Maryland will host Minnesota in the team's home opener on Friday night. Both teams come into this game with 0-1 records, the Golden Gophers falling to Michigan last weekend by a score of 49-24. After that contest, they fell out of the Top 25 rankings.

P.J. Fleck enters his 4th season as Minnesota's head coach following a stellar 2019 season that saw them finish with a record of 11-2 (7-2) and ranked #10 in the country. Junior QB Tanner Morgan returns to lead an offense that features new co-offensive coordinators Mike Sanford, Jr. and Matt Simon. Simon has been on the staff since 2017 as the team's wide receivers coach, while Sanford, Jr. spent last season as Utah State's play-caller after being Western Kentucky's head coach from 2017-2018. For the third straight year, Minnesota's defense will be coached by Joe Rossi.

The only significant injury suffered by the Terrapins in their first game was to LB Durell Nchami, who is considered day-to-day.

Minnesota is currently listed as 20-point favorites in this game.

Minnesota's progression, at least when it comes to facing Maryland, kinda fascinates me. They went from losing to Max Bortenschlager in 2017 to losing in a blowout in 2018 to their extremely successful 2019 that included handily beating Maryland. 

Just a few changes to Maryland's depth chart this week:

• Taulia Tagovailoa is now listed as the starter at QB.
• Sam Okuayinonu is now listed as the starter at DT.
• Durell Nchami is now listed as the starter at JACK.
• DeJuan Ellis is no longer listed as a backup punt returner.

Minnesota will win this game by 17.

Minnesota will win this game by 17.

I am afraid you are right, but win or lose, there needs to be better organization, and a plan on both sides of the ball.  They looked very poorly coached.  Has anyone on the staff, realized, setting the edge is pretty important.  

On offense, will Maryland ever have a representative Oline.

Minnesota will win this game by 17.

Minnesota will win this game by 17.

The sad thing is that a 17 point loss, would be a vast improvement.

Minnesota's progression, at least when it comes to facing Maryland, kinda fascinates me. They went from losing to Max Bortenschlager in 2017 to losing in a blowout in 2018 to their extremely successful 2019 that included handily beating Maryland. 

I will always wonder "what if" MD had hired PJ Fleck instead of DJ Durkin. I know his name came up in some media circles for the opening, but don't know how seriously MD looked at him. Particularly since at the time he had only had back-to-back 8-5 seasons at Western Michigan. It was a year later that MN hired him, right after he went 13-0 and took WMU to the Cotton Bowl.

The only significant injury suffered by the Terrapins in their first game was to LB Durell Nchami, who is considered day-to-day.

That's fortunate. It looked a lot worse.

I will always wonder "what if" MD had hired PJ Fleck instead of DJ Durkin. I know his name came up in some media circles for the opening, but don't know how seriously MD looked at him. Particularly since at the time he had only had back-to-back 8-5 seasons at Western Michigan. It was a year later that MN hired him, right after he went 13-0 and took WMU to the Cotton Bowl.

I don't know how likely it was with the Miami job open at the same time but I was definitely interested in seeing how the Mark Richt era would've gone 

BSL: 5 Thoughts Before Maryland/Minnesota

https://baltimorespo...land-minnesota/

I listened to Locksley on his radio show last night,  He tried to paint a brighter picture, but at times he seemed shocked by how bad his team was against NW.

I don't expect Maryland to win tomorrow.  I do hope to see a more competitive game where on defense, they do a MUCH better job holding the edge, get pressure on the QB and not only cover but take better angles on the ball carriers.

On offense, it is pretty simple.  The offensive line has to look more like B10 caliber, and Lia needs to relax, make better decisions and put the skill players in position to help.

There are so many new and young players on the roster that struggling should be expected, but the exhibition we saw last week, was embarassing and disorganzied at best.  At worst, it was a disgrace.  Get Better this week!

I feel like "don't throw into double coverage" is somewhat easy to fix, or so I hope, so I'd expect Taulia to handle himself better tomorrow

Jason Benetti on the call, always liked him