Breaking down the good and the bad from Maryland’s 28-17 edge at the half over No. 8 Clemson. …
UPSIDE
SEE RELATED:
* Turning takeaways into points. Austin Walker‘s fumble recovery on a muffed punt turned into a touchdown two plays later. Cameron Chism produced his second interception return for a touchdown this season. That accounts for half of Maryland’s production.
* C.J. Brown thriving. The sophomore has eight carries for 85 yards and a score, and is 8-for-14 for 70 yards and a touchdown through the air in his first career start.
* Joe Vellano being Joe Vellano. The defensive tackle has 10 tackles in the first half, just a week after collecting 20 stops at Georgia Tech. Remember, Vellano is a defensive tackle. Those are insane numbers that seem to get more ridiculous.
DOWNSIDE
* Stopping the run. Clemson’s Andre Ellington already has 100 yards rushing and a touchdown, and the Terps have shown limited ability to stop Clemson on the ground. It’s worth wondering if Clemson notices this trend.
* Dropsies. Maryland’s troubles with dropped passes again proved a problem; Ronnie Tyler could have had a long gain if not for a miscue in the second quarter. Plus, Maryland also dropped a pair of sure interceptions early.
* Kickoff return coverage. Clemson is averaging nearly 30 yards a kickoff return. But since Maryland will have to score before every kickoff the rest of the way, it’s a concern that is partially mitigated since Maryland holds an 11-point lead.
—- Patrick Stevens
