Maryland

Maybe we should have let them score more than one junk touchdown late. Maybe if we fumbled more often and made the score respectable they would have still wanted to play with us. But no, those darn Turtles got so angry after we left the playground that they don't want to play with us any more - ever. Big Ten. Harumph. Yeah, that makes about as much sense as Houston & San Diego State in the Big East - whoops. Too late, conference pandemonium is upon us again. Just when we thought our conference was the model of Carolina stability, the folks in the Midwest decided that Northwestern had won too many damn games lately and they needed a new doormat. So they took one of ours. Unfortunately. we had lots of colors and choices in this particular category, but only 3 delivered the Baltimore /DC TV market and the other two might actually win some games in that boring conference.

It was a lovely day in the Old Line State and we have to feel a little fortunate that with VT and Maryland in back to back November road games (Thank you again Mr. Swofford!) we did not actually get unplayable conditions in either contest. The issue in College Park was crowd noise. The PA was echoing badly off of all the empty seats. We learned postgame the horror that is DC traffic (why would anyone live here...) so that might explain a crowd that showed up early in the second quarter and departed at halftime. Some fashion notes...love the new Nole Coaching Hoodies, and hate the entire Terrapin uniform collection. This latest installment may have looked good on TV, but was an announcing spotters nightmare. Literally, the only thing you could discern from row 20 was if a player had single or double digits.It did not help our cause that a grill somewhere in the second deck was sending waves of smoke over our heads onto the playing surface throughout. I kept wanting to wipe the screen, and there is no wiping reality.

Speaking of reality, running between the tackles seemed to work out well. Say one thing for Jimbo, the man learns from his mistakes from week to week. This was - on paper - a quality defense, and so he junked the wide zone read plays that worked so fabulously against VT, and sent Davonta right through the middle with simple cutbacks in interior gaps. Even with 7 or 8 in the box, they could not stop it. Tre Jackson and Brian Stork were both terrific in this game. Jackson was second level blocking all day long. Our pass protection issues were actually on the skill guys and the head coach. JWJ whiffed on one block much to the sideline delight of his HC, but truth be told he had no chance on that play. We playactioned to him, after which he is a yard off the OT. Then we need him to immediately run backwards three yards to pick up the OLB. No chance. The angle does not work. Our TE Haplea just got roadmauled on another sack, and on the 3rd one EJ had to get another spin sack on camera for his fans. So, the OL may have had their best game overall. Speaking of TE's, we spotted Jack Nicklaus among the commoners in front of us sitting next to Mrs. Fisher - who apparently has a line to her hubby during the contest because the grandbear got some love this week.  Was again impressed with the off-the-line moves by Rashad Greene. Jamming him is like grabbing a freshly greased pig with infant hands. Rodney Smith needs to stop whining and catch the ball. Yes, you were legally raped in every State but Tennessee and Arkansas, but go after the ball anyway. He did not get either call, but would have had two scores if he kept running instead of sticking his arms out like a pre-Dorothy Scarecrow.

Tough to judge the defense against this pathetic group. We could not see any of the numbers, but wow did that quarterback look thick...almost like a linebacker. We knew in warmups when this poor dude missed five straight 7 yard slant pattern throws. Up, down, in front, behind...when he finally hit the glacially paced TE on the play, his coach rewarded him with a resounding butt blast. Yikes. He actually played pretty well in live action; considering. Yes, Timmy, Tank and the German destroyed this pitiful crew, but there was not a lot of mystery with this Turtle troupe. Fortunately, we did get to play our kids quite a bit, with Mario Edwards and Georgio Newberry both having record helmet sticker days. MEJ actually showed the power and burst we read about from his halcyon days in Texas. He is clearly off Mama's mealplan. Vince Williams had another terrific tackling day and he & Telvin are the emotional leaders of this defense. Despite 20 plus opportunities to practice, I am not sure either Bjeorn or Tank even know how to celebrate, much less get their teammates excited. Not a problem for Timmy...but our MLB's sure do. Also, need to give a terrific pass breakup shoutout to LJ - unfortunately he broke up Ronald Darby's first career pick. But a good problem to have.

Finally, how about our boy Dustin. The All Time NCAA points leader for kickers. We have been spoiled with great kickers over the last 20 years since we saw Burt and Bentley on the SI cover before he ever brought toe to leather. But outside of the polish powderkeg, this may be the best to ever play his position - and clearly the best young man of the bunch. Hit another 7 or 8 extra points this weekend Dustin and set an unbreakable mark...

Enjoy Turkey Day and then come tailgate with us this weekend. Let's go kill us some lizard!!