Maryland’s Ground Game Is in Good Hands

Maryland’s sophomore running backs Morgan Green and Da’Rel Scott will take a combined several hundred handoffs this season.  They’ve already taken the most important one this offseason when they succeeded departing seniors Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore as the Terps tailback tandem. 

So far, the move looks like a first down. 

Now, despite losing the program’s #4 (Ball) and #14 (Lattimore) all-time leading rushers, this year’s Terrapin backfield might even be stronger than the 2007 version. 

A bold statement, for sure, considering Green and Scott have a combined 17 career carries, but it’s one that new offensive coordinator James Franklin believes could prove true.

“Our job is to coach these two and get these two ready – no disrespect to the last two backs – but so that people say, ‘Who were those last two backs we had?’ and forget about them.  I think we could do that,” Franklin told ESPN’s Heather Dinich.

Unlike Ball and Lattimore, who run with very comparable styles, Scott and Green are expected to form a version of the ever-popular “thunder and lighting” tag team. 

Green, at 5’11” and 207 lbs., is the “thunder.”  A more physical back than Scott, Green will be counted on to churn out the tough yards in between the tackles.  He proved himself up to the task with 11 carries for 68 yards in Maryland’s April 26 spring game.  In addition, Green has impressed coaches with his pass protection skills. 

Green’s consistency has earned him the top spot on the depth chart, but that designation is more a formality than a foreshadowing of the allotment of carries. 

If Green is the #1 running back, then Scott is #1-a.  The quick, athletic runner will be the “lightning” component of the tandem.  Scott demonstrated his game-changing ability during the spring game when he ran for 101 yards and a touchdown.  He also had a nifty 75-yard TD run that was called back because of a penalty. 

Last year, Scott averaged 9.6 yards/carry in limited action.  He also averaged a team-high 84.2 all-purpose yards per game and set a Maryland freshman record with 566 kickoff return yards.  Rivals.com named him to its freshman all-ACC team as an all-purpose player.  Comparisons have been made to former Terp and 2001 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Bruce Perry. 

“Da’Rel is a talented back.  He’s got the ability to take it the distance,” said Franklin to cstv.com. 

Maryland coaches want Scott to work on becoming more of a complete back, including improving his pass protection and between-the-tackles running.  Adding these elements to his game would make it hard for the coaching staff to keep him in a supporting role.

The 1-2 punch of Green and Scott looks quite formidable on paper, and Maryland coaches and fans are hoping durability issues don’t keep the pair from succeeding on the field. 

Scott’s injury history is particularly concerning. Last season he dealt with high ankle sprains to each ankle.  Questions about his durability factored into head coach Ralph Friedgen’s decision to name Green as the starting back. 

Not that Green is a regular Lenny Moore, either.  Green suffered a broken clavicle in last year’s spring game and missed six games last season with a hamstring injury. 

There is little depth behind Green and Scott, so their health is vital to Maryland’s goal of competing in the always-tough ACC.

“We just need to keep Da’Rel and Morgan healthy,” Franklin commented. 

Considering the Terps’ unsettled quarterback situation, there’s no question Green and Scott will be asked to play substantial roles in the 2008 Maryland offense, much like Ball and Lattimore did last season. 

Short on experience but long on talent, it appears that Green and Scott will take this opportunity and run.