Terps Football: 5 Thoughts Before Maryland/Howard

Opponent: Howard Bison (0-0, 0-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Location: Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium (51,802)
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2019
Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV/Radio Broadcasts: Big Ten Network, Maryland Sports Radio Network
Series Record: 1-0 Maryland

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After opening each of the last 2 seasons against the Texas Longhorns, the Terrapins will face Howard in their first game under new head coach Michael Locksley. Maryland opened the DJ Durkin era against the Bison in 2016 with a 52-13 victory, so the team will be looking for similar success on Saturday afternoon.

Howard will also be under the leadership of a new head coach, as Ron Prince comes to Washington, DC after spending last season as an offensive analyst for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Before that, he spent 4 years with the Detroit Lions as their assistant head coach. He also served as Jim Caldwell’s tight ends coach and offensive line coach during his time in Detroit. Overall he has 26 years of coaching experience, including 7 in the NFL. He was Kansas State’s head coach from 2006 to 2008 where he posted a 17-20 (9-15 Big 12) record. Dave Brock, James Franklin, Scott Frost, and Raheem Morris all served on his staff with the Wildcats.

1. How Does the Offense Look Under Josh Jackson?

As has become the norm in college football, the Terrapins will open the season with a starting quarterback who transferred into the program just a few months ago. Oklahoma and Ohio State will do the same with Jalen Hurts and Justin Fields, respectively. Jackson transferred to Maryland from Virginia Tech, where he started every game as a redshirt freshman and the first three games of 2018 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards in 2017 and accounted for 26 total touchdowns (20 passing, 6 rushing). Locksley is hoping he brings that same success to College Park this season.

Jackson was named the Terrapins’ starter on Monday afternoon after a tight competition with redshirt junior Tyrrell Pigrome, who has started 4 games during his 3 years with the program. Offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery likely won’t ask him to do too much against Howard, but it’ll be important to build his confidence heading into next week’s game against #22 Syracuse. Watch to see how well he seems to grasp the new offensive scheme, as that’ll determine how much tempo Montgomery is able to use.

2. Has Anthony McFarland, Jr. Gotten Better?

Last season saw the emergence of the best freshman running back that the Terrapins have had in a very long time. After redshirting in 2017 due to a lingering leg injury from high school, McFarland, Jr. ran for over 1,000 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the team’s near-upset of Ohio State, he broke out with 298 rushing yards and 2 scores. His efforts broke the program’s freshman rushing record and he became just the second Maryland player to have back-to-back 200 yard rushing games.

McFarland, Jr. enters the 2019 season as the undoubted leader of one of the deepest and most talented running back groups in the Big Ten Conference. While he received most of his touches on the ground last year, watch for Montgomery to utilize him a bit more in the passing game. He’s an extremely versatile athlete, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see him line up all over the field this season.

3. The Defensive Backs May Be Tested

While Howard’s defense has a ton of issues that Maryland will be looking to exploit, their offense has a number of talented skill players, particularly at the wide receiver position. Senior Jequez Ezzard leads the group, catching 40 passes for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging over 26 yards per catch last season. They also have a very talented quarterback in junior Caylin Newton, who was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s Pre-Season Player of the Year this season. He’s a dual-threat player like his brother (Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton) and racked up over 3,000 total yards and 26 touchdowns in 2018.

The Terrapins’ defensive backs are one of the most talented groups on the team, led by senior Antoine Brooks, Jr. who moves from nickel cornerback to strong safety this season. Seniors Tino Ellis and Marcus Lewis return to lock up both starting cornerback positions, and sophomore Jordan Mosley won the job as the team’s starting free safety. This group should have an opportunity to showcase their talent and playmaking abilities early in this game.

4. How Good Are the New Linebackers?

With the team moving to a new 3-4 defensive scheme under defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, additional emphasis was placed on the linebacker position. With the additions of transfers Shaq Smith from Clemson and Keandre Jones from Ohio State, the transition to an odd-front defense became much easier.

Smith likely would have started for the Tigers this season after spending the last few years as a key role player. He’ll take over the JACK position in Hoke’s defense, which is a hybrid defensive end/linebacker whose primary role is to serve as a pass-rusher. Jones also would have played a major role in the Buckeyes’ defense as an upperclassman. He’ll take the SAM job across from Smith, and will do everything from set the edge on rushing plays to cover running backs and tight ends, in addition to rushing the passer. Much of the success of the front seven will hinge on these two graduate transfers.

5. Can the Offensive Line Impose Their Will?

Anytime an FCS program like Howard steps up to play a team from the FBS, particularly from a Power Five conference, the most glaring talent gaps come on the offensive and defensive lines. Maryland fans have seen this first hand over the past few years during contests against James Madison, Richmond, and the Bison. Against those teams, the Terrapins’ offensive line was able to open up massive holes and dominate the game on the ground.

This game ought to be no different, and Maryland’s offensive linemen are likely licking their chops at the opportunity to run block their way into the endzone. The Terrapins will be working with two new offensive tackles in 2019, with Marcus Minor on the right side and Jaelyn Duncan splitting time with Ellis McKennie on the left side until a clear starter emerges. Starters return at both guard spots and center, which should help alleviate some of the inexperience that’ll be felt on the two outside spots.