C.J. Brown Goes Down to Injury as Florida State Easily Handles Maryland, 41-16
by Ben Broman on Oct 22, 2011 7:09 PM EDT
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PrintC.J. Brown missed most of the second half to injury, Devonta Freeman and Jermaine Thomas combined for 186 yards on the ground, and the Florida St. Seminoles defeated the Maryland Terrapins with relative ease, winning 41-16 in a game in which they were never seriously threatened. Florida State is back above .500 with a 4-3 record, while Maryland falls to 2-5, meaning they need to finish 4-1 to make a bowl game - and that slate includes games against Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and N.C. State.
Maryland didn't necessarily play a bad game here, but they certainly didn't play a great one. They're outclassed athletically by Florida State across the board, position-for-position, and it showed. They couldn't do what they wanted to do offensively, and, for much of the game, were dictated to defensively. This was a simple case of a lesser team failing to play above their heads against a much better squad.
The real story is going to be the budding quarterback controversy, which is revisiting College Park for another week of speculation. A helmet-to-helmet hit to Brown by Nigel Bradham forced him out of the game mid-way through the third quarter, and O'Brien ended up playing the next two quarters. He did lead two touchdown drives - Maryland's only ones of the afternoon - and showcased a pretty deep ball that Maryland's offense has been lacking as of late, which was enough for a sizable portion of the fanbase to jump back on the DOB bandwagon. More on that in a sec.
A quickie game recap: Florida St. got the ball to start off, and promptly went 62 yards for a score on a 7-yard E.J. Manuel run. A 26-yard touchdown pass from Manuel to Kenny Shaw gave the Seminoles a 14-0 lead midway through the first, and things appeared to be more or less done in Tallahassee. Maryland's defense made a few surprising stands in the second quarter, including a Dexter McDougle interception, to hold the Seminoles to 17 points in the first half. A well-run two-minute drill by Maryland at the end of the second half resulted in a short Nick Ferrara field goal to cut the lead to 17-3 going into half.
The second half, unfortunately, brought no better tidings. Maryland's first second-half drive stalled, and C.J. Brown was injured by a helmet-to-helmet hit on their second. Danny O'Brien came in and had a few nice throws, but the drive died quickly and the Terps were forced to punt it away. FSU, obviously tasting blood at this point, drove right down the field and took a 24-3 lead on a 35-yard Jermaine Thomas run.
On O'Brien's third drive, though, Maryland finally got some momentum going, with a 67-yard pass to Quintin McCree that set up a five-yard touchdown run by O'Brien, of all players. Florida State, however, scored on their next three drives while Maryland's offense stalled, effectively putting the game out of reach. O'Brien had two deep passes with about 30 seconds to go that resulted in a garbage time TD, but it was very obviously too little, too late.
It's tough to pick out any one area that lost Maryland the game today, because there wasn't one. They were simply outclassed, right across the board. The offensive line couldn't block, even against three-man fronts; runners couldn't find the corner against quicker defenders; defenders missed tackles against quicker, stronger foes; and so on and so forth. Like I said, Maryland just got beaten today by a much more talented foe. It's tough to really "blame" any one aspect of the team, or coaching staff.
Again, the story of the game will undoubtedly be the reignited quarterback controversy between O'Brien and Brown. CJ only claimed the starting job last week, and O'Brien's comparatively strong performance this week will without a doubt inflame the fanbase's calls for him. It'll also make Randy Edsall and Gary Crowton do some real thinking. We'll, of course, have some more on that as the week goes on, but the early thought from me: I'm pretty ambivalent. FSU was a fantastic defense that was a bad fit for C.J. Brown's skillset, and it was one that wasn't prepared for Danny O'Brien's arm. Danny played well, but not so well as to make the job automatically his: the first touchdown drive was largely the result of a fantastic effort from Quintin McCree, while the second one came in the closing seconds against a team that had its second-stringers in and had already mentally checked out.
Again, more on that later in the week, plus more coming up tomorrow with the stock report and helmet stickers. Big thought of the day: Maryland is somewhat significantly better than their 2-5 record and has a brighter future than anyone is willing to admit, but it's getting increasingly difficult and frustrating to see that - or, really, to be a Terp fan nowadays at all.
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I dont really care what QB plays
but I dont want anyone to a) be celebrating CJ getting hurt and b) thinking DOB played as well as his stats would say. he didnt. besides the two TD drives, which were more the mccree making a play the first time and the defense not really caring anymore for the last one, he made lots of bad throws and squandered any possible momentum we could have had after the TD and big defensive stop in the subsequent FSU drive
DOB squandered the momentum?
I didn’t see it that way. He made the best throws he could when none of his receivers got any separation, ran incorrect routes, and dropped a couple of key balls.
The real question is whether the coaching staff can get any downfield throws working earlier in the game – with either quarterback.
he played leaps and bounds above CJ
CJ looked awful today, and showed that when the defense contains him, he can’t pass for shit. Despite the offense not being geared towards his strengths, I still think he’s the best guy moving forward, and more importantly, I think the guys in the huddle prefer Danny be playing.
by The Burning Scheyer Jersey on Oct 22, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
DOB didnt squander momentum
the one drive i think youre referencing Leak dropped a 5 yd pass on 1st down, then on 2nd down a screen was called and the WR O’Brien looked too wasnt ready for the play or didnt know what the play was. Hrd to pin anything on the QB here
well, look at the bright side, that stretch of the season is over!
But , a couple things have been exposed.
-Athletically speaking, we are below average. Maybe way below average.
-Defensively speaking, we dont have any enforcers! No one lowers the hat! I swear, watch an SEC game and those guys are flying around. I know we’re not SEC nor will we ever be, but im talking about effort, not just speed! Be aggressive, go to the ball carrier, dont allow him to come to you. Football 101
-The spread offense just isn’t there yet. Look at every team that has recently converted to the spread, they usually struggle for the 1st couple yrs until they bring in spread type athletes.
-Playmakers? is there a guy on this team that wants to be ‘the playmaker?’ I dont see it.
I agree with the lack of athleticism
That’s why I say until we get a coach that can recruit, we’re never going to be a great team. I know Edsall has some highly ranked players considering us like Diggs, Jones, Spence, and Goldman, but I doubt most of those players will come here if they see how bad we are.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
i agree 100% with this post
there is way too much talent in the state of maryland that is just going to west virginia and other schools. maryland has some of the best athletic facilities in the country and their academics are among the best as well. theres no reason why they shouldn’t just go to maryland. ralph friedgen never achieved orange bowl success with us because he never took advantage of what this state has to offer and it doesn’t appear that edsall will either
by jmart21_terpalum on Oct 22, 2011 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I attribute that to coaching
I don’t think I’ve seen a team miss as many tackles as Maryland has this season. Maryland might have the WORST group of tackling corners I’ve seen in a very long time in college football. It’s ridiculous. The dline is good. They are probably the most promising bunch. The backers are ok, but they miss their share of tackles as well. The dbs do a decent job in coverage, but they can’t tackle. They need to go back to the basics and work on form tackling. It’s not getting better either. It was bad in the Temple game, and it’s still bad 7 games into the season.
must say,
I miss the pro-style offense, lol. Im sure the spread will pay off in the long run but right now we have pro style athletes. Just sucks watching try to be a team that we’re not just yet.
We were severely outclassed today
The 4 & 5 star Seminole players showed their stuff against our 2 & 3 stars. And the kids are so young. Did you see our 17 yr old DE going against their 17 yr old OL?
Yes, we are missing our big hitter on D. Maybe it’s Tate, maybe Drakeford.
Did you see DOB and CJ feeding off each other? They can work together. I don’t see a QB controversy. I see 2 different style QB’s who can alternate and throw the other team’s D off balance. I think it will work.
Too bad DJ Adams wasn’t in there when we needed him. DOB surprised me with his TD run after faking to Meggett.
All in all, I think this game showed Randy a lot of what we have and certainly what we need
The problem with running QBs is they are one play away from getting laid out. And while I am not a fan of running QBs or CJB’s game, I don’t think anyone is celebrating a Maryland player’s injury. We are all Terps.
But, CJB proves he can throw the ball further than 12 – 15 yards, there is simply going to be nowhere to go. Florida State had their entire defense playing at the line of scrimmage with their defensive ends pinching Brown into the middle of the field.
On the other hand, in his defense, Maryland doesn’t have the kind of running backs that could make the spread work anyway. CJB can’t do it all himself.
Every QB is one play away from getting laid out.
When you're rich you don't write checks - Randy Moss
by s.r.genovese on Oct 22, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Not significantly.
Quick question. who’s missed more starts in their career, Matt Hasslebeck or Mike Vick?
Hasslebeck has missed 22 starts in his career (since becoming a full time starter). Vick has missed 17. Both guys became starters in the 2001 season.
QB’s get injured no matter if they are in the pocket or running. Just ask Tom Brady or Joe Theisman.
When you're rich you don't write checks - Randy Moss
by s.r.genovese on Oct 22, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Mr. Vick also spent a bit of time in Leavenworth, so a direct head-to-head comparison for him and Hassleback isn't exactly accurate.
by Tezcatlipoca on Oct 22, 2011 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I was referencing missed starts
Not counting those he missed due to suspension.
When you're rich you don't write checks - Randy Moss
by s.r.genovese on Oct 24, 2011 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I still think we can easily go 4-1 over the rest of the season
And get in a Bowl game. You KNOW the Military Bowl organizers would be rooting for that! Have us play Pitt, and they can call it a New-ACC preview matchup
I wouldn't say "easily"
Wake and UVA have picked up marquee wins on the season. Maryland’s marquee win has come against a Miami team missing their best players on offense and defense. I haven’t seen BC, but I know they’re 1-6. Keep in mind, Maryland could easily be 1-6(lost to Miami) or 3-4(beaten WVU) so you just never know. They can go 4-1, but it won’t be easy. They had trouble with Towson earlier this season. Fans just have to realize that even though Edsall said it wouldn’t be a rebuilding project, it is. When you install a new offense, a new defense, new players at new positions and change the culture, that’s rebuilding. The young guys are doing well. The experience helps
md has 2 wins. one against miami who had 7 starters missing and the other vs towson. there is a better chance the team going 1-4 than 4-1
RE: I wouldn't say easily
Agreed, Wake looks confident and UVa is showing effort, BC always shows up ready to play and ND…well is ND. the only sure thing is this will be a referendum on Edsall’s pre-game preparation and in-game management as well as position coaching proficiency.
There Can Be Only One!
by RockCreekTerp on Oct 23, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't say a word about who you expect the starter to be the reason of the season [if you're edsall]
Clemson wasn’t prepared for Brown, he played very well against them. Florida State was prepared for Brown, he was overwhelmed against them.
Now part of that has to do with the teams. Clemson has had struggles with the spread, zone read offense quite a bit this season. FSU on the other hand, is beastly against the run, and has the athletes on the field to swarm it. So while preparation is not the sole reason Brown played well against Clemson and poorly against FSU, my point is this:
When teams don’t know which of your QB’s to prepare for, YOU have an advantage. And seeing as how we are at a talent disadvantage against nearly every team we play, we could definitely use an advantage in game planning.
Brown might not be able to go the next game or two if he has concussion symptoms, but as long as both are healthy, here is my thinking: play them both. Theres that saying about if you have two quarterbacks, then you don’t have a quarterback, but i say to hell with it. Play DOB and CJB. Give them both plenty of practice, and gametime. Make defenses prepare for both, or guess wrong with one or the other.
We’re not talented enough to be as good as we want to be. So why not try to find an advantage in strategy to make up for that?
Anyone esle see Edsall pull a Dennis Green at the post game press conference
and when asked why we were so outclassed today go off on “They were who we thought they were!”
Highly unlikely knowing Edsall’s demeanor, but appropriate and funny thought none the less
I didn't see the press conference but did he actually expect we would take that kind of a beating? I don't think so.
That game was an eye opener for him. Seeing your players pancake blocked speaks volumes.
good luck the rest of the year guys
Think back to your WVU game and you can recover.
We have our qb back and we’ll overcome three straight losses as well.
An FSU fan.
FSU is much more talented than us
I would be very surprised if we went to a bowl game this year.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
2012-13 is the REAL beginning of the new era of maryland sports
every new coach needs at least a year to settle in. our fball team is so young right now, we will be much better next year. for basketball, whatever we get this year is gravy, 2012-13 is where the real turge reign begins
Sorry
I have a tough time calling this anything but a bad game. I mean we easily could have lost by 40. FSU made Brown throw to beat them and right now he just isn’t up to the task. The receivers are not getting separation no matter who is in at QB. Our line was eaten alive most of the day so both QBs were running for their lives.
This is pretty much a worst case scenario for Edsall right now. Yea, he gets a couple years to get his kids on the team but this points to his coaching ability. Last year’s schedule was soft but we looked much better than we do this year. He has managed to make all three teams (SP, Def and Off) worse. Let’s hope he recruits better than he coaches.
for goodness sakes
Play both QB’s dag nabbit. LSU does, and it works well for them, let DOB through down field, let CJ do some option read.
Why not 2 quarterbacks?
Honestly that would make it hard for defenses to prepare for. I just don’t understand why commit to one when using two could make our offense so much more explosive
What do you think about using both in the same backfield?
The option of a direct snap to CJ gives the defense one more thing to think about.
Trickeration is what a lot of under-sized / under-athletic teams use.
Boise State didn’t beat Oklahoma because they were superior players. Navy does run the ball like crazy because it has 320 lb. linemen.
It’s certainly worth thinking about, but I’ve also never been a football coach or player, so I don’t know exactly what is needed to put such options into a team’s arsenal mid-season.
by Tezcatlipoca on Oct 22, 2011 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
That doesn’t even work in pop Warner
If a player doesn't chose Maryland it doesn't make him a bum
by valenciais1 on Oct 22, 2011 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Better idea
Use CJ as a Wildcat QB, a running back, and a wide reciver, ala Kain Colter at Northwestern.
Come on Mayan Calandar!
I am at this point looking for anything to grab that looks hopeful. I got something last week; now it’s all vanished. Even the Mayan calendar thing won’t stop the misery until next year. But wait – there is basketball. Yes! Go Terps! I feel a Final Four coming on.
Randy Edsall Should Play Both QB's In the Future
Randy should never reveal who the QB will be until a few minutes before game time kick off. Obviously, the players will know, but this lack of crucial strategy planning information provided to the opposing team will help to throw the opposing team’s preparation off. We have two dynamic and uniquely different QB’s at our disposal and we ought to utilize them to maximum effectiveness.
Furthermore, Randy should get in the habit of disseminating misinformation to throw the opposing team off. Hold press conferences saying one QB will play, while purposely starting the other guy during the actual game.
btw, wazzup with UMD not relasing injuries?
cj’s injury is most likely a concussion, but the commentators said that we don’t release injuries. what’s the point of that? it just seems real childish to me.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
Thats how edsall is
Thats why we’re all pissed about not knowing whats up with tate, and DJ adams and the like. I believe that Edsall has control issues
by kryptonianjorel on Oct 23, 2011 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I HOPE
he is a control freak…you have to be when you have 90 knuckleheads under your wing…and you compete in a urban media center that is the most powerful city in the world….and you don’t want kids failing out…..and you don’t want ncaa violations…..and you need to control your eating habits….and you need to win games without having 25+ “academic exeptions” like many of our opponents.
by TERPLANDLORD on Oct 23, 2011 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
That was a physical beating today.
Experience alone won’t get us in the upper echelon of the ACC. I would rather see us land some of our top recruiting targets than make a bowl game. Ideally, we’ll do both.
This just in
Peter DeAngelos would like Bradford to run the Orioles!!!
You do NOT go into details about injuries unless they are season ending. You do NOT want to give anymore information than necessary to future opponents. If this concept is too difficult for you to understand then find another sport (i.e. tennis, golf, bowling) to follow.
There was a reason FSU was picked pre-season as a top five team and when healthy they are clearly the class of the ACC in terms of talent. Clemson has a great offense but if they play a great defense (Alabama, LSU or Okla) in a bowl the results will not be pretty.
Am I Missing Something
Or did we not realize after playing Fla State and Miami and, for that matter, Va Tech a couple of times that we needed to recruit speed and athleticism to compete. After Ralph got beat. by Flat State and Florida in his first year I thought he made a comment to the effect that you cannot teach speed and that there was an extreme need to get top notch speed on this team. After watching yesterday’s game all I can ask is: What happened to the recruiting efforts by Ralph and his staff to load this team with speed and athleticism. I mean, we have only been playing these guys now for over a decade on a year in, year out basis and it looks as if we are right where we started back when Vanderlinden was the HC. Somebody tell me I am wrong PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're not wrong
We lack talent, speed, and explosiveness. Like I keep saying, until we get a coach that can recruit, we’re never going to be a great team. John Calipari said it best at UK Midnight Madness:
“In order to be a great program, you need:
1.Great players
2. Great players
3. You know I’m going to say it again, great players."
I know it’s a different sport, but the same principle follows. Coaching can only do so much, and our coaching staff isn’t even that good.
Edsall has a lot of the highly touted recruits considering us like Diggs, Jones, Goldman, Spence, etc, but I doubt any of those guys come here if they see how bad we are.
I’m tired of this team being stuck in mediocrity, One year, we have a good year and make a mediocre bowl game, and another year, we’re terrible. Sigh. I don’t see us even becoming a great team anytime soon, and by great I mean us being in contention for a BCS game. We’re always going to be a above average-mediocre team.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
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