While my co-workers were in Miami covering the Terps against Florida International, I was crammed in an apartment bedroom watching the game on ESPN360. But based on how dull the game was, I guess I didn’t miss much.
But even a thousand miles away from the action, I bring you the expert insight of a guy watching a football game from a small computer monitor.
K-Latt-eral Damage
Did Keon Lattimore remind anybody else of Spike from the movie Little Giants on Saturday? In the first quarter, Lattimore ran around, past and through Florida International defenders like a man among boys.
It was disappointing to see that kind of dominating effort stop after the first quarter, but there should be no complaining about another 100-yard, multi-touchdown game from Lattimore.
Just for kicks
Punter Travis Baltz sure got a good workout down in Miami. It seemed like every five minutes he was running onto the field to punt the ball again. Baltz did an adequate job with his nine punts, kicking the ball a total of 341 yards. But if he’s on the field that often this Thursday, it won’t be in a Terps victory.
Sticking with special teams, Obi Egekeze may have missed that 52-yard field goal, but that kick was an absolute boot. It looked like it had the distance to be good from close to 60. But who can really tell with the blurry coverage of ESPN360.
Dan Ennis was great for the Terps last year, but if Egekeze proves to be accurate from short range, he will be a much more valuable commodity due to his huge leg.
Step back for Steffy
Quarterback Jordan Steffy’s performance was not nearly as impressive as his game against Villanova on opening night. His completion percentage was good and he avoided turning the ball over, but he never really got the offense into a true rhythm.
To his credit though, Steffy continues to preach that the only stat he cares about is the win. And right now, he’s two-for-two in that category. The Terps cannot afford to have an unbalanced offensive attack once they play a quality defense, otherwise Steffy’s unbeaten streak will stop quickly.
Practice-squad MVP
Speaking of quarterbacks, recently suspended signal-caller Josh Portis may be more valuable than you think this week. Coach Ralph Friedgen said he plans to give Portis the opposing teams’ sets of plays to better familiarize the Terps’ defense with the quarterback they will square off with.
Portis isn’t a southpaw like West Virginia’s Pat White, but he does have speed and can act as an option QB in practice this week to simulate the Mountaineers quick playmaker.
From the bottom to the top
After watching two games against lackluster competition, playing the No. 4-ranked team in the nation will be an exciting change of pace. If the Terps can pull off an upset, it will truly be rush-the-field worthy, unlike the games against mediocre Florida State and Miami last year. Thursday will likely be another blackout and an electric atmosphere at Byrd. And if the Terps win, Route 1 will be the campus hot spot Thursday night – pun intended.
Contact columnist
Mark Selig at mseligdbk@gmail.com.
