Heading into a must-win type of game for both Maryland and Northwestern in SECU Stadium, Wildcats head coach David Braun noted the Wildcats have “got to find a way” to flip the turnover margin on Friday night as Maryland is tied with James Madison leading the nation in the category (+11).
“It's an impressive stat. It's a credit to all three phases of their game in terms of protecting the football and finding ways to take it away,” Braun said during Monday’s press conference. “We know, for us, the equation for winning football here at Northwestern is to win in the turnover margin. Against Indiana, there are some opportunities for takeaways that we didn't capitalize on. And, you know, those potential takeaways would have been, could have played a critical role in a different outcome. We got to make sure that – impressive by Maryland. We got to be aware of that. But on Friday night that has to be a different story.”
The offensive line’s depth took a slight hit this week after second-year OL Jordan Knox left the program after seeing time in ten games in 2023, though he was inactive to start the 2024 season.
But Braun was optimistic about his backfield with RB Cam Porter a full participant in Monday's practice after drawing just six carries against Indiana as he battles through a lower body injury.
“Again, fired up about that too. I mean, and I again, that’s something you get worried about as a guy that was kind of trending as a game-time decision and then was able to play but how is he going to respond especially on a short week,” Braun said, adding that he expects Porter to be his workhorse back against Maryland.”
But Braun is also focused on limiting the Terps’ offense as quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who was named to the updated Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List on Monday, sits within the top-20 nationally in multiple passing categories.
“He’s a really good quarterback that has tremendous weapons out on the perimeter and we’re going to have to find ways to affect them. If we don’t, it’ll be a long evening for us.”
A big piece of the Terps’ explosiveness on offense has centered around WR Tai Felton’s ability to stay dynamic in space, whether it’s turning the five-yard pass into 75 yards or taking the top off the defense with his blazing speed. Still, the potential for others like WR Kaden Prather and TE Preston Howard to break loose has the Wildcats’ attention on defense.
“I think what makes these guys so difficult to defend is not only just the one primary receiver that maybe gets the most notoriety. There is a ton of depth in that room at Maryland, which makes it something where you can’t strictly just gameplan around trying to shut down one guy. But you’ve got to have an awareness of where he’s lined up. And just, you’ve got to have an awareness [for] the intent of the call. And at the end of the day, there’s opportunities to become really aggressive. When you’re really aggressive, it can expose you to maybe some explosive shot plays in the passing game. When you’re playing maybe a little bit softer coverage, you’ve got to be willing to live with the six-yard completion out to the flat and rally tackle it and you’re onto the next play. But there’s no doubt that this coaching staff and this team has a tremendous amount of respect for the talent that they have on the perimeter.”
Kickoff is set for 8 PM on FOX.
Related Links
Comments