GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: It’s power vs. power when Maryland’s veteran offensive line and stable of runners clash with Iowa’s banged up but burgeoning defense. The Terrapins are third in the Big Ten with 245.2 yards per game and buoyed by breakaway threats Ty Johnson and Anthony McFarland. The Hawkeyes are sporting a new 4-2-5 look on defense and getting contributions from a lot of players like leading tackler, linebacker Kristian Welch, along with hybrid linebacker/DB Amani Hooker and linebacker Jack Hockaday, just back from injury.
Iowa is second overall in the Big Ten in total defense (282.0 yards) and points allowed (16.5). The rush defense is also second at 81.5 per contest. The Hawkeyes held Indiana to just 67 rushing yards last week in a 42-16 win.
Maryland’s passing attack is the least productive in the conference and there’s not really a scenario where the Terrapins prevail without running the ball with some proficiency.
DRAFT SLANT
–WLB Tre Watson transferred to Maryland this year as a grad student and has solidified the Terrapin defense. He led the Big Ten in tackles before sitting out the first half against Rutgers for a targeting foul the previous week at Michigan. Watson is a 6-foot-2, 238-pound heat-seeking missile and ranks second in the Big Ten with 9.0 tackles per game. He came off the bench in the second half to tally five stops and record his second interception of the year. Watson, who was previously a middle linebacker, has great instincts, good speed, and quickly emerged as a team leader in a season Maryland has needed as much quality leadership and experience as possible. He has been rated among the top 25 inside linebackers by at least one pro scouting service, and his stock has certainly gone up this season.
ROSTER REPORT
–OT Marcus Minor, who had started three of the first five games, has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. Canada announced he would be back this week. Minor has started at both left and right tackle with injuries to incumbents Derwin Gray and Damion Prince.
–QB Tyler DeSue, who moved up to third on the depth chart with the loss of Max Bortenschlager to a season-ending ankle injury, saw his first action Saturday. DeSue, a true freshman, got some fourth quarter mop-up work against Rutgers, rushing once for two yards.
–WLB Ayinde Eley got his first career start against Rutgers coming in for Tre Watson, who had to sit out the first half after a targeting penalty the week before. A redshirt freshman, Eley led the Terps with six tackles, but he won’t displace Watson, who was leading the Big Ten in tackles and came in and recorded an interception and five tackles in the second half last Saturday.
–LB Chase Campbell, a true freshman, made a big play on the kickoff coverage team, cleanly picking up Joseph Petrino’s short kick into the wind in what turned into an impromptu onside kick against Rutgers.
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