Lack of physicality, red zone woes doomed Maryland football against Northwestern

Maryland football was punched in the mouth and dominated by an inferior opponent in Northwestern last Saturday.

The Terps desperately needed to right the ship after losing two-straight games entering their bye week — one that ended up tumultuous for the program as co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin was arrested for a DUI in Florida.

But distractions aside, Maryland simply did not show up in the way it needed to Saturday. That begs the question: where did things go wrong?

It started with the battle of will. The Terps were outmuscled on both sides of the ball, and Northwestern’s physicality shifted the tone in key situations all afternoon.

Maryland knew the Wildcats would try to run the ball, and they did just that. The Terps’ defense responded valiantly, holding Northwestern’s 40 carries to only 99 yards — including only 26 yards in the second half.

But Northwestern quarterback Brendan Sullivan responded with a career game. He threw for two scores, obliterated his previous single-game career high in passing yards by nearly 90 and set new career highs in passer rating and rush yards.

The explosion wasn’t due to any new tricks from the junior. He excelled taking what the defense gave him — 12 of his 19 non-throwaway pass attempts traveled fewer than 10 yards in the air.

It was the Terps’ inability to finish plays that haunted them. They struggled to force the Wildcats into third downs consistently, missing a season-high 16 tackles according to Locksley.

This meant Maryland’s defensive front couldn’t truly settle into a pass-rush mindset. And when Sullivan had a clean pocket, he was surgical — finishing 13-for-14 for 204 yards and a score.

Offensively, the Terps were missing the explosives they’ve become accustomed to. Only one play — a reverse on the first drive of the game — went for more than 30 yards. And when they did get in position to score, the offense’s physicality was an issue.

Specifically, the offensive line struggled to create movement or protect its quarterback.

Maryland didn’t score a touchdown for over three quarters, between midway through the first quarter and late in the fourth. In that span, it found itself in the red zone three times.

Those trips combined for six points.

The first came with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter. On first-and-goal from the 9-yard line, Tagovailoa kept the ball on an option play and brought it to the 1.

The Terps dialed up a duo run on second down, meaning both of Northwestern’s defensive tackles were double-teamed in hopes of creating push and eliminating the linebackers from the play. But the Wildcats’ defensive line was the one that did the pushing — running back Antwain Littleton II ran into two Northwestern defenders behind the line of scrimmage.

Next came the “tush push” on third down. Once again, Maryland’s offensive line was beaten at the point of attack, and a fourth-down try was forced.

A rollout pass to Rico Walker was tipped away and the Terps came away with no points.

“I feel like we definitely called the right plays in those situations,” running back Roman Hemby said. “It’s all about execution.”

Two endzone shots — both overthrown to tight end Corey Dyches — kept Maryland out of the endzone before halftime on its second-straight red zone trip without a touchdown. Instead of potentially going into halftime down 24-21, Jack Howes booted a 34-yarder through the uprights and the Wildcats led by seven. 

With around 6:52 left in the third frame, again down by 10, the Terps were driving and ready to strike. A first-down Littleton run set up a second-and-goal from the 3-yard line.

But pass protection broke down on both second and third down. This could be blamed on the line or Tagovailoa — who held the ball for a long time on both attempts — but the result was the same on both plays. The quarterback was sacked and a potential momentum changer was put to rest.

27 points is nothing to scoff at. But in a one-score game, situational football was Maryland’s offensive downfall.

These same problems — physicality and situational success — are not ones the Terps can afford against elite competition. If Maryland shows up the same as it did last week, it’ll suffer against a fiery No. 9 Penn State team.