Guest Blogger: Turtle Waxing

The final regular season game. The final guest blogger. This time Esquire from Turtle Waxing fields the questions on the Terps. Obviously this is a crucial game for both teams. I think BC can win and will give more on my thoughts tomorrow. In the mean time, read what Esquire thinks about Saturday's matchup. For more on Maryland go to Turtle Waxing.

1. Scoring points has not been a problem for Maryland this year. The only exception was Virginia Tech. What did Tech do that BC can or should try to emulate this weekend?

Maryland struggles with big and physical defenses. Corners who can play a physical pressing coverage can shut down Maryland's small wideouts. If they are allowed a free release Jo Jo Walker, Dan Melendez and Derrick Fenner can make plays downfield or find holes in the coverage. Virginia Tech was able to get pressure on QB Sam Hollenbach early without having to blitz much. BC looks to be in good shape with its front four.

Another technique that will be important is ball control. West Virginia was able to hold the ball for an extra 11 minutes in their 30-19 win and in 3 of the 4 losses this year the opponent won the time of possession battle. Keeping the Terps offense off the field is the best way to stop them from scoring.

Contain TE Vernon Davis. In my biased opinion he is the most dangerous tight end in college football and a first round NFL draft pick this spring. He comes into the game with 731 yards on 39 receptions and 4 touchdowns. Davis is an incredible combination of size, speed and strength. He owns every weightlifting record for Maryland tight ends and still runs a 4.4 fourty.

Keep RB Lance Ball from establishing the run in the first half. Ball has 573 yards and 4 touchdowns in his last 5 games. When Maryland struggles to run early the playcalling tends to get tentative and the running game ceases to be a factor in the 2nd half.

Control 3rd down conversions. Maryland has only converted 29% in its losses this season.

2. BC's defensive line is finally healthy and clicking on all cylinders. Has Maryland's pass protection been as shaky as it looked against UNC? Although he had a good game, it seemed like someone was in Hollenbach's face the whole game. How long can he sit back there and make big plays without making a mistake or getting knocked out?

Maryland's pass blocking isn't terrible but it isn't all that great either. With Hollenbach's injury it was clear that UNC made a priority of getting hits on the quarterback. Massive true freshman LT Jared Gaither is still learning his position and RT Brandon Nixon struggles with athletic pass rushers. The interior line has also struggled at times this year and a rotation is still in effect at center. Part of the problem is Hollenbach's tendency to hold onto the ball and try to make a play. He often holds the ball too long and allows a coverage sack instead of throwing the ball away. He took some big hits against UNC and kept on playing, but you have to imagine he's one hit away from being done for the season. Hollenbach's backup, Joel Statham, lost his starting job last year for making critical mistakes and generally stinking. Still at 6-5 220lbs Hollenbach is a big and tough quarterback, he won't go down easy.

3. In the Terps games I've seen this year (parts of Navy, Virginia Tech, UVA and Maryland) it seems like your defensive line gets blown off the ball easily and doesn't apply too much pass pressure. Fair assessment? How are they going to attack BC's large line?

The defensive line is truely a weakness for Maryland. DT Conrad Bolston is solid if unspectacular at run defense but not much of a pass rushing threat. The line has been unable to muster any pass rush the last few weeks. True freshman Jeremy Navarre and hybrid rush end Trey Covington are both undersized and struggle against the run and rushing the passer. Neither end has registered a sack in the last 4 games. Defensive coordinator Gary Blackney has taken to putting LB David Holloway as a pass rusher on third down. Blackney has always been fond of blitzing from every position on the defense but he has been doing more of out of desperation lately. He will be in some form of blitz package on most passing downs. The linebackers are the strength of the defense and they will be aggressively shooting the gaps to stop BC's running game. This will make Maryland vulnerable to play action. Free safety Christian Varner has struggled in giving up big plays this season.

Read all about the Terps on Turtle Waxing.