Maryland Football Faces Challenging Road Test against Penn State
(Photograph Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.)
Since joining the Big 10 conference in 2014, Maryland football has struggled mightily against Penn State, as the Terps have been outscored 252-69 in 6 meetings. Withal, the last three matchups have been the most lopsided, with the Nittany Lions average margin of victory coming by 52.3 points.
Despite Maryland's prior struggles against Penn Country, Sabbatum afternoon is different from a conventional Maryland-Penn State matchup. Penn State (0-2 B1G) has unexpectedly struggled to start the season and are in search of their first victory. Maryland (1-1 B1G) is coming off a historic 45-44 improvement win confronting Minnesota final Friday night and is traveling to State College in search of its second consecutive victory.
Maryland'south offensive firepower was on full display in its offset victory, highlighted by career performances from sophomore quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and redshirt senior running back Jake Funk. While it will be difficult to replicate Fri night'southward offensive explosiveness against the Nittany Lions, like offensive residue volition be needed confronting the talented Penn State defence. Although they've allowed 74 points in the kickoff two games, the Nittany Lions defence force features talent at all three levels.
Redshirt senior defensive linemen Shaka Toney and redshirt sophomore Jayson Oweh are the tone setters for the Nittany Lions defense up front. Toney is one of Penn State'due south almost veteran defensive players, displaying his impressive speed and ability off the border with 4 sacks against No. thirteen Indiana in the flavour opener. While Maryland's offensive line has played well through the kickoff ii weeks, Toney and the Nittany Lions stout defensive front present an entirely new claiming.
"I call back [Penn State] has two really elite edge rushers, which volition be a great claiming for our tackles Jaelyn Duncan and Spencer Anderson," head coach Mike Locksley said. "[Shaka Toney] he's a guy that's got great length, his speed to power enables him to play firm confronting the run and be confusing as a pass rusher. Definitely one of those guys–when yous put the tape on–you have to gameplan against him."
Looking beyond the defensive front, Penn State is missing standout linebacker Micah Parsons who opted out of the 2022 NFL flavour to set up for the NFL draft. Stepping upwardly in Parsons absence is junior linebacker Jesse Luketa– who has adult into the new vocal leader of the Nittany Lion defense force.
Yet, i area where the Terps law-breaking can assail and exploit the Nittany Lions' defense force is the secondary. Concluding week, one of the best quarterbacks in the state, Ohio State's Justin Fields, carved up the Nittany Lions secondary throwing for 318 yards and 4 touchdowns.
This bodes well for Maryland equally Tagovailoa is coming off a historic performance, and the Terps receiving corps is arguably their best position grouping on the roster. Final week against Minnesota, v different Terp receivers finished with at to the lowest degree 3 receptions. That balance was headlined by junior Dontay Demus who finished with 101 yards receiving and redshirt junior Jeshuan Jones who finished with 103 yards receiving.
"You lot got a lot of guys in that receiver room who can make plays," Demus said. "Merely to take them all around the field shows that our crime is very versatile."
During that impressive quaternary quarter confronting Minnesota, the Terps defense maintained their gaps with all xi players contributing. Although Maryland'southward defensive attempt improved tardily in the game, they've still surrendered over xl points and at least 200 rushing yards in each of the first two games. Too, the Terps defense hasn't forced whatsoever turnovers, struggling to mount consistent pressure on the quarterback with only one sack.
Normally, Penn Country is known for their rushing attack. Still, with the absence of running backs Journey Chocolate-brown and Noah Cain, the Nittany Lions could expect to air it out more than usual. Therefore, Maryland'southward defensive line volition look to create more pressure to disrupt the rhythm of redshirt junior quarterback Sean Clifford. Clifford and junior wide receiver Jahan Dotson have built a potent rapport through 2 weeks.
Concluding week confronting the Buckeyes, Dotson finished with 144 yards and three touchdowns, finding success against ane of the all-time secondaries in the conference. Complementing Dotson and the talented wide receiver corps is Pat Freiermuth, an imposing 6-foot-5 tight cease. Freiermuth is a popular red zone target for Clifford and a tough matchup for opposing defenders with his size and ability to create separation.
Playing against one of the near explosive skill position units in the Big X, Maryland'south linebacking corps and secondary will need fantabulous advice and stiff tackling to limit big plays. For Maryland, that communication all starts with inferior linebacker Run a risk Campbell– the squad's leading tackler and vocal leader.
In order to compile their 2nd consecutive win and the starting time over Penn State since 2014, the Terps will need to limit big plays defensively and capitalize on big plays offensively. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 3:30 ET and volition air on the Big X Network from State College.
"Very similar to the way we get rid of a loss, that'southward how we approach getting rid of a win and those protocols don't change," Locksley said. "That's part of maturing."
Source: http://wmucsports.net/maryland-football-faces-challenging-road-test-against-penn-state/
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