The Maryland Terrapins offense must overcome inconsistent play and glaring depth issues in order to avoid a disastrous 2015-2016 season.
The offseason has not been kind to head coach Randy Edsall's team (besides Edsall himself receiving a three-year contract extension). Early departures combined with the loss of important players to graduation have left many holes on the roster, particularly on offense.
A trip to a bowl game is certainly no guarantee for this Maryland squad. The success of this season will likely fall on the offense as the unit looks for an identity with several new starters.
Can Caleb Rowe Entrench Himself as the Starting Quarterback?
Playing behind the oft-injuried C.J. Brown the last three seasons, Caleb Rowe has seen a decent amount of time on the field. With Brown now gone, Rowe is heavy favorite to become the starter in College Park, Maryland.
How can Rowe successfully lead the Terps offense? That will come down to consistently making better decisions with the ball and proving he can stay healthy.
The junior, who recently received an extra year of eligibility from a medical redshirt, has registered 1,768 yards, 12 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 56.2 completion percentage in his career.
Rowe's high interception numbers must come down for this offense to find a rhythm. He showed signs of better decision-making last season. Prior to playing most of the second half in a blowout against Ohio State, Rowe had one pick in three appearances. This included dominating Indiana to the tune of two touchdowns and 198 yards on 12-for-18 throwing.
Against the eventual national champions, the only strong competition he faced all season, Rowe was victimized for three interceptions against a stingy secondary. He did provide a spark, though, with his aggressive play, which resulted in the team moving the ball at a solid pace.
Smarter decisions will not matter, however, if Rowe cannot stay on the field. Rowe suffered a torn ACL after the Ohio State game, his second such injury in three seasons. He was held out of spring practice and is expected to be healthy for fall camp, according to Edsall.
"He's doing well," Edsall said, per Josh Stirn of 247Sports. "He's running, he's throwing and he's doing the things the trainers are allowing him to do. We don't see any issues with him not being ready for practice come August 10."
The Terps have some depth behind Rowe should he succumb to injuries or poor play. Perry Hills started over Rowe as a freshman in 2012 before going down with an injury, and the team added former Oklahoma State quarterback DaxxGarman, who is eligible immediately, this offseason.
Hopefully, Rowe can determine his success with his play and not his knees. If the offensive line and running game improve, Rowe will have a solid season despite working with a depleted receiving corps. Health is certainly a major concern, though, as Rowe's history is not promising.
Will the Offensive Line Come Together?
Outside of Michael Dunn and Andrew Zeller, there are no certainties for Maryland on its offensive line.
Dunn and Zeller are the only entrenched starters returning from last season's line. The suitors to fill the remaining three positions bring talent and potential but also inexperience and inconsistency.
Senior Evan Mulrooney has played sparingly during his career but did make five starts at center as a freshman. He also has the ability to play guard. If redshirt freshman Brendan Moore plays well enough to win a job in fall camp, then Mulrooney will likely move to guard opposite of Zeller since Moore has worked primarily at center during his short career.
At tackle, Dunn will again protect the quarterback's blind side. The battle for the other tackle position will likely come down to redshirt freshmen Derwin Gray and Damian Prince along with senior Ryan Doyle.
Gray, a former 4-star recruit, and Prince, a former 5-star recruit, arrived in College Park with plenty of hype. Prince failed to crack the lineup last season while Gray redshirted largely due to injuries. Gray's injury issues could spell trouble for Maryland, as he left spring practice with a serious shoulder problem, per Roman Stubbs of the Washington Post:
Doyle started 10 games a year ago but was plagued by inconsistent play, especially toward the end of last season.
The offensive line had a strong spring as a unit, according to Stubbs, which is promising for the Terps. The members of this unit will need to step up this season, especially highly touted guys like Gray and Prince.
Brown was the team's leading rusher, as running back Brandon Ross was relatively ineffective. With Brown gone, the offensive line will be counted on to protect Rowe and help Ross create a more consistent running game than the one that finished 12th in the Big Ten last season, according to Testudo Times.
Can the Receiving Group Recover?
What better way to help out a new starting quarterback than to give him a receiving corps that is without its top five contributors from last season?
With StefonDiggs and Deon Long off to the NFL and JacquilleVeii, Marcus Leak and JuwannWinfree all leaving the program during the offseason, such will be the scenario for Rowe.
The losses of Leak and Winfree are especially tough for Maryland, as Leak brought experience and playmaking ability as a rising senior and Winfree was one of the program's brightest young players. Winfree also had past troubles, as he was previously suspended before leaving the school, per Don Markus of the Baltimore Sun:
All is not lost for the Maryland receiving group, however, at least according to FanSided affiliate Terrapin Station:
Levern Jacobs was suspended for the entire 2014 season for violations stemming from an assault charge, of which he was found not guilty. The prior year, he led the team in receiving after injuries to Diggs and Long. He showed exceptional playmaking ability, including a performance of eight catches for 158 yards and a score against Clemson in a game that Rowe started.
Amba Etta-Tawo has also performed well for the Terps, as he has 722 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons.
Rowe should fare well with Maryland's current receivers. As far as concern levels, this unit probably ranks near the bottom on the offense. With so many key pieces gone from last year, it speaks to how well Edsall has recruited the position.
Look for Jacobs to have a 1,000-yard season. Also, watch for incoming freshman D.J. Moore to make an impact as the team's potential fourth option behind Jacobs, Etta-Tawo and Taivon Jacobs, the younger brother of Levern.
All statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.
All recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.
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