Terps defense ‘developing plans to attack’ to correct lack of sacks
Maryland hasn’t put much pressure on quarterback since losing top pass rusher
COLLEGE PARK — As devastating as Maryland’s rash of injuries to its quarterbacks has been this season, the loss of senior linebacker Jesse Aniebonam has proved to be equally troubling.
Aniebonam barely got his season started when he broke his ankle in the seasonopening win at Texas. But the attention the Longhorns paid to Maryland’s sack leader last year opened the door for others.
That door, the one leading to opposing quarterbacks, has been slammed shut the past three games.
Going into Saturday’s home game against Northwestern, the Terps have not had a sack since getting five against Texas and four the following week against Towson.
It marks the first time Maryland has not had a sack in three straight games since that statistic was first kept for the Terps in 1999. Maryland had 38 sacks in coach DJ Durkin’s first season, nine by Aniebonam.
“We’re always trying to get sacks. We spend a lot of our time developing those packages,” defensive coordinator Andy Buh said Wednesday. “We’re never playing back to let them throw the ball underneath.
“We’re developing plans to attack. Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was well proteched by offensive lineman Billy Price against Maryland defensive lineman Oluwaseun Oluwatimi on Saturday. We’re an attack defense. There’s multiple reasons why [sacks] haven’t happened. We just in a little slump there. We’ll pick it up, hopefully this week.”
Asked how difficult it has been to replace Aniebonam, who led the Terps in