Maryland's Dead Giveaways

Miscues Have Already Cost Terps Dearly

Ralph Friedgen used every motivational tactic he has in his arsenal this week. Maryland's frustrated football coach made his entire offense perform 10 up-downs for every turnover in practice. He placed a football in the hands of his recently fumble-prone running back and told him to carry it with him to class, to practice, everywhere.

If any offense is in need of a respite -- a matchup with a low degree of difficulty -- it is Maryland's offense, which has turned over the ball with alarming frequency through four games. But instead of a reprieve, the Terrapins on Saturday will face a Clemson defense that could be the best Maryland has seen this season.

"I have been trying to keep my poise, but it's wearing me out, it really is," Friedgen said of the turnovers. "My staff is tired of hearing it. I know the players are tired of hearing it. I am tired of seeing it, too. I would just like to give ourselves a chance."

Players and coaches have talked all week about how close the 1-3 Terrapins are to being 3-1 if not for a combined nine turnovers the past two games. Friedgen has lamented what he views as large doses of bad luck and quirky bounces of the ball. And left tackle Bruce Campbell spoke cryptically about the turnovers being "weird, like something trying to get a hold of us in some way."

No one can fully explain why Maryland has already committed 13 turnovers in four games after having 25 in 13 games last season. Or how those 13 turnovers have resulted in 61 points for opponents. Or why only one division I-A team, Miami (Ohio), has more turnovers this season (16).

When asked to explain it, Campbell shook his head and paused before trying to make sense of what he called an uncharacteristic rash of turnovers by veterans who usually perform better.

"It's not like we don't go hard," said Campbell, one of the offensive line's leaders. "It's not like it's an everyday thing in practice. It's not like we're lazy. It's not like we're slouches. We do everything we're supposed to do. It's just weird the way situations turn out. For us, we just turn the ball over a lot. And it is just weird."

Among the many mantras Friedgen has is this one: "Reserve your right to punt the football. When you lose that right, it catches up with you." That will be particularly important Saturday against a Clemson defense that ranks ninth nationally in pass efficiency defense.

Three Tigers players -- cornerbacks Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler, and safety DeAndre McDaniel -- have a combined 26 career interceptions. The defensive linemen, especially ends Ricky Sapp and Da'Quan Bowers, possess size and athleticism. And only one ACC team (Florida State) has forced more turnovers than the Tigers, who have forced nine.

"I think this team for years has been as impressive a team to look at physically -- height, weight, speed, all of those things -- as anybody you'll play," Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin said of Clemson's defense. "We have a tremendous challenge. As long as we don't beat ourselves, go out and play well, don't have the turnovers, you can live with it."

Much analysis of Maryland's turnover issues has centered on two players: running back Da'Rel Scott and quarterback Chris Turner. Scott has fumbled three times combined in losses to Middle Tennessee and Rutgers. Turner, who has thrown five interceptions this season, threw three against Rutgers and lost one fumble in the end zone.

Franklin was quick to point out that most turnovers are the result of offensive breakdowns that extend beyond the player who fumbles or throws the interception. The exception was Maryland's first turnover last week, when Turner did not see Rutgers linebacker Antonio Lowery, who intercepted a pass on the game's first snap and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.