Maryland has lost 4 games in a row. Here's some interesting nuggets about those games:
- The Terps have allowed 17 sacks in those 4 losses. They only allowed 3 sacks in the first 5 games of the season. Now you might think well that's because they played teams like Ohio State and Penn State. Keep in mind that Northwestern and Illinois had 8 combined sacks vs. Maryland.
- Maryland is only averaging 66.2 yards rushing and 2.4 yards per carry in those 4 losses. - Prior to the 4 game losing streak, Maryland was 30th Nationally in Rushing offense. They're now 108th Nationally.
- Maryland Running Back Roman Hemby, a 1,000 yard rusher last season, has only carried the football 29 times in those 4 games. And he has no publicized injury.
- Opposing QB's have rushed 30 times for 129 yards in the last 3 weeks. - And those numbers also include subtractions taken off for a handful of sacks.
So what has happened?
1. Locksley has a pretty intense dog house. He benched his starting defensive line after their Illinois loss. The 2nd team group that replaced them for the Northwestern game, was then benched for the 3rd team defensive line vs. Penn Freaking State of all teams. Who the fvck knows who will start vs. Nebraska? The starting D-line has still been playing, but their reps have diminished. I think Locksley is coaching from a pulpit of fear.
2. The offensive line lost their starting RT Conor Fagan. This left them scrambling as they don't trust their back up tackles. This means FCS transfer Corey Bullock, who's been primarily a RG has moved over to RT. The right guard position has also been a revolving door between two small school transfers. Gottlieb Ayedze is a transfer from D2 Frostburg State has been sharing time with Bullock. But now, that side of the line is getting abused in PASS Pro, surrendering 10 sacks the last two weeks. Locksley has replaced the Starting center Mike Purcell with Aric Harris. Purcell was in the dog house for his performance vs. Illinois. Harris got hurt vs. Northwestern so they went back to Purcell. Their Left Guard Amelio Moran, has played better than the Center and RG, but this is also the 1st year he's started. So its not completely surprising that he's been struggling vs Big Ten defensive lines. Their LT, Delmar Glaze is a very good player and has been the only stabilizing player on that line.
3. And I just want to counter some strange narrative I've noticed among Husker fans about Taulia Tagovoiloia. He's rushed for 53 times this season for 35 yards. He has -39 yards rushing during the 4 game losing streak. The kid has a great arm and he's tough. But he is not a dynamic runner. he's an average runner for a Pro Style QB.
Call me crazy, but if Nebraska can find a way to score first, I think the Terps might retreat to their shells. Keep an eye on the Huskers D-line vs. that Maryland front.
- The Terps have allowed 17 sacks in those 4 losses. They only allowed 3 sacks in the first 5 games of the season. Now you might think well that's because they played teams like Ohio State and Penn State. Keep in mind that Northwestern and Illinois had 8 combined sacks vs. Maryland.
- Maryland is only averaging 66.2 yards rushing and 2.4 yards per carry in those 4 losses. - Prior to the 4 game losing streak, Maryland was 30th Nationally in Rushing offense. They're now 108th Nationally.
- Maryland Running Back Roman Hemby, a 1,000 yard rusher last season, has only carried the football 29 times in those 4 games. And he has no publicized injury.
- Opposing QB's have rushed 30 times for 129 yards in the last 3 weeks. - And those numbers also include subtractions taken off for a handful of sacks.
So what has happened?
1. Locksley has a pretty intense dog house. He benched his starting defensive line after their Illinois loss. The 2nd team group that replaced them for the Northwestern game, was then benched for the 3rd team defensive line vs. Penn Freaking State of all teams. Who the fvck knows who will start vs. Nebraska? The starting D-line has still been playing, but their reps have diminished. I think Locksley is coaching from a pulpit of fear.
2. The offensive line lost their starting RT Conor Fagan. This left them scrambling as they don't trust their back up tackles. This means FCS transfer Corey Bullock, who's been primarily a RG has moved over to RT. The right guard position has also been a revolving door between two small school transfers. Gottlieb Ayedze is a transfer from D2 Frostburg State has been sharing time with Bullock. But now, that side of the line is getting abused in PASS Pro, surrendering 10 sacks the last two weeks. Locksley has replaced the Starting center Mike Purcell with Aric Harris. Purcell was in the dog house for his performance vs. Illinois. Harris got hurt vs. Northwestern so they went back to Purcell. Their Left Guard Amelio Moran, has played better than the Center and RG, but this is also the 1st year he's started. So its not completely surprising that he's been struggling vs Big Ten defensive lines. Their LT, Delmar Glaze is a very good player and has been the only stabilizing player on that line.
3. And I just want to counter some strange narrative I've noticed among Husker fans about Taulia Tagovoiloia. He's rushed for 53 times this season for 35 yards. He has -39 yards rushing during the 4 game losing streak. The kid has a great arm and he's tough. But he is not a dynamic runner. he's an average runner for a Pro Style QB.
Call me crazy, but if Nebraska can find a way to score first, I think the Terps might retreat to their shells. Keep an eye on the Huskers D-line vs. that Maryland front.
