Thoughts on Maryland

[dinosaurbbq]

Already posted this in response in another thread, but thought it maybe deserved its own thread.

WVU v. Maryland was a great game this week. WVU is vastly improved, but still its a very tough schedule for an ok team to eek out 6 wins with. The offensive play calling and scheme is just vastly superior to most other teams and way ahead of ours. QB Clint Trickett threw 37 of 49 for 511 yards and 4 TDs. A couple long passes, but mostly short passes with WR doing all the work with tons of YAC. You see short passes slanting across the field with 3 blockers and the rest of that side of the field cleared out and you know there is one man to be beaten and its a 40 yard plus gain. Our problem isn't just a lack of blocking by the guy with the blocking assignment, its a lack of that quick hit forward momentum screen or flat pass with the WR and blockers already in motion at high speed. We have guys standing there, waiting on the ball for a bubble screen with the defense floating to that spot on the field already and waiting on it. Our plays take 10 times as long to run and even longer to develop. I don't think WVU has more playmakers than we do. I think WVU puts its WR in a position to catch and run free due to a much more advanced and knowledgeable offensive gameplan, scheme and plays.
Maryland is supposed to be vastly improved due to lack of injuries at this point in the year versus last year, but there are some major flaws. CJ Brown had some nice runs, 18 carries for 161 total. Many of those were scrambling to get away from pressure that was in the backfield all day, which he just avoided and ran for days. He will be a problem for us running the ball unless we keep contain. He was pretty ineffective throwing the ball at 19 of 35 for 241 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. Lots of yards, but those receivers are largely responsible for that with short passes turned into big plays. WR Stefon Diggs is one of the top 5 in the country and caught 5 for 127 yards, however, the major gain was a 79 yard TD catch on blown coverage with him wide open. Otherwise, he was 4 catches for 48 yards, nothing super. WR Deon Long is the other supposed stud recruit who showed glimpses last year and went 4 for 39, which isn't a real problem. He's only got 10 catches on the year. RB Brandon Ross went 5 for 50 out of the backfield on all short passes/screens/flat throws. Again, CJ Brown isn't very good at throwing the ball and the Oline is not great and allowed pressure all day. Keep in mind WVU's secondary was historically bad last year, but improved a lot this year. The Maryland running game was horrible with rushers other than CJ Brown gaining a total of 2 yards. Part of that is playing catch up after being down 3 TDs most of the game, but the Oline looked awful blocking run or pass.
Maryland's defense looked awful. WVU ran for 183 and was fairly effective at it. Maryland DLine got pushed around a good bit. WVU passed for 511, again mostly short passes turned into huge plays. Maryland defense looked out of position, slow and tackled poorly. I think that happens a lot when you get snaps off quickly as WVU does, which is why we and most other teams out there are trying to do that. Maryland was clearly gassed early and often.
Maryland looked good on special teams -- 7 punts for 47 yards average, 2 for 2 on FG including a 46 yarder, 3 for 3 on XPts, 1 punt return for a TD, decent job returning kickoffs, decent on kick coverage.
WVU had 4 turnovers, gave up a punt return for a TD, had a muffed punt return fumble that gave the ball to Maryland inside the 10, and a blocked FG. Otherwise, this was a blowout victory. We need to take care of the ball and we should win.

 

[Toga]

Exactly what I've been saying about stationary receivers vs receivers on the move. Seems so obvious (to us anyway).

 

[anomander]

This might be one of those games where Bullough dials down the blitzes, and puts a spy on Brown, making him beat us through the air. Bullough really needs to come up with a good game plan cause this is a game we have to, and should win.

We should be able to score on offense. I dont think we can count on putting together 12+ play drives one after another like we did against CMU. We really need some explosive plays. Other then garbage time when AAM had a couple big runs, I dont recall too many 20+ yard plays. Not sure if thats play calling, or players, but im going with play calling. George was much better vs CMU, but was still a bit choppy. Id really like to see a nice game plan from McDonald because this Maryland defense can be had.

 

[007]

This might be one of those games where Bullough dials down the blitzes, and puts a spy on Brown, making him beat us through the air. Bullough really needs to come up with a good game plan cause this is a game we have to, and should win.

We should be able to score on offense. I dont think we can count on putting together 12+ play drives one after another like we did against CMU. We really need some explosive plays. Other then garbage time when AAM had a couple big runs, I dont recall too many 20+ yard plays. Not sure if thats play calling, or players, but im going with play calling. George was much better vs CMU, but was still a bit choppy. Id really like to see a nice game plan from McDonald because this Maryland defense can be had.

I would guess that the game plan is to shut down the run and go all out to try to hit Brown. The spy thing might work, but I don't think that our DBs are going to be able to cover Diggs at all. Have to get the QB this game.

 

[reedny]

Already posted this in response in another thread, but thought it maybe deserved its own thread.

WVU v. Maryland was a great game this week. WVU is vastly improved, but still its a very tough schedule for an ok team to eek out 6 wins with. The offensive play calling and scheme is just vastly superior to most other teams and way ahead of ours. QB Clint Trickett threw 37 of 49 for 511 yards and 4 TDs. A couple long passes, but mostly short passes with WR doing all the work with tons of YAC. You see short passes slanting across the field with 3 blockers and the rest of that side of the field cleared out and you know there is one man to be beaten and its a 40 yard plus gain. Our problem isn't just a lack of blocking by the guy with the blocking assignment, its a lack of that quick hit forward momentum screen or flat pass with the WR and blockers already in motion at high speed. We have guys standing there, waiting on the ball for a bubble screen with the defense floating to that spot on the field already and waiting on it. Our plays take 10 times as long to run and even longer to develop. I don't think WVU has more playmakers than we do. I think WVU puts its WR in a position to catch and run free due to a much more advanced and knowledgeable offensive gameplan, scheme and plays.
Maryland is supposed to be vastly improved due to lack of injuries at this point in the year versus last year, but there are some major flaws. CJ Brown had some nice runs, 18 carries for 161 total. Many of those were scrambling to get away from pressure that was in the backfield all day, which he just avoided and ran for days. He will be a problem for us running the ball unless we keep contain. He was pretty ineffective throwing the ball at 19 of 35 for 241 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. Lots of yards, but those receivers are largely responsible for that with short passes turned into big plays. WR Stefon Diggs is one of the top 5 in the country and caught 5 for 127 yards, however, the major gain was a 79 yard TD catch on blown coverage with him wide open. Otherwise, he was 4 catches for 48 yards, nothing super. WR Deon Long is the other supposed stud recruit who showed glimpses last year and went 4 for 39, which isn't a real problem. He's only got 10 catches on the year. RB Brandon Ross went 5 for 50 out of the backfield on all short passes/screens/flat throws. Again, CJ Brown isn't very good at throwing the ball and the Oline is not great and allowed pressure all day. Keep in mind WVU's secondary was historically bad last year, but improved a lot this year. The Maryland running game was horrible with rushers other than CJ Brown gaining a total of 2 yards. Part of that is playing catch up after being down 3 TDs most of the game, but the Oline looked awful blocking run or pass.
Maryland's defense looked awful. WVU ran for 183 and was fairly effective at it. Maryland DLine got pushed around a good bit. WVU passed for 511, again mostly short passes turned into huge plays. Maryland defense looked out of position, slow and tackled poorly. I think that happens a lot when you get snaps off quickly as WVU does, which is why we and most other teams out there are trying to do that. Maryland was clearly gassed early and often.
Maryland looked good on special teams -- 7 punts for 47 yards average, 2 for 2 on FG including a 46 yarder, 3 for 3 on XPts, 1 punt return for a TD, decent job returning kickoffs, decent on kick coverage.
WVU had 4 turnovers, gave up a punt return for a TD, had a muffed punt return fumble that gave the ball to Maryland inside the 10, and a blocked FG. Otherwise, this was a blowout victory. We need to take care of the ball and we should win.

This is a great test for us ... b/c MD has poor-man aspects of what we'll see from even better teams deeper into the schedule. CJB has been there forever ... and he'll have a chip on his shoulder after last year's punking. Diggs is going to have a field day unless we bring effective pressure -- especially if we play that soft zone we're becoming (in)famous for. Our offense hasn't arrived ... but is showing signs of improvement. Hopefully, the porous MD D will help us realize our potential so we have 4 wins when we play in front of a national TV n ABC the following week.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I'm curious how our receivers look vs better competition. IMO, the group has been overrated and has not looked overly athletic against weak competition. Broyld flashes occsionally and where is all this speed Estime is supposed to have? He's not running away from anybody. West is what he is. Ishmael looks pretty good. Phillips flashed albeit as a RB.

 

[CUSU]

I'm curious how our receivers look vs better competition. IMO, the group has been overrated and has not looked overly athletic against weak competition. Broyld flashes occsionally and where is all this speed Estime is supposed to have? He's not running away from anybody. West is what he is. Ishmael looks pretty good. Phillips flashed albeit as a RB.

I believe Estime's ankle isn't 100%. If you saw him last year and you don't think he's fast, I'll take some of whatever you're havin'.

 

[CuseOnly]

This might be one of those games where Bullough dials down the blitzes, and puts a spy on Brown, making him beat us through the air. Bullough really needs to come up with a good game plan cause this is a game we have to, and should win.

We should be able to score on offense. I dont think we can count on putting together 12+ play drives one after another like we did against CMU. We really need some explosive plays. Other then garbage time when AAM had a couple big runs, I dont recall too many 20+ yard plays. Not sure if thats play calling, or players, but im going with play calling. George was much better vs CMU, but was still a bit choppy. Id really like to see a nice game plan from McDonald because this Maryland defense can be had.

I honestly would dial up the blitzes against this team. We clearly cannot leave our DB's alone in coverage and expect them to cover above average wideouts for a long period of time. If we cannot get pressure with the front four, which we have not been able to do since Art Jones, then we need to blitz early and often.

Make them make decisions before they want to, force them into mistakes. Keep playing fast.

EDIT: Normally when you blitz, you come through holes meant for RB's and stuff the zone read.

 

[Crusty]

I'm curious how our receivers look vs better competition. IMO, the group has been overrated and has not looked overly athletic against weak competition. Broyld flashes occsionally and where is all this speed Estime is supposed to have? He's not running away from anybody. West is what he is. Ishmael looks pretty good. Phillips flashed albeit as a RB.

Broyld did fine all last year leading the team in receptions with 52 as a soph. He gets open.

He caught 7 passes against NW, 6 against Pitt and BC., 5 vs Clemson and 4 in the Texas bowl. Broyld has been up to the competition and will only get better. Remember, he has been moved around more than a NYC taxi.

 

[Upstate]

Let's keep in mind how well the DL and LBs batted down passes. Never ever have seen that so prominent from an SU team. Can negate poor/lesser blitzing if the front 7 keep their hands up the way they did vs. CMU.

 

[dinosaurbbq]

I honestly would dial up the blitzes against this team. We clearly cannot leave our DB's alone in coverage and expect them to cover above average wideouts for a long period of time. If we cannot get pressure with the front four, which we have not been able to do since Art Jones, then we need to blitz early and often.

Make them make decisions before they want to, force them into mistakes. Keep playing fast.

EDIT: Normally when you blitz, you come through holes meant for RB's and stuff the zone read.

Keep in mind that CJ Brown ran out of and away from defenders in the backfield all day against WVU, just as Villanova's mobile QB did to us in Week 1 as we blitzed time after time again and again with our outside DEs running right past him perpendicular to the line of scrimmage. I think the name of the game is contain. I'm not really worried about the Maryland RB run game and stuffing holes as much as stopping Brown from taking off for 30 yards time and time again. I think I'd run a spy, as well.

 

[Crusty]

Keep in mind that CJ Brown ran out of and away from defenders in the backfield all day against WVU, just as Villanova's mobile QB did to us in Week 1 as we blitzed time after time again and again with our outside DEs running right past him perpendicular to the line of scrimmage. I think the name of the game is contain. I'm not really worried about the Maryland RB run game and stuffing holes as much as stopping Brown from taking off for 30 yards time and time again. I think I'd run a spy, as well.

I doubt CB will change how we play. He blitzes 60% of the time and I doubt his will change.

I am no coach but in the Nova game it seemed as if our DEs were pushing their guy backwards pretty hard each down. Looked as if they were coached well and simply let our guys get past the QB but they didn't let us get off their blocks. Was pretty easy for him to step up. Could this be fixed by Daust? Curious what others think.

 

[SmilinBob]

Block, tackle and take advantage of opportunities.

One thing about playing an athletic QB is not to be flat footed and stay athletic. Holding a block is fine and dandy but stagnation can also put the defense in a holding pattern and easier to block and to me you have to attack the ball with the corners manning up and covering their guys. The fault with that is having their backs turned to a qb running with the ball. Can not miss tackles and at the very very least is to slow down the QB to almost a standstill and attack with multiple tacklers. That said, a zone D and force Brown to make throws and have him prove he can hit his seams might be the option first applied by Coach B in which the SU secondary usually does leave way too open in many cases. If Brown misfires take advantage of a pass thrown into the D hands. Last year they had a couple of WR's wide open and missed them. I just do not like the secondaries ability to play zone...maybe get some tips from Boeheim to improve the spacing!

 

[TheCusian]

I doubt CB will change how we play. He blitzes 60% of the time and I doubt his will change.

I am no coach but in the Nova game it seemed as if our DEs were pushing their guy backwards pretty hard each down. Looked as if they were coached well and simply let our guys get past the QB but they didn't let us get off their blocks. Was pretty easy for him to step up. Could this be fixed by Daust? Curious what others think.

I think we're discounting how well we played against CJ last season. We kept him in the pocket and harassed him into TO's.

I'm more worried about our secondary vs their very good receivers (that didn't play last season due to injury).