The special juice downed prior to the game in parking lots around the campus had lost its special effect, and with the Terrapins leading by two touchdowns after three quarters, it was time for many of you to re-energize at home before a Saturday night in College Park.
Testudo’s Troops were more like Testudo’s Dozen by the time Middle Tennessee’s steady senior quarterback lofted an on-target deep ball to his wide-open, streaking receiver down the sidelines. As long as sophomore Bobby Williams catches the ball and does not pull a Leon Lett-like celebration by the goal line, the Blue Raiders would trail by a mere touchdown with half a quarter remaining.
Williams dropped the pass.
Still, it took a 4th and 5 stop by the Terps inside the red zone with four minutes to go before this game was signed, sealed and delivered for the good guys.
You may be surprised that this game still had drama in the fourth quarter.
Don’t be.
What you see – or in this case what you did not see – is what you get this season from our Fighting Under Armours.
Two consecutive weeks of mediocre performances against two underwhelming opponents at home is enough of a sample size to project this season as, well, mediocre.
Getting outgained 321 to 274 in total yards is not the type of result a bowl-hopeful ACC team wants playing host to the Sun Belt Conference’s finest. The bend-but-don’t-break defensive philosophy is passable against Tennessee, not Middle Tennessee.
Despite a solid defensive backfield that includes the sound Josh Wilson and the excitable Christian Varner, the “D” for the season has exactly one interception – which should have an asterisk because a fumble by junior J.J. Justice during the runback negated his pick. The Terps are now minus-two in turnover differential, which is unacceptable considering their competition.
I believe Fridge, Sam Hollenbach and the rest of the team when they more than hint that the full offensive arsenal will be unveiled Thursday night in Morgantown, W.Va. The Terps have shown nothing resembling a trick play in these first two games, while still moving the ball consistently.
But then again, you should not need trick plays to roll up yards – and more importantly, points – against lesser foes at home. And a flea-flicker here or a double reverse there will not make the difference playing at West Virginia.
Don’t get me wrong: After two consecutive 5-6 seasons, a 2-0 start to this year looks awfully spiffy on paper. And with the ACC as a whole looking worse than North Campus bathrooms on the weekends, the Terps still could notch three or four wins in the conference, which would propel them to a low-level bowl game.
Just expect them to do it with mediocrity.
Contact columnist Daniel Chiat at chiatdbk@gmail.com.
