When asked about running back Ty Johnson’s involvement Saturday — more specifically, when asked why there was so little of it while No. 18 Iowa delivered a 23-0 drubbing — Maryland football interim head coach Matt Canada pointed to his offense’s third play of the game.

Johnson rolled out to the right when the ball was snapped, and quarterback Kasim Hill turned and fired to him. The play was clearly designed to get Johnson in space and let him show why he’s one of four players in Maryland history to have 4,000 career all-purpose yards.

But the outside receiver couldn’t hold a block, and Johnson seemed to turn to brace for an impending hit before he’d secured the pass. The ball fell to the turf.

“We threw him a pass in the flat that we didn’t execute,” Canada said. “That would’ve been a touch that didn’t happen, ‘cause we didn’t catch it or didn’t throw it well enough.”

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Johnson wouldn’t get a handoff until late in the third quarter, when he gained 14 yards on three carries before a penalty and a sack ended another Terps drive short of the Hawkeyes’ side of the field.

Maryland only ran 39 plays on offense all game, depressing Johnson’s chances. But his four-carry, 15-yard display was also another example of the inconsistency Johnson has displayed throughout his four years at Maryland and his particular difficulties against highly ranked defenses.

Johnson’s four rushes were his fewest attempts in a game since the final week of his freshman year, when he took two carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns, showing the big play potential that he relies on. But when he can’t break off large gains, the Cumberland native often struggles.

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As a sophomore, Johnson accumulated 100 yards on the ground in five games, including 204 yards and two scores in a blowout win over Purdue in week 5. But in the other eight games, he didn’t even eclipse 50 yards running. He led Maryland in rushing with 21 yards in back-to-back losses to then-No. 6 Ohio State and then-No. 19 Nebraska.

As a junior, Johnson rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota, his third 100-yard performance in the Terps’ first four games. But he averaged 58 yards over the final eight contests of the year, falling short of the century mark in each. He scored just two touchdowns in that span, both coming in a loss to Rutgers.

Especially against ranked opposition, Johnson hasn’t shown the same capabilities in space, unable to cope with swarming defenders. Against Michigan’s top-ranked defense, Johnson was limited to three yards on five attempts. The story stayed the same against Iowa, which ranks third in the country in yards allowed.

“We had a very — we thought — a good idea going in,” Canada said. “We were excited to get some of our athletes out in space, Ty being one of them. They’re very big up front. They’re good up front.”

On third-and-short on the Terps’ opening drive Saturday, a botched snap forced Hill to heave the ball out of bounds and out of danger. Canada said that play was meant to involve Johnson, but it never had the chance to develop.

Maryland’s 39 total plays, tied for the program’s second fewest since 2000, curtailed Johnson’s influence and propelled the Terps toward an ugly loss in Iowa City.

“We had a bad game,” Canada said. “Didn’t get anybody the ball enough, right? I’m guessing everybody on our team should’ve touched the ball more.”