Maryland football will face USC on Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.
The Terps (3-3, 0-3) are still searching for their first conference win of the season and will look to do so during homecoming. But first, here are three things to look for:
Can Maryland play complementary football?
The Terps struggled on third down and in the red zone during their 37-10 loss to Northwestern on Oct. 11.
Maryland went 6-for-15 on third down and 1-for-4 on fourth down. When the offense needed to score, the unit could not finish. The defense kept the team in the game until it got out of hand in the fourth quarter.
“Before last game, we were really big-little,” Locksley said. “It was either a big play, a 75-yard run or 60-yard touchdown throw, or we’d have two or three three-and-outs. When I keep talking about the lack of complimentary offense, defense and special teams, it’s all of us kind of doing our part in sync.”
“We’ve got to make more of the opportunities we get,” senior receiver Tai Felton said.
Can Maryland limit the turnovers?
Maryland cannot let the game snowball like it did in the fourth quarter against Northwestern. Three of the Terps’ final five drives ended with turnovers.
The Terps finished the game with three fumbles and one interception — the most turnovers in a game so far this season.
“When you start watching the scoreboard, when you play inexperienced players, they start pressing,” Locksley said. “We had an atrocious interception and Preston Howard put two on the ground.”
Can Maryland stop the run?
USC redshirt senior running back Woody Marks, a transfer from Mississippi State, is sixth in rushing yards (579) and yards per game (96.5) in the Big Ten.
But the kicker is the Trojans are second to last in conference in total rush attempts with 170. Marks is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
“The running back,” Locksley said on what jumps out on tape.
“Explosive back,” senior linebacker Donnell Brown said. “He can make plays, bounce off tackles, run through tackles. Big-play guy. For us, it’s just about what we do and how we could actually neutralize them a little bit.”
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