So... Is Maryland actually good or is Texas just bad?

Submitted by crg on
Putting this thread up because 1) this is a legit question about a future opponent that (from what I saw) performed well in all three aspects of the game (a few mistakes and some major injuries considered) and 2) not wanting to over-analyze our 1st half offensive performance just now. What does the board think?
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Goggles Paisano

September 2nd, 2017 at 5:37 PM ^

It was a good game to watch but holy moly did MD have a ton of guys leave with injury.  Their depth has to be a major concern now.  Good for DJ Durkin - that was a big win for his program as they move forward.  

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MichiganTeacher

September 2nd, 2017 at 8:26 PM ^

Completle agree. Aniebonam (sp?) - if he's out for the year that's going to really hurt.

If Maryland stays healthy - or if that backup freshman QB develops - they could absolutely be dangerous when we play them on Veterans Day.

But I have to feel that this was a pyrrhic victory for the Terps.

And, as to the OP's question - I think Texas has an ok P5 offense and a pretty bad defense, especially the secondary. Heard Herman on Sirius saying he bought his family a fancy house down there. Well, he's got his work cut out for him or else he's going to get the Strong treatment and be putting his house up on the market in a couple of years. 

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Couzen Rick's

September 2nd, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^

I think it's a little of both. Texas was clearly overrated and is probably a 5-6 win team, but I think Maryland has the potential to be an 8-9 win team - but probably a hard cap there as it's tough to see fewer than 4 losses looking at their schedule. In addition to the UM/PSU/OSU east trio they also have @ Wisc

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bacon1431

September 2nd, 2017 at 6:31 PM ^

Maryland looks to have a competent Qb, which is an upgrade from their last 3-4 seasons. I think they'll be improved. They may have a similar record to last season but that's because they have a tough schedule. Texas is just not very good. Defense is rough. Maryland pushed them around in the trenches. Texas is just really bad. Going to be a hard year for them. I think they'll get back to being a very good program if htey're patient wiht Herman.

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Brian8603

September 2nd, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^

Maryland is a pretty solid football team that would be a good bet to win 9 games if they played in a less demanding division than the Big Ten East.  There's no way that Texas should have been ranked coming into this game considering how poorly they played last year and the coaching change, but that's mostly on the media. Trying to turn around a program headed in the wrong direction takes more than one game. FWIW, I heard similar "Overrated!"  hot takes after we lost to Utah in Harbaugh's debut as coach. I certainly wouldn't put Herman in Harbaugh's league as a  head coach, but if you want an actual answer to this question, I'd find a knowledgable Texas fan (and also a Maryland football fan, if you can find one) and ask them what they see.

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JonnyHintz

September 2nd, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^

I think it means a 5-7 Texas team from a year ago is still not very good. Maryland may be slightly improved, but it's hard to imagine any significant improvements

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HimJarbaugh

September 2nd, 2017 at 9:18 PM ^

I watched a bit of this game. Maryland has improved a lot. There was a sequence where Texas was inside Maryland's five and MD played disciplined man on two straight short pass plays which were tackled immediately. It reminded me of his Michigan D's early in 2015 mixed with some newer stuff. They looked good for being on the road against an experienced team of FAR superior athletes. 

For all you scoreboard watchers: Maryland only gave up three TDs on defense. I think they will be limited by their overall talent level yet I still think they will win at least one of OSU, Wisconsin, PSU, or Michigan. Ty Johnson and DJ Moore seem like your typical annual Maryland offensive outliers.

Texas I would characterize as kind of like Michigan vs Utah a couple years ago. I bet they will be fine and certainly much better later in the season.

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