2012-13 Football Previews (ACC) – Maryland Terrapins
Randy Edsall, the man that built the Connecticut football program from literally nothing (as far as the FBS is concerned) to a 2010 BCS bowl participant (the Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma) took over Maryland a year ago with an aggressive approach. Things were going to be done Edsall’s way, and if you didn’t like it, you could leave. This is precisely what QB Danny O’Brien did, as he transferred to Wisconsin to do graduate work and play for the Badgers.
However, this style will probably yield results in the long run, as Edsall has the strong track record with UConn and the cupboards are pretty bare, talent-wise, at Maryland. He should raise a crop of players this season and moving forward who will learn how to contend in the ACC Atlantic division. Don’t expect it to be an overnight fix, though.
ACC 2012-13 Football Previews: Maryland Terrapins
Coach: Randy Edsall
2011 Record: 2-10
Maryland Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win ACC: 100/1
The Terps have always been somewhat of an enigma for me. They are situated in a recruiting hotbed in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, and they have random hype prospects sign at College Park. Yet Maryland hasn’t been much more to talk about other than its wacky, quirky uniforms with a psychedelic take of the Maryland state flag plastered on it. Edsall’s job is to shake up that perception.
He’ll have to do it with junior QB C.J. Brown, who doesn’t have the ability of O’Brien, but should improve under the new coach. You know those occasional, random blue-chip prospects I mentioned? Well, one of them is WR Stefon Diggs, one of the prize catches from this season’s recruiting class, and a speedy freshman that should start right away. Another freshman that might start immediately is RB Wes Brown. Tight end Matt Furstenburg is another player good enough for all-conference honors. He will join senior WR Kerry Boykins as the most thrown-to targets for Brown in 2012. While the offensive line breaks in two new starters at tackle, the interior of the line should be in good shape, with three returning starters (Pete White, Josh Cary and Sal Conaboy) anchoring the middle. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
On the other side of the ball, DT Joe Vellano is a stud. He has the athleticism to be a lot more than just a run-plugger, and he’ll be the key for Maryland’s front seven. A pair of linebackers will also be crucial to the success of the “D”; veterans Darin Drakeford and Demetrius Hartsfield should be soaking up the tackles this season. The secondary was in the bottom third of the country in effectiveness in 2011, hopefully a couple of veterans and a couple of JUCO transfers can stop that bleeding.
Nick Ferrara should handle the kicking and punting duties, which is a load off the mind of Maryland fans because he has the ability to be first-team All-ACC.
2012-13 Maryland Football Prediction: 5-7
Maryland will be a lot better in 2012, but coming off a 2-10 campaign, a team can be much improved, and still be pretty crappy. With freshman and unproven players needing to play prominent roles in 2012, there are bound to be some headaches for Edsall and his staff, before the fruits of his labors are visible. Nabbing Diggs and Brown on the recruiting trail was a real coup, and there simply may need to be more patience for fans, before they see a team that can compete for a conference title.
The Terps may start 4-1, with a fairly easy early-season slate, but it gets considerably tougher after that. A two or three-win improvement on last year should be considered a pretty solid campaign from Edsall and Co.
2012 Maryland Schedule
9/1/12 3:00 PM ET WILMA
9/8/12 12:00 PM ET @TEM
9/15/12 12:30 PM ET CONN
9/22/12 TBD @WVIRG
10/6/12 TBD WFRST
10/13/12 TBD @VIRG
10/20/12 TBD NCST
10/27/12 TBD @BCOLL
11/3/12 TBD GATCH
11/10/12 TBD @CLEM
11/17/12 TBD FSU
11/24/12 TBD @NCAR
