Terps Hit Road Saturday, Play at Miami
11/1/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Nov. 6
Maryland (6-2, 3-1 ACC)
at
Miami (5-3, 3-2 ACC)
Kickoff: Noon EDT
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla.
Stadium: Sun Life Stadium (75,540).
TV: ESPNU - Todd Harris (pbp) and David Pollack (color) will call the action. Comcast SportsNet will air a replay of the webcast in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore market at 8 p.m. Sunday.
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call. The Toyota Tailgate Show with Gary Stein and Scott McBrien begins at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 191 and Sirius Channel 213. Click here to Listen Live on-line through Terps TV. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (15 affiliates): WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); WJZ-AM 1300 - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN980-AM - Washington D.C.; WWXX-FM 94.3 - Buckland, Va.; WCEM-AM 1240 - Cambridge; WBEY-FM 97.9 - Crisfield; WGOP-AM 540 - Crisfield; WFMD-AM 930 - Frederick; WARK-AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WPTX-AM 1690 - Lexington Park; WVMD-FM 99.5 - Midland; WMSG-AM 1050 - Oakland; WQMR-FM 101.1 - Ocean City; WWXT-FM 92.7 - Prince Frederick, Md.; WTGM-AM 960 - Salisbury.
Friedgen and the Terps on the Air: Maryland's football broadcasting lineup for 2010 includes the Terrapin Sports Radio Network which has 15 affiliates. The Ralph Friedgen Television Show, which is presented by Outback Steakhouse, airs weekly at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic with the first show airing this weekend. The fast-paced, 30-minute show goes behind the scenes with Friedgen and the Maryland football team. Replays of the show are scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday on Comcast SportsNet, just prior to the rebroadcast of the Terps most recent football game. Comcast SportsNet will carry the official rebroadcasts of all 12 University of Maryland football matchups. Friedgen also appears each Wednesday during the season on Comcast's SportsNite wrap-up show. Comcast goes live "Inside the Coach's Office" with Friedgen at 6:15 p.m. each Wednesday.
First-and-10...
• Maryland picked up its fourth straight home win, became bowl eligible and most importantly, remained in a second-place tie in the Atlantic Division race with Saturday's dominating 62-14 victory over Wake Forest. The Terps' celebration will be short-lived as they hit the road the next two weeks. Maryland, receiving votes in both polls, will travel to Miami Saturday to face a Hurricanes squad coming off a tough 24-19 loss at resurgent Virginia, a place the Terps will visit the following week. The Terps have been a gritty bunch this year, winning by making big plays, holding onto the football and coming up with a key stop with the game on the line. Saturday they shined in all three phases of the game. The offense rolled up a season-high 446 total yards, the defense scored twice and special teams play set up two TDs.
• The Maryland offense, under third-year coordinator and assistant head coach James Franklin, has been an efficient and mostly mistake-free unit this season. The Terps have turned the ball over a league-low seven times and are coming off their most balanced performance of the season, posting a season-high tying 261 rushing yards and 185 yards through the air vs. Wake Forest. RBs Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett, and WR Torrey Smith have all produced for an offense which has scored six times this season on plays of 50 yards or more. Smith, one of the most dynamic players in the nation, has seven TD receptions (second in the ACC) and is averaging 70.0 receiving yards per game (fourth in the ACC). The Biletnikoff Award candidate is also fifth in the ACC in all-purpose yards (106.5 ypg) despite battling an ankle injury. Danny O'Brien has emerged as the starting QB since subbing for an injured Jamarr Robinson (shoulder) against FIU (9/25). O'Brien, who has started the last five games (4-1 record), has earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors after the last two games (26 of 39, 3TDs vs. BC, 10/23; 13 of 20, career-high 4 TDs vs. Wake Forest, 10/30). O'Brien ranks third in the ACC in passing efficiency (127.9) and fourth among freshmen in the FBS. The o-line, which has allowed two or fewer sacks in six games, has been reshuffled following season-ending injuries to LT Justin Gilbert (knee) and RT Pete DeSouza (fractured legs), who was inserted into the starting lineup to replace Gilbert. RT Paul Pinegar (moved from center), LG Andrew Gonnella and LT R.J. Dill (moved from RT) have the most experience along the line. Justin Lewis mans the right guard position, with Bennett Fulper having taking over as the starting center last week.
• The linebacker corps, including two-time All-ACC performer Alex Wujciak, anchors the defense under second-year coordinator Don Brown. The Terps rank fourth in the ACC and 27th nationally in scoring defense (19.8 ppg). They also have the best red-zone defense in the ACC (tied for eighth nationally). Maryland is allowing opponents to gain just 4.4 yards per play, which ranks tied for first in the ACC. The Terps possess three of the top 12 tacklers in the ACC. Wujciak, who was listed among the preseason candidates for five national awards, ranks third in the league and t-20th nationally in tackles (10.0 pg). LB Adrian Moten, a playmaker throughout his career, ranks tied for 12th in the ACC in stops (6.9 pg), First-year starter Joe Vellano is among the more productive linemen in the ACC. He ranks tied for sixth in sacks (0.71 pg) and fourth in tackles among lineman (5.1 pg). Junior CB Cameron Chism, one of five returning defensive starters, posted a team-best four interceptions in 2009 and leads the team with seven pass breakups. Senior Antwine Perez and junior Kenny Tate had been a productive safety duo. Perez is tied for fifth in the ACC in passes defended (1.12 pg) and Tate is sixth in the ACC in tackles (7.9 pg) and first in forced fumbles (0.50 pg).
• Special teams was expected be a strength this season with all the top performers back and the Terps have been solid overall through eight games. Travis Baltz, a 2008 first team All-ACC punter, has handled both kicking chores this season. Baltz has connected on 7 of his 9 FG attempts and is averaging 42.1 yards per punt, which is seventh in the league. Junior Tony Logan has been one of the top punt returners in the nation. He has returned two punts for scores, becoming one of just two players in ACC history to post consecutive games with a return for a score. Logan is also averaging 21.2 ypr which is second in the FBS. Smith was one of the top kick returners in the country last season, posting an ACC single-season record 1,309 yards.
Quick Hitters...
• Maryland has won six of their first eight games for the fifth time under Ralph Friedgen (also 2001-02, 2006, 2008). The Terrapins are bowl eligible for the seventh time in Friedgen's 10 seasons.
• Maryland, 2-6 at this point last year, has posted the best turnaround in the ACC. No other team has improved by more than three games from its 2009 record after eight contests.
• Maryland's 62 points vs. Wake Forest (10/30) matches its highest total ever in an ACC game. The Terps had 62 vs. Virginia on 11/22/75. The 48-point margin of victory against the Demon Deacons was also the most in an ACC game under Friedgen. The Terps have posted 60 or more points twice in a year for the first time in school history (62 vs. Morgan State, 9/11).
• Wake Forest (10/30) was held to 155 total yards of offense by the Terps, the fewest by an ACC opponent in the Friedgen era.
• Maryland held Wake Forest (10/30) to minus-3 yards rushing. It was the first time Maryland held an opponent on the negative side of rushing since 11/3/01 when Troy State rushed for minus-1 on 26 attempts in a 47-14 Terps victory. It also marked the best performance by a Maryland defense since holding Duke to minus-5 yards on 10/30/99.
• Maryland's 24-21 win over Boston College (10/23) snapped a 10-game road losing streak, including a seven-contest string in the ACC. The Terps' previous road win came at Clemson on 9/27/08.
• RT Pete DeSouza was lost for the season after being injured in a traffic accident on Oct. 21 so the Terps had to adjust vs. BC (10/23). Paul Pinegar moved from center to right tackle with Bennett Fulper starting at center. The Terps remained with that lineup vs. Wake Forest (10/30).
• Torrey Smith's touchdown catch vs. Wake Forest (10/30) was his seventh of the season and 14th of his career (third in school history). The seven TDs are the most by a Terp since Guilian Gary also had seven in 2000. Smith and Gary are two of seven players to post seven TD receptions in a season, which is tied for fourth in school history. Jermaine Lewis (1994) and Marcus Badgett (1992) hold the single-season school record with nine.
• Adrian Moten has a career-best three interceptions and is tied for second in the FBS lead in picks among LBs (0.38 pg). That total is tied for second on the school's single-season chart for linebackers, trailing only Karl Edwards' five in 1987.
• Honors candidate Alex Wujciak has averaged 10.4 tackles per game in his career which is third in the nation among active players.
• Smith has a school-record three career kickoff returns for touchdowns and is one of only two active players in the ACC with more than one (2 by T.J. Graham , N.C. State). Tyron Carrier of Houston (5) and Brandon Boykin of Georgia (4) are the only two players in the nation with more career kickoff returns for TDs than Smith.
• Friedgen became the 13th head coach in ACC history to amass 70 career wins with the victory over Duke (10/2). His 72 career wins rank fourth in school history. His next victory will tie him for third with Jim Tatum. Curley Byrd is the all-time leader with 119 and Jerry Claiborne is second (77).
• The Terrapins have over 70 percent of the offensive and defensive two-deep back from the end of 2009. There are 17 of 22 offensive players back and 14 of 22 defenders. In addition, all six special teams starters (KR, PR, PK, P, LS, H) are back in uniform.
• The Terps have just eight seniors (Adrian Cannon, Paul Pinegar, Da'Rel Scott, LaQuan Williams, Drew Gloster, Adrian Moten, Alex Wujciak, and Antwine Perez) listed among the 44 players on the current offensive and defensive two-deep. In addition, senior Travis Baltz is the first-team punter and place-kicker.
• There are six 2009 bowl teams on the Terps' 2010 schedule: Navy (Texas Bowl), West Virginia (Konica Minolta Gator Bowl), Clemson (Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl), Boston College (Emerald Bowl), Miami (Champs Sports Bowl), and FSU (Konica Minolta Gator Bowl).
Clamping Down...
Maryland's attacking-style defense has gradually improved this season, and now the Terps are among the top units in the FBS. The Terps rank 26th in total defense (320.4 ypg), 27th in scoring defense (19.8 ppg), tied for eighth in red-zone defense (68 percent) and tied for 27th in turnovers gained (17). Maryland held Wake Forest, which was averaging 206.6 rushing yards per game, to minus-3 yards on the ground (lowest total by an opponent in 11 years). The Terps have held each of their last four foes under 100 rushing yards. Fourth-down stops have been a key in four victories, including a goal-line stand on Navy's final play in the season opener. The Terps also had important fourth-down stops at the end of the FIU (9/25), Duke (10/2) and BC (10/23) games. The opposing offense is just 3-for-10 (30 percent) converting fourth downs in the fourth quarter.
Block Party...
Maryland has not had a punt blocked in 132 straight games, but over that time span they have blocked 16 of the opposition's, including four on the season (two vs. Wake Forest, 10/30; two vs. Morgan State, 9/11). LaQuan Williams registered the Terps' third blocked punt of the season in the opening quarter vs. the Demon Deacons. The 11-yard punt gave the Terps the ball at the WF 32. Maryland kicked a field goal 10 plays later. Nick Peterson added Maryland's fourth block punt of year in the second quarter. That block was recovered by Kevin Dorsey and the Terps scored two plays later on a 3-yard pass from Danny O'Brien to Haroon Brown. The Terps have scored off all four blocked punts this season (also 10 points vs. Morgan State).
Stopping the Run...
Maryland ranks third in the ACC rushing defense (125.2 ypg), including first in league-only games (58.8 ypg). The Terps have held each of their last four opponents (Duke, Clemson, BC and Wake Forest) under 100 yards on the ground. The Terps have surrendered 84.3 yards per game on the ground since the season opener vs. Navy (9/6). Only 10 teams in the FBS give up less than 100 rushing yards per contest.
Conversion Time...
The Terps entered the BC contest (10/23) last in the ACC in third-down conversions (18 of 71/25.4 percent), but over the last two contests they have converted on 16 of 31 opportunities (51.6 percent). Their best mark this season prior to the last two games was 5 of 13 (38.5 percent) against Morgan State (9/11). Maryland converted on 10 of 19 chances (52.6 percent) against BC and 6 of 12 vs. Wake Forest. The Terps had started the BC game just 1 of 5, but converted nine of their final 14 attempts. Seven of Maryland's conversions came via the pass, while three came by run. Danny O'Brien went 9 of 13 for 80 yards with two TDs on third down. He also completed both fourth-down pass attempts for 20 yards.
Close Calls...
Despite the 2-10 finish last year, Maryland was in nearly every game to the last possession. In seven of the losses, the Terps were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter. They lost four games by four points or less and the last two by a combined five points. In the loss to Florida State (11/21/09), Maryland took the lead twice in the final quarter vs. the Seminoles, only to lose on a touchdown with 32 seconds left. So far the Terps, hoping to regain their 2008 form, are 3-0 in games decided by seven points or less. Two seasons ago, the Terps were 6-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
Streaks and Trends...
• Maryland is 5-1 when winning the turnover battle and 4-1 when being outgained by the opponent.
• Despite a season-high three turnovers vs. Clemson (10/16), the Terps have turned the ball over just seven times this year (five interceptions/two fumbles). Maryland leads the ACC and ranks tied for fourth in the FBS in fewest turnovers. After eight games last season, the Terps had 22 turnovers (nine picks/13 fumbles).
• Maryland had a couple streaks snapped against Clemson (10/16). The running backs had carried the ball 133 times without a fumble until the fourth quarter of that game when Da'Rel Scott fumbled (and then recovered the ball). Danny O'Brien did not throw a pick in his first 96 career passes until his first of three fourth-quarter interceptions vs. Clemson. As a team, Maryland had gone its last 125 pass attempts without an INT. O'Brien's interception that was returned for a TD marked the first points an opponent scored off a Maryland turnover all season. The Terps did score twice off turnovers vs. both BC (10/23) and Wake Forest (10/30) and has now outscored the opposition 66-7 following TOs.
• Alex Wujciak has started a team-best 33 straight games, all at Mike LB. Torrey Smith's 14 straight starts leads the offense.
• The Terps have recorded 18 interceptions over the last 13 games.
Dynamic Duo...
Maryland may have one of the top safety duos in the country. A disruptive force who is having an impressive season, Kenny Tate is the leading tackler in the ACC among defensive backs (7.9 per game). He is also tied for second in the FBS in forced fumbles (0.50 per game) and is the top sack producer in the ACC among defensive backs (0.44 pg). The junior, a candidate for the Thorpe Award, also has two interceptions, returning one for score vs. Wake Forest (10/30). Tate's counterpart Antwine Perez, another candidate for postseason honors, is coming off a pair of impressive performances. He earned ACC Defensive Back of Week after posting a career-best two interceptions and recovering a fumble in a 24-21 win over BC (10/23). He chipped in a sack and a forced fumble vs. Wake Forest (10/30) and ranks tied for fifth in the ACC in passes defended (1.12 pg) and tied for fourth in fumbles recovered (0.25 pg). The Perez-Tate duo has been one of the keys to the Terps possessing the top turnover margin in the ACC (fifth in the FBS) and eighth-best pass efficiency defense in the nation.
What to Look for Vs. Miami and Beyond...
• Maryland will look to improve to 7-2 for the first time since 2006, when it started 8-2.
• The Terps, who are tied for second in the Atlantic Division, are seeking a 4-1 start in ACC play for the first time since 2006, when they won five of their first six league games.
• The Hurricanes and Terrapins have been two of the better teams in the nation in turnover margin. Maryland leads the league with a +10 margin, while Miami is tied for second at +4. The `Canes are sixth in the nation with 23 turnovers gained, while Maryland is t-27th with 17.
• The Terps have allowed just two sacks over the last two games, but the Hurricanes are sixth in the FBS in that category (3.1 per game).
• Senior LB Alex Wujciak is tied with Ted Klaube (1975-77) for 13th place on Maryland's career tackles list with 344. He needs three more to reach Mike Corvino (1979-82) for 12th place and seven more to crack the top 10.
• Senior LB Adrian Moten, who has 14.5 career sacks, needs 1.5 more to reach the top 15 on the Maryland all-time list.
• Torrey Smith ranks second in school history in career all-purpose yardage (4,469). He needs to average 122.8 yards a game the rest of the season to pass Lamont Jordan (1997-00) who has a school-record 4,960 all-purpose yards.
• Smith, who holds the Maryland career kickoff return yards mark (2,640), needs 11 yards to set the ACC mark. Smith is currently second while Brandon Tate of North Carolina (2,688/2005-08) holds the record.
• Smith has 119 career catches which is sixth in school history. Russ Weaver is fifth with 120 catches. He also has 1,720 receiving yards, ranking eighth on the Maryland career list. Smith needs just one yard to reach Barry Johnson (1,721/1987-90) and Greg Hill (1,721/1982-84) who are tied for sixth.
• QB Danny O'Brien needs 117 passing yards to set the Maryland single-season freshman record.
Miami At-A-Glance...
• Miami is coming off a road loss to Virginia in what was its second lowest scoring effort of the season. The Hurricanes have fallen to 5-3 this year, with a 3-2 record in the ACC.
• Running back Damien Berry is currently averaging 86.2 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the ACC. The senior has scored four TDs on the season, in addition to 93 receiving yards.
• Leonard Hankerson leads the Hurricanes in receiving with 681 yards this season. The senior ranks second in the ACC in both receptions (5.5 pg) and receiving yards per game (85.1 pg) . Hankerson also leads the league with nine TD receptions, including a three-TD game against Clemson (10/2).
• Linebackers Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence anchor the Miami defense with 128 total tackles between the pair. McCarthy ranks fourth in the ACC with 8.7 tackles per game, while Spence sits right behind him with 8.4.
• The Hurricanes have the top-ranked passing defense in the ACC, and are ranked seventh in the nation, allowing only 152.5 yards per game. Miami's defensive unit has amassed 15 interceptions through eight games spread out between nine different players. Only two teams in the nation (Florida & Toledo) have intercepted more passes this season.
• Miami leads the league and rank sixth nationally with 23 turnovers gained.
• Quarterback Jacory Harris ranks fifth in the ACC in passing yards per game (205.9). The junior had to leave the game in the second quarter last week vs. Virginia after suffering a concussion, and redshirt freshman Stephen Morris finished the game. Morris finished with 162 yards and two touchdowns against the Cavaliers.
• Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown coached together at UMass and remain close friends.
Maryland-Miami Series History...
• Maryland hold an 8-7 edge in the series, which dates back to 1948.
• The two teams have played each other just once since 1987 - a 14-13 Maryland home win in 2006, the only meeting as members of the ACC.
• Twelve of the 15 games have been played in Miami, with the series knotted at 6-all in those contests.
• The 1984 meeting between the teams is the famous comeback game, in which Maryland recovered from a 31-0 halftime deficit to gain a 42-40 victory. Then-Maryland offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen helped engineer what to that point was the best comeback in NCAA Division I history. Maryland scored 21 points in each of the third and fourth quarters behind quarterback Frank Reich. Reich later engineered Buffalo's 1993 playoff overtime comeback over Houston, when the Bills recovered from a 35-3 deficit to win.
By The Numbers...
1.9... The opposition is averaging just 1.9 yards per carry vs. Maryland in its four ACC games, the best mark in the league.
3... Danny O'Brien's 13 TD passes rank tied for second in the FBS among freshmen QBs.
3... Number of full-time punters (Brooks Barnard, Adam Podlesh and Travis Baltz) the Terps have employed in the last 10 years. Nick Ferrara started for Baltz in five games last season due to injury.
5... Despite losing two starting offensive tackles to season-ending injuries (Justin Gilbert - knee; Pete DeSouza - fractured legs), the Terps have allowed just five sacks in their four ACC games. Only Clemson (4) has surrendered fewer.
6... Number of graduates on the 2010 roster. Michael Carter, Emani Lee-Odai, Adrian Moten, Joey McQueeney, Antwine Perez and Da'Rel Scott have each earned a degree.
7... Number of points the opposition has scored off seven Maryland turnovers this season. In contrast, the Terps have scored 66 points off 17 opponent turnovers.
7... The Terps have turned the ball over just seven times this season (five interceptions/two fumbles). Only three teams in the FBS (Oregon State - 4; Iowa - 5; Wisconsin - 6) have turned it over fewer times.
8... Number of Terps who have earned either all-conference or All-America honors in their careers.
9... The Terps have placed a punter on the Academic All-ACC team in each of the last nine seasons. Travis Baltz has been a member for the last three years (Adam Podlesh 2003-06; Brooks Barnard 2001-02).
12... Number of true freshmen who have started during Ralph Friedgen's 10 years (2001 - Domonique Foxworth, Randy Starks; 2003 - Vernon Davis; 2005 - Jeremy Navarre, Danny Oquendo, Jared Gaither; 2006 - Cory Jackson; 2007 - Travis Baltz; 2009 - Nick Ferrara, Bennett Fulper; 2010 - Desmond Kearse, Matt Robinson).
16... Number of players who have scored a TD this season, the most since the 2002 season (17).
26... The Terps have 26 players on NFL rosters (plus three on practice squads), which ranks third among ACC squads, trailing just Miami (42) and FSU (27). See list on page 22.
132... The Terps have not had a punt blocked since the Florida State contest (11/13/99), a stretch of 132 games, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
