Opposition Research: Scouting the Maryland Terrapins offense

Yesterday we gave you the inside look at Maryland’s defense and today the offense takes a turn in the hot seat. However, unlike the defense, Maryland’s offense has shown up in a big way on more that one occasion.

In fact, it nearly was enough to beat a Terps defense that gave up 40 points to West Virginia in non-conference play. Heck, this team even had enough to overpower an Iowa defense that was considered one of the better in the Big Ten.

That means Wisconsin’s defense can’t take the Terps lightly in any way. There are weapons on the outside, at quarterback and an underrated running game to deal with. Maryland’s offense is successful when it’s multiple, and that will be the challenge for UW — stopping them from getting in to any rhythm at all.

So, who do the Badgers need to worry about and how can Wisconsin be successful in this contest. Let’s dive in to what the Maryland offense is all about.

Starters:

WR: Deon Long – Sr. (6-0, 185) – 27 receptions, 307 yards, 1 touchdown, 11.4 avg., 43.9ypg

WR: Stefon Diggs – Jr. (6-0, 190) – 45 receptions, 580 yards, 4 touchdowns, 12.9 avg, 82.9ypg

WR: Marcus Leak – Jr. (6-0, 210) – 16 receptions, 253 yards, 3 touchdowns, 15.8 avg., 36.1ypg

TE: Derrick Hayward – Fr. (6-5, 235) – no stats

T: Michael Dunn – So. (6-5, 300) – making his 21st start at tackle

G: Silvano Altamirano – Sr. (6-2, 290) – making his 8th career start

C: Sal Conaboy – Sr. (6-3, 295) – making his 22nd straight start and 30th overall start — most on O-Line

G: Andrew Zeller – Jr. (6-4, 300) – making his 12th straight start

T: Ryan Doyle – Jr. (6-4, 300) – making his 21st straight start

RB: Brandon Ross – Jr. (5-10, 210) – 251 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4.8 avg., 35.9ypg; 10 receptions, 206 yards, 2 touchdowns

FB: Kenneth Goins, Jr. – So. (5-9, 233) – 41 yards, 4.1avg.; 6 receptions, 45 yards 1 touchdown

QB: C.J. Brown – Sr. (6-3, 218) – 56.8 comp. %, 1,187 yards, 7 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 169.6ypg; 362 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns, 4.3 avg., 51.7ypg

Team Rankings: (Stats/B1G rank/National Rank)

Scoring Offense: 35.1ppg/4th/31st-tie
Total Offense: 402.3ypg/8th/76th
Rushing Offense: 150.6ypg/10th/86th
Passing Offense: 251.7ypg/6th/49th

– The stats tell us a story of an offense that is erratic at best. When things are going well they go really well (see last week before Brown’s injury) and when they go bad they go really bad (see Maryland’s offense without Brown last week). Make no mistake about it, Brown is the key in the run and pass game and that’s why Maryland struggles to be the offense it should given the weapons it has all over the place.

3 Keys to Badgers Success:

1. Stop C.J. Brown’s big gainers: Wisconsin’s defense has been pretty damn good against the run, but as last week proved, it is also in danger against an athletic quarterback. Brown is that and much more, so the Badgers defense needs to contain Brown’s running ability early on. Making this team one-dimensional really changes what the Terps want to do offensively. If I’m Wisconsin I’m taking my chances with C.J. Brown as a passing threat more than a running threat.

2. Seeing Sojourn Shelton get out of funk: There’s been much written about the funk that sophomore cornerback Sojourn Shelton is in. With a bye week and a phone call from Scott Starks hopefully things have turned the corner in a positive way for him. He’ll be needed in a big way because the Terps have two great wide receivers in Stefon Diggs and Deon Long. While Darius Hillary has gotten the other teams’ best receiver as of late, there’s no hiding when playing Maryland. Wisconsin needs the freshman version of Shelton to show up in a big way this week.

3. Continued development at nose tackle: One of the least talked about developments on the defensive side of the ball has been the steady and impressive improvement of young nose guards Arthur Goldberg and Conor Sheehy. After questions about their abilities in the opener against LSU each week has been better and better up the middle. The two are allowing Derek Landisch some time to shine and he’s taken full advantage of that. Goldberg has 13 tackles and a quarterback hit in stepping up for the injured Warren Herring. Herring may or may not be back for the Maryland game, but Wisconsin has gone from not trusting Goldberg and Sheehy to having confidence in them. Now its time for them to start becoming more than sidekicks in this defense and true playmakers.