Edsall’s Big East days could loom large vs. West Virginia

Randy Edsall is no stranger to West Virginia.

In his seven seasons in the Big East, he learned just how difficult an opponent the Mountaineers can be. Connecticut was 1-6 against West Virginia during Edsall's tenure, with the lone victory coming in overtime last season to help propel Connecticut to a conference championship and first-ever BCS berth.

And while Edsall likely doesn't remember those games fondly — many of them were resounding West Virginia victories — they do offer him a sense of familiarity as his Terrapins football team prepares to welcome the No. 18 Mountaineers to Byrd Stadium on Saturday.

With West Virginia's unique schemes on both sides of the ball, including a 3-3-5 stack defense, that experience could play in the Terps' favor as they look to open the season 2-0.

"I've played against them for seven years," Edsall said yesterday. "The bigger problem I have is the people playing the 3-3 stack that you've got to deal with.

"That's always the thing with the scheme that you play against. The schemes are good, but a lot of the time … it's the guys playing those schemes that you have the issue with most of the time."

There are no longer conference implications to the game for Edsall, but that hasn't stopped him from recognizing the importance of what has grown into a fierce regional rivalry.

Saturday's matchup marks the 48th installment of a series the Mountaineers lead, 24-21-3.

"I can remember when I was in here being announced as the head coach that day, I had people tell me, ‘You've got to beat West Virginia,'" Edsall said. "Even though they're not in the ACC, it's still a bordering state that's developed a great rivalry."

n ADAMS BACK … SORT OF

Running back D.J. Adams will make his return to the field Saturday after being suspended for the Terps' season opener for violating team rules.

The bruising short-yardage back's actual role on the field, though, may be limited.

After entering the preseason as running back Davin Meggett's clear backup, Adams remained behind true freshman Justus Pickett on the depth chart for the Terps' matchup against the Mountaineers. Pickett ran for 23 yards on six carries in the team's win over Miami on Labor Day.

Adams didn't appear on the two-deep released Monday, but Edsall made it clear he will see the field Saturday.

"We have some things in the game plan that we think that D.J. will be able to do," Edsall said of the sophomore, who finished with 11 rushing touchdowns last season. "We'll see him out on the field as long as he progresses the way we think he will during the week. He's back in good graces, he served his penance."

n FRESHMAN FILL-INS

With starting defensive end Isaiah Ross out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury, the Terps will lean on two freshmen to take over Ross' responsibilities.

Redshirt freshman Clarence Murphy and true freshman Keith Bowers will split the role against the Mountaineers. After Ross went down in the third quarter against Miami with an apparent leg injury, the two were in on a combined three tackles, and they will be charged with a share of the duty in containing the Mountaineers' gifted dual-threat quarterback, Geno Smith.

"I think they're ready to play against West Virginia," linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said. "They played in the Miami game, so it's not going to be too much different."

Edsall conceded the pair will likely be less reliable than Ross, at least in the short term.

"Will they make mistakes? Of course they're going to make probably some mistakes," Edsall said. "But I know this will get their best effort when they're on the field."

cwalsh@umdbk.com