Is Randy Edsall on his way out as Maryland head coach?
That question became a hot topic of debate after reports emerged Thursday night that the school does not intend to keep Edsall beyond the 2015 season. Other outlets such as InsideMDSports.com and Yahoo, citing unnamed sources, went so far as to indicate that Edsall will be fired after this weekend’s game at Ohio State.
The move would be a bit of an about-face from the program after signing Edsall to a three-year extension in the summer. That deal was to keep him in College Park until the 2019 season as his original six-year contract was due to expire after 2016. Still, the extension contains just $500,000 in guaranteed money and Maryland would just have to pay that as well as his salary for next year if they do indeed let him go.
In the event of Edsall’s dismissal, the general consensus is that current offensive coordinator Mike Locksley would assume the head coaching position on an interim basis.
Maryland Visits Ohio State Amid Coaching Uncertainty
Such a development does not bode well from the standpoint of the team’s focus heading into Saturday’s matchup with the top-ranked Buckeyes. As it is, 2015 has not gotten off to the best of starts for the Terps, hence all the uncertainty surrounding their coach. They’re currently 2-3, with all three losses coming in fairly embarrassing fashion.
First came a 48-27 defeat to Bowling Green in week two, one of a few examples of the MAC getting the best of Big Ten teams in recent years. Maryland gave up an astonishing 692 total yards to the Falcons, allowed their quarterback Matt Johnson to throw for six touchdown passes, and turned the ball over to BGSU four times.
Two weeks later, they traveled to West Virginia and were summarily routed 45-6, with only a fourth-quarter garbage time touchdown averting a shutout. Once again, the Terps conceded over 600 yards of total offense and gave up 37 first downs to the Mountaineers which set a WVU school record. Maryland quarterback Caleb Rowe could only muster 67 passing yards and threw four interceptions before being benched in the third quarter in favor of Daxx Garman.
The snowball continued to get bigger as it rolled down the mountain last week in the Big Ten opener against Michigan. The Wolverines pitched a 28-0 shutout on the road and held Maryland to just 105 yards on the day. Rowe was mistake-prone yet again, throwing three interceptions and once again getting replaced in the second half.
Now comes the Terps first Big Ten road game against an Ohio State team that has won 18 straight overall and 25 straight in regular season conference play. The Bucks also might have some added motivation to turn in a complete performance after narrowly beating Indiana last week and honestly not looking like a number one team at times during their first five games of 2015.
To put it bluntly, the circumstances do not favor this being a close affair on Saturday afternoon in the Horseshoe.
There would be a hint of melodramatic irony should the Buckeyes get back to winning big against Maryland. After all, one could make the argument that the building blocks for OSU’s title run of 2014 were put in place when these two teams faced off at Byrd Stadium last year.
JT Barrett was virtually flawless, completing over 78 percent of his passes while throwing for 267 yards and four touchdowns, finishing the game with a QBR of 91.7. Ezekiel Elliott had just the third game of his career at the time where he rushed for over 100 yards. Wide receiver Michael Thomas, tight end Nick Vannett as well as hybrid back Jalin Marshall all added a touchdown reception. Finally, linebacker Raekwon McMillan completed the scoring in emphatic fashion with a pick six in the fourth quarter as the Buckeyes rolled 52-24.
That cast of characters is all part of the 2015 edition of the Scarlet and Gray even though Cardale Jones has assumed the starting quarterback job over Barrett this year. As fans are well aware, Jones has had an up and down season to this point. He’s thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions and there have been repeated clamoring for head coach Urban Meyer to hand the keys back to Barrett.
One particular point of criticism regarding the offense under Jones has been the relative lack of execution in the red zone. Last year, the Buckeyes converted 71.62 percent of their red zone possessions into touchdowns, good enough for 12th best in the nation. Needless to say, there’s been regression on this front in 2015 as the team is currently seventh worst nationally in red zone touchdown percentage, finding the end zone just 37.5 percent of the time.
Such a dilemma is the foundation of many fans and pundits calls for Barrett’s return to the starting quarterback position, even if it’s just in red zone situations. When asked about it in Monday’s press conference, Meyer wasn’t exactly dismissive.
“We’ve thought about it. We’ve had that conversation. At this time we haven’t made any decisions on (Barrett getting red zone opportunities) right now,” Meyer said.
Whether he stays with Jones throughout the entirety of the game or gives Barrett some reps when the OSU offense approaches the goal line, Saturday’s game against what appears to be a reeling Maryland side presents an enormous opportunity. The Buckeyes have been less than convincing at times and it has many questioning whether they still deserve the number one ranking in the polls. What better chance then to lay the hammer down and reassume their stranglehold on the top spot.
Much like Barrett last year, perhaps it may be Jones’ turn to put together a stellar outing at the expense of the Terrapins. If so, it may once again serve as a kick starter of sorts in regards to making a run at glory for a team that seems to still be in the process of finding the right mental approach to playing as defending champs.
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