Breaking down a season-opener, when we haven't had a chance to see any live football, is always a bit of a guessing game. But I checked in with some Maryland experts to get their thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of the Terrapins team, and to gauge how Maryland matches up with the Longhorns heading into this weekend's game ...
MARYLAND PASS OFFENSE VS TEXAS PASS DEFENSE
The Terrapins had an ongoing competition at quarterback this offseason, similar to last year. The race was between two sophomores and a true freshman once junior Caleb Henderson hurt his foot. There’s lots of inexperience at the position, but some solid skills with which Maryland can work. Tyrrell Pigrome will start. He’s an athletic player at the position, has a strong arm and is capable of making plays through the air and on the ground. Pigrome isn’t very tall, but is extremely fast, has a very strong arm and throws a nice deep ball. He did have only one start last season, so he doesn’t bring a lot of experience. His back-up will be true freshman Kasim Hill, who is more of a traditional quarterback. He could see time if this week if Pigrome struggles early. Junior receiver D.J. Moore is the team’s top pass-catcher after leading the team last year in most receiving categories. He’s a solid all-around receiver who can go across the middle or make plays on the outside. The other two guys to know are seniors Taivon Jacobs and Jacquille Veii. Those two are both more speed guys and two of the fastest players on Maryland’s team.
Advantage – Texas ***
MARYLAND RUN OFFENSE VS TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
The biggest strength of the entire Maryland team is probably the offensive backfield and the running game. In talking to a Maryland writer this week, the biggest question with this group is how the carries will be divided and if there will be enough to go around. Ty Johnson, a junior, is a home run back. He rushed for just over 1,000 yards last year while averaging a ridiculous 9.1 yards per carry. Sophomore Lorenzo Harrison was having a great season year last year before got suspended for rules violations. He and Johnson give the Terrapins a nice one-two punch. True freshman Anthony McFarland, a highly-regarded recruit, is expected to factor into the rotation as well. Maryland was 43rd nationally last year at 200 rushing yards per game.
Advantage – Texas *
MARYLAND OFFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
The Maryland offensive line could be another team strength. There are some unknowns with the group though, with only two full-time returning starters and two others who started parts of last year. It’s a group of mostly upperclassmen, with four juniors and one sophomore expected to start. The line has a lot more size and strength than there has been in recent history (average weight of the starters is 312). Center Brendan Moore, from Austin Westwood, is up for the Remington Award and a couple other top honors. Left tackle Damian Prince was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. He has improved and those close to the program feel he could be close to breaking out.
Advantage – Texas *
MARYLAND PASS DEFENSE VS TEXAS PASS OFFENSE
Maryland’s weakness on defense is stopping the run, which means its pass defense is technically a team strength. The secondary did get hit with a couple suspensions last week. Cornerback J.C. Jackson, a transfer from Florida, was a highly-touted high school recruit and started 11 games last year. Safety Darnell Savage has been the biggest playmaker on defense throughout offseason. There is some inexperience that Texas will likely test in sophomore safety Qwuantrezz Knight and sophomore corner in Tino Ellis, who is a converted wide receiver.
Advantage – Texas ***
MARYLAND RUN DEFENSE VS TEXAS RUN OFFENSE
This was the biggest weakness for the Maryland team last year, so it’s going to be an area in which they have to improve dramatically if Maryland has any chance of pulling the upset. The Terrapin players have been saying all the right things to the local media, saying the run defense is much-improved over the course of the offseason. Maryland will switch between having three and four down linemen, along with a BUCK position that can play with his hand in in the ground or as a stand-up linebacker. Maryland will also play its nickel DB more in the box for run support. Senior Jesse Aniebonam, at BUCK, is the most productive player of the bunch after leading the team in sacks last year.
Edge – Texas **
MARYLAND DEFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE
Maryland starts four seniors up front (if you include BUCK Jesse Aniebonam), so there is a lot of experience here. The strength of the Terrapins’ defensive line is its pass rush based off what observers have seen in fall camp. The weakness would be the ability to hold up against the run, especially on the interior.
Advantage – Texas ***
SPECIAL TEAMS
Will Likely has been the man for Maryland in special teams the past couple years, but he’s now drawing a paycheck from the Patriots, so the Terrapins will be looking to replace his production in the return game. Ty Johnson and D.J. Moore will get first crack at kick returner and punt returner, respectively. The kicking is game expected to be average. Senior kicker Adam Greene has some experience but hit on just 9-of-14 attempts last year. Punter Wade Lees is from ProKick Australia, just like UT’s Michael Dickson. Edge to UT’s Aussie.
Advantage – Texas **
MARYLAND PASS OFFENSE VS TEXAS PASS DEFENSE
The Terrapins had an ongoing competition at quarterback this offseason, similar to last year. The race was between two sophomores and a true freshman once junior Caleb Henderson hurt his foot. There’s lots of inexperience at the position, but some solid skills with which Maryland can work. Tyrrell Pigrome will start. He’s an athletic player at the position, has a strong arm and is capable of making plays through the air and on the ground. Pigrome isn’t very tall, but is extremely fast, has a very strong arm and throws a nice deep ball. He did have only one start last season, so he doesn’t bring a lot of experience. His back-up will be true freshman Kasim Hill, who is more of a traditional quarterback. He could see time if this week if Pigrome struggles early. Junior receiver D.J. Moore is the team’s top pass-catcher after leading the team last year in most receiving categories. He’s a solid all-around receiver who can go across the middle or make plays on the outside. The other two guys to know are seniors Taivon Jacobs and Jacquille Veii. Those two are both more speed guys and two of the fastest players on Maryland’s team.
Advantage – Texas ***
MARYLAND RUN OFFENSE VS TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
The biggest strength of the entire Maryland team is probably the offensive backfield and the running game. In talking to a Maryland writer this week, the biggest question with this group is how the carries will be divided and if there will be enough to go around. Ty Johnson, a junior, is a home run back. He rushed for just over 1,000 yards last year while averaging a ridiculous 9.1 yards per carry. Sophomore Lorenzo Harrison was having a great season year last year before got suspended for rules violations. He and Johnson give the Terrapins a nice one-two punch. True freshman Anthony McFarland, a highly-regarded recruit, is expected to factor into the rotation as well. Maryland was 43rd nationally last year at 200 rushing yards per game.
Advantage – Texas *
MARYLAND OFFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
The Maryland offensive line could be another team strength. There are some unknowns with the group though, with only two full-time returning starters and two others who started parts of last year. It’s a group of mostly upperclassmen, with four juniors and one sophomore expected to start. The line has a lot more size and strength than there has been in recent history (average weight of the starters is 312). Center Brendan Moore, from Austin Westwood, is up for the Remington Award and a couple other top honors. Left tackle Damian Prince was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. He has improved and those close to the program feel he could be close to breaking out.
Advantage – Texas *
MARYLAND PASS DEFENSE VS TEXAS PASS OFFENSE
Maryland’s weakness on defense is stopping the run, which means its pass defense is technically a team strength. The secondary did get hit with a couple suspensions last week. Cornerback J.C. Jackson, a transfer from Florida, was a highly-touted high school recruit and started 11 games last year. Safety Darnell Savage has been the biggest playmaker on defense throughout offseason. There is some inexperience that Texas will likely test in sophomore safety Qwuantrezz Knight and sophomore corner in Tino Ellis, who is a converted wide receiver.
Advantage – Texas ***
MARYLAND RUN DEFENSE VS TEXAS RUN OFFENSE
This was the biggest weakness for the Maryland team last year, so it’s going to be an area in which they have to improve dramatically if Maryland has any chance of pulling the upset. The Terrapin players have been saying all the right things to the local media, saying the run defense is much-improved over the course of the offseason. Maryland will switch between having three and four down linemen, along with a BUCK position that can play with his hand in in the ground or as a stand-up linebacker. Maryland will also play its nickel DB more in the box for run support. Senior Jesse Aniebonam, at BUCK, is the most productive player of the bunch after leading the team in sacks last year.
Edge – Texas **
MARYLAND DEFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE
Maryland starts four seniors up front (if you include BUCK Jesse Aniebonam), so there is a lot of experience here. The strength of the Terrapins’ defensive line is its pass rush based off what observers have seen in fall camp. The weakness would be the ability to hold up against the run, especially on the interior.
Advantage – Texas ***
SPECIAL TEAMS
Will Likely has been the man for Maryland in special teams the past couple years, but he’s now drawing a paycheck from the Patriots, so the Terrapins will be looking to replace his production in the return game. Ty Johnson and D.J. Moore will get first crack at kick returner and punt returner, respectively. The kicking is game expected to be average. Senior kicker Adam Greene has some experience but hit on just 9-of-14 attempts last year. Punter Wade Lees is from ProKick Australia, just like UT’s Michael Dickson. Edge to UT’s Aussie.
Advantage – Texas **
