Maryland after Friedgen

The University of Maryland bought out the head coaching contract of Ralph Friedgen in 2010. So given there has been some time since his departure, I thought that I would return and look at Maryland's performance under head football coach Randy Edsall over the last two years (who was the former head football coach of the University of Connecticut) as compared to the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons under head football coach Ralph Friedgen.

First let's take a look at the production of the University of Maryland Terrapins football team for the last three years under Friedgen.  Starting with the 2008 season, the Univ. of Maryland football team finished 8-5 overall including a Humanitarian Bowl victory over Nevada.  Maryland finished as the #70 most productive team in the Football Bowl Subdivision using my Complex Invasion College Football Production Model Ranking, which is below average for the "league" as a whole.  The Terrapins were below average on offense, with the #77 ranked most productive offense.  On the defensive side of the ball, Maryland was almost average - with the #62 most productive defense.  All of this against an average (strength of schedule (SOS) = 57.46) than the 2008 season's average SOS of 62.94.  Maryland's most impressive victory came against the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model #14 ranked California Bears of the Pac 10, and their worst performance was a 31-0 loss to the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model #94 ranked University of Virginia Cavaliers.

In 2009, in terms of the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model Maryland was ranked #107 in terms of overall production, which was one of the worst teams in the FBS that year, facing a strength of schedule equal to 54.50 - which is average as compared to the average SOS for 2009 of (62.97) and finished 2-10 in the regular season. Maryland's best win was against the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model #11 Clemson and their worst loss was to the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model #100 Virginia again.

In what turns out to be head coach Friedgen's last year (2010) as head football coach in terms of the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model Maryland finished the regular season at 8-4 and was victorious in the Military Bowl over East Carolina to finish 9-4.  Maryland finished as the #28 most productive team overall in the football bowl subdivision with the #45 ranked offense and the #21 ranked defense.  The Terps faced an average strength of schedule of 63.85 as compared to the overall league SOS of 63.05. Maryland's best win using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model was against #37 North Carolina State and their worst loss was to the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model #50 Clemson Tigers.

Notice that Maryland had significantly increased their on-field production in 2010 as compared to 2009 or 2008, and yet Friedgen was bought out.  So how has the football team performed under the last two seasons under new head football coach Randy Edsall?

Under Edsall's tenure Maryland has been rather pitiful.  Starting with the first year with Edsall in charge (2011) we see that Maryland finished the regular season at 2-10 and in terms of the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model the Terrapins were the #96 most productive team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.  Maryland played against an average SOS (64.50) as compared to the league average SOS of 63.57.  Maryland's offense from the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model was ranked #84 and their defense was ranked #96.  All-in-all not the best start for Edsall.

The big news for Maryland in 2012 was the announcement that they will be changing conferences, moving from the ACC to the Big 10.  I have a short overview of the Terps in 2012 around the time of their announcement.   Now that the season is complete, let's take a final look at the Terps in 2012.  Edsall's team finished 4-8 overall playing against a SOS of 67.50 which is within the average range of schedule strengths given the "league's" SOS for 2012 was 65.53.  In terms of the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model, Maryland finished as the #94 ranked team overall with the #114 offense, but having the #33 defense.  So while Maryland had difficulty with the football last season, they were above average without the ball.  The Terps best game was a 27-20 win over #86 Complex Invasion College Football Production Model ranked Virginia, and their worst performance was a 17-20 loss over Complex Invasion College Football Production Model ranked #100 Boston College.

Maryland's defensive productivity is a glimmer of hope for next season given an otherwise dismal season.  If Maryland's defense can replicate their defensive performance from 2012 and improve their offensive performance, Maryland looks to be much better overall.  Those are two big "ifs", but that is why they play the games.