When the Maryland football offense took the field Saturday afternoon in the spring game, no one could afford a lapse in focus.
Players on offense had to rush back to the line of scrimmage and execute the next play without the assistance of huddling up. The defensive unit had to quickly recognize the formation across from them and react accordingly. And if the fans at Maryland Stadium looked away from the action for a moment, they risked missing an explosive play, as the Terps had five touchdowns of at least 40 yards.
New offensive coordinator Walt Bell implemented a new no-huddle offense this spring, and the Terps displayed their high-paced attack Saturday. It’s still a work in progress, coach DJ Durkin said, but players and coaches alike are excited about the potential of speeding up the offense.
“I love it. I love it,” said quarterback Perry Hills, who began the game as the starter. “You can just see guys over on the defensive side just wearing down and getting tired. And it’s really great to see, ’cause then you know that you can keep driving and pushing until you mentally break them.”
Bell joined the Terps in December after serving as Arkansas State’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons. In 2015, the Red Wolves finished with the nation’s No. 12 scoring offense at 40 points per game.
The Terps, using a slower tempo under former offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, averaged 24.7 points per contest.
“Bell does a really good job of teaching every single position what they have to do and so we can perfect and just play as fast as we possibly can,” Hills said.
Quarterback Caleb Rowe, who finished with 161 passing yards and a touchdown, said the offense is further ahead than it’s ever been at this point during his four years with the program. Rowe said Bell taught the offense in four days but added the transition hasn’t been a hard process.
Both signal-callers have also been meeting with Bell for “a long time,” Rowe said, which has sped up the adjustment period.
Hills and Rowe, along with quarterback Gage Shaffer, received an opportunity to run the up-tempo offense, and each signal-caller produced big scoring plays. Hills said the attack is built on those quick-hit touchdowns.
On the second series, Rowe found wide receiver Levern Jacobs over the middle for a 48-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Later in the half, the Temple Hills native burned defensive back Tene Samuto down the right sideline, and Shaffer hit him in stride for a 51-yard score.
Other explosive plays included a 40-yard pitch and catch from Hills to wide receiver Malcolm Culmer, running Ty Johnson’s 64-yard scamper and Rowe’s 64-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacquille Veii.
“Guys going out there making big plays,” Hills said. “That’s how you win games. You want to get at least 12 big plays a game. That’s a backbreaker as well. If you have a big play on the defense, they start to wear out.”
Hills said the biggest thing he’s taken away from Bell is that the new coach “loves effort.” The Terps’ work throughout the spring culminated Saturday, giving fans a glimpse of what they can expect in the fall.
“[Saturday], we were a little slow,” Rowe said. “But when the offense really gets going, it’s hard to stop.”
