After a few weeks of modified schedules, finally back into a regular routine and a normal schedule this week. Great team win Saturday for the players as well as for the fanbase and former Terps who have been a part of the series. Now have put that game to bed and all of their efforts are now on Ohio State. Players excited about the opportunity. The challenge when you have a young team is the routine and the habits forming. Just scratching the surface of how good this team can be and hopefully the best football is ahead of us. Ohio State extremely skilled.
Captains, Dontay Demus, Mosiah Nasili-Kite and Jordan Mosley.
Chance has been one of the most consistent players on defense this year. He's been a huge bright spot and a huge leader on the field. The MIKE is kind of the QB of the defense. He brings the juice, is reckless with his body and good to see him show and lead by example. Huge play last week that kind of put the nail in the coffin.
On the growth of the O-line, they played those guys really early in their careers and usually early on, you don't get the results you'd like to see because they just aren't ready yet. But with Johnny Jordan back, Minor moving inside and Evan Gregory coming along, they have really developed just from having to play against some of the toughest competition in the country.
Says Jake Funk embodies the DNA of the DMV, has a lot of faith in the type of football that is played in this area, has been lucky to have success at Illinois, Florida and Alabama bringing top players from this area and having success. When I grew up, this was known as a basketball area and it kind of pissed me off because we had good football, too. If you see they can do it on film in this area, it should translate to the college level.
On Ohio State being a measuring stick, every game is a measuring stick and they are just trying to get consistent. It starts with, are we playing at the standard we set for ourselves? It starts with our habits and behaviors. It is kind of like Christmas every week with the opportunities we have. But this team is so young and now with them winning, hopefully this sets the standard and we can consistently play to that standard.
On being huge underdogs, doesn't pay attention to that stuff. Good or bad, it doesn't help you with your preparation. We use the word neutral, don't get too high or too low. Take care of business and before the next game get back to neutral.
Rak is one of those guys like other pee wee league legends has that DNA that he wants to be the best and his character really shows through how he prepares. He's kind of a loner and constantly in the film room and with the QBs. The great ones I've been around are like gym rats and he fits right in with those guys, seeing the same characteristics.
The biggest thing is guarding against the mindset changing based on whoever is coming to town. We don't want that. Last week it would have been very easy to get too jacked up, you get emotional just going back as a fan of the rivalry. Our process each and every week is what's important and it shouldn't change from week to week. You will know we've arrived when that is consistent. Our players have bought in and I like the direction, but I'm guarded against us feeling like we've arrived, because we haven't.
A lot of these new guys were taking yellow school buses to games last season and now they are playing in the biggest stadiums playing the best college programs in the country like Ohio State. They have a QB I've gotten to know from recruiting him, he's NFL calibur along with the o-line. All kinds of NFL talent on defense so it will be a challenge.
On Nick Cross, Game 1, we were not really happy with the way he played, but looked better in Week 2 and of course had the huge strip sack fumble last Saturday that led to a TD. He was maybe a little hesitant and we benched him vs. Minnesota as we look to create depth and guys aren't meeting the standard. But he's responded to being benched and has looked very good of late and we hope he looks good again this week.
Big believer that you want to recruit self starters and have good work ethic. Smart, tough and reliable guys and those that come from winning programs. The more guys you bring in that have been around winning understand there's a very fine line between being a winner and a loser. And those guys that are winners never give up. Want guys that love playing the game and those are the intangible pieces. Maybe not all 4 and 5-stars, but sometimes you get some 2-stas who have all of those intangibles and end up being great players.
Taulia's competitiveness, he's always in the offices and always around trying to learn something. He wants to earn everything he gets despite his last name and he's carved out a nice little niche here at Maryland. He's just starting to scratch the surface, only his 4th career start. Anybody that knows the Tagovailoas knows family comes first. Tua calls him every week, happy for his success and mom and dad split time at each of their games.
Captains, Dontay Demus, Mosiah Nasili-Kite and Jordan Mosley.
Chance has been one of the most consistent players on defense this year. He's been a huge bright spot and a huge leader on the field. The MIKE is kind of the QB of the defense. He brings the juice, is reckless with his body and good to see him show and lead by example. Huge play last week that kind of put the nail in the coffin.
On the growth of the O-line, they played those guys really early in their careers and usually early on, you don't get the results you'd like to see because they just aren't ready yet. But with Johnny Jordan back, Minor moving inside and Evan Gregory coming along, they have really developed just from having to play against some of the toughest competition in the country.
Says Jake Funk embodies the DNA of the DMV, has a lot of faith in the type of football that is played in this area, has been lucky to have success at Illinois, Florida and Alabama bringing top players from this area and having success. When I grew up, this was known as a basketball area and it kind of pissed me off because we had good football, too. If you see they can do it on film in this area, it should translate to the college level.
On Ohio State being a measuring stick, every game is a measuring stick and they are just trying to get consistent. It starts with, are we playing at the standard we set for ourselves? It starts with our habits and behaviors. It is kind of like Christmas every week with the opportunities we have. But this team is so young and now with them winning, hopefully this sets the standard and we can consistently play to that standard.
On being huge underdogs, doesn't pay attention to that stuff. Good or bad, it doesn't help you with your preparation. We use the word neutral, don't get too high or too low. Take care of business and before the next game get back to neutral.
Rak is one of those guys like other pee wee league legends has that DNA that he wants to be the best and his character really shows through how he prepares. He's kind of a loner and constantly in the film room and with the QBs. The great ones I've been around are like gym rats and he fits right in with those guys, seeing the same characteristics.
The biggest thing is guarding against the mindset changing based on whoever is coming to town. We don't want that. Last week it would have been very easy to get too jacked up, you get emotional just going back as a fan of the rivalry. Our process each and every week is what's important and it shouldn't change from week to week. You will know we've arrived when that is consistent. Our players have bought in and I like the direction, but I'm guarded against us feeling like we've arrived, because we haven't.
A lot of these new guys were taking yellow school buses to games last season and now they are playing in the biggest stadiums playing the best college programs in the country like Ohio State. They have a QB I've gotten to know from recruiting him, he's NFL calibur along with the o-line. All kinds of NFL talent on defense so it will be a challenge.
On Nick Cross, Game 1, we were not really happy with the way he played, but looked better in Week 2 and of course had the huge strip sack fumble last Saturday that led to a TD. He was maybe a little hesitant and we benched him vs. Minnesota as we look to create depth and guys aren't meeting the standard. But he's responded to being benched and has looked very good of late and we hope he looks good again this week.
Big believer that you want to recruit self starters and have good work ethic. Smart, tough and reliable guys and those that come from winning programs. The more guys you bring in that have been around winning understand there's a very fine line between being a winner and a loser. And those guys that are winners never give up. Want guys that love playing the game and those are the intangible pieces. Maybe not all 4 and 5-stars, but sometimes you get some 2-stas who have all of those intangibles and end up being great players.
Taulia's competitiveness, he's always in the offices and always around trying to learn something. He wants to earn everything he gets despite his last name and he's carved out a nice little niche here at Maryland. He's just starting to scratch the surface, only his 4th career start. Anybody that knows the Tagovailoas knows family comes first. Tua calls him every week, happy for his success and mom and dad split time at each of their games.
