By now, everyone in Columbus knows how successful a team can be with its third-string quarterback.
While no one expects Maryland to go on the kind of run Ohio State did in 2014, the Terps are already 1-0 behind the arm of third-string quarterback Max Bortenschlager.
Bortenschlager has been forced into action after both Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill suffered season-ending ACL injuries against Texas and UCF, respectively. Despite being without its top two signal callers, Maryland is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten after defeating Minnesota, 31-24, over the weekend.
This week's scouting report takes a deeper look into the Terps' personnel.
Offense (Spread)
Quarterback: Max Bortenschlager (No. 18) 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, sophomore
Strengths:
- Strong arm, accurate downfield.
- Capable runner. Not a run-first player, but is capable of extending plays with his feet. Scored on a QB draw against Minnesota.
Weaknesses:
- Inexperienced. Has just two career starts to his name, one coming last week against Minnesota.
- Game manager. Unlike Pigrome or Hill, Bortenschlager isn't going to be able to put the Terps on his back and lead them to victory by himself. Will need plenty of help from the rest of the offense.
Running back: Ty Johnson (No. 6) 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, junior
Strengths:
- Excellent vision. Has the ability to find a running crease even if it is late developing.
- Quick first and second step. While some running backs make just one cut and go, Johnson has shown the ability to make multiple cuts to break to daylight this season. Also has above-average breakaway speed.
Weaknesses:
- Not a threat in the passing game. Has just 19 career receptions, only one so far this season.
Wide receivers: D.J. Moore (No. 1) 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, junior / Taivon Jacobs (No. 12) 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, senior / Jacquille Veii (No. 84) 5-foot-9, 188 pounds, redshirt-senior
Strengths:
- Experienced group. Between Moore, Jacobs and Veii, the three have 160 career receptions dating back to 2013.
- Moore is the most talented of the group. Has caught at least seven passes in each game this season and leads the Big Ten in receptions and yards.
Weaknesses:
- Undersized group. None of the three starters stand over 6-foot and only Moore weighs over 200 pounds.
Offensive line: LT Derwin Gray (No. 55) 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, junior / LG Sean Christie (No. 70) 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, junior / C Brendan Moore (No. 64) 6-foot-3, 302 pounds, junior / RG Terrance Davis (No. 75) 6-foot-3, 308 pounds, sophomore / RT Damian Prince (No. 58) 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, junior
Strengths:
- The right side of the line features returning starters in Davis and Prince. Brendan Moore is also a returning starter at center.
- Run-first offensive line. Finished 2016 fourth in the Big Ten in rush offense, and ranks third in that category through four games this season.
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent. Paved the way for four rushing touchdowns against Texas on the road before leading the way for just 42 rush yards on 37 carries at home to UCF.
Overall analysis: Maryland's offense, much like Ohio State's, is a run-first spread system. The Terps boast perhaps the Big Ten's best receiver in DJ Moore, which can only help third-string quarterback Bortenschlager get into a rhythm. Running back Ty Johnson might be one of the best running backs in the Big Ten that no one talks about, with breakaway speed and deceptive strength.
When Maryland can run the football, its offense is capable of putting up points on almost anyone (see season opener against Texas). When the Terps fail to win the line of scrimmage, however, they fail to do much of anything with the football (see loss to UCF).
Defense (Multiple)
Defensive line: DE Chandler Burkett (No. 92) 6-foot-3, 254 pounds, senior / NG Kingsley Opara (No. 8) 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, senior / DT Cavon Walker (No. 5) 6-foot-2, 278 pounds, senior / DE Mbi Tanyi (No. 50) 6-foot-1, 296 pounds, junior
Strengths:
- Veteran group. Asked to take up blocks up front to clear the way for linebackers to make most of the plays.
Weaknesses:
- Depth is a concern. Maryland's best defense end Jesse Aniebonam is out with an injury. Aniebonam was the Big Ten's top sack leader among returning players from 2016, as he notched nine sacks a season ago.
- Much like the offensive line, the Maryland defensive line is inconsistent in run defense. Held Texas and Minnesota under 100 yards rushing, but allowed 250 yards on the ground to UCF.
Linebackers: WLB Isaiah Davis (No. 22) 6-foot-1, 238 pounds, sophomore / MLB Jermaine Carter Jr. (No. 1) 6-foot, 228 pounds, senior / SLB Shane Cockerille (No. 18) 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, senior
Strengths:
- Carter and Cockerille are among the best linebackers in the Big Ten East. Between the two, they combined for 218 tackles in 2016 and are the top two tacklers for Maryland this season.
- Carter leads the team in tackles for loss (4.0) and sacks (2.5). The Terps will move him around to rush the passer on multiple occasions.
Weaknesses:
- Davis is the outlier of this group, as he has just six tackles on the season. He is also the most inexperienced player in the unit. Overall, however, the linebackers are the strength of the Maryland defense.
Defensive backs: CB J.C. Jackson (No. 7) 6-foot-1, 193 pounds, junior / SS Darnell Savage Jr. (No. 4) 5-foot-10, 191 pounds, junior / FS Josh Woods (No. 10) 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, senior / CB Antwaine Richardson (No. 20) 6-foot, 182 pounds, redshirt junior
Strengths:
- Good size at cornerback makes it easier for them to play man coverage on the outside.
- Savage is solid in run defense from his safety position. Was third on team in tackles a season ago with 59 and already has 22 this season.
- Has collected five interceptions in four games this season, ranking them tied for fifth in the conference.
Weaknesses:
- Has allowed multiple big plays over the middle this season. Ranks 11th in the conference in pass defense, allowing 248 yards per game through the air.
Overall analysis: Maryland's strength defensively is without question its linebacker play. As previously mentioned, the defensive line is there primarily to take up blocks and allow Carter and Cockerille to make plays at the second level.
Since the loss of Aniebonam to injury, the Terps have mixed up their defensive looks, showing both three and four man fronts at times. To make up for Aniebonam's absence, Carter has been moved around all over the defensive formation as both an edge rusher and on middle blitzes as well.
The secondary has been hit or miss for most of the season. As mentioned, the corners have the size to match up one-on-one with wide receivers, but many of the big plays Maryland has allowed have been deep over the middle.
Special teams
Kicker: Henry Darmstadter (No. 95) 5-foot-7, 183 pounds, senior
Punter: Wade Lees (No. 88) 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, sophomore
Analysis: The Terps have not attempted many field goals this season, as Darmstadter has made just two of his three attempts on the year. Senior Adam Greene (6-2, 193) has also attempted three kicks this season, but converted on just one. Lees is averaging about 41 yards per punt this season on 17 attempts.
Following the departure of William Likely from last year, D.J. Moore handles punt returns and is averaging just more than 13 yards per return. Ty Johnson handles the kick return duties along with Taivon Jacobs. As a team, the Terps have averaged 22.17 yards per kick return this season.
The Terps did attempt a fake field goal against Minnesota last week, but came up short at the one-yard line as holder Ryan Brand (5-11, 182) was tackled just short of the end zone.
