SB Nation DC - Boston College Vs. Maryland: Terps' Season Reaches New Low With 28-17 Loss

Maryland Vs. Boston College: With Season Slipping Away, Where Do Terrapins Go From Here?

2011-10-31T13:35:29Z

COLLEGE PARK, Md - In what has been a disappointing season for the Maryland Terrapins, Saturday's game against Boston College might have been their low point. Losses to quality teams like Clemson, Georgia Tech and Florida state are understandable, but a near blowout loss to a team that entered the game just 1-6? That one stings.

Last place in the Atlantic division was on the line when the game started on Saturday. Boston College played like they knew what the stakes were. Maryland did not. They could not stop the run (BC had about 370 rushing yard on the day) and their offense couldn't get anything going until the game was already out of reach. In a string of four straight embarrassing losses, this was the toughest one to stomach.

As there has been with every loss this year, tons of questions have emerged from this one. C.J. Brown was benched after two drives in favor of Danny O'Brien, so who is the starting quarterback moving forward? Is it youth and inexperience that has made the defense so poor, or is it a problem with the scheme? Have they forgotten how to play special teams all together? Why oh why is D.J. Adams only getting one carry every four games?

But at this point, with the Terps having win four straight games to even entertain the notion of going to a bowl game, the most important question they face for the rest of the season is simple. What do they have to play for at this point?

Based on the way they have been playing, I don't think anyone out there has pegged the Terps to win their last four games. But that's still the goal, no matter what the record may be. I asked various Terps players what their goals were for the rest of the season, and even though it seems like a small possibility, all they are thinking about is winning four straight games.

"You don't want to finish that way," Joe Vellano said. "You look at the end of the year, if we win out four nobody is going to say, 'Oh you were 2-6.' They'll just say that we finished 6-6."

I asked a lot of players about the morale in the locker room after their fourth straight loss, and everyone insisted that the team was staying together despite the adversity. That's a very good thing. We might be unhappy with the product Randy Edsall has put on the field this year, but if he can continue to inspire and motivate his players, than he has done his job in some respect. Granted, these were public statements, and there have been reports of unrest, so we'll have to see going forward.

If the Terps lose to rival Virginia next weekend and officially fall out of bowl contention, it will be interesting to see if they stand together for the rest of the year. It seems the recipe for winning is not that difficult.

"Just gotta play to win. Everybody has to come to work every day, practice hard, study film, continue being a team and come out playing to win," Darin Drakeford said. " Can't lose another game, or the bowl hops are down the drain.

Easier said than done. Those keys to winning have been the same since the beginning of the year, but they have failed to get it done six out of the eight times they've played so far. This was supposed to be a great season for the Terps, one with ACC title aspirations. I don't think anyone, including the starting quarterback, could have seen this coming.

"Very disheartening," O'Brien said." We had very high expectations for this year, but obviously you can't get caught now looking back on what could have been because we still have four games left and a big one this week. Not reaching your goals when you feel like you should be is not good in anything in life. But we have to bounce back, we still have four games ahead of us and our backs are against the wall. Our goal is to get to a bowl game and we're not going to stop fighting."

At 2-6, the season has already been lost. Sure, they can get back to 6-6 with four straight wins, which would be commendable, but even that finish would be a disappointment following the expectations that were on this team heading into the year.

But if this team wants to stay together and play as one unit for the rest of the season, that hope is what is going to unite them. It's all they've got at this point.

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Maryland Vs. Boston College: Reaction From Randy Edsall, Players Following 28-17 Loss

2011-10-30T00:23:50Z

COLLEGE PARK, MD - The Maryland Terrapins just lost their sixth game of the season, putting them right on the brink of falling out of bowl eligibility. It was a new low for the offense, which was only able to muster three points until there were about six minutes left in the game. On defense the Terps just couldn't stop the run, and Boston College was able to put up about 370 yards on the ground. It was a tough game in all phases, including the weather, and the coach and players reacted accordingly afterward.

Randy Edsall:

Obviously it didn't turn out the way that we want it to today, so we'll just make sure that we look at the film and watch the film and see where we can get better. Get back to work tomorrow and improve and correct mistakes that we had today.

This was the extent of Edsall's comments throughout the day, for the most part. That he would have to look at more film before he could really say anything about any individual play, player or aspect of the game. He was asked about Danny O'Brien as the starter, his frustration level, the play of D.J. Adams and Adrian Coxson, the run defense, tackling and hearing boos, just to name a few. he responded to nearly every question with some variance of, "I'll have to look at the film.

Eric Franklin:

On what BC did to be effective on the ground:

They were a little bit bigger than us, and that advantage started to wear on us a little bit.

On the weather:

I think the weather actually helped, on the defensive side of the ball. The ball was slippery and that actually allowed us to create a few turnovers that way.

Joe Vellano

On the losing streak effecting morale:

A little bit, but I've been here with that team in '09, and that's the worst thing ever. It's not the morale, sometimes you practice like you play. So we gotta straighten some things in practice out and carry it over.

Danny O'Brien:

On if the losing streak is starting to effect morale:

A little bit, I mean, nobody likes losing. It never gets easier, and it sucks to lose consecutive games. At the end of the day the leaders of this team are going to have to really pull the guys up that are down because when you lose it just magnifies everything; mistakes that you make are much bigger. Showing up late to thing is that much more important. Winning cures all those things, so we realize the only way to kind of stop it is to get a win.

On if he did enough today to be the starter moving forward.

I would like to think so, but that's not something that I'm going to worry about. That's kind of the coach's job. I'm sure they will put us in the best situation possible.

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Boston College Vs. Maryland Final Score: Terps' Season Hits New Low With 28-17 Loss

2011-10-29T22:25:03Z

The Maryland Terrapins appear to have settled the debate over which team is the worst in the ACC. Maryland fell at home to lowly Boston College, 28-17, and the game wasn't really that close. With the loss, the Terps fall to 2-6 and 1-4 in the conference, which is tied for last place. The level of play in recent losses suggests the Terps are even worse than the record indicates.

Boston College outgained the Terps by more than 140 yards. The Boston College running game dominated, with running back Rolandan Finch leading the way with astronomical numbers. Finch ran 39 times for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

The Terps' offense could do little right. Maryland receivers must work on the ability to catch the ball, as drops haunted both Terps quarterbacks that played in the game. C.J. Brown started for the Terps before being relieved by Danny O'Brien in the second quarter. Neither quarterback stood out. Brown moved the ball with some efficiency but again looked erratic passing the ball. O'Brien completed less than half of his passes with a touchdown and an interception.

The remainder of the season for Maryland will probably answer questions for 2012, as it looks like 2011 will not produce postseason play.

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Boston College Vs. Maryland Score Update: Adrian Coxson Touchdown Cuts Terps' Deficit To 21-10

2011-10-29T22:05:09Z

It probably won't make a difference in the outcome, but at least Maryland will be able to walk away from their game against Boston College having been able to say it got into the end zone. Danny O'Brien scrambled to the outside and went over the top to Adrian Coxson for a 55-yard touchdown, cutting Boston College's lead to 21-10 with 6:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.

O'Brien and the Terps haven't been able to get scores in the red zone, so they just avoided all of that with this score. O'Brien was flushed out of the pocket to his right and still managed to deliver a strike to Coxson, who slipped behind the Boston College defense.

Maryland attempted to go for the onside kick after the score, but Boston College recovered.

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Boston College Vs. Maryland Score Update: BC Leads 21-3 After Three Quarters

2011-10-29T21:41:23Z

For the few remaining fans watching the Maryland Terrapins take on the Boston College Eagles, at least the third quarter featured a small piece of comic relief. The Terps, trailing the Eagles 21-3, attempted a field goal midway through the quarter, only for the ball to bounce off the crossbar and net the Terps no points.

Boston College continues to dominate the game by running the ball. Coming into the game, BC was not only statistically the worst team in the ACC, they were one of the worst in the country. Barring an incredible comeback, Boston College should leave the Terps with the distinction of being the ACC's worst team.

The most telling statistic for the Terps, amid a sea of ugly statistics, is a third down conversion rate of 17 percent. The offense looks inept while the defense looks outclassed. That's not a good combination

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Boston College Vs. Maryland Score Update: Terrapins Lost On Both Sides Of The Ball, Trail 21-3 At Halftime

2011-10-29T20:41:40Z

The Maryland Terrapins and Boston College Eagles are fighting to avoid last place in the ACC's Atlantic division in College Park today, but as of halftime, it looks like the Terps are the team that undoubtedly deserve that distinction. They have been atrocious on both sides of the ball, particularly offense, and trail the Eagles 21-3 at the half.

Boston College have been able to get pretty much whatever they want on the ground, and when they've been able to score, they've done it it almost effortlessly.

As for the offense, where do I begin? C.J. Brown was ineffective on the first few drives so he was pulled in favor of Danny O'Brien who has not been very much better. The running game has had moderate success, but the offensive coordinator doesn't seem like he wants to stick to it. The passing attack has been underwhelming at best, and produced two turnovers when at it's worst.

This game was perfectly summed up in one drive that started after the Terps got the ball on the BC 14-yard line following a fumble. They went for -2 yards in three plays then failed to connect on a field goal. it's been that kind of day. But at least the snow is pretty.

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Boston College Vs. Maryland: Danny O'Brien Enters Game For C.J. Brown

2011-10-29T20:11:47Z

Facing an 21-3 deficit and a crumbling season, Maryland coach Randy Edsall turned to the quarterback many expected to lead the Terps to a promising year. Quarterback Danny O'Brien entered the game in the second quarter, relieving C.J. Brown after an ineffective start.

On his first drive, O'Brien did not look much better than Brown. O'Brien threw a pair of incomplete passes, one of which looked quite ugly coming out of his hand. Neither quarterback has been helped by Maryland receivers, as many catchable passes have been dropped. O'Brien then threw an interception on his second drive.

It will be interesting to see if Edsall sticks with O'Brien. His skillset is different from Browns; O'Brien the traditional drop back passer opposed to Brown's athleticism and speed. Regardless, unless Brown or O'Brien lines up along the defensive line, it may matter very little. Boston College already has more than 160 yards on the ground, with running back Rolandon Finch accounting for 118.

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Boston College Vs. Maryland: Terps Down 14-3 Through First Quarter

2011-10-29T19:51:57Z

In an ugly season, Maryland football may be looking at a new low point. The Terps trail Boston College 14-3 through the first quarter in front of a sparsely populated Byrd Stadium crowd.

Nasty weather in College Park stopped many fans from coming, but the Terp defense does not have the same excuse. The Boston College offense has pounded the Terps on the ground, rushing for almost 100 yards in the quarter. BC running backs Rolandan Finch and Alex Amidon both have touchdowns on the ground, and quarterback Chase Rettig is perfect through the air for three completions, picking up key third down conversions.

Things are not going as well for the Maryland offense. The first Terp drive looked promising, though it stalled out once in BC territory, resulting in just three points. Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown has completed two passes out of six with an interception.

Unless the Maryland defense can slow the Boston College run game, this could be a long day for the Terps.

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