Maryland started the 2021 season on the right track after topping West Virginia 30-24 in an electric win inside Maryland Stadium. After taking in a rewatch, we break down how the Terps’ units fared on Saturday.
Quarterback: B+
It was an efficient day from quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa after throwing for 332 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-36. But what stuck out was the lack of forced throws from the second-year starter, watching Tagovailoa largely work through his progression and find the open target. Accuracy was largely on point to aid the passing game, while Tagovailoa did well to use his mobility to his advantage to extend plays. Maryland was mindful of Tagovailoa’s quickness on a pair of designed quarterback runs, but the poise that Tagovailoa carried in the passing game was hard to go unnoticed. Tagovailoa took advantage of the Mountaineer defense to register a pair of 60+ yard touchdown passes, including the game-sealing touchdown to Rakim Jarrett, in a game where he restored full confidence as to why it was always his starting job to lose.
Running backs: B-
Veteran Tayon Fleet-Davis was the workhorse on Saturday as backups Challen Faamatau and Isaiah Jacobs found their way onto the field. Sophomore Peny Boone was a healthy scratch on Saturday as he’s still recovering from a concussion sustained during fall camp, but the ground game was able to find some success. Maryland made a concentrated effort to establish the run game as the second half got underway, which helped set up the pass, but Fleet-Davis proved why he’s number one in the room. Fleet-Davis flashed as a dynamic receiving back, including a one-handed catch that mirrored his highlight during the spring game, though a handful of designed plays were quickly sniffed out by the Mountaineer offense. Isaiah Jacobs also flashed the angry running style that he showed a season ago as he sniffed out the open hole and hit it with power. Freshman Roman Hemby did not see a snap on Saturday though I expect that to change next week. It was the type of performance that I expected out of the running back room—a philosophy that complements the aerial attack and forces defenses to play honest. Fleet-Davis’ relentless run style makes him a tough tackle as he fights through the trenches.
Wide receivers/tight ends: A
Hard to give anything other than an ‘A’ when Maryland was able to produce a pair of 100-yard receivers. During the game, I felt that Dontay Demus and Rakim Jarrett were the alpha dogs in the room. After the game and rewatch, I still feel that Demus and Jarrett are the alpha dogs in the room. Demus accounted for a handful of drops, including a pair on third down, but did well to make himself available while Jarrett showed off his exquisite body control on a pair of his six catches. Darryl Jones also filled in well in Jeshaun Jones’ first-half absence and was able to make defenders miss in space, proving why Maryland wants to get the ball in their skill players quickly. Sounds like Jeshaun Jones’ first-half absence is attributed to him recovering from a foot injury sustained in camp, but one catch before a designed tunnel screen was sniffed out by the Mountaineers. Not a big day for the tight ends but thought the designed screen for Chigoziem Okonkwo in the first quarter was a perfectly timed and executed play to give Maryland a two-touchdown lead. Corey Dyches didn’t register a stat but saw a pair of targets on what would’ve been tough catches.
Offensive line: A
The biggest surprise from Saturday was Delmar Glaze drawing the start at left tackle for the two opening series before Jaelyn Duncan made his 2021 debut. The switch between Glaze and Duncan carried on through the first half and Glaze was able to hold his own on his reps, providing a glimmer of sunshine for the future of the line. I was thoroughly impressed with the unit as they largely neutralized a talented West Virginia front with their zone blocking and the mobility of Tagovailoa aided the line’s ability to protect. Maryland did allow a pair of sacks, though one was Tagovailoa holding onto the ball too long while the other was an overload blitz that led Tagovailoa to lose his footing. Solid debut from center Aric Harris, as well.
Defensive line: C
The front three looked a step faster than they did a season ago and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu may have earned game ball honors in the unit. Loved the relentless pursuit from Okuayinonu and his ability to shed blocks helped him make routine plays at the line of scrimmage, including a key third-down sack early in the third quarter. Interior lineman Darrell Jackson was one of four true freshmen who saw playing time on Saturday as he was the one to force Jarret Doege into an intentional grounding midway through the third quarter. The pass-rush was efficient and made Doege uncomfortable at times in the pocket while the third-down defense in the second half was on point, but the lack of discipline in the unit reemerged as offsides and a taunting call deflated some of the momentum that Maryland was able to take from the Mountaineers. The avoidable miscues drops the unit’s grade down a full letter because they’re the type of mistakes that cannot occur if Maryland wants to take a step forward in conference play.
Linebackers: B
The biggest takeaway from the game was the absence of veteran Fa’Najae Gotay, who left the game in the first quarter with what sounds like a concussion. True freshman Branden Jennings came in and was all over the field on Saturday, sniffing out the play and doing well to fill the lane with power. There’s no timetable for Gotay as head coach Mike Locksley did not confirm the injury diagnosis after the game, but Jennings’ play yields confidence heading into week two. Jennings is a proven asset in run support and does well to tackle in space, leaning on his hitting ability to force a fumble on the final defensive play of the third quarter. True freshman Gereme Spraggins also saw plenty of time on Saturday but struggled getting himself into position, something that will come as he continues to acclimate himself to the playbook. Not a surprise as Jennings is a mid-year enrollee while Spraggins arrived in early July. West Virginia also tried to isolate Maryland’s linebackers in coverage and drew Hyppolite on running back Leddie Brown, but Hyppolite’s speed helped mitigate the threat. The Florida linebacker could’ve been called for a defensive pass interference on one throw to Brown, but his speed makes him an asset in space and reason why he’s become so touted in the locker room. Hyppolite did well to diagnose a wide receiver screen and come down with the tackle behind the line of scrimmage in the third quarter, flashing the quickness and tackling that has been advertised. Durell Nchami left the game early but quickly returned as he saw the field plenty, though was responsible for one offsides call. Deshawn Holt was also able to bullrush the right tackle in the first half for a key sack, while true freshman Demeioun Robinson shot through the Mountaineer line on a handful of reps though over pursued to take himself out of the play. With Gotay unavailable, the linebacker room quickly becomes a younger rotation but lot to like in the underclassmen talent. Maryland’s linebackers played a big reason for the 15 rushing yards that Leddie Brown amassed in the second half.
Secondary: B+
Missed tackles ran rampant in the secondary through the first-half and the Mountaineers were able to take advantage of the Terps’ man defense to find space across the middle of the field. Just like the depth chart indicated, Tarheeb Still lined up at nickel and was efficient locking down the slot receiver but also did well flashing as an additional blitzer off the edge to disrupt Doege. Secondary still struggled with turning their heads with the ball in the air while the Mountaineers were able to create separation on the perimeter, but a pair of alert plays helped turn the tide. Safety Nick Cross made the sensible read and took advantage of an errant Doege pass to come down with his first interception of the season, but Jakorian Bennett’s fourth quarter interception was a heads up play that resulted from stellar eye discipline in the backfield before high pointing the ball to force the turnover. I thought Nick Cross played a very good game and for the first time, played a smart game at full speed. Cross always flashed the range that’s needed as a safety but playing with confidence and maximizing his quickness wasn’t something fans saw consistently, but that stuck out on Saturday. Room to improve but the Mountaineers posed a great threat with the talent in their starting receivers, giving the Terps’ secondary a passing grade.
Special teams: C-
Maryland’s coverage unit allowed 217 yards on five kickoffs, including a 98-yard return late in the first quarter to allow the Mountaineers to cut the lead back to three. After the Mountaineers took a 7-3 lead, wide receiver Rakim Jarrett also muffed a kickoff that luckily went out of bounds to avoid the game’s first turnover. Head coach Mike Locksley noted the unit “let us down with the big returns which then flipped the momentum” as special teams coordinator Ron Zook goes back to the drawing board. Special teams and tackling and normally the two phases of the game that are a work in progress early in the season, but Saturday’s showing provided the Terps with ample room to grow heading into week two. Kicker Joseph Petrino went 3-for-4 on the day with the lone miss coming off a 51-yard attempt that hit the upright.
Coaching: B-
Maryland left points on the board in the final possession of the first half. With two timeouts left, Maryland went hurry up on third down and called for an unsuccessful rush up the middle for Tayon Fleet-Davis. The Terps opted to take their second timeout, leaving one on the board as the offense settled for three. It was undoubtedly the most questionable decision in Saturday’s affair and one that will be subject to scrutiny.