Where Things Went Wrong
I haven’t had a chance to vent after traveling back to Boston yesterday, so I felt the need to do this. I don’t usually like to bash the coaches, but at half time of the West Virginia game, I was ready to move on to a new coaching staff. All of them. Let us first take a look at this gem of an offensive possession.
| MARYLAND drive start at 12:02. | |||
| Md | 1-10 | at Md21 | Robinson pass incomplete to To. Smith. |
| Md | 2-10 | at Md21 | PENALTY MD delay of game (Robinson) 5 yards to the MD16. |
| Md | 2-15 | at Md16 | Scott rush for loss of 1 yard to the MD15 (LEONARD, Anthon). |
| Md | 3-16 | at Md15 | Timeout Maryland, clock 11:08. |
| Md | 3-16 | at Md15 | PENALTY MD false start 5 yards to the MD10. |
| Md | 3-21 | at Md10 | PENALTY MD delay of game 5 yards to the MD5. |
| Md | 3-26 | at Md05 | PENALTY MD delay of game 2 yards to the MD3. |
| Md | 3-28 | at Md03 | Robinson pass complete to L. Williams for 10 yards to the MD13 (GLOVER, Sidney). |
| Md | 4-18 | at Md13 | Baltz punt 38 yards to the WVU49, fair catch by SANDERS, Jock. |
You have to have your players prepared for the worst, and it just seems they never do. It was obvious there was a communication problem, but to get three straight penalties after the time out was called is inexcusable. If the sound is that bad, go to a silent count. I know they practice with noise pumping into practice, and it can’t possibly compare to 60,000 people, but it has to be enough to make sure everyone needs to be focused on every detail. I don’t think if WVU was writing a perfect script, it would have included three straight penalties after a time out. It was truly mind boggling.
Secondly, the entrance of Danny O’Brien right before the end of the half. I just get the feeling things get done just for the fun of it. I didn’t think Jamarr Robinson was playing great, but at the same time the line wasn’t either. I just felt like the coaches were in full on panic mode, and instead of making adjustments, they would just change the quarterback. Really what was O’Brien going to do in 30 seconds before the end of the half. I was just dumbfounded. If he wasn’t really healthy why was he even in the game?
I don’t think any of us were expecting an undefeated season. I even think a lot of people were thinking that this was a game the Terps would lose, but the things that are done just don’t make sense, and personnel decisions just boggle my mind. I have been a supporter of Friedgen all along. He gave us a reason to care about Maryland Football, but lately, I don’t really know what he is thinking at times, and you have to put the preparation of the players on the coaches. It was just one of those games where you walk out not feeling good about the state of the program. The problem is we have had a few to many of those lately.
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September 23rd, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Agreed. I love Fridge, but there have been some crazy, indefensible decisions coming from the sidelines over the past couple of years. And how about a roll out pass play in our endzone on 3-28?? I know you’re trying to get some punting room, but I didn’t think that was the smartest call in the world (as Bob noted previously, an uncalled holding penalty should have resulted in a safety).