Defensive lineman Yannick Ngakoue responds to questions from reporters during the Terps’ media day at the Gossett Football Team House on Aug. 10, 2015.
Last season, the Terrapins football team opened its campaign with a 52-7 shellacking of James Madison. Yet as the season wore on and the Terps challenged some of the Big Ten powerhouses, they often found themselves on the other side of blowouts.
On Oct. 4, coach Randy Edsall’s team suffered a 52-24 defeat to Ohio State. And three weeks later, the Badgers handed the Terps a 52-7 beat down in Madison, Wisconsin.
Defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski hopes to reverse the Terps’ fortune in 2015. After former defensive coordinator Brian Stewart left the program in February, the team’s former linebackers coach was named coordinator.
Dudzinski has a plan to turn around a defense ranked 95th in the nation last season. For one thing, he’s replaced the Terps’ 3-4 system with a 4-3, hoping the new alignment will better suit the Terps personnel.
“We want to be aggressive,” Dudzinski said. “We want to attack the ball. We’re going to do everything we can to try and get the ball back to our offense as fast as we can. Whether it’s a three-and-out, turnovers, some kind of destruction to get the ball back to our guys, because the more times they get a chance to score, the better off for us.”
With the new system in place, a couple of Terps will be changing positions. Former safety Sean Davis will slide over to cornerback, while Yannick Ngakoue will transition from outside linebacker to defensive end.
“I’m more explosive coming off the ball and giving tackles problems,” Ngakoue said. “So that is ultimately going to help the team out applying more pressure, helping my [defensive backs] and helping my other teammates make plays.”
Ngakoue also hopes to develop into more of a leader. With seven starters from last year’s squad gone, the junior is feeling the pressure to take on a larger role in the locker room.
“I definitely got to be a leader now,” Ngakoue said. “I’ll take the weight on my shoulders. I’ll set the tempo in practice. I have no problem with that.”
Part of the reason for the Terps’ struggles on defense was their inability to stop the run. The team allowed an average of 201.9 yards per game on the ground, as opposing offenses wore down the Terps’ front seven while lighting up the scoreboard.
Ngakoue said linebackers Jermaine Carter Jr. and Jalen Brooks can make an impact as run-stoppers in the 4-3. This would help limit opposing team’s time of possession and give the secondary a chance to be aggressive on passing downs.
“We need to get the ball back to the offense so they can score points or even take ownership ourselves and try to score points ourselves,” defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson said.
For Dudzinski, the key for the defense will be eliminating opponents’ big plays.
With the Terps also looking to fill in question marks on offense, Dudzinski said he hopes the new 4-3 system will stabilize the defense.
“My job is to make sure that when we go call defenses, guys know how to line up and make the adjustments that need to be made,” Dudzinski said. “Then put their toes in the dirt, get their eyes on the target and play ball.”
