Toss and turn

A season after the Terrapins football team finished with 15 more takeaways than turnovers, this year's squad has wasted no time picking up up where it left off.

Four games into the season, the Terps' turnover margin is an impressive plus-six. But with a defense that has struggled to get off the field and an offense that has thrived when it maintains a high-tempo rhythm, they may depend on turnovers now more than ever.

"As a defense, you thrive upon those turnovers because it gives a lot of momentum to the offense," linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said after Saturday's win. "The more we get the offense the ball, the more chances they can score."

That rang true against Towson. After entering the locker room with a slim four-point halftime lead, the Terps' defense led the way to a 21-point second half.

On the Tigers' first possession of the third quarter, linebacker Kenny Tate came up with an interception that led to the Terps' second touchdown of the day.

A fumble recovery by defensive tackle A.J. Francis and an interception by linebacker Lorne Goree also ended the Tigers' next two drives. The Terps' offense couldn't do much better, failing to translate those turnovers into points, but the change of possession at least kept the defense resting on the sideline.

"We had three turnovers in a row second half. That was huge," defensive tackle Joe Vellano said. "It's field position, too. It just really helps all around. When you've got an offense that's rolling and [your opponents] only come out for two plays, then they're right back on the field. They can build, they can start getting their tempo going and stuff, which is huge."

A fourth turnover by Towson led to the Terps' final touchdown Saturday, but the team's reliance on turnovers might be cause for concern. Its turnover margin is first in the ACC and tied for seventh best nationally, but the big play often seems to be the only tool that can save a defense ravaged by injury and inconsistency.

In the Terps' season opener, defensive touchdowns by Vellano and cornerback Cameron Chism helped ensure a narrow victory against Miami. In the first half Saturday, when the Terps did not force a turnover, Towson held onto the ball for 21:30 despite 77 yards in penalties. And while the Tigers scored just three first-half points, their point total could have been — and probably should have been — much higher given their time of possession and total yards.

That was, after all, the case the week before. In a 38-7 pummeling by Temple on Sept. 24, the Owls maintained possession for 21:30 in the first half and entered the locker room with a 31-point lead. In the Terps' two losses, the turnover margin has been even.

"The coaches put a big emphasis on running to the football, and it seems like every time we fly to the football the ball comes out or an interception happens or something," Goree said. "It's also a sigh of relief because we're out there so long sometimes."

With a stretch of three straight games against nationally ranked opponents beginning Saturday at No. 13 Georgia Tech, the Terps will continue to look for the big play.

What they must do, however, is limit their dependence on it. The Terps rank last in the ACC in total defense, and with potent offenses approaching in the Yellow Jackets, No. 8 Clemson and No. 23 Florida State, they'll need to do more than look for turnovers to remain relevant in the ACC.

"When you lose basically five guys off your defense who are starters, you're going to have some inexperience," coach Randy Edsall said after Saturday's game. "The biggest thing for us is we just have to get our guys lined up and fit things right. When we fit things right, we're pretty good and we make stops.

"But when we don't fit things up and then we don't tackle well, it's not pretty. … I think that after looking at things today and the other three games, I think we have a much better feel as to what they can do now going forward."

cwalsh@umdbk.com