The state of the Terrapins may not be strong to outsiders, but that’s not the case inside the Mike Locksley administration.
Offering some political speak in a year of an election, the Maryland coach laid out a “state of the union” of his program Tuesday, saying internal-yet-unspecified changes have been made after one of the worst losses of his term.
“We've had some challenging moments in the first half of the season,” Locksley said, “and as a result, I've made some tough decisions and significant moves internally.”
Northwestern was allowing 20.8 points per game entering College Park last Friday night and, like Maryland, was winless in the Big Ten. The Terrapins didn’t even crack half of that, mustering only 10 in a 27-point loss, their worst offensive showing since being shut out at Penn State two seasons ago.
Earlier this season, Locksley claimed that he didn’t pay attention to comments or noise outside of his program. But at what feels like the nadir of his now six-year tenure both in optics and in the temperature of the fan base, the funk Maryland (3-3, 0-3) is in has prompted some changes.
“It's hard for all of us. Our fans, our former players, our supporters, my boss, my staff, my wife. Shoot, I think my dogs are even a little upset — they didn't come running down this week,” Locksley said. “But it's important because that's how you get to the outcomes we want.”
Locksley took over playcalling duties from offensive coordinator Josh Gattis against Northwestern in the first visible move of even more internal changes.
“When I make moves internally, I don't like to talk about them,” Locksley said. “There are things that are in-house that I think I've earned the right to be able to make these decisions and changes at all the different levels.”
Fans will be left to identify those changes either on the field or on the sideline Saturday as Southern California visits for homecoming. Some changes should be expected to come among the offensive line, where transfers Josh Kaltenberger, Aliou Bah, Alan Herron, and defensive-turned-offensive lineman Isaac Bunyan haven’t coalesced as expected.
“I have a saying that my team will say to you: That if the map and the terrain don't match, you go with the terrain because that's where you are," Locksley said. "The map was the plan. The map is where we want to get to. But here's where we are, and our team understands that.”
The Trojans (3-3, 1-3) are struggling with issues of their own. After being ranked as high as No. 11 this season, Lincoln Riley‘s team has fallen out of the poll after struggles in road conference games, punctuated by an upset loss at Minnesota two weeks ago. For Locksley, that gives him confidence that the first-ever matchup between the two schools isn’t as skewed as some may think.
“Really athletic on the defensive side of the ball. They play a lot of man coverage,” Locksley said. “They've got a great secondary, really good scheme … really talented team, but a team that I feel we match up very well with.”
USC is the first challenge of a second-half gauntlet that feels familiar. Of Maryland’s final six opponents, two are ranked, one was ranked and two others could be by the time the Terrapins play them. The coach and his team, however, are unfazed.
“I promise you, we've got a really good football team,” Locksley said. “And through the wisdom that I've gained from the great experiences and negative experiences, whether it's here at Maryland, being a part of winning at a place like ‘Bama, and understanding that there's nobody in that building that's panicked.”
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