After doing just enough to get past Wake Forest last weekend, the University of Maryland (3-2 overall, and 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) is preparing for Saturday’s game at Virginia (2-4 overall, 0-2 in the ACC). With winnable games vs. NCST at home, and at Boston College also on the schedule this Month; the opportunity exists for an October surge; but only if the Terrapins first take care of business vs. the Cavaliers.
Virginia started the season beating Richmond, and Penn State; but has lost 4 successive weeks, with losses at Georgia Tech, at TCU, Louisiana Tech at home, and at Duke.
The Cavaliers average:
429.3 yards on Offense, 294.5 Passing, 134.8 Rushing
401.2 yards allowed on Defense, 220.7 Passing, 180.5 Rushing
The Terps average:
274 yards on Offense, 188 Passing, 86 Rushing
257.2 yards allowed on Defense, 176.2 Passing, 81 Rushing
Virginia’s Michael Rocco, who started 18 games in a row and threw for 2,700 yard last year, has been replaced as the starting QB by Philip Sims. Sims was the top QB prospect in the Country coming out of HS, and transferred from Alabama. This past week vs. Duke he was 21 of 42 for 268 yards, with 2 picks.
Coming off of his excellent outing at West Virginia, Maryland’s Perry Hills struggled a bit vs. Wake Forest. Overall, Hills is completing 57.7% of his passes, and has thrown for 940 yards with 7 TD’s, and 6 picks in his first 5 College games.
The Cavs have two RB’s who have each had 76 carries. Kevin Parks (5’8, 200 lbs, Soph) has rushed for 346 yards on 4.6 yards per carry. Perry Jones (5’8, 195 lbs, Senior) has rushed for 295 yards, on 3.9 yards per. Parks and Jones have also combined for 37 receptions, for another 345 yards.
The Terrapins have a backfield full of talented young options, but overall the rushing attack has been unproductive to-date. Some of that is the youth of the RB’s, but the larger portion is the blocking they are receiving up-front. Defenses keying on the running game because they are not afraid of Hills beating them also factors. I wonder if the distribution of carries is also an issue. Justus Pickett, Wes Brown, Albert Reid, and Brandon Ross have each received at-least 22 carries. Pickett, Reid, and Ross are each averaging 3 yards or less per carry. Brown is averaging 4.5, even after coming off the 10 carry, 23 yard outing vs. Wake. I’d like to see the Terps commit to getting Brown 20 carries and see how he responds. With Pickett, and his hands (13 catches) being the preferred option on 3rd down; that might be hard for Brown to achieve.
In addition to the production Parks and Jones have had as receivers out of the backfield, UVA has 4 receivers with 15 or more receptions. Darius Jennings (5’11, Soph, Baltimore /Gilman) has 24 catches for 339 yards, at 14.1 yards per reception. EJ Scott (5’11, Soph, Good Counsel) is stretching the field, averaging 17 yards on his 15 catches.
Stefon Diggs is Maryland’s leading WR, as the Freshman has had 17 catches for 364 yards (21.8 per catch). Marcus Leak, who had 12 receptions last year, already has 14. Matt Furstenburg has only had 9, with his yards per game dropping from 31.7 last year to 28.3 this year. In ’11, Dorsey and Boykins combined for 82 catches, and 1,003 yards. This year the duo has just 11 catches for 120 yards. Everyone that sees Devonte Campbell talks about his obvious physical talent. I remain puzzled as to why he not utilized at all.
Defensively, Virginia’s Head Coach Mike London has been quoted this week saying he wants to get more defenders game experience. It will be interesting to see if they are rotating in more bodies, or if they make several wholesale changes on that side of the ball.
Another thing which will be interesting to watch is the turnover margin, something that has plagued both teams this year. Maryland comes into this game 119th (out of 124 1-A schools), with a -1.60 Turnover Margin, and has a -8 Turnover Disparity for the year. Amazingly, Virginia is one of the few teams which has been worse, 123rd overall in Turnover Margin (-2.00) and with a Turnover Disparity of -12.
Outside of the young offensive talent Maryland will be building the program around, the most pleasing aspect of this 2012 season has been Brian Stewart’s defense. Coach Edsall calls what Maryland is running a ‘hybrid 3-4.’ We thought the D-line had a chance to be a strong, and that has proven accurate. Vellano has picked off where he left off last year. Kilgo eats space in the middle of the line (and does a decent job of collapsing the pocket), and Francis has reemerged as a play-maker. There remains good depth behind them with Bowers, Ross, and Anderson; but I still wonder how much better off they would be with a healthy Monroe.
With Kenny Tate getting back to the lineup, and Cole Farrand producing in the middle; the Maryland LB’s are really playing at a high level. Having Tate, and Twine available together on the outside is outstanding. LA Goree did a lot of good things last year, but he has had trouble getting time this year with the play of Farrand. Hartsfield, and Drakeford on the inside and outside on the other side are having Senior years of note. Hartsfield was the ACC’s LB of the Week for his play vs. Wake.
With the Front-7 taking away the run from opponents, they get the chance to make teams more 1 dimensional. UVA has been committed to running the ball this year. Will they remain committed to giving extended carries to Parks and Jones against Maryland? Or will they come out trying to throw, with the goal of opening up the running game that way?
Each of the teams Virginia has lost to during their 4 game losing streak is a decent enough team. Georgia Tech has underachieved, but they have a lot of physical skill. TCU is 4-1, Louisiana Tech is 5-0, and has cracked the Top 25. Even Duke is 5-1. As big a game as this is for Maryland, this game is also big for the Cavaliers. You know UVA is thinking they have to have this home game, and end their losing streak. A border game, with the programs regularly competing for talent, is also always important to win. Virginia has 10 Maryland players on their roster, and that is not even mentioning D.C. or Northern Virginia natives. The Cavaliers will be intent on defending their home-field, and a win Saturday will probably not come easy for Maryland.
However it happens though, Maryland needs to leave Charlottesville with a W, to set-up the possibility of a strong Month for the Terps.
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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.