The University of Maryland travels to Cal Berkeley to face the Golden Bears Saturday, September 5th in the 2009 season opener for both teams.
There are several match-ups within the game, which will help determine the final out-come.
Here are the match-ups I am most interested in:
1) MD Offensive-Tackle Bruce Campbell vs. Cal Defensive-Ends Tyson Alualu, or Cameron Jordan. I am not sure which Cal Bear DE will be opposite of Campbell, but the Terp has to win his individual battle. All three of these players have the physical skills to play on Sunday, but MD has to control at least one of the DE’s in Cal’s 3-4 defensive front, to give Chris Turner an opportunity to make some plays.
2) Terp FB Cody Jackson is one of the best-blocking Full-backs in the country. With a young, and inexperienced offensive-line, his blocking is required. If Jackson can help put a helmet on Cal LB’s Mike Mohamed, and Mychal Kendricks, that should help open up running lanes for the MD running-backs.
3) RB Da’Rel Scott vs. RB Jahvid Best. Okay, this is not actually a head-to-head match-up, as they are both RB’s, but I am interested to see how they compare. Best is a two-time defending 1st-team All-Pac-10 selection, that is expected to contend for the Heisman. Scott is a returning 1st-team All-Acc selection, that has seemingly been ignored most of the summer. Scott is a legit 4.2/4.3 40 guy, that is still learning the game. He can put his name back on a lot of maps with a strong-performance Saturday.
3a) RB Devin Megget vs. RB Shane Vereen. The under-card RB is also something to watch. Scott, and Meggett combined for 32 carries, 169 yards, and 3 TD’s when the Terps beat Cal in College Park last year. All reports out of MD this summer, indicate that Meggett looks further improved, with the loss of 10 lbs or so.Vereen had 715 rushing yards last-year, and was named 4th team all Pac-10 by Phil Steele. (Look for Gary Douglas or Morgan Green to also get a couple of carries for MD, as the Terps will attempt to eat the clock)
4) Maryland Defensive Coordinator Don Brown vs. Cal Head-Coach Jeff Tedford. Tedford is a 2-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, that has a .663 career winning percentage at Cal. He is recognized as one of the strongest, most innovative offensive coaches in the country. Don Brown had a ton of success at the 1AA (FCS) level, taking UMASS to the National title-game, and being named the 2006 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. Brown has brought an attacking defense to College Park, that has the Terps excited about what they can accomplish in 2009. From what has been gleamed from summer practices, it appears that pressure will come from everywhere, and that the CB’s will be on an island in man-coverage. Will Brown’s defense be able to get pressure on Cal QB Kevin Riley, before Tedford’s offense can exploit the man-coverage?
5) Does Syd’Quan Thompson shadow Torrey Smith, or Adrian Cannon? MD is bringing 9 receivers out to Cal, and it is a unit of depth, and physical skill. Smith and Cannon go into 2009, as the projected receiving leaders. Thompson is a 1st-team pre-season All-American CB. It will be interesting to see whom Thompson covers, and if plays can be made against him.
6) Jonathan Okanes of the Contra Costa Times told Baltimore Sports and Life that both Cal Offensive Tackles – Mike Tepper, and Mitchell Schwartz – are considered NFL prospects, and that the interior of the O-line is also strong. MD has lost NT Dion Armstrong to transfer, and Joe Vellano to injury during this camp, which has hurt the D-line. Still, I think there is more skill on the Terps D-line then they get credit for. I want to see if MD can get a pass-rush on the edge with DE Jared Harrell (and possibly DE’s Drummond, and Arnett), and am looking forward to watching DT’s Travis Ivey, Zack Kerr, AJ Francis, and Masengo Kabongo go up against a talented line.
7) Cal QB Kevin Riley sliced MD up for over 400 yards, in 58 attempts last-year. Many of those throws were due to Cal being behind, and needing to make plays down the field – but Riley made the plays necessary to get Cal back into the game. As we discussed earlier, MD’s CB’s will often be on an island. How do Nolan Carroll, and Anthony Wiseman respond? I will also be looking to see what MD gets out of nickle and dime backs like Richard Taylor, Cameron Chism, Eric Franklin, and true-freshman Travis Hawkins.
Quick Hits
1) Just how is Saftey Kenny Tate going to be used in Brown’s defense? It appears that Tate will be used all over the field, it should be fun watching that unveiling.
2) Any contribution from the MD Tight-ends?
3) Adrian Moten has to be a play-maker at the Will LB.
4) Not clear to me which FG kicker is going to get the job for MD – Barbour, or Ferrara. Can either step-up and knock through a kick or two on National TV?
5) Both Cal’s Punter Bryan Anger, and MD’s Travis Baltz are Pre-season All-Americans.
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