The Spartans (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) have experienced those same losses at home, losing three of their four at Spartan Stadium, all by more than 10 points. The two have met only seven times in their history, and MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has gotten the best of them in their two meetings since Maryland was added to the Big Ten.
As the Spartans look to get back on the right track, with still plenty to play for in the season, here is a preview of what to watch for come Saturday night.
INJURY REPORT
MARYLAND
OUT: RB Trey Edmunds (Foot), DB Denzel Conyers (ACL)
DOUBTFUL: DB William Likely III (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE: QB Perry Hills (Shoulder)
PROBABLE: LB Isaiah Davis (Suspension)
MSU
OUT: LB Jon Reschke (ankle), OL David Beedle (undisclosed)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Darian Hicks (hip), S Grayson Miller (undisclosed), QB Damion Terry (hand)
KEYS TO MSU VICTORY
Tackling Maryland’s rushing attack
The Terrapins come into the contest with the third best rushing offense in the Big Ten and 16th best nationally. They have scored 16 rushing touchdowns already this year while picking up 250 yards on the ground per game. Led by Lorenzo Harrison’s 410 yards, four touchdowns and whopping 8.3 yards per carry, a stable of backs can run the ball effectively for Maryland.
That’s where tackling issues come into play, as the Spartans failed to wrap up yet again last week, helping contribute to the 54 points Northwestern put up on the scoreboard. This week in practice, Dantonio tried to pinpoint the problem and get back to basics in some regards.
“I think it comes down to fundamentals, the way you take on a double-team, the way you take on zone, missing tackles, whatever the case,” Dantonio said. “There’s some things there. Maybe there’s some structural things, as well. That’s why I say this is all inclusive. Maybe there’s a little confidence issue when things start moving in one direction.”
MSU’s leading tackler, junior safety Montae Nicholson, has been a bright spot in that regard. The addition of senior captain Riley Bullough certainly helps things as well. With some injury issues at quarterback for Maryland, the defense led by those two guys had to prepare for a number of scenarios.
"It all depends on which quarterback is playing,” linebacker and special teams coach Mark Snyder said. “The guy who played last week has a scrambling ability and has the ability to make loose plays. You have to be careful how much you get after the first guy. And their starter can scramble a bit too, not to the extent of the kid who played last week but still, but he can throw better. It goes back to who you are facing and what we are facing.”
Ground game to get going again
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The past two games have seen a sluggish Spartan rushing attack, and with the score dictating the offense to throw the football more, it’s been frustrating for the running backs, and Dantonio knows it.
“We need to be able to run the ball more effectively than we did on Saturday (against Northwestern),” Dantonio said. “We have good tailbacks. They need to become a little bit more of our production, I would say. We have to be able to maintain that.”
Dantonio particularly called out sophomore running back LJ Scott, who only saw three carries for 25 yards against Northwestern. Dantonio said he needed to be a lot better in pass protection, so when it’s late in the game and the Spartans need to throw it, he can be out on the field.
Maryland ranks sixth in both scoring defense with 21.2 points per game and total defense with 356 yards per game in the Big Ten as MSU looks to expose them on the ground.
Defensive adjustments pay off
Some changes came from Dantonio and his staff last week on the defensive side of the ball, and some of those moves have carried over to this week. For starters, Dantonio shifted junior defensive lineman Malik McDowell to the end, where he wound up with 11 tackles and his first sack of the season last week.
Dantonio also went with a young perimeter, starting freshman Justin Layne exclusively on one side and either sophomore Vayante Copeland or redshirt-freshman Josh Butler on the other.
“We’re obviously going to have some depth chart moves as we go through this,” Dantonio said. “I don’t think there’s any question that that happens. You’ve got to continue to press on and there’s got to be focus. There also has to be pressure, not bad pressure, but pressure, not stress, but pressure on our players to perform, as well. I think that’s part of this, too.”
One guy helping out those younger athletes on defense is Nicholson, who expanded his leadership role when guys like Reschke and Bullough went down with injuries.
“Everybody’s different, you got to know how to come at people, Nicholson said. “Whether you put them on blast in front of the team or you talk to them one on one. You've just got to know your teammates, and that’s something we need to do better on so we can trust each other and have confidence in each other on and off the field.”
Take advantage of mismatches
Maryland currently sits at 13th in the Big Ten in passing offense, and when those passing situations present themselves, the defense will have to step up. Starting up front, McDowell and company have to generate pressure and get to whoever is behind center for the Terrapins.
Offensively, the quarterback for MSU, which Dantonio said would be a game time decision, will likely be throwing against a depleted secondary for the Terrapins without Likely. This opens up the field for big plays to senior R.J. Shelton and freshman Donnie Corley, as well as tight ends Josiah Price and Jamal Lyles. All four saw a number of targets last week and should again this week.
On special teams, MSU lucks out with again if Likely is on the sideline, as he is one of the most explosive return players in the country.
PREDICTIONS:
NATE BOTT
MSU wins if the secondary changes pay off and MSU can contain D.J. Moore, get off the field on third-down and slow down the nation’s 16th best rushing attack.
MSU loses if they have poor quarterback play and their defense fails to win the battle up front and stop the run.
Prediction: MSU 35, Maryland 31
MVP: Donnie Corley: I could see a breakout game from Corley, and the Terps without star defensive back Likely will provide some opportunities for the young receiver. Maryland will probably shift their best secondary resources to stopping Shelton, and Corley looks to be the beneficiary of that.
STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI
MSU wins if the quarterback play is consistent from the start, the offensive play calls begin to favor the pass and the defense finally picks up four sacks.
MSU loses if the defense continues to lose leverage on outside routes and Maryland’s running backs churn through the defense for easy yards.
Prediction: Maryland 33, MSU 27
MVP: If MSU is to win this one, it'll again come down to who at quarterback leads the charge. Whoever emerges as the starter will probably not finish the game. MVP will either be Tyler O'Connor or Brian Lewerke.
