Maryland Seeks to Kick-Start Offense to Turn Around Season

It was just one month ago when Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen appeared downright bubbly as he walked around the Gossett Team House. He had thoroughly enjoyed preseason camp because he believed players had worked as hard as any he had coached in College Park.

Then came the games.

Considering the team's youth -- only 14 seniors -- the Terrapins were considered a work in progress and outside expectations were low. But not even the most cynical Maryland fans could have foreseen the Terrapins (1-3) getting off to their worst start since 1997. No one could have predicted the season would look lost one week before ACC play even begins, or that Maryland would have so many issues in so many areas.

"I'm sure it all starts with me," Friedgen said after Saturday's 34-13 loss to Rutgers. "It is my responsibility to get these guys ready to play, and it is my responsibility to get these things corrected. I am accountable, too."

During the first two games, a significant problem was the new-look defense, which allowed big plays and failed to force turnovers. It still ranks 115th nationally in scoring defense and 110th in rushing defense, but the defense, for the most part, has played well enough to win the past two games against Middle Tennessee and Rutgers.

The problem the past two games has been the offense, which spoiled Maryland's hopes of winning either game by turning the ball over a combined nine times, including five in Saturday's sloppy, rain-soaked game.

"If we were a good team right now we wouldn't win" with that many turnovers, Friedgen said.

Among 120 division I-A teams, only one, Miami of Ohio, has more turnovers (16) than Maryland (13).

Maryland's offensive line was expected to be a concern, and remains so. But among the biggest disappointments have been the players who were expected to carry the offense, namely quarterback Chris Turner, running back Da'Rel Scott and wide receiver Adrian Cannon.

On Saturday, Turner threw three interceptions, giving him five on the season. His interception on the game's first snap was returned by linebacker Antonio Lowery 36 yards for a touchdown just 13 seconds into the game.

"It is hard," Turner said. "It is the first time in my career where I feel very responsible for the loss and I feel like I let my team down in a lot of ways."

For the past two weeks, Scott has not looked like the same player who earned first-team all-ACC honors last season. One week after fumbling twice, Scott fumbled again Saturday and finished with just 22 rushing yards on nine carries.

Wide receiver Torrey Smith said Rutgers primarily played cover-two defense, which should have enabled the Terrapins to run the ball more effectively. But Maryland amassed just 28 rushing yards on 24 carries.

"Certainly the defense played extremely well," Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano said. "When you can hold someone to [28] yards rushing, that to me is the key to the game. I know people will talk about the scores and the takeaways, but [28] yards rushing -- that's a very telling stat to me."

And Cannon, who had been Maryland's best wide receiver by a wide margin in preseason camp, has struggled early this season. He did not catch a pass against Middle Tennessee. And he while he finished with five catches Saturday, he had just two catches for 23 yards through three quarters of play.

One of the few bright spots has been the play of Smith, who ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards. On Saturday, Smith became Maryland's all-time leader in kickoff return yards and had 112 receiving yards on four catches.

But Friedgen, who was disappointed with the play of the entire offense, said flatly: "No one on offense played well."

Maryland has begun to see key players return from injury. Left tackle Bruce Campbell returned from a turf toe injury suffered in the season-opening loss against California, and safety Jamari McCollough also was back on the field after battling a high-ankle sprain suffered early in the game against the Golden Bears.

But their returns did little to change the outcome of the game. And now Maryland has another problem because Friedgen expects all-ACC punter Travis Baltz to be sidelined at least two weeks with an ankle sprain.

Penalties continue to be an issue for Maryland, as well. The Terrapins amassed 85 yards on 10 penalties Saturday, prompting Friedgen to say, "Over the years it has been a trademark of ours that we don't do things like that, and it seems that we can't stop doing them this year."

The schedule will only get tougher. Maryland's easiest remaining game may be Oct. 17 against a Virginia team that shut out the Terrapins 31-0 last season. Friedgen is in danger of not only posting his fourth losing season in the past six years, but he also could have his worst season overall at Maryland.

Fans are increasingly directing their frustration at coaches, specifically Friedgen, although players disagree.

"Our coaches believe in us, and vice versa," Smith said. "You can't blame the coaches when we are jumping offsides. They aren't doing that."