Wake Forest's Skinner Is the Primary Challenge

After making gradual improvements throughout the season, Maryland's defense is gearing up for a significant test Saturday when it faces one of the ACC's premier quarterbacks, Wake Forest's Riley Skinner.

In last Saturday's 30-24 victory over North Carolina State, Skinner had career highs in pass attempts (45) and passing yards (361). It was the third straight week that the senior had a career high in passing yards.

He has thrown for 1,004 yards in his last three games and, as a result, the Demon Deacons (3-2, 1-1 ACC) are on pace to break the program record for total offensive yards.

"When he gets out of the pocket and starts to ad-lib, that's when bad things happen to you on defense," Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown said. "We certainly have our hands full. They are throwing the ball extremely well. He is playing like a fifth-year senior should play."

Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen said Skinner has not run the ball as much as he had in previous seasons. The Terrapins have had as much success against Skinner as any ACC team, but he will nonetheless be the best quarterback Maryland will have faced this season.

"He's one of the ACC's best quarterbacks," Terrapins defensive lineman Deege Galt said. "He's elusive, he makes good decisions, he's smart and he knows the playbook like the back of his hand. They have a lot of weapons, a lot of speed and they're really experienced up front."

Despite a veteran offensive line, Wake Forest allowed six sacks against N.C. State. Brown said his defense would like to continue that trend "to try to make [Skinner's] afternoon as busy as we can make it."

After allowing California to score 52 points in the season opener, Maryland's defense has steadily improved. It struggled to finish games against Middle Tennessee and Rutgers, both losses, but played its best in the second half of last Saturday's 24-21 victory over Clemson.

Maryland held the Tigers to just 71 total yards in the second half and made three critical stops late in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.

"We have come a long way," Brown said.

'We Can't Relax'

Friedgen is concerned with how his players will handle success this week in preparation for just their second road game of the season. Following Saturday's victory against Clemson, he saw some players relax in practice and in the weight room Monday.

"The thing I worry a little bit with our players right now is, they have been working so hard to get better, and the ball bounced our way Saturday and we were able to get a win," Friedgen said. "I think it is human nature to just want to go 'ahh' and relax. But we can't relax. We have got to keep going, we have got to keep working."

Friedgen said he cracked down on players in Monday's practice.

"I know how they feel," Friedgen said, "but I am not going to allow them to do it."