Know Your Opponent: Can Indiana Slow Down Maryland's Rushing Attack?

Lorenzo Harrison III has been great for Maryland running the ball in 2016. Image: Baltimore-Sun

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Head Coach: D.J. Durkin (1st Year at Marylan)
Overall: 5-2 (.714) 1st  year
At Maryland 5-2 (2-2)
Bowl Appearances: 0
Last Year’s Record: 3-9 (1-7) 
This Year’s Record: 5-2 (2-2)
Postseason Appearances Since 2000: 9 Appearances (5-4 Record)
Mascot: Testudo
Colors: Red, White, Black, and Gold
Outfitter: Under Armour
National Titles: 1
Conference Titles: 11
Heisman Winners: 0

Fun Fact:

The mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo, which means "turtle" in Latin. It is also the name of an ancient Roman military tactic, in which soldiers protected their infantry square from projectiles by completely enclosing it with their shields. Derivations of the word have also been used in scientific nomenclature related to the reptile, such as the order Testudine and the family Testudinidae.

1. These Turtles Can Run

The biggest reason that Maryland is 5-2 in 2016 has been the performance of their rushing attack that ranks third in the Big Ten with a 249.57 yard per game average. Youngsters Lorenzo Harrison III and Ty Johnson headline the Terrapin ground game, but the Terps have six total ball carries who have eclipsed 100 yards.

Harrison III, a freshman, is the feature back with 502 yards on 65 carries and five touchdowns. At 5’8” 190-pounds, Harrison III isn’t your prototypical Big Ten running back. Yet, he is elusive enough to average 7.7 yards per carry. He has also caught five passes for 33 yards out of the backfield. 

Johnson, another underclassman, is probably Maryland’s most explosive running back averaging 10.2 yards per carry. He has toted the rock 47 times for 482 yards and three scores. So, his 10.2 ypc average is no joke.

Maryland can also gash opponents with the quarterback run as starter Perry Hills and backup Tyrrell Pigrome have combined 100 carries, 338 yards and five touchdowns.

The biggest advantage Maryland may have is their ability to trot out fresh legs. They are extremely deep at that position. IU has played the run reasonably well this season and it should make for a good matchup.

2. They Are Better In The Pass Game With Perry Hills

Nothing could go right in 2015 for the Maryland passing game. Between four quarterbacks the Terrapins completed an atrocious 47.3 percent of their passes for 2,092 yards with 15 touchdowns and an absurd 29 interceptions.

This season quarterback Perry Hills has been efficient when he throws it. Hills has started six of their seven games and while he has not thrown it often, just 17.8 attempts per game he has completed two-thirds of those passes and has 10 touchdowns to just four interceptions. However, they don’t take many shots down field as Maryland is averaging just 6.6 yards per pass attempt and Hills only has 13 passing plays of over 30 yards. 

3. The Terp Defense Will Be Stingy

The Terrapins are ranked fourth in the Big Ten in pass defense allowing just 173.6 yards per game through the air. That may change with the loss of All-Big Ten corner William Likely. With the run game struggling to find traction and IU quarterback Richard Lagow fighting accuracy and consistency issues, it could be a big day for the Maryland pass defense.

Some of their success is created up front as they have accounted for 19 sacks 47 tackles for loss. Junior defensive lineman Jesse Aniebonam leads the team with 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Senior Roman Braglio is also a very good defensive lineman who the Hoosiers have to watch out for.

Maryland’s leading tackler is quarterback-turned-linebacker Shane Cockerille who has racked up 64 tackles. He is closely followed by one of the best linebackers in the conference in Jermaine Carter Jr. who has 52. 

4. Maryland Doesn’t Run a Two-Quarterback System, But Both Could Make An Impact

Perry Hills has been very, very good for Maryland this season, but the backup quarterback Tyrell Pigrome is no slouch either. Hills has started six of Maryland’s seven games this season, missing just one due to a shoulder injury, while Pigrome had played in every game before sitting out the entire game against Michigan State. Pigrome is not the passing threat that Hills can be, but can do damage with his legs as he has carried the ball 49 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns. If Hills struggles at all against the IU defense, I would not be surprised to see Pigrome inserted to give the Terps a spark. 

5. Maryland Is Looking For Bowl Eligibility

Maryland comes into Bloomington at 5-2, needing just one more win for bowl eligibility. They are going to arrive with a hunger to get that sixth win to secure a potential bowl berth before heading into games against Michigan and Ohio State later in the season. Indiana will have to match their desire early and come out on fire if the Hoosiers want to get win number four of the season.