After MT loss, Terps want to move on

Alex Wujciak's eyes darted. He focused primarily on the circular table in front of him, occasionally glancing up, making eye contact with the reporters he clearly wished would run out of questions.

The Terrapin linebacker kept his answers brief and vague Saturday. No, fatigue didn't affect him on the game's final drive, during which Middle Tennessee marched 73 yards down the field for a game-winning field goal in 1:30. Yes, the Terps should have beaten Middle Tennessee, rather than losing 32-31. No, intensity wasn't a problem for the players in the first half.

But for the Terps (1-2) to move past an ugly home loss to a Sun Belt Conference team, the answers will have to become concrete. Many of the issues — the three fumbles lost, the kick return struggles, that final drive — required the type of video analysis coaches and players had yet to look at immediately after the game. Still, coach Ralph Friedgen announced an impending change for the Terps this week: a new regime complete with a new emphasis.

"I think there's things we need to show them. I'm going to go back. I'm going to start getting real tough," Friedgen said Saturday. "We're going to play better next week, I promise you. I'm not going to be worried about guys' legs or how they feel. They're going to start worrying about how I feel."

Sunday, in a teleconference, Friedgen admitted his statements were rooted in the emotional context of the loss. But the importance of this week of practice, in preparation for Saturday's home game against Rutgers, remained.

Saturday's loss couldn't have been more dramatic. And with seven turnovers between the two teams, it was the type of game to drive a coach up the wall. Terp offensive coordinator James Franklin, also wearing his emotions on his sleeve, called it "as bad of a loss as, me personally, I've ever been involved with."

Still, there were clear positives to build on.

New coordinator Don Brown's defense produced four sacks — double the output of the previous two games — and largely contained mobile Blue Raider quarterback Dwight Dasher on the ground. The unit also forced its first turnover of the season, and then notched two more.

Offensively, the team produced nine plays of 15 yards or more, including four of 30 yards or more. When running back Da'Rel Scott wasn't fumbling — the junior coughed up the ball twice Saturday — he was rushing for 117 yards on 13 carries. And Torrey Smith proved again his role as a top-caliber wide receiver, grabbing two long touchdown receptions and finishing the day with five catches for 165 yards.

In the end, the Terps' many mistakes nullified those positive efforts in the game and clouded them in post-game interviews.

"I have a lot of feelings. I'm disappointed. It's a game we should have had," quarterback Chris Turner said. "It's the same story as last week: turnovers, points off turnovers, little mistakes, offsides, holding penalties, things like that. We can't do that. We're not a good enough team to make mistakes like that and win a game."

By the time the Terps went back to the practice field yesterday, the coaches had evaluated the tape. They rewatched each mistake, diligently working to figure out how to right the ship.

That's how it works. The maxim of football is to live one week at a time, an endless focus on the next game. Saturday, the Terps had a hard time seeing past the mistakes of the previous four hours. But, with nine games against BCS conference opponents remaining on their schedule and their only win coming against a FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) opponent, a renewed focus is paramount for the Terps.

"I still have a lot of belief in them as people and as players," Friedgen said. "I think they're as upset as I am. What we've got to do together is figure out a way to get better. And when I say that, I'm talking about players, coaches, myself, everybody."

ajoseph@umdbk.com