The beginning of the Zach Kittley era is almost upon us, as FAU ships up to Maryland this weekend for a Saturday afternoon battle with the Terrapins. This is no easy matchup for the Owls, as the Terrapins will look to make a statement to kick off year 7 of the Mike Locksley era in what some are calling a must win year.
To find out more about the Terrapins, we sat down with John Guglielmone of Inside the Black and Gold to learn more about what the Owls will be up against when they take the field at Noon on Saturday.
Q&A:
The Preview:
RL: What are the overall expectations for Maryland football headed into year 7 of the Mike Locksley era?
JG: The expectations around the program definitely vary depending on who you are talking to. A lot of people think the team has a lot of potential and can put together seven or eight wins while a lot of others think they will only get three or four wins. Personally I believe if the team can put it all together and steal a win or two they can for sure make a bowl game and get the youth movement back on the right foot. Last season they were a very young team and replaced a lot of starters. This year is the same case if not with an even newer and younger roster, but hopefully will end up with a different outcome.
RL: Who do you expect to take the first snap at QB, and are there any concerns about the lack of experience with whomever wins the job?
JG: I have said it all offseason and I will keep saying that I expect Justyn Martin to be the game one starter for the Terps. He has the experience of playing in the B1G and the only QB on roster to start a collegiate game. With four star incoming freshmen being hurt for some of fall camp, I think it has delayed how fast he might take over the starting spot if he does end up doing so. Khristian Martin is also another potential starter for the Terps. He might have the best arm talent of the three guys but he is not as mobile as the other guys which might be what holds him back from that starting spot.
The Offense
RL: From what you’ve seen/heard: What can FAU fans expect from a Pep Hamilton led offense?
JG: Coach Locks has said it from day one, he brought Pep in to get this run game going. The Terps have struggled to get a consistent run game going the last two seasons and Locks knows if you want to open up the offense a lot more for the weapons you have on the outside, you need to have a decent run game at the very least. If the Terps are able to get a run game going, I expect Pep to use a bunch of RPO and play action to get guys like Jahlil Farooq, Octavian Smith, and Kaleb Webb open on the outside with one on one opportunities.
RL: Who is the X-factor of the offense that will change the game & why?
JG: It will not be one single person, but the entire offensive line. This offense will only go as far as the offensive line takes it. Last season, the offensive line play started to fall apart at the end of the season and the offense just stopped moving the ball. With Pep looking to get the run game going and two of the three quarterbacks that are going to get playing time this season never starting a college game before, offensive line play will be insanely crucial for this team to have success this season.
The Defense
RL: Which position group is the biggest difference maker for UMD football?
JG: This year I think it will be the defensive line. Getting after the quarterback will be a massive priority this season with the young secondary the Terps have. If you want to take the pressure off the secondary so they do not have to cover for so long and risk a broken play, you have to get after the quarterback and cause chaos in the backfield. The Terps only had 14 sacks last season with more than 50% of those coming from players that are gone. The Terps front seven must cause pressure all season long for this team to have success.
RL: How can UMD look to frustrate an experienced quarterback that is comfortable in the pocket?
JG: Mixing up looks and getting pressure on the quarterback without having to blitz. The defensive line for the Terps is a very new group with few returning players. They will be leaned on heavily this season to get after the quarterback and take pressure off the secondary.
RL: What is your biggest concern with the defense?
JG: Chemistry. A lot of this defense is made up of fresh faces whether it is incoming transfers or incoming freshmen, there are a lot of new guys. The only group that somewhat has a decent amount of returning starters is the linebacker room. If the defense is able to rally around each other and build that chemistry quickly, it will come a long way for them and massively help them come together and be a successful unit this season.
Final Thoughts
RL: What is your prediction for the game?
JG: I think FAU will come out firing. A lot of times in the past couple seasons against non-conference opponents, the Terps will start slow and face a deficit early. Coach Kittley is in his first game for FAU and he is known for having a very aggressive and fast offense which can cause lots of confusion early on for a young defense. I think it will be a close game for the first quarter or two, but with the experience on the Terps staff and the depth on the Terps roster I think they will be able to pull away towards the end and keep the nation’s longest non-conference winning streak alive. I see it being a 34-17 win for the Terps.