Maryland Football: 2015 season predictions

Sep 20, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall on the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Maryland won the game 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Will the perception of Randy Edsall finally change?

Chris Bengel: This is one of those topics that will cause a lot of controversy. I’m not quite sure why, but a majority of Maryland fans seem to dispise Randy Edsall. However, I am definitely not one of them. The first two seasons were rough. There’s no doubt about that. But the idea of “Maryland Pride” has resonated with nearly every recruit in the DMV area. Just a few years ago, would a guy like Dwayne Haskins or Damian Prince elect to stay home and go to Maryland? Probably not. The results are definitely starting to come to fruition. The 2016 class is loaded from a local perspective with guys like Haskins, Tino Ellis, and Keandre Jones set to play their college football in College Park. The Terps have won seven games and went to a bowl game the last two seasons. I believe that Edsall will coach a less-talented roster to another bowl game then the results will likely improve with the abundance of talent that will arrive in College Park.

Ryan Garland: Unfortunately, 2015 is not the year the perception of head coach Randy Edsall will change. While he has undoubtedly received points for his recruiting ability this offseason, his coaching decisions will continue to be criticized early and often this year. Disregarding Perry Hills’ performance this offseason, going with Caleb Rowe as the Terps’ starting quarterback would have been the safer decision for Edsall to make. With Hills under center, any offensive deficiencies will result in fingers being pointed at Edsall, and not so much Hills. Edsall also has a knack for making some extremely questionable in-game decisions each year, which will likely occur again in 2015. A couple 4th-down calls last year come to mind; particularly the call to go for it on 4th-and-1, down by three against Rutgers with one minute remaining in the game, instead of opting for a very makeable field goal by the best kicker in the nation.