Maryland's Offense Struggles Mightly Against No. 19 Iowa

Past: Eddie Hobbs

After a 34-seven victory over Rutgers last Sabbatum the Terrapins were riding high heading into Iowa but were quickly brought back to earth by getting close out for the offset fourth dimension this flavor, with a 23-0 final score. Maryland'due south defense force continually gave its offense chances to capitalize early, simply Maryland's jet-sweep infused crime only made it to Iowa's side of the field once in the entire game.

Iowa's offense stayed on the field for an absurd 40:55, while Maryland'southward offense was only able to muster xix:05. This trend isn't new for Maryland, every bit they rank concluding in the Big X in time of possession, and 113 in the nation.

The key to this game was going to be how Maryland'southward rushing attack fared against Iowa's front seven, which is i of the better fronts in the nation. Information technology didn't beginning or finish well for the Terrapins, equally they gained just 68 yards on the ground, and were forced to throw the football– something they haven't done well all season besides the Texas game, which now feels like a distant retentivity.

Maryland's passing game has the fewest attempts (134) and fewest completions (69) in the Big Ten along with the worst completion pct (51.5).

With that, let'south take a look at what happened against Iowa on Saturday.

Tre Watson Interception

Stop me if y'all have heard this before: Tre Watson got his hands on an interception. On this play, Nate Stanley scanned the field earlier trying to step upwardly in the pocket. Maryland'south interior linemen Oluwaseun Oluwatimi and Lawtez Rogers collapsed the pocket and made no room for Stanley in one case he moved up.

The rest was left up to Watson, who was in the right identify at the right time, as Stanley threw the ball too high for T.J. Hockenson. That was Watson's 4th pick this yr, and he is now tied for second in the nation for the interceptions.

Kasim Hill First Pass

The first play call of the game for Maryland is a very expert ane, especially for Kasim Hill. The ball is snapped, and Hill immediately turns to his correct, and that makes Djimon Colbert think Loma is going to pass to Ty Johnson out of the backfield.

Instead, Colbert leaves a gaping pigsty, which Jahrvis Davenport so fills and gains 12 yards on the first play of the game.

This is good for two reasons: first, it keeps Iowa on its heels because they came into the game with its focus on Maryland's rushing attack and it keeps them honest. 2nd, getting Colina in some kind of rhythm should be a priority for Maryland, especially with other Big Ten opponents coming up that the Terps will have to pass confronting in guild to move the ball.

Third Downwards Fumble

Maryland had a successful jet-sweep on first down that gained a nice 7-yard clamper that was followed by an incomplete laissez passer on 2nd down.

On third downwards, center Brendan Moore snapped the brawl that wasn't perfectly placed for Colina and was snapped slightly to Hill'southward left. Even though the snap wasn't keen, Loma still had a chance to catch information technology. The bollix caused Hill to sprint back to the brawl and throw information technology out of bounds, halting Maryland'due south first drive of the game, and wasted a gamble to exercise something after Watson's interception.

First Down Simulated Start

On first downwardly of Maryland's second drive, Iowa only capped off a 17-play 72-grand bulldoze and only came away with iii points. The Terrapins' defense had done a serviceable chore against Iowa to that bespeak by bending, but not breaking.

Against a ranked team on the route, Maryland couldn't afford many mistakes, especially on offense. If the Terps get in long downwardly situations, it doesn't fare besides well for them. It doesn't assist that Maryland commits 9.1 penalties per game, the 2d about in the Large Ten.

With the kind of offense that Maryland runs, they are susceptible to false start penalties because of all of the motions that go on before the brawl is snapped. Here, veteran tackle Derwin Gray got a little fleck of an early spring, and it set Maryland back 5 yards. Subsequently starting out in that five-one thousand hole, Maryland had two unsuccessful run plays, and a third-and-17 heave that was broken up by the Hawkeyes.

Kasim Hill Interception

At this point, Maryland's defense continued to cease Iowa within the 20-1000 line. The Hawkeyes had driven down the field inside the reddish zone on ii straight drives and were stopped on both, resulting in six total points.

Maryland got the ball dorsum and had their well-nigh successful drive of the solar day with Loma completing 2 passes on this drive in particular. Facing a second-and-11, Hill attempted a pass to the far side of the field to true freshman Brian Cobbs. For the laissez passer to be successful here Colina had to striking Cobbs over the height and nigh the sideline. All the same, the pass cruel short for Cobbs and gave Amani Hooker an opportunity to make a play on the ball. It doesn't help that Cobbs was blanketed and Hill stared down his receiver the whole fashion. It would take been better off for Hill to become to another read to get some yardage back to make it a manageable distance on third down..

Davenport Drib

After non scoring in the offset half, Maryland's offense needed to alter the narrative in the second one-half in social club to brand the game competitive. Instead, the Terrapins went three-and-out on their start drive. Interim head coach Matt Canada has made it clear that he believes that he has two capable starting quarterbacks and decided to insert Tyrrell Pigrome into the game after the uninspiring first drive of the 2d one-half.

On the second drive of the second half, Maryland picked up 6 yards on a Pigrome rush, simply quickly lost v yards afterward Anthony McFarland got stopped in the backfield. Pigrome was facing a third-and-9 in the shotgun and looking to his left for Davenport. The route looked like a 10-and-in just past the sticks, and it left Davenport open. Pigrome threw the ball correct into his receiver's hands, but Davenport looked to start running before making sure he completed the catch.

Only like that, Maryland had its 2nd straight iii-and-out to outset the second half. Maryland'southward defense had to go correct back onto the field, and it felt as if the game was slipping away from the Terrapins afterwards this play.

Pigrome Fumble

This was the virtually memorable play from Maryland's loss against Iowa, and it'due south for all of the wrong reasons. The play pattern was meant for a fake handoff on a jet-sweep effectually the right side of the line and then a subsequent handoff to Ty Johnson. Instead, Pigrome ran into Cobbs, dropped the ball, and kicked it into the end zone where Anthony Nelson and then landed on the brawl for the easiest touchdown of his collegiate career.

This felt like the end of the game, even though there was withal 3:31 left in the 3rd quarter.

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Source: http://wmucsports.net/marylands-offense-struggles-mightly-no-19-iowa/

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