Maryland can Take Positives out of Loss

By David Wheatley
SouthernPigskin.com

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After a 2-0 start, back-to-back losses have pushed the Terps to .500.

In a game in which they were supposed to be blown out on paper, the Maryland Terrapins went on the road into Morgantown gave the eighth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers their toughest test of the season.

After a 2-0 start, back-to-back losses have pushed the Terps to .500. After a promising start, the Terps, who were picked by many to finish dead last in the ACC, have fallen back to reality. Despite this being their second loss in a row, there were some reasons for Terps fans to be optimistic. Here are five things for Maryland football fans to take from Saturday’s 31-21 loss to West Virginia.

1. QB Perry Hills is playing beyond his years. Since the season opener vs. William & Mary, a game in which Hills threw no touchdowns and three interceptions, Hills has shown major progress in the Terps’ last three games. Against West Virginia, Hills threw for over 300 yards for the first time in his young collegiate career. He threw three touchdown passes, and finished with only one interception, which occurred late in the fourth quarter when Maryland was attempting to come back. Against the Mountaineers, Hills did a good job of not forcing the ball into coverage. After the game, Maryland head coach Randy Edsall was pleased with his quarterback’s performance, but added that their was still room for improvement. Edsall said of Hills, “He is just a tough guy that wants to do well. I thought he went out and for the most part did a good part of executing the game plan. I thought he did a good job, but there are things he needs to do to get better.”

2. WR Stefon Diggs is a major threat in the receiving game. Despite being a true freshman whose has only played in three games, Diggs has already established himself as a big-time playmaker. Against West Virginia, Diggs caught touchdown passes of 42 and 56 yards. On both touchdowns, Diggs made impressive runs after make the catch. A lot was expected of Diggs in College Park. After all, he was rated as one of the top ten high school prospects in 2011, and he turned down offers from college football powers such as Alabama, Florida, and USC to be a Terrapin. Against West Virginia, Diggs made it clear how explosive a player he is capable of being.

3. Offensive Line play needs to improve. Maryland came into the season with a very young and inexperienced offensive line; not a good combination, when you are starting a true freshman QB. Against West Virginia, it was clear that the offensive line needs to improve. Hills was sacked four times during the game. One of the major plays of the game occurred in the first quarter. The Terps had driven all the way down to the West Virginia 30 yard line. As Hills received the snap and dropped back, a miscommunication on the offensive line allowed WVU defensive back Darwin Cook to get to Hills untouched and force a fumble. West Virginia picked up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown. The play potentially resulted in a 14 point swing. In his post game interview, Edsall acknowledged that the offensive line needs to do a better job of protecting Hills. “We have to protect him better; we didn’t protect him well enough today,” he said.

4. Running game needs to improve. Against West Virginia, the Terps managed just 46 yards on 35 carries. Part of this poor performance in the running game can be attributed to the inexperience on the offensive line. After the game, Edsall gave his thoughts on the running game: “At this level you have to be able to run the football, and we’re going to run the football. I can tell you that that is something that we are going to do and get better at. I do think that we have some backs that can run the ball, but that is something that we are going to do and continue to work on.”

5. The defense was good… For the most part. Try as they did, the Terps defense could not contain West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin. Austin finished the game with 13 receptions for 179 yards and all three of West Virginia’s offensive touchdowns. West Virginia QB Geno Smith had a very strong day throwing the football, going 30-of-43 for 338 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Despite these numbers, there are some encouraging signs from Maryland’s defensive performance vs. West Virginia. First, although Geno Smith had good overall numbers, when you look at them compared to his numbers in the Mountaineers’ first two games, they were fairly pedestrian. In West Virginia’s first two games, Smith went a combined 66-of-75 throwing the football. Against Maryland’s defense, Smith had more incompletions than in West Virginia’s first two games combined. Second, the Terps defensive front was able to do something that neither of West Virginia’s first two opponents were able to do: put pressure on Geno Smith. The Terps sacked Smith twice, marking the first time he had been sacked all season. Finally, Maryland did a great job defending the run. West Virginia’s offense managed just 25 yards on 25 carries.