Some thoughts on the Maryland game.

[herbsinator]

Im watching the game again this morning. Raiola’s second interception really changed the game. We had just scored and were up 10, then got Maryland off the field right after that. We were moving the ball and a TD on that drive would have probably broken their back.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I get people looking at the box score and being excited about the low # of sacks allowed, but I think that's more due to Dana doing a great job neutralizing their pass rush with his play calling. Lots of screens and short passes that didn't give Mathis & Co time to get home.

OL (and everyone else pass blocking) still crappy, but Dana did a good job masking it yesterday.

Sure, but I guess I don't necessarily care how they don't up sacks as long as they don't give up sacks.

 

[ChocaEgg]

Sure, but I guess I don't necessarily care how they don't up sacks as long as they don't give up sacks.

I get that, but we're going to need to be able to throw the ball down field against other teams. If we can't stretch the field we're going to have a bad time against quite a few of our remaining opponents

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I get that, but we're going to need to be able to throw the ball down field against other teams. If we can't stretch the field we're going to have a bad time against quite a few of our remaining opponents

Sure, but as you've noted there are lots of different ways to scheme up what you need to be able to do to win football games

 

[ChocaEgg]

Sure, but as you've noted there are lots of different ways to scheme up what you need to be able to do to win football games

Gonna run out of rabbits to pull out of the hat. If we had a decent OL (and DL), we'd have a chance to be special this year.

 

[BorWhiskey]

I was really surprised we didn’t blitz him or get in his head. Dude was calm the whole game, not rattled at all. Their OL was pretty good too.

I recognized in my limited watching that we were sitting back in coverage and not blitzing. I was assuming it was because we feared his scrambling and assumed he’d screw up a few times by forcing the ball into coverage at some point in a long drive. They did a good job of finding the space in our coverage.

Looking back at the possessions, UMD had 11 total. Three were sustained, over 50 yards of offense resulting in 17 points. Eight were under 40 yards of offense, but one of those still resulted in a TD because it was a short field off of a DR interception. So the approach was to get him to make a mistake but he didn’t. They still couldn’t consistently move the ball against us, though, only having successfully moved the ball on 36% of their possessions.


Conversely we blitzed Chiles 44% of the time, and Underwood 54%. Butler certainly gave a different look the opposing teams have to prepare for.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

I recognized in my limited watching that we were sitting back in coverage and not blitzing. I was assuming it was because we feared his scrambling and assumed he’d screw up a few times by forcing the ball into coverage at some point in a long drive. They did a good job of finding the space in our coverage.

Looking back at the possessions, UMD had 11 total. Three were sustained, over 50 yards of offense resulting in 17 points. Eight were under 40 yards of offense, but one of those still resulted in a TD because it was a short field off of a DR interception. So the approach was to get him to make a mistake but he didn’t. They still couldn’t consistently move the ball against us, though, only having successfully moved the ball on 36% of their possessions.

View attachment 60116
Conversely we blitzed Chiles 44% of the time, and Underwood 54%. Butler certainly gave a different look the opposing teams have to prepare for.

This was the shit I was looking for. Thanks homie

 

[nscottie]

I recognized in my limited watching that we were sitting back in coverage and not blitzing. I was assuming it was because we feared his scrambling and assumed he’d screw up a few times by forcing the ball into coverage at some point in a long drive. They did a good job of finding the space in our coverage.

Looking back at the possessions, UMD had 11 total. Three were sustained, over 50 yards of offense resulting in 17 points. Eight were under 40 yards of offense, but one of those still resulted in a TD because it was a short field off of a DR interception. So the approach was to get him to make a mistake but he didn’t. They still couldn’t consistently move the ball against us, though, only having successfully moved the ball on 36% of their possessions.

View attachment 60116
Conversely we blitzed Chiles 44% of the time, and Underwood 54%. Butler certainly gave a different look the opposing teams have to prepare for.

Nice analysis. Thanks

 

[stonesak]

Outside of the interceptions Dylan played a really good game. Get those cleaned up and we'll be in good shape.

 

[mcgradynu]

1. DR might be the leader, but EJ is the soul of the team. He is not the perfect RB for football in general, but he is the perfect player for this team. Give me one of him on every team every year, please.

2. For the RB to have a game like that then the OL played well, they also protected Dylan well enough considering Maryland has an above average pass rush.

3. In years past we don't get a win like this because our special teams doesn't return a kick like that or make all of our FGs/XPs. Now we are winning tough games because we actually perform in all 3 phases of the contest.

4. It didn't appear to me that we rotated many different guys on defense this game. What I mean is not as much as in the past games this season. We will see the snaps when PFF comes out. And some dudes we saw at the start of the year have vanished. (Ochoa for example)

5. It was a physical game and I am hoping that we don't totally bonk for the quick turnaround with Minnesota. Some guys have to be feeling banged up after that one.

6. What are the odds that QB stays at Maryland? Dude is legit. I kept waiting for him to play like a true freshman and really do something stupid and he didn't. He was slinging the ball. He really impressed me and made me think some bigger school will be offering some cash that Maryland won't be able to match.

7. Scrap the Haarberg runs unless we are planning to have him fake a run and throw one at some point.

Agree on the Haarberg piece. I’d rather see us give TJ a designed package.

 

[V-Doub]

Good points. Totally agree on the Maryland qb. He was very poised and threw a great ball. He’s from Maryland, and that may keep him there.

Also agree on the Haarberg run package. It doesn’t fool anyone anymore.

It never really did. I think the only time it’s worked over the last 2 years was last week against MSU when he faked the run and gave it to EJ. I literally don’t think it’s work one single time when Haarberg has kept the ball. But I could’ve forgotten one I suppose.

 

[nja13]

Also agree on the Haarberg run package. It doesn’t fool anyone anymore.

It's not supposed to fool anyone. The point of any wildcat is not to trick a defense, but to give the offense a numbers advantage with the QB as a runner.

That said, it still doesn't work and should be scrapped.

 

[Jim14510]

Believe Locks has been recruiting that guy since middle school and they have a pretty tight relationship. He'll get some bag offers for sure (as is the life of a talented player at MD), but would expect him to stick around and be a pretty dangerous dude going forward.

Has that play ever worked? IMO the better change might be Haarberg on speed option (and not just in the red zone). I don't remember him being necessary great in the read game and feel like most yardage just came by repetitive brute force and explosives came off speed option.

A realistic possibility is Maryland sucks the rest of the year and Locks gets fired.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

Sat with a bunch of Maryland fans and they are done with Locks. Think he gets great players but can’t coach. Don’t disagree.

 

[V-Doub]

A realistic possibility is Maryland sucks the rest of the year and Locks gets fired.

They go out to LA next to play the coach killers next. UCLA took down their own coach, then they took down Franklin and put Johnathan Smith squarely on the hot seat. You’re next Locksley…

 

[HuskerDocCo]

On Washington (Maryland QB), the potential is obviously there but he's got a long ways to go as far as accuracy and placement. He missed a ton of open throws because he never took anything off the ball. Of course his frame and arm are things you bet on long term, but if I were him I'd think long and hard about jumping after the bag to a place that will be a whole lot less forgiving of his growing pains

i also see the growing pains of this post Larry , if you would’ve said “i love Maryland’s horsecock QB! GBR!” We would’ve all understood

 

[Baron Winnebago]

i also see the growing pains of this post Larry , if you would’ve said “i love Maryland’s horsecock QB! GBR!” We would’ve all understood

Doc, it's only natural to want to see the crank on that thoroughbred

 

[herbsinator]

It's not supposed to fool anyone. The point of any wildcat is not to trick a defense, but to give the offense a numbers advantage with the QB as a runner.

That said, it still doesn't work and should be scrapped.

The HH run against Maryland didn’t work because Carter whiffed on his block

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

EJ is #8 in the country rushing.

Outside of the interceptions Dylan played a really good game. Get those cleaned up and we'll be in good shape.

I think with this OLine and a QB who isn’t ile, you are going to get one of 2 things along with his good throws.

He holds too long but won’t make mistakes(sacks) or he gets it out quick but needs to take chances on receivers choice routes(more Int’s).

Dana is definitely trying different things all the time. I’m just really happy to have an OC with so much knowledge.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

The HH run against Maryland didn’t work because Carter whiffed on his block

also because HH kept the read option when he should have handed off, like he usually does