Maryland 2015 – 2016 NFL And College Football Season Previews
Division I college football in Maryland generally has three options, with each offering a different prism with which to view it from. The University of Maryland Terrapins made their dramatic shift last year into the Big Ten after spending generations in the ACC. The Navy Midshipmen are making their own dramatic move this year, going from independent status to being a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Finally, Towson State toils in virtual anonymity as part of the D-I AA.
Maryland Terrapins 2015 Football Season Preview
Acquitting themselves just fine in their first year in the Big Ten with seven victories, the Terrapins’ unfortunate reward is a tough conference schedule. Making that tougher will be a new presence at quarterback in Caleb Rowe, who’s been injury-prone during his time with Maryland. If Rowe goes down or is ineffective, look for transfer Daxx Garman to step in.
Brandon Ross and Wes Brown make up the backfield, which struggled last season. That may mean a greater reliance on the passing game, which could be a problem due to a number of offseason issues. While Levern Jacobs is back, the Terrapins took a big hit when Juwann Winfree left school after being suspended for the second time in eight months by Edsall. That was soon after Marcus Leak left the team for personal reasons.
The offensive line is expected to improve, if only because the depth in this area is much better. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, a better pass rush needs to develop in the new defensive schemes of new coordinator Keith Dudzinski. The most prominent area will be at cornerback, where Sean Davis shifts from safety to join All-Big Ten selection William Likely.
Navy Midshipmen 2015 Football Season Preview
While being part of the AAC might require some getting used to, the Midshipmen remain in good shape to go to a 2015 bowl game, which would make seven in the eight years of head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s tenure. That confidence is based on the skill of the team’s quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who already enters his final year as the NCAA leader in rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks with an amazing 64 to his credit.
Reynolds has mastered the triple-option offense, and has plenty of offensive weapons, like slot back DeBrandon Sanders, who can run and catch the ball. Joining him in the backfield is Chris Swain, while another receiving option is wideout Jamir Tillman. The offensive line needs to be replenished, a factor that could affect how the team does during the 2015 college football season. In contrast, the defensive line has Will Anthony and Bernie Sarra coming back to cause havoc for opponents. The Midshipmen have Daniel Gonzalez returning at inside linebacker and Brendon Clements back at cornerback.
Towson Tigers 2015 Football Season Preview
As members of the Colonial Athletic Association, the Towson Tigers tend to get lost in the shuffle when it comes to discussion on football in Maryland. After an outstanding year in 2013 that saw them reach the D-I AA national title game, the Tigers sustained heavy personnel losses that resulted in a 4-8 finish in 2014.
For the 2015 college football season, Towson does have Darius Victor returning at running back after gaining over 1,300 yards last year. The fact that the entire offensive line returns could mean another big year for Victor. Unfortunately, the defense took a number of hits, so replacing some key players will likely spell the difference between another season below .500 and improvement.
Baltimore Ravens 2015 Football Season Preview
Two years removed from their second Super Bowl title, the Ravens remain a strong contender to reach the 2015 postseason and potentially make a trip to Super Bowl 50. Quarterback Joe Flacco was able to use an improved offensive line in 2014 to throw for nearly 4,000 yards, but he won’t have offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak by his side this season.
The team’s receiving corps is in a state of flux, with departures and the presence of 36-year-old Steve Smith almost requiring Baltimore to address this issue. They did by selecting Breshad Perriman in the NFL Draft, while tight end will have either newcomer Maxx Williams or second-year man Crockett Gilmore battling it out until Dennis Pitta returns. The running game will again be headed by Justin Forsett, who may have trouble matching his strong performance in 2014. His productivity may also be affected if anyone on the offensive line goes down for any extended period.
In the defensive line, Timmy Jernigan is set to take over for Haloti Ngota, while linebacker will again have the duo of Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil harassing quarterbacks. During the 2014 season, the duo combined for 29 sacks, and will be joined by D. Smith, and second-year standout C.J. Mosley. In the secondary, Jimmy Smith leads this group that has had problems staying healthy, but given the strength of the front seven, this group should be fine. If Flacco is able to mesh with new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and the defense maintains its usual level of excellence, a third Super Bowl visit isn’t out of the question.
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Washington Redskins 2015
In head coach Jay Gruden’s second year, the Redskins need to have Robert Griffin III get back to his rookie form or start looking elsewhere, since his production in past two seasons has diminished considerably. If he’s unable to make that move, Kirk Cousins will be the next man up. At running back, Alfred Morris continues to be a productive runner, having gained just under 4,000 yards in his thee NFL seasons. Rookie Matt Jones should be his backfield partner.
Whoever is at quarterback will have Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson at wide receiver, though Jackson may not get a lot of reps during the preseason after injuring his shoulder during camp. The team’s offensive line has plenty of talent, but getting it to mesh in concert with the rest of the unit continues to be an issue. The team’s top pick, tackle Brandon Scherff should immediately move into the starting lineup.
Changes are afoot in the defensive line, though Jason Hatcher did start for most of last season. Another player to watch will be nose tackle Terrance Knighton. Meanwhile, at linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy head an unspectacular group, while the secondary is almost completely new. Former 49er Chris Culliver is the big name, holding down one of the corner spots. In short, Griffin’s performance will likely determine the course of the Redskins’ season, with another down year likely being his last in Washington.