Purdue is, in some ways, a Midwest version of Maryland. At least when it comes to football.
“They’re in the same situation as us, in my opinion,” said UMD interim coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, “as far as just being in the Big Ten and really creating an identity for themselves.”
This Saturday, the Boilermakers also provide the best remaining opportunity on the Terrapins’ schedule for a win.
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“We’re doubling down on our core beliefs, and that’s obviously mental toughness, technique and effort,” Abdul-Rahim said Monday. “We have a lot of statistical data that says what we’re trying to get accomplished is working in the right way.”
Since being named interim coach Oct. 21, Abdul-Rahim has made a bevy of changes, seen and unseen, to return his team’s focus simply to the “love of the game.” A visible one was attire, with the Terrapins walking into the stadium last Saturday against Illinois in team gear and sweatsuits, not suits and ties.
“Sometimes when you dress up, your suit might look a little different than someone else’s suit. Sometimes your bag might look a little different than someone else’s bag,” he said, noting players voluntarily chose to not don necklaces or chains on the walk in, either. “It’s a distraction, in my opinion. It has nothing to do with the sport … That’s part of our messaging. It’s moving in the right direction, the same way, with a singular purpose, and literally a single way of thought.”
The renewed purpose and perspective was evident, even if the result was the same: a 20-17 loss, Maryland’s sixth straight and 13th in a row in conference.
“I thought it was a lot more mental. He took a lot off of our bodies, but he also made sure that we got all the work in for situational awareness and everything game-plan wise for Illinois,” center Michael Hershey said of Abdul-Rahim’s changes. “We do a lot more walkthroughs, and it’s helpful when you get to walk through the rep. It really helps you focus.”
Linebacker Daniel Wingate echoed the same sentiment, saying he and his teammates were more loose, comfortable and less uptight.
“He’s been able to change practice to where we’ve had to focus on more situational aspects instead of just going through the motions of things,” Wingate said. “Really understanding what we’re supposed to do in this situation, how we’re supposed to play these situations, and preparing for it for when we approach it within the game.”
The Terrapins (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) remain one of only two Power Four programs — Michigan State is the other — to have not yet defeated another Power Four team this season. Penn State, Maryland’s final opponent, came off that list last week thanks to the Boilermakers (3-5, 2-3).
“I think now you have to start being consistent in behaviors and in the way we think. We’ve got to continue down the same road where it becomes redundant, where it becomes pretty much the same thing,” Abdul-Rahim said. “I think we’ve got the infrastructure of what we want to get accomplished these next four weeks, and we want to continue to refine that infrastructure.”
Purdue’s main disparity on both sides of the ball is the passing game. Quarterback Ryan Browne averages 245 yards, ranking him third in the conference. But his defense allows nearly the same amount each week: 243, worst in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers’ rushing defense is nearly as bad, allowing 175 yards, second-worst in the league.
“Compared to Illinois, it’s a completely different defense we’re playing: Illinois was a 3-3-5, Purdue is going to be a 4-2,” Hershey said. “So to be able to get those double teams together and move them off the ball is going to be very important.”
Terrapins QB Malik Washington throws the football more than anyone in the conference, 36.3 attempts per game. With that has also come seven interceptions, most among Big Ten signal callers. Abdul-Rahim talked with Washington during and after the loss to Illinois, stressing that he doesn’t need to carry the entire burden of winning and, to a larger degree, getting the Maryland program back on track.
Malik cannot assume he has to win a football game. Malik needs to just be a distributor in the offense and be a part — a humongous part — of our program,” Abdul-Rahim said. “Because I think he’s a little bit too hard on himself. And sometimes just doing your job is good enough.”
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