Impressions of an up-and-down season
On the season: To the Terps and their coaches, the way the regular season ended was more disappointing than they will ever let on publicly. You could see it in their faces after the Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College games. The whole program just seemed to sag.
Beginning in the preseason, the team really believed it was headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. They believed it more deeply after the Clemson win, and it was confirmed for them again after they shut out Wake Forest.
On what was missing: The Terps are talented, but not so much that they can ever afford to cruise. When momentum, their home fans and a sense of urgency were behind them, they were one of the conference's top teams.
But when those forces weren't propelling them, they could be overwhelmed -- perhaps more easily than they imagined.
On the offense: There's no doubt that Maryland scared rival defensive coordinators with its veteran offensive line and the speed of receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and running back Da'Rel Scott.
The Terps have a poised, intelligent quarterback in Chris Turner.
But it didn't always come together the way that offensive coordinator James Franklin drew it up on the board. The offensive line was the year's biggest puzzle -- up some weeks, down others. There were big games (Virginia Tech) in which Terps running backs put up horrific numbers, largely because there was basically no place to run.
Turner is going to work on his arm strength during the offseason. Maryland coaches would love to have a quarterback with more mobility to apply additional pressure on the defense. But that's not happening with Turner.
One of the biggest disappointments was quarterback Josh Portis, who can really run. He seemed to struggle managing the offense.
I knew Portis was in trouble with his coaches after the North Carolina game. He threw a pass that missed an open Heyward-Bey on a deep pattern. Portis later fumbled to begin the fourth quarter. For all intents and purposes, the grand Portis experiment was over.
On the defense: I've said before that this was basically a "contain" defense. It wasn't one that -- like a Boston College or a Wake Forest -- specialized in big, game-changing plays. The Terps struggled to get turnovers.
Maryland was last in the ACC in recovered fumbles, next to last in interceptions and tied for last in tackles for loss. That suggests they weren't penetrating into the backfield as they would have liked.
To its credit, Maryland's defense adjusted well. It often played a better second half than first.
But I think the Terps were really hurt by the season-ending injury to cornerback Kevin Barnes in the Wake Forest game. He was an aggressive defender who made things happen -- the Terps desperately needed hitters like that.
Maryland also missed linebacker Rick Costa, suspended last month after being accused of punching a police officer. A coach recently confided to me how much Costa meant to the defense because he was skilled at doing what the defense desperately needed -- wreaking havoc behind the line.
Comments
Hey Jeff and Don,
While it was largely a frustrating end to the regular season, I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed the commentary and coverage provided by both of you, and by the Sun, great work!
Please be back here next season with us for football, and Go Terps!
----FROM JEFF--
Much appreciated.
Posted by: Matt | December 16, 2008 12:43 PM
Ditto the thanks.I thought the Terps had the will to overcome some things towards the end of the season but they played good teams getting better and the team just seemed to level off in their quality of play so......I hope some snow keeps them happy while they're at the bowl this year.As a fan I could have thrown some things at the tv screen watching them but hey,it's college ball.
Posted by: Dan R. | December 16, 2008 7:12 PM
So what about next year? Josh Portis is a wide reciever. He's got great speed and he might turn out to have great hands. Likely Heywood-Bey is gone to the draft.
Several times I have mentioned the name Jamarr Robinson. He's Maryland's fourth string QB. Never had a chance to play except in the red-white game. I think this guy can can make things happen. I think he deserves a shot at the no. 1 QB slot in the spring.
Turner does not have great accuracy. He overthroughs too often and also behind his recievers. Doesn't a good touch at any distance.
One other name you'll hear next year is Ronnie Tyler, who'll take over Oquendo's slot as possesion reciever. Tyler wil catch 50 balls. You'll see.
Hopefully some of those big freshman (e.g., Bearthur Johnson) will be ready for the O line next year, too.
Posted by: Ron | December 16, 2008 11:50 PM
Portis gets a bum rap. You can't fault him when they only put him in for one play at a time. How can you expect a QB to get in a rhythm and establish some confidence? Sure, he threw a pass thinking it was a post route when it obviously wasn't... But, we never DID get to see him RUN the offense. So that's an unfair indictment there.
But, if the coaching staff isn't going to let him get in the saddle as QB, they need to find someway to get him on the field, as a KR or WR or SOMETHING. He's just too talented to let him ride the pine...
Posted by: J | December 17, 2008 4:38 AM
Also, I agree that Kevin Barnes sitting out most the season was probably one of the team's biggest loses. Maybe they will put four-star recruit Travis Hawkins in as a true freshman CB to fill the void?
Posted by: J | December 17, 2008 4:41 AM
I think its a bit of a stretch (a big one actually) to be calling Turner a "poised, intelligent quarterback." Yes in some games the o-line did not do him any favors, but hes getting praise that he does not deserve. In fact, his stats regressed a fair amount this season from last. Judging from the roughly 600 pass attempts over his career, he has established himself as a mediocre QB, and I don't think the light bulb is gonna turn on his senior year either.
He has come up big in some spots with late game heroics, I will give him that. But his erratic play made the Terps... well, an erratic team. Plus I will cry if I see Turner severely under throw another deep ball to Heyward-Bey that should have been an easy touchdown. Seemed like it happened twice a game.
Posted by: David T. | December 17, 2008 8:37 AM
Jeff,
Good summary and thanks for all your work covering the Terps this year - Keep up the good work! I appreciate your objective view of things. You report as much information as you can, express your opinions from time to time based on facts, and let the readers decide for themselves and pretty much say as they please!
IMHO if we want to get to the next level of being a conference front runner and consistently compete with the top dogs (i.e.: VT, FSU), we have to recruit faster, quicker, and naturally more aggressive players who can control the LOS and light a fire under teammates from week to week. Until we are able to lure at least a few game changers to CP, we'll always be that middle of the pack program that struggles each year to have any chance of satisfying our hungry fanbases' lofty aspirations.
Good to hear CT is going to work hard this off-season on his arm strength. He has a "head for football" and proved he can take a hit. If he can add a few yards to his throws it would be great. He may not be what some fans imagine as the perfect QB, but I'm really looking forward to his senior year. I think he'll be outstanding if we can give him some protection.
I hope the coaches find a way to get the ball in Josh's hands other than QB. Maybe as some kind of slot receiver or returner. Something where he can use his natural athletic abilities and not have to think. He isnt a QBs and we'll have Robinson back and two freshman for backup. Your thoughts?
-------------------FROM JEFF-----------------
Thanks much for your comments. Let me pose the question (after the players' final exams) to the coaches about whether they'd consider a Portis position switch. Then I can respond intelligently. You'd think they'd want him on the field.
Posted by: terps06 | December 17, 2008 9:19 AM
Jeff,
Thanks for the blog this year on Terps football. I read it everyday.
Its important for Ralph to make a good choice for the defensive coordinator. "D" was a weak spot as we were just not aggressive as I think we need to be.
And Franklin needs to get this offense going. I am sure he was also frustrated by the underachieving offensive line. It should have been a strength, but in our losses to VT, FSU and BC, the run was non-exsistent. Need to have that to open up the passing game. Also hope to see the TE used more next year.
Lets get a win in Boise and end up 8-5.
GO TERPS.
---from JEFF---
Thanks for your comments
Posted by: UMDFAN | December 17, 2008 2:52 PM
Frustrating season but at the very least it was entertaining. To Jeff, thanks for keeping me up to speed. To the other posters, thanks for keeping it lively.--Here's to blue turf, blue chips and a few more wins in '09.
----FROM JEFF---
Happy new year to you, too
Posted by: cjterps98 | December 17, 2008 8:34 PM
Jeff,
Gary Blackney came out of retirement this year to coach DBs at UCF. Any chance Friedgen might be talking to him about reassuming the DC role for the Terps?
---FROM JEFF---
That's worth checking out
Posted by: J | December 17, 2008 9:59 PM
maryland football was an underacheiver at best..losing to
mtsu and at virginia far overshadowed
their win over nc state and north
carolina...offense became very
predictable and losing to florida
state and boston college late showed lack of preparation...and i put that
one on coach friedgien
Posted by: willie | December 18, 2008 9:13 AM
Willie - your glass isnt half full - its more pretty close to empty.
We had some wonderful victories against some very good talent (CAL, Clemson) and some very good teams. (UNC, WF, NCSU - yes NCSU - wait til next year)
We saw the best this team had to offer and we also had games when we wondered who were the imposters in red on the field.
I'm as frustrated as any Terp fan with what has been so easily laid on the coaches by some as what must simply be a "lack of preperation" for some of our unexplainable losses (MTSU) and unexplainable no shows (UVA and FSU). It concerns me when RF talks about not knowing if and when he's reaching his kids. If youre going to 'blame' RF for the losses; then give him credit for the wins. He evidently got to his players more than a few times.
While I have no 'inside information', I do know from my coaching experience that group dynamics play a big part with team chemistry and those special teams that for reasons unexplained are able to consistently perform and achieve beyond expectations are more rare than common. IMHO many of our opponenets (VT, FSU, BC) have better overall talent or at least have those few defensive line game changer athletes that can make all the difference. Something we dont have.
I've also coached groups of kids with individual talent who had difficulty buying into the team first concept. Nothing more frustrating and aggravating as a coach to try and ;fix'. And sometimes as a coach no matter what you do or how much effort you put into your teams preperations - the message never gets through. If its basically the same message then who didnt perform at MTSU or UVA or OMG lay an egg at home on senior night in front of a packed crowd?
Its never the coaches or the players who alone should get the credit for wins or blame for losses. I really think that while this years team had the potential to have a really special year there were different little factors at different times that kept them from being as good as we had hoped they would be.
That said - if youre a fan - you still gotta love em and support em unconditionally during the season because its all you have to work with for now. So lets go to Boise and win this Smurf Bowl and end up 8-5. Totally satisfying? No. But it could have been worse; a lot worse.
Posted by: Terps06 | December 18, 2008 8:56 PM
Well said, Terps06. I won't be going to Boise this year, though once I got over the indignity of the whole idea of going to Boise for a bowl game, I acknowledged that it would be worthwhile just for the experience of going someplace I had never been before. But back in the beginning of the season I decided I was not going to be able to go to the Terps bowl game this year, due to financial considerations. Though I would have made the exception for the DC game since the only travel cost would be a few bucks Metro fare. And the Orange Bowl may have been too much to pass up so I may have had to find a way to make that one happen.
But Boise it is, so I will root for the Terps on TV. 8-5 and winning the last game of the season is a whole lot better than 7-6 and losing the last three. I certainly won't overlook Nevada, and I hope the players don't either.
Posted by: Jack | December 22, 2008 3:41 PM