SB Nation DC - Maryland Vs. North Carolina State: Terps Collapse, Blow 27-Point Lead In 56-41 Loss

After 2-10 Season, Where Does Maryland Football Go From Here?

2011-11-28T14:44:31Z

The Maryland Terrapins just put a bow on a 2-10 season with an epic collapse at North Carolina State, blowing a 27-point lead and falling, 56-41. Before the season began, it would have been unheard of for the team to fall apart that much over the course of about 20 minutes, but having seen the way the Terps have played this year, I'm not sure anyone was particularly surprised about the outcome of that one.

We could talk about how the offense fell apart or that the defense couldn't seem to stop anyone in the last quarter in a half, but now that the season is over, it doesn't seem that productive to dredge things up like that. We'll choose instead to look forward. Where can the Maryland Terrapins football program go from here, and what changes do they need to make so that the 2012 season does not resemble the last few months?

Coaching Staff

Randy Edsall has too much money on his contract to be let go, and he deserves more than one year to show what he can do with this team. This year's disaster aside, I honestly expect things to get better when he has more time with his players and is able to get some more of "his guys" in the system. But after the head coach, I expect everyone on the coaching staff to be eligible to go.

This has to start with defensive coordinator Todd Bradford. In 2010, the Terps' defense was the strength of the team. In 2011, they seemed to have no organization and very little idea what they were trying to accomplish. It seemed like one of their opponents was setting a career high in something every week.

The same goes for special teams, which was a problem all year, This is probably the most difficult pill to swallow because special teams has less to do with the talent on the field than any other phase of the game. The Terps had very few, if any, significant returns on the year and their coverage team was always putting their defense in difficult spots. Special teams is all about effort, and that has to be on coordinator Lyndon Johnson.

There will be a lot of fans asking for Edsall to release Gary Crowton, and I can't say they are without reason. But he is the biggest name on the staff besides Edsall, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him stick around for just that reason.

Losing The Team

The biggest problem with the Terps this year is that they didn't seem to show up for every game. There are a couple of reasons why this could be, but from the outside looking in, it looks like they didn't play that hard for Edsall. The quotes from defensive end David Mackall on his way out of the program, via Jeff Barker by way of Testudo Times, seem to back that up.

"After the Florida State game, he said that we didn't have enough talent, that we didn't have enough players to compete with teams like Florida State and Clemson," Mackall said. [Ed's note: he did indeed.] "He pretty much lost me because any coach is expected to stick with their soldiers in the middle of battle. I felt like he really wasn't focused on us or the task at hand by that comment." [snip]

Some issues are to be expected whenever there is a coaching change, but it seems like Edsall's disciplinary style didn't mesh with this current team at all. That could change in the next few years as he continues to get more of his guys in the system, but he still has to play for a couple seasons with the majority of his contributions coming from players from the previous regime. If he can't win the players who decide to stay back, it could be an equally long season next year.

Support

One of the biggest things that will aid the team next year will also be the most difficult to make happen. When Maryland took on Miami, it had an enormous and extremely vocal crowd that helped cheer the team to a win. As the losses piled up, the crowd just continued to disappear.

I don't blame them for that at all, since it's hard to come and see your team get blown out week after week. But the fans need to separate the 2012 team from the 2011 squad next year. It wouldn't be unheard of for Edsall to organize a big turnaround in his second year as head coach, but it will be very difficult for the team to win, and for Edsall to to recruit effectively for that matter, if the fans don't come out and support the team. This team was extremely disappointing, yes, but next fall will bring new hope and the expectation that Edsall can turn things around. Without support from the fans who hopefully have a short memory, that might not be able to happen.

It's hard to swallow, but the Terps won just two games this year, and neither of them were against a full strength FBS opponent. But it's easier to look forward than it is to look back. Edsall and the coaching staff has a lot of improvements they need to make, but with a long offseason ahead of them, they just might be able to get it done.

For more on the Terps, visit Testudo Times.

Maryland Vs. NC State: Your Typical Frustrated A.J. Francis Tweet

2011-11-26T22:39:07Z

This pretty much sums up this.

(Language NSFW, if you are concerned).

Maryland Vs. NC State: Wolfpack's Comeback Win, Terps' Collapse Are Both Historic

2011-11-26T21:29:28Z

Leading 41-21 at the end of the third quarter, the Maryland Terrapins proceeded to lose to the North Carolina State Wolfpack by a score of 56-41. The Wolfpack scored 35 fourth-quarter points and 42 unanswered in route to their biggest comeback win in team history.

The Terps' collapse will only embolden critics of coach Randy Edsall, and rightfully so. Maryland now ends the year in horrible fashion, losing in a game it held a significant lead with only one quarter to play. The NC State comeback is now the second-biggest comeback win in ACC history.

Some other facts about the Terps' collapse:

It is, unsurprisingly, North Carolina State's biggest comeback win ever, according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore Sun.
Maryland now becomes the first major-conference team to have two 10-loss seasons sandwiched between a winning year, according to Patrick Stevens of the Washington Times.
This is by far the most points NC State has scored this season. The previous most was 38. The Wolfpack scored 42 points in just over one-third of the game in this one.
Debbie Yow, former Maryland and current NC State athletic director, received a game ball. Wonder what Ralph Friedgen is thinking?

Maryland now finishes the 2011 season with a record of 2-10. Obviously, there will be no bowl game for the Terps, and the Terps will face many questions throughout the offseason. Edsall will receive the most criticism, and there will undoubtedly be a crowd that wants the first-year coach fired.

The collapse against NC State will prove worse for Edsall than just a simple loss would have been. In this awful season, Maryland lost games against lesser competition while the team appeared to get worse as the season progressed, not to mention the benching of much hyped quarterback Danny O'Brien and the suspension of numerous players for unknown infractions.

An awful season for Maryland football came to a historic, ugly ending. Now Edsall will find out if he can weather the storm.

Maryland Vs. NC State: Wolfpack's Comeback Win Is Historic

2011-11-26T21:16:12Z

At halftime, the Maryland Terrapins led the NC State Wolfpack 34-14. They increased their lead to 41-14 early in the third quarter. After that score hoever, the Terrapins wouldn't see the endzone the rest of the football game. The Wolfpack battled back, scoring 42 points in 21 minutes. The Terrapins defense just collapsed as the Wolfpack score six straight touchdowns, including five in the fourth quarter.

The collapse began when NC State quarterback Mike Glennon connected with Tobias Palmer for a touchdown to cut the lead to 41-21. The Terps turned the ball over five times however, which helped lead to the biggest collapse in ACC history. The game was sealed when Terps quarterback C.J. Brown was picked off by C.J. Wilson, his second interception of the day, who then returned it for a touchdown to put the Terps away, 56-41. Glennon ended the day with over 300 passing yards and 5 touchdown passes.

For more on the Maryland Terrapins, check out SB Nation's Terrapins blog Testudo Times. For more on the Maryland vs. North Carolina State game, visit this StoryStream. For more on NC State, visit SB Nation's Wolfpack blog Backing the Pack. Here's the complete Week 13 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation's college football news hub for more.

Maryland Vs. NC State Score Update: James Washington Touchdown Gives Wolfpack 42-41 Lead

2011-11-26T20:38:27Z

Just when the Maryland Terrapins' season couldn't get any worse, they have now blown a 28-point lead in 14 minutes. A C.J. Brown interception gave North Carolina State the ball back, and the Wolfpack eventually capitalized with a one-yard touchdown run for James Washington to take a 42-41 lead.

Brown's interception gave the Wolfpack the ball back at its own 48-yard line, and the Wolfpack capitalized again. Washington's touchdown came with 7:08 to play, meaning it took the Terps 13 minutes and 49 seconds to squander their 27-point lead. Maryland will look to somehow rally again now on its next possession.

Maryland Vs. NC State Score Update: Wolfpack Score Twice, Cut Lead To 41-35

2011-11-26T20:23:59Z

Could the Maryland Terrapins really blow a 27-point lead against North Carolina State? It may be in the process of happening. The Wolfpack scored one touchdown to begin the fourth quarter, then added another after Davin Meggett fumbled to cut the Terps' lead to 41-35 with 13:28 left in the game.

The Wolfpack got the score back to 41-28 when Mike Glennon found Anthony Creecy for an 11-yard score. On Maryland's ensuing possession, Meggett fumbled on the first play and the Wolfpack recovered at the Maryland 26-yard line. Glennon eventually scored on a quarterback sneak from one-yard out to cut the lead to 41-35.

If North Carolina State wins, it will be bowl-eligible.

Maryland Vs. NC State Score Update: Terps Hold 41-21 Lead Heading Into Fourth Quarter

2011-11-26T20:07:49Z

The Maryland Terrapins continue to lead the NC State Wolf Pack into the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, the Terrapins increased their lead over the Wolfpack thanks to a Davin Meggett 46-yard rushing touchdown. Meggett's touchdown run was the longest run of the day so far, on either team. It increased the Terps lead to 41-14.

The Wolfpack weren't going to fold however, as they went on a 9-play 69-yard drive to cut into the massive Terps lead, 41-21. The drive ended on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mike Glennon to Tobias Palmer. The touchdown pass was his third of the day, but the Wolfpack will need to have a massive comeback in the fourth quarter to have a chance in this game. So far, it's been all Terps.

Maryland Vs. NC State Score Update: Kevin Dorsey Touchdown Gives Terps 34-14 Halftime Lead

2011-11-26T19:13:17Z

Through the first half of football, Maryland has exploded for its most points points since the Clemson loss Oct. 15. With contributions from the offense and the defense, Maryland leads NC State 34-14 at halftime.

Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown may be off to his best game in a Maryland uniform. Through two quarters, Brown has thrown for 141 yards on nine completions from 13 attempts with a touchdown. On the ground, Brown has run for two short touchdowns after engineering impressive touchdown drives. Wide receiver Kevin Dorsey is ending his season on the right note, with three catches for almost 90 yards and a touchdown.

The Terp defense has turned in an impressive performance, with two defensive touchdowns off Wolfpack turnovers. NC State has four turnovers in the first half. Quarterback Mike Glennon has been sacked twice and thrown an interception.