Colin McNamara from Testudo Times joins us for a little Q&A
What up TOC?! The Big Ten schedule begins a little earlier than usual this year, but that just means you all get a 5Qs article a little earlier than usual. We head to the east coast this weekend to take on the Maryland Terrapins. Our Mike Homes had a great piece yesterday to preview this opponent . But for an additional look, I sat down with Colin McNamara from Testudo Times and asked him some questions about his school. Here is what he had to say.
TOC: What were your expectations coming into this season?
CM: My expectations for this year were relatively mundane. Over the last two years, Maryland went 7-5 in the regular season, but with Taulia Tagovailoa no longer at the helm, I expected the Terps to lose an additional game, although their schedule may be easier. While Tagovailoa has received his fair share of criticism over the last few years, whether that be because of his failure to win big games or untimely turnovers, he is still the Big Ten’s all-time leader in career passing yards and was one of the best quarterbacks in the conference year in and year out.
As for the rest of the team, Maryland lost key defensive players in now-Baltimore Ravens safety Beau Brade and linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who transferred to Michigan. It also lost its entire offensive line. However, the rest of the team remained relatively intact and the offensive line was not very good last year anyway.
Consistency throughout the defensive line, wide receiver corps and running back room gives this team a floor of five wins, but uncertainty at quarterback made it hard to give the Terps more than six wins in my predictions article.
TOC: What did you learn about your team in their opening 50-7; win over Connecticut?
CM: I did not learn much about Maryland after its win over UConn, as it was an expected blowout. However, Billy Edwards Jr. proved he improved as a passer — which I’ll get to later — the offensive weapons looked more explosive than ever and the offensive line looked cohesive, despite a completely new starting lineup.
Roman Hemby led an efficient rushing attack with 66 yards, while redshirt freshman Nolan Ray, who the coaches hyped up all offseason, contributed with 60 yards, including a 48-yard rushing touchdown on his first carry of the game. This duo will provide a rushing attack the Terps have not seen in years.
The defense did what it was supposed to, although its failure to record a sack was concerning.
TOC: Billy Edwards is now the quarterback for the Terrapins. Can the junior develop into an upper tier passer? What are his strengths? Weaknesses?
CM: If you asked me the first question a week ago, I would have laughed at you, but after Saturday’s performance, I may have underestimated Edwards as a passer. Last season, he was a terribly inefficient passer. He completed just 10 of his 30 attempts and routinely missed guys on five- and 10-yard routes. While the play calling against UConn was relatively conservative and did not ask too much of Edwards, he still impressed me. He fired a strike to Tai Felton for an 18-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game and completed off-balance throws that I’ve never seen him complete. An upper-tier passer may be a stretch, but he’s clearly capable of more than I thought.
Despite this, I think his strengths are his legs and his toughness. He’s incredibly physical at 6-foot-3 and 222 pounds, which makes him difficult to tackle. In fact, last Saturday was his first time ever sliding in a game; he does not go down easily. As Tagovailoa’s backup last year, he led the team in rushing touchdowns with seven, while posting 91 rushing yards. He’s also mastered the quarterback sneak.
As for his weaknesses, I still think his accuracy is an issue, albeit he didn’t show it on Saturday. As I previously mentioned, Edwards struggled with accuracy all of last season, and until I see him find success against a defense like Michigan State, I won’t be completely convinced otherwise.
TOC: Can you give us the name of a Maryland skill position player that opposing defensive coordinators need to focus on?
CM: It’s hard to name just one on Maryland’s incredibly fast and talented roster, but I can’t pick anyone but Felton after last week. Against UConn, Felton posted a career-high 178 yards and two touchdowns on just seven catches; he took a five-yard dig 75 yards for a touchdown, as he evaded two defenders and beat everyone else to the goal line.
Felton is known for having blow-up games as well. Last season against Indiana, he posted 134 yards and three touchdowns. If you don’t plan for him, he could win the game on his own.
TOC: What formation does the defense line up in? Which level is its strongest? Who is one player on the defensive side that offenses really need to prepare for?
CM: Maryland usually lines up in a 3-4 defense, with its outside linebackers possessing the flexibility to rush the passer or drop back in coverage. Of the three levels, the line is the strongest and most cohesive. While they did not record a sack last week, the unit returned all but two major contributors — one of which, Isaac Bunyun, is now starting on the offensive line. In all fairness, Quashon Fuller, who finished third on the team in sacks last year, was sidelined last week.
But the player offenses need to prepare for is safety-cornerback-linebacker hybrid Glendon Miller. Miller led the team in tackles on Saturday with six, while also recording an interception. He flies all over the field, and while you may not see him pre-snap, he’ll end up wherever the ball is.
TOC: Bonus question: predict the final score.
CM: 27-14 Maryland
TOC wishes to thank Colin for his help with this article. Hopefully his prediction is way off.