– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:50 am
2016 Football Preview – Big 10 – Terrapins
Looking for 2016 Maryland Terrapins predictions? The Terps are coming off a dreadful season that saw them finish dead last in the Big Ten Conference. They went just 1-7 in conference, tying Rutgers; however, their non-conference record of 3-9 put them half a game back from Rutgers in terms of overall standings.
2016 Big 10 College Football Preview – Maryland Terrapins
Head Coach: D. J. Durkin
2015 Record: 3–9 (1–7 Big Ten)
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Team Strengths
Although it’s never safe to deem an unknown a strength, this team is about to undergo a new era with a new head coach in D.J. Durkin.
Even if the man roaming the sidelines fails to impress in his first year, this is the start of something new, and that in and of itself has to be considered a positive considering the struggles of last season.
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Sticking with the “unknown” theme, this team is bound to see a shakeup at quarterback, and a necessary one at that. Senior QBs Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe each remain on the roster, and could very well see time in the rotation.
But both are coming off poor seasons, giving dual-threat Tyrrell Pigrome and redshirt freshman Gage Shaffer an opportunity to truly duke it out in terms of earning permanent snaps.
Shaffer will most likely begin the 2016-17 season as the third quarterback behind the two seniors, but don’t be shocked if he makes his move into the two-QB system.
Sticking with the offense, tailback Wes Brown is back. His return makes the Maryland backfield one of the team’s stronger elements.
Making the move to defense, Will Likely should be known as Maryland’s top performer when the year begins all the way through the end of the season.
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He’s the team’s best defensive back and he’s a monster returner in the punt game.
Team Weaknesses
The problem with Likely being the team’s best player is that it’s not by choice — he absolutely has to be. One big question entering the year is: Who will complement Likely in the secondary?
Antwaine Richardson has should see time during the spring, but having just enrolled, he is naturally a question mark. Darnell Savage Jr., Alvin Hill and Josh Woods may also be in line for prime minutes, but again: question mark.
When it comes to team cohesion, we’d be remiss not to contradict ourselves from earlier just a bit. Yes, starting a new era is good thing, and yes, naming a new head coach is what’s going to get this new era underway.
But there are obvious learning curves involved.
Luckily for this team, there’s no expectation whatsoever that it will compete at a highly competitive level. This team has a year or two to build new chemistry, and while there will be road bumps, that is to be expected.
Maryland Terrapins 2016 Prediction: (4-8)
The Terrapins will have a tough time in 2016. This team should be grittier on the defensive side under Durkin, but not enough to truly compete.
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Maryland’s best chance at a conference win this season likely comes in Game 4 at home against Purdue or the final week of the year at home versus Rutgers. Assuming this team wins one, not both, of those games, we’re looking at a three- or four-win year.
We’ll be generous and go with the latter considering we expect fresh, hungry blood at quarterback by the time the year comes to a close.
MARYLAND TERRAPINS 2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
- Sat, Sept. 3 vs. Howard (12:oo PM ET)
- Sat, Sept. 10 @ FIU (TBD)
- Sat, Sept. 17 @ UCF (7 PM ET)
- Sat, Oct. 1 vs. Purdue (3:30 PM ET)
- Sat, Oct. 8 @ Penn State (12:00 PM ET)
- Sat, Oct. 15 vs. Minnesota (TBD)
- Sat, Oct. 22 vs. Michigan State (TBD)
- Sat, Oct. 29 @ Indiana (TBD)
- Sat, Nov. 5 @ Michigan (TBD)
- Sat, Nov. 12 vs. Ohio State (TBD)
- Sat, Nov. 19 @ Nebraska (TBD)
- Sat, Nov. 26 vs. Rutgers
What do you think about our 2016 Maryland Terrapins? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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