After a 51-point loss to UCLA, Maryland football was in dire need of a definitive answer.
For one quarter, the Terps seemed to make that answer. But the old cracks widened again and Maryland’s lead against Nebraska crumbled into dust.
Technically, the Terps have made progress: their 25-point margin of defeat is only half of what they suffered last week. But the 48-23 loss to the Cornhuskers in their Big Ten road opener sets the stage for a few ugly weeks ahead.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s game.
In many ways, the Terps cleaned house early in the game against Nebraska. Maryland tackled better – for the most part – and found some success creating holes in the running game, which helped the passing attack settle into a rhythm.
But when things went wrong in Maryland, they went wrong in a major way.
When Nebraska nearly blocked Maryland’s punt attempt in the first quarter, driving home against Bryce McFerson but kicking the leg instead of the ball, it should have been a warning sign for special teams coordinator Matt Barnes and company.
Instead, the same rusher got to McFerson on the Terps’ second punt.
Block me once, shame on you. Block me twice…and Nebraska was able to start a possession from the 19 yard line, scoring one play later to ignite a previously stagnant offense.
The Terps continued to tempt their opponents back into the game. A CJ Smith sack of Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea late in the first quarter appeared to be a cure for Maryland’s problems. But Nahsir Taylor’s late jump on Colandrea, who had already surrendered, was in vain. When Taylor removed the prone quarterback’s helmet, he turned a looming 3rd-and-27 into another series of downs that resulted in a touchdown.
Maryland scored its second touchdown of the night to stifle the Cornhuskers, but freshman phenom Zion Elee committed unsportsmanlike conduct on the ensuing kickoff. He was then assessed a huge clinch penalty – the first of four flags thrown on the drive that gave Nebraska the lead again before halftime.
The three accepted penalties that contributed to Nebraska’s final drive of the first half represented only about 10 percent of the total flags thrown during the game.
Twenty-eight penalties were accepted between the two teams. The Terps were actually the better-performing team in comparison, drawing just 12 accepted flags.
But when Maryland flew the flag, it often happened in critical situations. In addition to the Taylor incident, Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding was charged with a devastating behind-the-back block that neutralized one of the Terps’ field goal attempts.
Maryland’s worst offender was offensive lineman Tellek Lockette, who was penalized three times during the game – including twice on one play, where he held a rusher before becoming an ineligible player on the field – during an overall rough day.
Maryland has now committed 37 penalties for 346 yards in five games. Its mark of just under 90 penalty yards per game would have been the fifth-worst of any FBS team heading into the weekend.
The third is the charm – or the curse
Maryland’s inability to convert third downs since entering Big Ten play has been staggering.
The Terps have topped 50% on third downs in each of their first three games; they finished 8 of 14 against Hampton, 8 of 15 against UConn and 7 of 12 against Virginia Tech.
But against UCLA, Maryland attempted 16 third downs and converted just one.
And against Nebraska on the road, Maryland again only converted a third down, this time on 14 attempts. The Terps’ third average distance covered was over eight yards. The only conversion came on a third-and-1 with about five minutes left.
Three failed early attempts on third down, with five, seven and eight yards to go, led to the Terps scoring three field goals within 25 yards of the end zone. Those nine points in the first quarter could have been 21; going the distance, even on just two of them, could have put the game quickly out of reach.
Beyond each of those, the most grueling third down was Washington’s interception late in the second quarter, which was returned for a touchdown. This gave Nebraska the first six of 34 straight points to end the game.
Gn sports
