is true that they did not have any ‘great’ wins. They beat the teams they should have beat, and did give away any games. In their four losses they were competitive. (Even the loss to Clemson was closer than the score indicated. Terps were only down 10 at half-time, and 14 of Clemson’s 31 points came on interception and kickoff returns) Three of the four losses were on the road (@West Virginia, @Clemson, @Miami). Each of those teams (and FSU) are full of athletes.
Back in the bowl-cycle, Maryland now gets to have an additional 15 practices which every Coach says is huge in preparation for the following-season. This 2010 Regular-season saw the emergence of Danny O’Brien, who has the potential to be a true program changing QB.
What is left for this year is seeing where the Terps wind-up Bowl wise, and determining who will be their opponent. Adding a 9th victory would be a great cap to a terrific turn-around season.
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.