3B
TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com
Behind Enemy Lines: A conversation
with a Maryland football beat writer
By MIKE PERSAK
Managing Sports Editor
The Michigan football team
did what it was supposed to
over its last four games.
Against Western Michigan,
SMU,
Nebraska
and
Northwestern, the 15th-ranked
Wolverines (4-1 overall, 2-0
Big Ten) took care of business,
though last week’s win over the
Wildcats was closer than most
expected.
Either way,
a 4-1 record is
a 4-1 record.
Now
Michigan
turns
its
attention
to
Maryland (3-1,
1-0),
which
has been hot
and cold this
season.
The
Terrapins
started
their
season
with
a
promising
win over No. 19 Texas, but then
dropped a game to Temple.
Even
with
that
tumultuousness,
it
pales
in
comparison to what happened
in the program this offseason.
Head coach D.J. Durkin, who
was the Wolverines’ defensive
coordinator in 2015, is currently
on administrative leave after
Jordan McNair, an offensive
lineman, suffered a heat stroke
during
a
summer
workout
and died. Since, there has
been a series of investigations
into Maryland’s treatment of
McNair during and after the
incident that may have led to
his death.
That has been the central
storyline
surrounding
the
Terrapins, and rightfully so.
But there is still football to
be played, and Maryland may
be the most talented team
Michigan has seen since the
Fighting Irish.
Quarterback
Kasim
Hill
isn’t a world beater, but he
has shown promise, especially
with his legs. Hill is joined by
running backs Ty Johnson and
Anthony McFarland, who may
turn out to be one of the better
backfield duos in the conference
this
season.
Additionally,
the
Terrapins’
defense
has
improved this season, albeit
against weaker offenses like
Bowling Green and Minnesota.
Ultimately, the Wolverines
are heavily favored once again,
but
they
were
against
the
Wildcats too, and we know how
that ended up.
The Daily spoke with Andy
Kostka, a football beat reporter
for
The
Diamondback
—
Marlyand’s student newspaper
— to ask about the state of
Maryland’s program and its
progress
on
the
field
this
season.
The
Michigan
Daily:
Obviously
a
tumultuous
offseason for the program. I’m
curious, with all that happened,
what is the current feeling
towards the program and also
Durkin in particular? Do people
think Durkin will survive this?
Andy
Kostka:
There
are
mixed feelings toward coach
D.J. Durkin at this point, and
it depends on who you ask.
Certainly some students and
others who watch the team
aren’t as supportive of Durkin,
and possibly the team, after
allegations of a “toxic” team
culture. But others, such as
high-level Maryland boosters,
are firmly in Durkin’s court and
believe there is no toxic culture
despite mounting evidence to
the contrary. Those donors feel
Durkin should return, but it’s
fair to say there is quite a split
in that department.
TMD:
How
would
you
categorize Maryland’s on-field
performance so far, with a win
over Texas but also the loss to
Temple?
AK:
Maryland’s
loss
to
Temple was somewhat baffling
at the time. The week prior, the
Terps accumulated 444 yards
on the ground to beat Bowling
Green, and then managed just
195 total yards in the home-
opening loss to Temple. One
reason that may have happened
was
because
Maryland’s
starting tackles, Derwin Gray
and Damian Prince, both missed
the game through injury. That
performance was very much
an anomaly, and Gray and
Prince should both be healthy
this weekend. Throughout the
year, Maryland has relied on
its running game and picked
its spots for throws. When
the running game isn’t able to
function to full effect, there
may be issues, like there were
against Temple.
TMD:
Maryland’s
defense
seems to have been a bit hit-
or-miss this season. How do
you expect them to hold up on
Saturday?
AK: The Terps’ defense has
played better overall than last
year, even with lapses against
Temple.
But
it
remains
to
be seen how Maryland will
respond on the road against,
statistically, the highest-ranked
offense it has seen this year.
The Terps held Minnesota and
Bowling Green — ranked No.
109 and 112 in total offense
this year, respectively — to
27 combined points. But then
Maryland allowed 35 to Temple,
who ranks at 105. So, while
Michigan isn’t an offensive
juggernaut, it should be a bigger
test against the No. 66 total
offense Saturday.
TMD:
Ty
Johnson
and
Anthony McFarland have been
very solid this season. What, in
your eyes, makes them a threat?
AK: Both backs have big-play
ability. Ty Johnson broke off
an 81-yard touchdown run last
week and Anthony McFarland
scored on a 64-yard carry.
Both tailbacks seem to have
another gear in space and they
have each used that well so far.
Their success will dictate how
Maryland will play.
TMD:
How
has
Kasim
Hill performed compared to
expectations? And is he talented
enough to carry the offense if
the run game isn’t clicking?
AK: Kasim Hill isn’t likely
to lead Maryland to victory
solely through the air. He needs
a running game to open up
passing lanes, and has shown a
tendency at times, especially on
deep throws, to miss the mark.
He’s completing 55 percent of
his passes. Hill’s best attribute,
perhaps, is that he doesn’t seem
to have a knack of turning the
ball over and he can be relied
upon to hit targets from short
or medium range. I think he
has matched expectations so
far. He probably won’t pick
apart
Michigan’s
secondary,
but it will be imperative that
he does enough through the air
to prevent the Wolverines from
stacking the box to stop the
run.
TMD: Maryland wins if...
AK: It has a positive turnover
ratio and both McFarland and
Johnson find ample running
room — and the end zone a few
times.
TMD: Michigan wins if...
AK:
The
above
doesn’t
happen.
The
Wolverines’
defense will likely make moving
the football somewhat of a
challenge.
TMD: Score prediction?
AK: Michigan 32, Maryland
17.
Maryland at
Michigan
Matchup:
Maryland 3-1;
Michigan 4-1
When: Saturday
12 P.M.
Where:
Michigan
Stadium
TV/Radio: ABC
AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is undefeated at Michigan Stadium with wins over WMU, SMU and Nebraska this season.