When Urban Meyer and DJ Durkin meet near midfield at Maryland Stadium to shake hands, they will doso for the first time as equals. At least in the sense of their job titles.
One is the head coach of Ohio State, the other the lead man at Maryland. The 38-year-old Durkin is in the middle of his first year as a college football boss, while the man that gave him his first job boasts three national championship rings and a team in the thick of the Big Ten East and College Football Playoff race.
“Ohio State is coming off a big win and we've got a big task ahead of us,” Durkin said this week.
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5-4, 2-4 B1G ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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3:30 – SATURDAY, NOV. 12 MARYLAND STADIUM COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND |
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That might even be an understatement. The Buckeyes are nearly a week removed from their most complete and dominant performance of 2016, a 62-3 curb-stomping of then-No. 10 Nebraska at Ohio Stadium. Maryland, meanwhile, managed only three points in a 56-point loss at Michigan where starting quarterback Perry Hills left the game with an injured shoulder.
The Buckeyes are beset with a challenge from their head coach to perform at that level yet again. On the other side, Durkin's group is trying to keep its head above water following losses four of five games and while in the midst of a three-game stretch against ranked teams.
“What we’re saying around here this week, our players made a decision to perform like they did Saturday,” Meyer said. “You can throw that away if you don't perform again this week. And perform in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. That's the whole mission.”
For Durbin, he can't waste time thinking about the gauntlet of first playing the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, then hosting Ohio State and visiting Nebraska next week.
“That's difficult for any team or any program in the country, but that's the schedule and what we're faced with,” he said.
The two teams are trending in opposite directions but their head coaches forever share a bond being together at Bowling Green from 2001-02, where Meyer served as head coach of the Falcons and hired Durkin as a graduate assistant.
Any affable conversations before kickoff will be short, however. More important things are at stake for a team seeking a program-changing upset and the other yearning to keep its focus on the task at hand and not the season finale against Michigan.
“We’re all professionals and he’s the ultimate professional,” Meyer said. “But we just coach our teams and move on.”
Maryland Breakdown
Durkin is a defensive-minded head coach, having led Jim Harbaugh's first Michigan defense to stellar performances for the majority of the 2015 season at his most recent coaching stop. Wherever Durkin coached—Bowling Green, Notre Dame, Stanford, Florida and Michigan—his hands were all over the scheme on that side of the ball.
Still without the right and top level of talent to do what he likes on that side of the ball, however, Durkin's defense has struggled to stop people all year. The 430.2 yards of offense allowed per game is 12th in the Big Ten. Teams average more than 27 points per game against the Terrapins—yet Indiana and Michigan combined for 101 over the last two weeks.
“We just need to play fundamentally sound within the scheme. We’ve had a couple of injuries in one spot in the back end. That’s affected us,” Durkin said. “I would like to see our guys just line up, play within the scheme, and trust their technique. If we do that, we will play better defensively.”
Thinking that way could be a fool's errand for Durkin, though his comment about injuries in the back end of the defense is merited. Ailments have ravaged the unit all season, starting with star nickel corner William Likely and safety Denzel Conyers. Both tore their ACLs a month apart. Sophomore Darnell Savage Jr. filled in but also missed time with a lower-body injury.
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| OFFENSE | ||||
| 44.8 | 6th | POINTS FOR | 29.3 | 61st |
| 268.6 | 9th | RUSHING OFFENSE | 232.7 | 23rd |
| 235.1 | 62nd | PASSING OFFENSE | 184.8 | 105th |
| 503.7 | 15th | TOTAL OFFENSE | 417.4 | 55th |
| .525 | 5th | 3rd DOWNS | .398 | 64th |
| .894 | 30th | RED ZONE | .906 | 22nd |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| 13.8 | 3rd | POINTS ALLOWED | 27.2 | 64th |
| 119.2 | 22nd | RUSH DEFENSE | 226.0 | 110th |
| 166.1 | 4th | PASS DEFENSE | 204.2 | 35th |
| 88.1 | 1st | PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE | 126.7 | 57th |
| 285.3 | 5th | TOTAL DEFENSE | 430.2 | 88th |
| .316 | 16th | 3rd DOWNS | .368 | 44th |
| .667 | 2nd | RED ZONE | .737 | 20th |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | ||||
| 5.2 | 93rd | PUNT RETURN | 6.4 | 85th |
| 24.4 | 18th | KICKOFF RETURN | 19.4 | 97th |
| 42.7 | 4th | NET PUNTING | 38.0 | 48th |
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
| + 1.2 | 4th | TURNOVER MARGIN | - 0.4 | 99th |
| 6.9 | 85th | PENALTIES | 6.2 | 63rd |
| 15 | EDGE | 3 | ||
The secondary remains fluid and Durkin elected to shake things up on the depth chart this week, a rarity for him considering he usually informs players who he plans to start on Saturday after practice on Friday. Senior Jarrett Ross is a co-starter with true freshmen Qwuantrezz Knight and Elijah Daniels at safety, while junior Josh Woods will now serve as Savage Jr.'s backup.
On the defensive line, Durkin moved Brett Kulka and Azubuike Ukandu into the starting lineup over older players, looking for a spark after the Terrapins allowed a combined 1,310 yards of total offense in the losses to Indiana and Michigan.
“We just need to perform better,” Durkin said.
Despite the recent string of awful numbers, Meyer gave the Terrapins more credit.
“They play decent defense. Started the year real strong, had a couple tough injuries,” Meyer said on Wednesday. “Likely, we know him very well from the last several years. I think he's an outstanding player. No. 4, a nickel player that was really good. They're just dealing, like we are, people are, dealing with injuries. We're prepared to get their very best at home.”
The Terrapins hung with Ohio State for a while last season in Columbus, a game that was tied at 21 in the third quarter before the Buckeyes eventually won 49-28. Perry Hills proved to be a problem all day for Ohio State's defense, but not because of his arm. Hills ran 25 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns but remains a game-time decision with the shoulder he injured in the loss to Michigan.
That forced Durkin to use senior Caleb Rowe and freshman Tyrrell Pigrome against the Wolverines. And even though Maryland tallied some explosive plays last week (plays of 47, 39, 35, 32, 23 and 21 yards) it only amounted to 3 points, which came in the fourth quarter. The outside world won't know who will get the start for Maryland at the most important position on the field until game time.
“I know that they've got three different guys, one may be a little bit different than the other two but the reality is they're going to run the quarterback. They're still going to be the core of the system of who they are,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said on Monday. “Would change a bit with (Rowe) but again maybe it helps us a little bit to not be overthinking too many things. Continue to do the things that we do.”
Fickell's group corralled Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. well before he left with a concussion last week, limiting him to just four completions for 74 yards and taking an interception back for a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Another pick-six came later off Ryker Fyfe, and the Buckeyes allowed just nine first downs against the Cornhuskers.
Maryland likely won't offer too much more of a challenge because of its uncertainty at quarterback but tailbacks Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson are two bright spots. The freshman and sophomore have nearly identical stat lines, rushing for 635 (Johnson) and 633 (Harrison) yards and a combined nine touchdowns. Both average more than 7 yards per carry.
“They move pretty well when they're pulling [guards] around and try to get the linebacker. They're an athletic group,” defensive tackle Mike Hill said on Wednesday. “We just gotta go out there and do what we do every game. That's try to stop the run first and then hopefully they pass and try to stop the pass too.”
“You can throw that away if you don't perform again this week. And perform in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. That's the whole mission.”– Urban Meyer
Maryland found success against Michigan in the quick screen game, getting the ball on the edge to receivers D.J. Moore, Teldrick Morgan and Levern Jacobs. Each has at least 30 receptions and at least one touchdown this seasons, with Moore leading the charge at five scores.
“If you looked at them last week against The Team Up North, I think they had 150 yards on screens. They're moving the football,” Fickell said. “Obviously, didn't score a lot of points and some of the games they haven't scored but they've definitely moved the football. They got some really good schemes. They've got some talent and they've got some players that if they get the ball in their hand on the outside, they can make some plays.”
Fickell said he sees the freshman Harrison becoming more of the workhorse in the backfield and a guy Maryland is probably going to lean on due to its uncertainty at quarterback. With depleted depth and skill everywhere due to all the injuries, Maryland's best chance at upending Ohio State is controlling the clock and converting in the red zone.
The Terrapins are third in the Big Ten in scoring percentage and touchdown percentage on trips inside the 20-yard line, they just don't get there very often (only 32 times in nine games).
“They make you play. They make you play 11-on-11 football because every option that have with to run the quarterback,” Fickell said. “With those kinds of things, you gotta take some liberties with putting people tighter in the box and doing some things.”
Buckeye Breakdown
A simple phrase bounced off the walls in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this week from Urban Meyer's mouth, especially when reporters asked questions he didn't feel like answering.
"Beat Maryland."
The program plastered the mantra all over the facility like normal but it holds a little more weight this time around. A game on Saturday against a team that is 2-4 in Big Ten play followed by a contest against one that doesn't have a conference victory yet this season has everyone looking ahead and talking about The Game on Nov. 26.
The Buckeyes, even with one loss, are still in solid position to play for a Big Ten Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. But Ohio State won't get that chance if it falls asleep and crashes violently in College Park on Saturday.
“A group of players made a decision to play very well, and now you can throw that one away if you don't follow up with another good week of practice and preparation, and that's been the message, to a degree,” Meyer said. “If we have a good Tuesday and Wednesday I think we'll play well on Saturday.”
Meyer said after practice Wednesday he "felt pretty good" about the way his players prepared. The way the Buckeyes destroyed Nebraska lifts the expectations up even higher from those on the outside looking in—if you can play like that against a top-10 team, why can't you do it all the time? And especially against a team like Maryland?
“I think we always try to go out and execute to the best of our abilities,” quarterback J.T. Barrett said. “I think if anything, I guess confidence-builder and understanding that our young guys have a lot more experience now but keep on gaining confidence and building momentum as the season goes forward. Understand that the games from here on out are very crucial.”
Barrett and Samuel led the way in Ohio State's assault against Nebraska.
Barrett threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns against the Cornhuskers, finally connecting on a deep throw to Curtis Samuel that the offense desperately missed the entire month of October. He also missed a few but overall played brilliantly, just like pretty much everyone else on that side of the ball. The challenge now is to not take a step back as November grows older.
“Right now, we gotta win our game this week. We gotta beat Maryland, that's our only goal,” wide receivers coach Zach Smith said. “It's the only thing that matters. Nothing else matters. We're just focused on getting better every day and winning a game on Saturday.”
Smith's group needed to play much better than it had in recent weeks and did against Nebraska. He even rotated freshman Binjimen Victor in during the second quarter and gave more snaps to K.J. Hill, two guys in their first year of playing.
Samuel served as the workhorse once again, however, with 137 yards receiving and two touchdowns to go with 41 more on the ground. Still the most reliable and consistent weapon on the offense (and the only player in the country with at least 500 rushing and 500 receiving yards), he could even see more time in the backfield against the Terrapins due to Mike Weber's AC joint shoulder sprain. Weber has been playing with it for "three or four weeks" according to Meyer, and didn't do any contact drills this week in practice.
Freshman Demario McCall is "making a move right now" as well, Meyer said, but still hasn't seen time other than mop-up duty. Dontre Wilson lost his job as punt returner after muffing one last week. It is Samuel's job now.
Aside from those developments, all systems remain normal and on track for Ohio State. It just knows it must continue the upward trend showed against Nebraska offensively and tackle the Terrapins in space on defense.
“I don't take any team for granted or see them as lesser because the Big Ten is one of the conferences now you could get snuck up on and get beat at any time,” Barrett said. “Understand the same approach that we took into a top-10 matchup against Nebraska is the same approach we need to take for Maryland on the road.”
”We haven't even reached our full potential yet,” defensive tackle Mike Hill added. “We still got three more games to play this year, we've still got a lot more room for improvement. We just try to get better week by week.”
With all the focus on playing at a high level all the time and without mistakes, players said the coaches stressed the need to enjoy the game more than ever last week. And with the big one looming in two weeks, balancing that without any major pitfalls on the road this Saturday is crucial for the Buckeyes to stay on course.
“Once you take a loss like that and really start not focusing on being perfect and not losing any games,” middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan said, “you start focusing more on having fun with each other, being around each other and really doing that comradery again and really focusing on the time you have here, because it’s limited. Now we’re focused back on us and not really around the country and being ranked No. 2 anymore. We’re just happy to be here and happy to be the situation that we’re in and we’re having fun out there as well.”
How It Plays Out
Harrison ran nine times for 58 yards against Michigan last week. Via Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports.
No matter how you slice it, it is hard to find a reason Ohio State should not beat Maryland with relative ease. It is set to be the third time ever the two schools meet on the gridiron, and the last time they played in Maryland the Buckeyes won handily 52-24.
The Buckeyes are much deeper, more talented and healthier at pretty much every position. While the Durkin-Meyer connection makes for a nice storyline, the teacher isn't going to have any reservations making sure his pupil knows he still has a long way to go to compete at the highest level.
“I’m very proud of DJ and hopefully I see what the trademarks of our program—play hard, toughness. Guys giving everything they can. Very proud of him,” Meyer said. “But we have to go win a game.”
Durkin has the groundwork laid for a chance to be successful, learning from some of the best in the coaching world in Meyer and Harbaugh. He installed an eager staff at Maryland and is located on fertile recruiting ground near the east coast. He just needs to keep that talent home and develop it—unlike the 2016 recruiting cycle where talents like Keandre Jones and Dwayne Haskins Jr. (both from Maryland) left to sign with Ohio State.
“People understand where we’re at as a program,” Durkin said. “We’re building. There’s a lot of things pointing up.”
Durkin's 2017 class currently has 21 commitments, 13 from the east coast region and is ranked 14th in the 247Sports composite. His success is evident.
“I’m not surprised,” Durkin said. “There’s a lot of reasons Maryland is great and will be great.”
Maybe so, but this is about Saturday where his overmatched Terrapins welcome the No. 5 team in the country riding a hot streak into Maryland Stadium. Already with one loss and coming off an impressive victory, the Buckeyes must win out to get a shot at their ultimate goal.
Saturday is the next hurdle.
“That one's in the books, enjoy the victory, wait for your next mission, next assignment and get ready to go on the road,” Meyer said. “And that's what we're doing.”
ELEVEN WARRIORS STAFF PREDICTION: Ohio State 40, Maryland 10
