Terps Football: 5 Thoughts Before Maryland/Michigan State

Game Information

Opponent: #7 Michigan State Spartans (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten Conference)
Location: Spartan Stadium (75,005)
Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
Time: 4:00 PM ET
TV/Radio Broadcasts: FOX, Maryland Sports Radio Network
Series Record: 9-2 Michigan State

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Following their loss to Penn State last weekend, Maryland hits the road for the first time in nearly a month to face Michigan State. The Spartans hadn’t lost a game yet this season until losing to Purdue in their last game. Before that loss, they were the #4 team in the College Football Playoff’s first set of rankings. Head coach Mel Tucker has done an impressive job in his second year at the helm in East Lansing after finishing with a 2-5 record in 2020.

1. Things to Build On

Despite suffering a loss to the Nittany Lions in their last game, the Terrapins showed a lot more fight than they had in their matchups against Iowa, Ohio State, and even Minnesota. The game was within striking distance until late into the fourth quarter, and if a handful of things had broken their way, they could’ve come away with a victory. While moral victories obviously aren’t nearly as fun as actual victories, they still provide an important building block for a young program like Maryland’s and should give the team some confidence as they head into the last three weeks of the regular season.

2. It’s the Taulia Show

With Maryland’s offense struggling to do much of anything on the ground, their offense lives and dies on the arm of Taulia Tagovailoa. Fortunately for offensive coordinator Dan Enos, he’s one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever grace the field in College Park and continues to get better and better with every game he plays. Against Penn State, he completed 72% of his 57 pass attempts for 371 yards. He spread the ball around to ten different receivers, with tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo being his favorite target.

While he did throw an interception late in the fourth quarter that was returned for a touchdown and unofficially ended the game, head coach Michael Locksley blamed the majority of that play on the wide receiver for he did throw an interception late in the fourth quarter that was returned for a touchdown and unofficially ended the game, head coach Michael Locksley blamed the majority of that play on the wide receiver for failing to undercut Penn State’s linebacker while running his crossing route. And if not for the fumble suffered due to a bad snap by center Spencer Anderson just as they were about to score in the third quarter, the Terrapins’ final drive wouldn’t have required Tagovailoa to press for results as much as he did.

3. Big Plays Haunt the Defense

For the most part, Maryland’s defense played much better against Penn State than they had in recent weeks. But a handful of big plays allowed to Jahan Dotson were eventually their demise. He finished with 242 receiving yards on 11 catches and scored three touchdowns, with his scores coming on catches of 21, 38, and 86 yards. Cornerback Jakorian Bennett had a rough game, and got burned on multiple routes.

On Dotson’s longest touchdown however, the Terrapins’ linebackers failed to cover the deep third of the field between their deep safeties. With so many of the team’s inside linebackers missing significant time due to injuries, they’ve been forced to turn to younger and more inexperienced players. While these communication issues will likely get better as they play together more, they’ve resulted in a number of big plays allowed so far this season.

4. Another Opportunity to Sling it Around

For as good as Michigan State has been thus far, their one weakness has been their pass defense. No team in the country has allowed more passing yards than the Spartans, but their run defense and offense has mostly been able to overcome this shortfall. Maryland is averaging the 16th-most passing yards in the nation, and they ought to be able to show out once again on Saturday afternoon. If they’re going to have a chance in this game, they may need to make this game a shootout. And with a seemingly massive advantage in the passing game, Tagovailoa may need to put the ball in the air more than 50 times for the second week in a row.

5. Just Compete, Baby

No one expects Maryland to win this game. The Spartans are currently favored by 13 points, and this will likely be the most difficult one to win during their current three-game stretch for head coach Michael Locksley’s squad. Like last weekend however, the goal is to keep the game close into the fourth quarter and give yourselves an opportunity to come away with a victory. In order to do that, they’ll need to avoid giving up big runs to Heisman trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III and take advantage of the Spartans’ poor pass defense.