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
