Just took a look through Maryland’s game books on a whim, wondering just how many times the Terrapins have rolled together a 10-play drive in four games.
Try four —- one in each game.
SEE RELATED:
Now, 51 points are 51 points, and no one is going to offer them back in exchange for killing some clock. But at some juncture, that’s a trait the Terps will probably be glad to adopt —- if they can.
First of all, I expanded the net and included all drives that were 10 plays or took up at least five minutes … and the total remained at four. And here they are.
| Opponent |
Plays |
Yards |
TOP |
Result |
| Delaware |
11 |
71 |
5:46 |
MISSED FG |
| Middle Tennessee |
11 |
56 |
4:13 |
MISSED FG |
| California |
14 |
60 |
5:00 |
TOUCHDOWN |
| Eastern Michigan |
10 |
80 |
4:57 |
TOUCHDOWN |
Obviously, a quick touchdown drive is better than a long march that ends with a missed field goal.
But it doesn’t help when opponents roll up nearly three times as many such drives.
| Opponent |
Plays |
Yards |
TOP |
Result |
| Delaware |
10 |
44 |
4:22 |
MISSED FG |
| Delaware |
10 |
80 |
3:30 |
TOUCHDOWN |
| Middle Tennessee |
10 |
80 |
5:56 |
TOUCHDOWN |
| Middle Tennessee |
13 |
55 |
5:26 |
MISSED FG |
| Middle Tennessee |
17 |
59 |
6:56 |
FIELD GOAL |
| California |
11 |
69 |
4:39 |
FIELD GOAL |
| California |
13 |
95 |
4:50 |
TOUCHDOWN |
| Eastern Michigan |
11 |
80 |
5:58 |
TOUCHDOWN |
| Eastern Michigan |
11 |
80 |
4:05 |
TOUCHDOWN |
| Eastern Michigan |
11 |
69 |
6:05 |
FIELD GOAL |
| Eastern Michigan |
12 |
80 |
3:43 |
TOUCHDOWN |
That’s a whole lot of long drives, and only two of them were fruitless for the Terps’ opponents.
It’s a potential problem. And while the defense has to take some responsibility, Maryland’s offense could help out by staying on the field a little longer.
—- Patrick Stevens
