Few thoughts on MD, first very happy with Durkin and the progress in recruiting. It’s going to take a while to turn it around, but I was ecstatic they were able to win 6 last year and get in a bowl. The extra practices etc..and positive mojo are really good for the program. This year I think they will be hard pressed to win more than 4 or 5 games. The schedule is definitely tougher and MD will need to fight hard at home in the winnable Big 10 games vs. NW and Indiana. I’m really pleased with Walt Bell as OC and feel like our running game immediately improved on his arrival, and like the way he has used the speed of Ty Johnson to get to the edge on some of the jet sweeps he calls and then sets some things up nicely with the motion with the counter influences. Harrison is also a decent RB despite being a knucklehead off the field, so they have some good options in the running game. Caleb Henderson is evidently still in a walking boot due to foot injury, so will not be a factor early in the season for the QB starting position. It appears that Pigrome has the inside edge right now, over Hill and Bortenschlager. All reports I have read are that he has really improved, which is a good thing because he really struggled in passing game last year but is a good athlete and can run. I don’t expect him to keep the job though, based on what I have seen. Hill is a freshman that has the tools and ability to ascend to the position, and Bortenschlager may have the best arm of all the candidates. The OL was a disaster last yr in pass protection yielding 49 sacks. The two tackles Prince and Gray are juniors this year, and should show some improvement. MD offense was really hurting last year when Hills was injured and couldn’t play and that took a huge toll on the team but they kept fighting all year. I’m still concerned about quality line play on both sides of the ball with this team, and still feel like they don’t have the necessary depth and competition with enough good players to be able to tee it up with elite teams in the conference. They were bulldozed by Michigan and OSU last year, and without being able to throw with Hills injured and Pigrome and Rowe ineffective they just didn’t stand a chance. The defense should improve with some better depth in the back 7, but I am still concerned about DL depth. I think 4 or 5 wins is prob a reasonable expectation for this team. I am hoping they surprise me again this year and I think if they can get some production out of the QB position they could be better than expected offensively.
