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Texas Football: 5 overreactions from loss to Maryland

By Andrew Miller

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 1: Devin Duvernay #6 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after catching a first half touchdown pass against the Maryland Terrapins at FedExField on September 1, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 1: Devin Duvernay #6 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after catching a first half touchdown pass against the Maryland Terrapins at FedExField on September 1, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 1: Kris Boyd #2 of the Texas Longhorns tackles DJ Turner #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at FedExField on September 1, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 1: Kris Boyd #2 of the Texas Longhorns tackles DJ Turner #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at FedExField on September 1, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

3. Run stopping is the only thing that will hold the defense together

The run defense was one of the best aspects of this entire side of the ball against Maryland. Holding a group of talented rushers like Hill and running back Ty Johnson was truly impressive. It’s just an annoying factor that it wasn’t able to help power the Horns to the win despite shutting down probably the best part of the Maryland football team.

Texas held the Terps to just over three yards per carry. Despite the two rushing touchdowns for the Terps, the front seven held up quite nicely. Senior linebacker Anthony Wheeler was missing for the first half and that could’ve played a part in the struggling run defense early on.

Losses of key players from last year’s squad seemed to have hurt the secondary more so than the front seven. Losing then junior linebacker Malik Jefferson was a huge blow to the run defense when it was first announced, but the rest of the linebacking corps seemed to have made up for it. Senior linebacker Gary Johnson was big for the entire defense.

Tayon Fleet-Davis led the Terps in rushing yards with just 31 yards on seven carries. Last year, it was Johnson that torched the Texas defense for more than 100 yards and one touchdown. All the while, Johnson averaged more than 10.0 yards per carry. If nothing else, at least the front seven should still be strong in 2018.

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