Recognized as one of the Nation’s most knowledgeable College Football Writers, Mr. Steele is on the voting committees for the John Mackey, O’Brien Quarterback, Lombardi, and Ted Hendricks Awards.
For the 2nd-consecutive year, Mr. Steele graciously answered a few Terps related questions for Baltimore Sports and Life.
Baltimore Sports and Life: “In the Atlantic Coast Conference Pre-Season Media Poll, Maryland was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division. You have the Terps as your 13th most improved team, and project them to return to a bowl game (vs. UAB in the Eaglebank Bowl.). What do you think the media of the ACC is missing when evaluating MD?”
Phil Steele: "The media often looks at last year’s record and who is returning at the skill positions on offense when evaluating a team. Going into last season, Maryland had been to 3 straight bowl games but I projected them to finish last which is exactly where they finished. This year while Maryland is picked to finish last by the media, I think their defense will be better than expected and the schedule is more manageable."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Sophomore Caleb Porzel has recently left the MD program, but it is still a deep RB group with Scott, Meggett, Adams, and Douglas. Thoughts on the RB’s?”
Phil Steele: "In the front of the magazine, I list the top units in the country for each position and I rank the Terp RB’s at #34. Two years ago, Scott became the first Terp since 2002 to top 1,000 yards. Remarkably he was suspended for the 1st half of the bowl game but still finished with 174 yards (12.4!). Last year he broke his wrist and missed 5 games as the top 2 backs combined for just 763 yards. This year, I think with a more stable O-line and Scott’s return to health, I look for a huge increase in RB production."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “When we spoke last year you suggested that with capable RB’s and TE’s, and a limited offensive line, that a conservative offensive philosophy might be the correct strategy to employ. Similarly this year the Terps again have questions on the offensive-line, capable backs and TE’s (Campbell, and Furstenburg), and are now turning QB over full-time to Jamarr Robinson. You rank MD as having the 13th best Special Teams unit in the Country. I would imagine the relative inexperience of Robinson, and the talent of the Special Teams has only increased your belief that MD should play a game of ball-control and field position?”
Phil Steele: "I’m not really concerned with Robinson’s inexperience. I thought he got his feet wet last year and has confidence in the system with his strong arm and good mobility. In the past, Maryland used their QB as more of a running threat and I think this year they will use Robinson more in that capacity and I actually think they open it up a bit this year with the surrounding talent."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “In your MD preview, you quote Coach Friedgen as stating the offensive line was ‘vastly improved.’ Left to right the starting line appears to be Justin Gilbert, Andrew Gonnella, Paul Pinegar, Bennett Fulper, and RJ Dill. Is it too much to expect the offensive-line to be league average?”
Phil Steele: "While I do rate the Terps O-line as my #10 unit in the ACC, that is due more to the great quality of O-line play in the ACC (including 3 of the best in the country) than the Terps’ inadequacies. Last year they lost 5 of their top 7 and had 8 different starting O-lines in the first 9 games. This year while they have just 39 career starts, I expect them to have a more consistent line-up and avoid the injury bug that plagued a couple of lineman a year ago."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “MD fans are excited about the Safety tandem of Kenny Tate, and Antwine Perez, but have some questions at Corner. What do you think about the Secondary overall?”
Phil Steele: "I have Tate and Perez on my preseason All-ACC teams but like you said the questions at corner have me ranking them at only #9 in the conference. They do lose 3 starters from last year and Nolan Carroll was drafted by Miami in the 5th round. However, they are close to last year in terms of experience and they should move up in my pass defense rankings (#98 last year)."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Maryland is waiting to see if DT Zack Kerr has qualified for this fall, and recently lost DL De’Onte Arnett for the next 4-6 weeks to injury. Still, the Terps Defensive line seems improved over all. The Terps front-four is also aided by a Linebacker unit you rank as the 16th best group in the country. (Though the LB’s have recently lost Pooler to season-ending injury, and Murray has left the program.) Do you expect to see an improved Terrapin pass-rush in Don Brown’s 2nd year as Defensive Coordinator for Maryland?" (It is worth noting that 3 of your Top 13 Offensive lines reside in the ACC Atlantic – FSU, Clemson, BC).
Phil Steele: "This year they return 15 of their 27 sacks from a year ago. While I am a little concerned about the attrition, I do like their front line players. I expect SLB Moten to be more in a pass rusher mold sack wise but they will need some DE’s to emerge if they are going to match last year’s numbers."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “The University of Maryland has recently named a new University President and is in the process of naming a new Athletic Director. The new President (Dr. Loh) is coming from Big 10 Country (Iowa). There is some conjecture from MD fans that if the to be named AD also has some Big 10 leanings, this could ultimately result with the Terps being in the next waive of Big 10 expansion. Due to the combined Washington/Baltimore Media market, do you see MD as a realistic option for the Big 10?”
Phil Steele: "If the expansion talks heat up again, I do see Maryland as option for the exact same reasons you mentioned. However, the talk of the four 16-team super-conferences has died down. As for the Big 10, I think they only expand again if they can convince Notre Dame to join. The Irish though seem to be content in their Independent status which probably leaves the Terps remaining in the ACC for the time being."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “MD has named Offensive Coordinator James Franklin as the heir apparent to Friedgen. Would you expect an incoming Athletic Director, to insist on having the ability to name a replacement of their choice?”
Phil Steele: "New Athletic Directors always want to make their own decisions and put their own stamps on the program. I do think they will interview Franklin first and if satisfied, they will remain status quo. If not, I’m sure he has a set of criteria to meet before offering the job."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “According to the annual recruiting-rankings of Rivals.com, the Maryland classes have been ranked as following for the past-six years:
2010: 36th
2009: 26th
2008: 38th
2007: 35th
2006: 29th
2005: 16th
= Average class ranking of 30th.
Based on the on-field results during this time period, does this average class ranking surprise you either way?”
Phil Steele: "When looking at these rankings, I immediately did some research and found that over the same time period, I had the Terps average class ranking at #34 so there was not much difference there. With these rankings in mind, I think with the exception of last season in which I thought they would struggle with only 9 returning starters, Maryland has played up to its talent level with 3 bowls in four years. If they have the type of season I project this year that would mean four bowl games in five years which would be on par with their recruiting rankings."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “I predicted the Terps to finish 8-4 last-year, and they limped to a 2-10 finish. Based on that, I should be smart enough to again avoid making picks, but nobody has ever accused me of being overly intelligent. I look at the schedule this year, and I see a 7-5 overall record, 4-4 in the ACC, 2-3 in the Atlantic Division.
Navy – W
Morgan State – W
@WVU – L
Florida International – W
Duke – W
Bye
@Clemson – L
@Boston College – L
Wake – W
@Miami – L
@UVA – W
FSU – L
NCST – W
What record do you project for the Terps?”
Phil Steele: "This is a little scary but I have the same predicted record as you have with the exact same scenarios you do for every game. Therefore, I also have the Terps at 7-5."
Baltimore Sports and Life: “You rank MD as having the 57th toughest schedule in the Country, and project Navy, WVU, Clemson, BC, Miami, and FSU as Bowl teams. It seems to me, the real swing games for MD are against Navy, Clemson, BC, UVA, and NCST. Three of those swing games are on the road, and one is at a neutral site. Thoughts on the schedule overall, and these ‘swing’ games?”
Phil Steele: "I think the schedule overall is manageable and to me whether or not the Terps make a bowl game will depend on the Navy, Virginia and NC State games. Right now I have them winning all 3 and getting to the EagleBank Bowl. I think winning on the road at Clemson and Boston College will be tough and right now have them losing those two games. Overall it should be another successful season for Maryland as they make their 7th bowl in the last ten years."
0 comments:
Post a Comment