Three games and counting: Maryland’s defense still keeping opponents out of the end zone

Maryland’s three-game homestand hits its midpoint in prime time Saturday as the Terrapins defense looks to continue a historic streak. Here’s this week’s Terps Top Three notebook ahead of UMD’s Week 2 matchup with Charlotte.

Thinking downfield: Receiver Tai Felton dropped an over-the-shoulder fade on the first drive last Saturday against Towson for what would have been a wide-open, 74-yard touchdown. Though the drop didn’t play a factor in the final outcome, it showed an emphasis on taking shots downfield in the passing game, something Maryland coach Mike Locksley wants to see more from quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.

“Last year we left some plays on the field in the deep passing game, which was something that I think is a strength of his,” Locksley said. “I attributed it last year to possibly just the timing. When you think of the receivers we had a year ago, three starters were coming off of injuries where they missed spring ball … and so I don’t think we ever really got the timing down.”

Besides timing, Tagovailoa put an emphasis on his deep ball technique in the offseason while also focusing on proper footwork and eyesight. Returns are early, but Tagovailoa looked less frenetic and more deliberate in those disciplines.

“It’s all fundamentals. When it comes to throwing the ball, you’ve got to make sure you’re not stepping too wide off of your platform,” Tagovailoa said. “That’s one of the problems I had — I would overstride on my front foot, and the ball would die out sometimes.”

“I thought he threw the ball where we wanted it to be thrown with the type of trajectory,” Locksley said. “[Offensive coordinator] Josh [Gattis] continues to drill them quite a bit, and you see the fruits of the work.”

Touchdowns not allowed: Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 12:36 to go in the fourth quarter of Maryland’s 43-30 loss to Ohio State last November. That moment 292 days ago was the last time Maryland’s defense let an opponent into the end zone.

The streak now spans UMD’s last three games, the first time the program has put together such a string since 1976. The defense was the difference in the Terrapins’ elevated level of play last year, especially in conference games. As the second full year under coordinator Brian Williams continues, they haven’t yet missed a beat.

“I think the defense is the strength of our team from the standpoint that we’ve got a lot of veteran leadership. I think that side of the ball has quite a few great leaders and I think they got off to a fast start on defense, and I’m hope we’re able to continue it through this next game,” Locksley said.

Here comes Saturday night: The final matchup in a two-game home-and-home series with Charlotte (7:30 p.m.) is the featured game of the Big Ten’s new Saturday night package with NBC. The network will also bring its “College Countdown” studio show to College Park, which airs 30 minutes before kickoff. The treatment elevates a lower-key, non-conference matchup — which last year was broadcast on Stadium, a less-available and harder-to-find network — into a premier broadcast position with a chance for the Terrapins to showcase their program.

“When you bring a national TV audience to your campus, you’re able to illuminate the great things about being here in the DMV, the fourth largest media market in the country. And so it gives us an opportunity to really show what we have here,” Locksley said. “Our players are excited, I’m excited about this partnership and to be able to play here, but obviously we’ve got to go do the work and do the things necessary to keep this excitement.”