it's funny how this used to be such a big game and was, at 1st, the only game going on. now it is just another game.
anyway, as most of you know, i am a big terp fan. i think that i am fairly objective when it comes to them but nevertheless folks should know that when reading this. i am a season ticket holder and i follow the program closely.
i think this is a difficult game to handicap. i see 2 edge's for nd - HFA(although the stadium will have plenty of terp folks around, there will be at least a 2-1 ratio of nd fans) and the loss of bruce perry.
md has some advantages as well. i think md has a motivational edge. while nd will see at as a chance to beat a BCS team from last yr, in the back of their minds, they don't associate md w/bigtime football. they, like many folks, are wondering if the terps can string a few seasons together. the terps, b/c of those type of comments, have motivation. they are motivated to show folks that md football is back. also, can you imagine any kid in college football today not wanting to beat nd?
2nd, though it is not willingham's fault, this is the school that caused great problems for the fridge's great friend, george o'leary. o'leary and fridge not only spent much time coaching together, o'leary is the godfather to one of the fridge's daughters --- that is how close they are. o'leary's lifelong dream was realized and then shattered and his career was forever ruined by a silly and, imo, unimportant error. fridge won't be talking to his kids about that but it will be one of his motivators. don't be surprised if fridge gets a little spurrier in him on sat.
3rd - i really like ej henderson to lead a very talented defense to do some great things. i look for ej and leon joe to make a statement in this game. willinghan is stuck with the talent that was recruited and that talent isn't exactly geared for the west coast offense. i think the field conditions as well as the personnel will cause nd to test md's strength. the field should also negate any speed edge nd might have.
4th - although losing someone like perry certainly hurts, rb might have been md's deepest position. last yr, at this time, there was talk of running back by committee. perry played well and established himself. however, before his injury, merrills had moved into a neck and neck race for the starting job. crawford, who saw time last yr as a fr and came in with accolades, is a big powerful back with break-away speed and will spell merrills. while losing the acc offensive POY hurts, this is the one position that was very solid.
of more concern is the shuffling along the Oline due to injuries and academic casualties.
as far as the qb situation, i think mcbrien will get the nod to start. he saw some action at wva as a fr(started their last 2 games) and has caught on quickly to the md system. last yr, md started the season w/a question mark at qb and rb. now this yr everyone is saying md is in trouble b/c they are missing the 2 guys that won those jobs. i really don't think that factor will decide the game.
lastly, watch for latrez harrison (md's version of antwain randle el)and don't be surprised if he is responsible for at least 2(mabe 3) tds --- a catch, a run and a pass. harrison spent 2 yrs as a back up qb but he struggled to succeed at that position under friedgen's complex system. he has been moved to wr where he has really excelled. he is big, fast, strong and has great open field moves.
i don't necessarily see a lot of value on either side here but given the strong line move(md -3 to nd -3) b/c of the perry injury, i think the md side provides more value than nd. throw in nd having a new coach and a new system and maybe you can bump md up to a play.
just trying to get some info out there.
good luck!
go terps!
anyway, as most of you know, i am a big terp fan. i think that i am fairly objective when it comes to them but nevertheless folks should know that when reading this. i am a season ticket holder and i follow the program closely.
i think this is a difficult game to handicap. i see 2 edge's for nd - HFA(although the stadium will have plenty of terp folks around, there will be at least a 2-1 ratio of nd fans) and the loss of bruce perry.
md has some advantages as well. i think md has a motivational edge. while nd will see at as a chance to beat a BCS team from last yr, in the back of their minds, they don't associate md w/bigtime football. they, like many folks, are wondering if the terps can string a few seasons together. the terps, b/c of those type of comments, have motivation. they are motivated to show folks that md football is back. also, can you imagine any kid in college football today not wanting to beat nd?
2nd, though it is not willingham's fault, this is the school that caused great problems for the fridge's great friend, george o'leary. o'leary and fridge not only spent much time coaching together, o'leary is the godfather to one of the fridge's daughters --- that is how close they are. o'leary's lifelong dream was realized and then shattered and his career was forever ruined by a silly and, imo, unimportant error. fridge won't be talking to his kids about that but it will be one of his motivators. don't be surprised if fridge gets a little spurrier in him on sat.
3rd - i really like ej henderson to lead a very talented defense to do some great things. i look for ej and leon joe to make a statement in this game. willinghan is stuck with the talent that was recruited and that talent isn't exactly geared for the west coast offense. i think the field conditions as well as the personnel will cause nd to test md's strength. the field should also negate any speed edge nd might have.
4th - although losing someone like perry certainly hurts, rb might have been md's deepest position. last yr, at this time, there was talk of running back by committee. perry played well and established himself. however, before his injury, merrills had moved into a neck and neck race for the starting job. crawford, who saw time last yr as a fr and came in with accolades, is a big powerful back with break-away speed and will spell merrills. while losing the acc offensive POY hurts, this is the one position that was very solid.
of more concern is the shuffling along the Oline due to injuries and academic casualties.
as far as the qb situation, i think mcbrien will get the nod to start. he saw some action at wva as a fr(started their last 2 games) and has caught on quickly to the md system. last yr, md started the season w/a question mark at qb and rb. now this yr everyone is saying md is in trouble b/c they are missing the 2 guys that won those jobs. i really don't think that factor will decide the game.
lastly, watch for latrez harrison (md's version of antwain randle el)and don't be surprised if he is responsible for at least 2(mabe 3) tds --- a catch, a run and a pass. harrison spent 2 yrs as a back up qb but he struggled to succeed at that position under friedgen's complex system. he has been moved to wr where he has really excelled. he is big, fast, strong and has great open field moves.
i don't necessarily see a lot of value on either side here but given the strong line move(md -3 to nd -3) b/c of the perry injury, i think the md side provides more value than nd. throw in nd having a new coach and a new system and maybe you can bump md up to a play.
just trying to get some info out there.
good luck!
go terps!
