Authors

Jeremy
Gregg
Ethan

Twitter Updates

    follow me on Twitter

    Archive of Posts

    Creators
    «  
      »

    Terps Last Stand – Rutgers Is A Must-Win

    Rutgers is a bad football team and all indications thus far point to the fact that Maryland is equally putrid.  Nevertheless, one of these two squads will have the chance to right themselves tomorrow at Byrd Stadium.  Those of you looking for quality football may choose to avert your eyes.  How’s that for an exciting lead-in?

    As ACCsports.com notes, the Terps are an overtime field goal away from an 0-3 start.  If you are looking for a silver lining; try this on for size:  if the Terps score 30 ponts or more aganist Rutgers, it will be the first time since 2003 that the Terps have scored 30 or more points in three straight games.  Who is ready to whip out the party hats?

    The logical conclusion is that the Terps problems are on the defensive side of the ball.  If only that were the case.  Unfortunately, turnovers, penalties, inexperience, and awful play-calling are the defining characteristics of the offense.  There are so many problems, that the single bright spot thus far has been the emergence of our freshman field goal kicker.  Yikes.

    In actuality, the title of this post is misleading.  Even a win tomorrow will do little to fix what ails the football team.  The ACC is not exactly filled with elite programs, but win or lose vs. Rutgers and we are still looking at a slate of  “L’s” on the remaining schedule.

    Many folks have mentioned that Duke and Virginia are the only schools in conference that we have a chance to beat.  I would add Wake and BC to that list, but going 4-0 against these schools is probably a pipe dream.  That means the Terps are headed for a sub .500 record this year.

    I think that as Terp fans, we all realize that it is unrealistic to expect a winning season every year.  However, the decline to mediocrity has been incredible.  The Terps have not had a decent quarterback since Scott McBrien left in 2003.  How is that possible, when Ralph Friedgen was considered an offensive genius back then? QBs should have been lining up to play here.

    Instead we got Hollenbach, Steffy, and Turner.

    Is it bad recruiting?  I can’t say.  What I do know is that Fridge and his team have lost the identity they once had as an offensive powerhouse.  We could and should have been the Texas Tech of the ACC; attracting offensive talent with an offense that is perennially exciting (and effective).

    Instead, it has been a steady drop into mediocrity.  Now, the Terps have no identity.  Without an identity, Maryland, is fated to be a middling and irrelevant program in the modern NCAA landscape.  We are better than this.

    I don’t know what the answers are; but a program with this many problems should hardly be worried about succession planning.  Naming a “coach-in-waiting” was and is ridiculous.  Now we are all-in with a coaching staff that seems wildly incapable of performing at the required level.  Maybe that’s the scariest aspect about this whole thing.  It could get worse before it gets better folks.

    Author: Jeremy |September 25th, 2009 | Tags: , , | 24 comments

    • crazycantoncuts
      the blocking hasn't been great

      Turner has let down QB U

      guess it is time to look ahead to next year
    • DiamondbackRuss
      I think I read someplace where rain is predicted throughout the game. Hopefully the Terps can get a "W" out of this game and get their confidence back going into the ACC schedule.

      GO TERPS!
    • JMS
      RF is only 30-30 against division one teams since his hot three year start at MD. The biggest problem I see w/ RF is that he has no idea how to judge talent and that is why he so badly misjudges QB talent coming out of high school. He also grossly misjudges his own roster talent which explains why he plays players like Anthony Wiseman, the Galt brothers, Jordon Steffy etc. when everyone else on the planet can see their deficiency’s! I appreciate all of the things RF has done for the university, his love and passion for the terps are evident, but unfortunately I think he is just a good coordinator at best.
    • Wheels
      Rick...I think you're interactions with people in NC speak to the fact that everyone in the ACC knows that MD is in a position to be an ACC contender year in and out. Great facilities. Great access to local talent and close to VA, PA, and NJ...traditional recruiting hotbeds.

      Gregg...I understand your viewpoint and we all fall somewhere on a range "Get Rid of Ralph and Franklin" to "Let Ralph Figure it Out and Retire on His Terms." But there are external factors here at work, too. The guy at The Sun wrote an entry today about MD's budget woes and the talk that sports might get cut. Primary culprits: Poor season ticket sales in football and hoops. Ralph might not have 2 or 3 years to turn this around, not because he doesn't deserve to, but because MD can't afford the program to tank. That's a fact and it's very real. A loss tomorrow and I don't think MD wins another game this year...because Clemson is going to put one down on MD in 2 weeks. Clemson's D is freakish, and MD will be lucky to get 50 yards rushing.

      I wonder how these kids will hold up under what amounts to a 1 game season. Will they lay an egg like last year at home against FSU? Or will they come out like they did two years ago down at NCST?

      I'm a behaviorist by training, so I weight past performance as a predictor of future performance. MD's defense has been awful. Just awful. MD's offense has been not too shabby. Hell, we all would have taken a few 30 point games last year. MD can live with sacks and even penalties. They can't live with TOs. That RU is 3 pt favorite on the road strikes me as lunacy.
    • chanman83
      I wish I posted more just a lurker but.. I'll be at the game with my friend who went to Rutgers and he got the tickets so... I'll be the only MD A hole in the Rutgers side :)
      IF we were more of a passing team like Cincy we would destroy them but we are definitely not that. All I ask for is the O line give Turner atleast 3 secs of time to find our Wrs and hopefully fridge challenged all of the players manhoods for the game. I don't expect a pretty game but I think we have a better running game and better Wrs than Rutgers, plus I'm told their starting QB is 50/50 for playing due to illness. We'll see GO TERPS!
    • Ricksterps
      One thing I do get by living down in the belly of the beast (Raleigh) is perspective. I hear from people that don't have a rooting interest in the Terps.

      Last year when there was, the very silly, talk of Gary being pushed out I got a totally different reaction down here. It was unanimously a "you guys aren't really thinking about getting rid of Gary are you?" With Fridge I get "How much longer are you guys going to let him hang around?" Followed by "Who is Franklin and why would you want to keep him with the team playing like they are?" They think we are getting him because we can't get a better coach.

      I have gone on record as saying I am fine with RF staying on barring a complete and total collapse. I am also on record as saying the Franklin deal was not well thought out. There is nothing that points to him being a great head coach. If the wheels totally come off, why would you want someone who is as culpable as the HC for your current mess coaching your team?

      We haven't played on ACC game so the season is far from lost. I hope they win tomorrow and get some momentum going into ACC play. Somehow, not matter how they play, around Friday I start thinking about everything breaking our way and a Maryland win. I may be delusional but I see a win tomorrow. We will have to score at least 30 for that to happen.

      I am such a sucker...
    • hartz
      You fairweather Terp fans seem to forget that the Terps are 25-0 in the last 25 games where they out-scored their opponents.
    • Leb
      Congruent sets rule!
    • eddienj
      Let's see West Virginia has a funny-looking court. Georgia Tech has ugly uniforms. Same can be said for Tennessee and Syracuse. Louisville's coach has other things on his mind right now. Kentucky is run by a shoe salesman now. Mr. Harris, I guess that really only leaves you with one legitimate choice!
    • I know Harris said in no particular order, but he did list MD first!

      Terps beat Carolina 1-0 in National Championship rematch at Ludwig Field. 7000 fans in attendance-- for a college soccer game. Great stuff. Congrats to Sasho and the team.
    • NYMets9631
      we made harris' final list, which is at 7. The teams are Maryland, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Louisville, Kentucky and Syracuse.

      http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/09/25/tobias-harri...
    • Gregg
      There is nothing wrong with negativity. I just don't enjoy it when I think there are better ways to discuss things. There is a difference with facts like: "our defense has stunk so far" "our veteran players have been bad at times" "we keep shooting ourselves in the foot".

      The difference is jumping to conclusions about things that aren't going to happen for 3 years after just 3 games. The Terps can easily get out of the Franklin situation if they want to. You think if they can prove to alumni that they can get an amazing coach, the alumni won't pony up 1 mill to get out of the Franklin deal? Of course they could. They were going to lose Franklin and he is the best recruiter we have had in years. They did the right thing as long as they believed that he will be a good head coach in the future.

      Nobody likes to have their careers ended for them and Fridge is no different. I'm sure he wasn't thrilled about the situation, but he understands that is the business. He is not long for this job regardless of the success or failure. He has done a great job and when he leaves, it will be sad.

      I beg to differ about Hollenbach as a senior. I think he was a very very good college QB. His two minute drill at Clemson 3 years ago was something that some pro QB's couldn't have done. They turned a 4th or 5th string QB into a guy who won 9 games. That's pretty good.

      I've said it before. I have no problem with venting about the struggles of a team. I do it too. It's healthy. I just try not to go overboard. We have no idea what kind of head coach Franklin is going to be until he is the head coach. That's a fact.
    • DiamondbackRuss
      I’m still waiting for the white smoke to appear from Tobias Harris’ chimney indicating that the Terps made the cut today.

      Not to be DBR downer but there is a possibility that the Terps won’t get a commitment out of Harris, Jones, or Leslie. In fact, right now I’m not 100% sure we’re even still recruiting Jones after the in-home didn’t happen. Yet, as of this posting I haven’t seen anything from him to indicate UMD is no longer on his list.

      However, the Terps have a very good 2010 class as it stands now, but landing a front court player in this class would add balance/depth to the roster and fill a need. There are some guys that the Terps are considering. Alex Kirk is still in play, but methinks he is an Arizona lean right now so getting him on campus for an OV is critical if we hope to have any chance of getting a commitment out of him. Then there’s 6-foot-11 210 pound Stefan Nastic. He’s playing for a school in Canada but is Serbian. Word is he’s a typical Euro big man. Plays with his back to the basket but can drift out and shoot/make the three with consistency. The question is, does he have legitimate high-major skills?

      As far as I can tell the Terps have not scheduled an in-home visit with Josh Henderson, nor has he scheduled a campus visit…so there’s not much going on there.

      My guy at Albany City Rocks has no idea what is going on with Hippolyte Tsafack’s recruitment.

      Then there’s Devon Collier a 6-8 forward from St. Anthony HS in Jersey City. Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Arizona, Oregon State, and Maryland are involved with Collier. The Terps are also involved with Ashton Pankey a 6-8, 220 lb power forward. Providence, Pitt, St. John's, Miami, Maryland and Hofstra have offered. West Virginia is interested, and so is Syracuse but Syracuse hasn’t offered yet.
    • umterpx3
      Tobias Harris just posted!!

      Maryland made his final 7!! :)
      http://twitter.com/tobias31
      # My final 7 schools areMaryland,West Virginia,Georgia-Tech,Tennessee,Louisville,Kentucky & Syracuse .. In no type of order5 minutes ago from Twitterrific

      It's a good night so far :) This was literally minutes after watching Gary represent the soccer program being interviewed on TV during the UMD-UNC game.
    • okaybowler
      DC AREA TERPS FANS - Here is a free pass to the Len Bias documentary. If you go, make sure you report back to us.

      http://www.abff.com/email/2009/WithoutBias/
    • Gregg
      Maybe there is something wrong with me or I'm getting older and think a little bit differently, but all the negative stuff 3 games into a season just drive me up the wall.

      No argument from me that this team is in trouble and has issues. But how can you judge a guy like Franklin as a head coach when he's been here for 16 games (not counting the early 2000's years). In the 2 years since he returned, we have had two of the better ranked recruiting classes in a long time. Give the guy a chance to make his magic work. I hate the west coast offense, but let him get the players in here that can make that offense work. You've already seen we have some great and fast receivers, above average running backs (if they can hold onto the ball) and had some bad luck on the O line.

      Plus, when you talk about QB's, don't forget Steffy was the 2nd ranked QB to come out of Pennsylvania (behind Chad Henne of Michigan) the year he graduated. Some guys come in and have it, and some don't. If the Fridge can turn guys like Hill, McBrien, and Hollenbach into great college QB's, you gotta give him some credit.

      This may be a long year, but I think the future is bright. Like I said last week, hopefully we have used up all the bullets in our gun so we have nothing to shoot in our feet anymore. The defense may be a mess, but the offense giving the ball away all the freakin time is not helping them either.

      Keep the faith folks. As easily as we could be 0-3, just as easily we could be 2-1 and starting to get on a run.
    • What so bad about the negativity? I didn't call for anyone to get fired or anything.
      Also, don't be so fast to credit the Fridge for Shaun Hill. The dude starts for the 49ers. Let's give him some due. The guy was talented. Extremely so, for college. Hollenbach was never a "great" college QB. I just don't remember it that way. I'm not saying the fridge is not good at turning guys into good QBs but let's be realistic. He is not the miracle worker.

      As far as the coach-in-waiting stuff is concerned; I think it is a terrible concept. Even when the guy retiring is Bobby Bowden, I think it is a bad idea. Fridge is a good coach. He ain't Bobby Bowden. Yow had no reason to set this up. Now we are pot committed to Franklin. I just don't see the logic. Franklin could have been a candidate if/when the Fridge leaves. But why limit ourselves? What if we could have had a chance at a great coach? Mike Leach is a good example. Who knows? Maybe we could have coaxed him to move to DC. Now we will never know.
    • DiamondbackRuss
      Need to win this game. A good crowd turnout and a victory could do wonders for some of the NJ recruits the Terps have targeted.

      Meanwhile, Andy Katz talked to Greivis Vasquez and the Lion Of Caracas had some nuggets of info on teammates. I posted a link to the article in the Vasquez ranked #2 thread so check it out.
    • Ricksterps
      I don't think I made myself clear. What I meant was as our program has gone down our schedule has gotten easier. i.e., more cupcakes and less beef. It is built so we can get in a bowl even with a bad team yet we may still find ourselves out of a bowl.

      I think Penn State plays a soft schedule and a softer conference. Having said that, they would probably beat us by 28 points on our own field.

      Wheels, were you the one who mentioned Mike Leach? I know the grass is always greener but he would at least go down swinging. Good recruiter and a great offensive mind. I don't know that UMD is a step up for him. That hurts to write but I think it's true for football.
    • Wheels
      Regarding QBs, let's not forget that Turner was a 3 star after-thought coming out of HS in CA. The star of his recruiting class was Jeremy Ricker out of PA. Ricker was ranked the 95th overall player in the nation. He transferred out because he couldn't beat out Steffy, Hollenbach, or Turner. He's now staring for the Harrisburg Ratfarts in some semi-pro league.

      Don't forget also that Josh Portis, another 4 star recruit, basically failed out of MD. He's now leading the Indiana (PA) University football team to D2 glory.

      Ralph recruited two well regarded kids last year, who are redshirting. He's also got verbals from another 2 QBs for next year's class. One is more of an athlete (out of GA...who UGA really wanted) and the other is a traditional QB (out of PA).

      Rick, I disagree with you on the schedule, though. Look at State Penn's schedule. For a good team, MD's schedule has 10 wins written all over it.

      Fred...Locksley is a good recruiter and that's about it. Ever wonder why a guy who is a consensus top 5 recruiter ends up New Mexico? Why would Kiffin and Sarkisian get bigtime jobs at UT and UW but Locksley gets OC at IL and then HC at New Mexico? It's because he doesn't have the coaching goods. Otherwise, the way that he can recruit alone should have gotten him a higher profile job.

      By all accounts, Franklin is a good recruiter. It remains to be seen if he can be a good HC. He OC abilities, so far, don't make me too giddy. At the very least, my hope is that whoever comes in after Ralph will leave the program stocked.
    • Ricksterps
      Steady drop into mediocrity may be kind. Right now, we are way below mediocre.

      The ACC sucks. Could we win a few games? Sure, there are a lot of bad teams on the schedule. The problem is we are one of those bad teams. We could also lose every game. We may not be favored to win the rest of the season. Rutgers is a 3.5 favorite at CP. They are no juggernaut, trust me on that.

      The sad thing is as the program has gone down so has our schedule. This schedule is built to find 6 wins and get in that bowl for the 10th best ACC team. Even with that, we may not come close to those six wins.
    • frederickterp
      Jeremy -- I think Chris Turner is a decent, serviceable QB. He's not a star, however, he has brought the Terps a few good wins over the years. Let's not forget -- Scott McBrien and Shawn Hill both were transfers. I believe McBrien was considered a preferred walk-on after he left WVU. It's amazing the struggles the Terps have had over the years with O-line play when you see the number of Terps O-linemen in the NFL. BIG QUESTION who is next year's QB? That's gonna be a nightmare.

      The answer is the same for all big-time college BB and FB squads. The coaches are the stars in college. Hire a young aggressive recruiter who instills confidence and swagger in his players. Find a guy that relates to 18 - 23 year old guys who feel entitled to being stars. Kiffin, Petrino, Nutt, Carroll, Sarkisian, Coach Rod, etc. Franklin's not the guy. The guy is in New Mexico -- Mike Locksley! The longer Debbie waits the longer the mediocrity continues, however, if Franklin is hired we will long for the days of Ralph.
    • Wheels
      You know, I just want to believe so badly that they can win 5 more games. I look at the schedule, and I see a way to it...starting tomorrow. They have to win. Otherwise, they might not win again this season, and that's not hyperbole.

      Here's what I want to see. I want to see the offense score on its first possession, and I want to see the defense force a 3 and out on RU's first possession.

      Like last week, MD will win this game if it wins to TO battle. I can't see how RU will stop this offense. Alas, I can't see how MD's defense can stop any offense. It's going to come down to a late FG. Too close to call. My heart says Terps, but my head says "Oh God, not again."

      I think Scott will have a good game. Campbell is back at LT. The D can't play 82 plays again. They need to get off of the field, or it's over...again.
    blog comments powered by Disqus