Maryland Football: Five things to watch for Maryland/Northwestern
By Chris Bengel
Forcing turnovers could be critical
Maryland has definitely done a better job of securing turnovers than they have in years past.
However, the Terps are going to need to get a takeaway or two in order to gain the edge over Northwestern.
Maryland has total five interceptions and forced four fumbles through five games this season. Cornerback J.C. Jackson leads the team with two interceptions while linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. leads the way with a pair of forced fumbles.
It’s going to be a storyline to pay attention to this week because Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson has thrown seven interceptions to go with his seven touchdowns in 2017. Thorson is also coming off a game in which he tossed two interceptions against Penn State.
The Illinois native has thrown two interceptions in three of Northwestern’s five games this year. The only game that he didn’t toss an interception was a 49-7 win over Bowling Green.
Thorson definitely has the talent to be a successful signal caller in the Big Ten. However, he’s also prone to mistakes and that’s where Maryland is going to need to capitalize.
If the Terps can get pressure on Thorson and force a few errant throws, the opportunities for takeaways should be readily available.