Has the desire to avoid mistakes contributed to the sudden shutting down of Maryland’s formerly potent offense?
The Terrapins committed no turnovers in two straight losses after seven interceptions and five lost fumbles during a 3-1 start. Since throwing three picks and fumbling three times in a 55-21 victory over Duke on Sept.25, Maryland’s offense has managed just 172 yards and 10 points over two games while coaches stressed the need to avoid errors.
“I’d almost rather have the turnovers back,” offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe said. “We made such a big issue of taking care of the football that maybe we’re a little too cautious. The turnovers have gone down, but so has the production.”
Maryland’s 1,200-page offensive playbook seems to have been reduced to a pamphlet as once-vulnerable defenses suddenly appear to know what’s coming. Has the search for perfection made the Terps (3-3, 1-2 ACC) too predictable heading into Saturday’s game at Clemson (2-4, 1-3)?
“We’ve tried to simplify things, and we may have gotten too simple,” coach Ralph Friedgen conceded. “Maybe we’re more easy to defend. We’ve been working hard to make it as simple as we can but make it more difficult for people to defend us.”
Yet Maryland won’t scrap an offense that averaged 33 points a game in 2001 and 2002 while setting school scoring records each season.
“I don’t have any quick fixes or solutions,” Taaffe said. “It’s a good system. It’s a proven system. The worst thing you can do is panic and re-invent the wheel. We’ve been running these plays for three years now. We’ve always had good balance in our offense, and now we’re struggling to do anything well consistently.”
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said Maryland’s offensive troubles won’t last much longer. He’s just hoping for one more week of woes.
“Because of Coach Friedgen’s success, it’s just more of a media attention right now than other people we have faced who have had similar problems,” Bowden said. “I know they’re frustrated. I hope he doesn’t find the answer this week, but his track records proves he will find an answer soon.”
Taaffe sees two keys toward offensive improvement — execution and confidence — but the Terps haven’t had either lately. Extensive injuries have forced different line combinations with opponents blitzing regularly. That’s led to fewer game-breaking plays.
“There isn’t any magic in this thing,” Taaffe said. “You have to have some flexibility in your system, but it comes down to out-executing the defense. We’ve got some areas that have some weaknesses that seem to become magnified in the last two weeks.”
The Terps speak regularly of needing just one big play to regain confidence. Maryland’s longest pass completion in the last two games was for 15 yards and its longest running play for 28 yards by Josh Allen. The Terps faced a similar crisis last season when they scored just 23 points during an 0-2 start before Allen’s 72-yard touchdown run on the opening play led to a 61-0 victory over The Citadel.
“Someone has to raise up and start making some plays,” Friedgen said. “They have to relax. We have to play it with fun and not tense up.”
Sophomore quarterback Joel Statham conceded his confidence suffered when he was benched in the third quarter of two straight games in favor of freshman Jordan Steffy. Maryland won’t decide until game time which will start Saturday. Coaches are urging both to show more swagger in the huddle, hoping it transfers to teammates.
“What’s your mind-set right now?” Taaffe asked players this week. “Are you a guy saying, ’Call my number. I want the ball’ or ’Run it over my hole,’ or are you back there saying, ’I hope he doesn’t call my number.’ It’s a confidence issue.”
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