Football Speedster will present tough test for Terps

[Brad]

Speedster will present tough test for Terps

 

Fred Goodall 9:39 p.m. EDT September 5, 2014

 

Maryland’s defense welcomes the challenge of trying to slow down the nation’s leading rusher.

 

South Florida’s Marlon Mack burst onto the scene a week away, running for 275 yards and four touchdowns in his college debut. The true freshman may not have claimed USF’s starting tailback job, however he certainly grabbed the attention of this week’s opponent.

 

Maryland coach Randy Edsall describes the 6-foot, 195-pound Mack as “shifty, quick and fast.” Containing him figures to one of the keys to today’s game between the Terrapins (1-0) and Bulls (1-0).

 

“He broke two 60-yard runs last week. He has good vision, good patience getting to the hole and then good vision to see things,” Edsall said. “We’ll have to tackle well, get to the gaps, run to the ball, and when we run to the ball, we’re going to have to take good angles.”

 

Mack averaged nearly 12 yards per carry and matched USF’s single-game rushing record while scoring on runs of 62, 60, 56 and 3 yards in a 36-31 victory over Western Carolina.

 

The Bulls went 2-10 a year ago in their first season under coach Willie Taggart. And even though Western Carolina is a Football Championship Subdivision program, rallying from an early 14-3 deficit represented progress for a team with a track record of wilting when it encounters adversity.

 

“He gave us confidence and belief,” Taggart said. “He not only helped the offense, he helped the entire football team the way he ran the ball.”

 

And to think, the only reason Mack started the opener was because another young running back, sophomore Darius Tice, tweaked his knee in practice.

The Bulls depth chart still list Tice as the starter, and Taggart stressed he has no intentions of...

 

Rest of story

[DELdaBull]

I really pray Tice is better than Mack if he is still #1 on the two deep.

[Apis Bull]

I really pray Tice is better than Mack if he is still #1 on the two deep.

 

He's not Mack was named the starter a couple of days ago.

[DELdaBull]

I really pray Tice is better than Mack if he is still #1 on the two deep.

He's not Mack was named the starter a couple of days ago.

Thanks. Kid looked like the real deal. Let's see what today brings.

[smazza]

how could mack not be the starter

[mikemcp88]

He was the obvious choice to start. I'm sure Tice will get his share of carries

[bullnupe]

Did Mccray or Johnson play last week. Either getting playing time this week?

[Triple B]

Did Mccray or Johnson play last week. Either getting playing time this week?

 

Johnson did. Had a nice little run negated by a penalty, if I recall correctly.

[Carolina_Bull]

It is normal that a true freshman would actually improve in his second game.

 

 

I think Maryland is ripe for Mack to go for two bills.  Lord knows he's going to get the opportunities.

[Bull-Hornz]

Its easy to see how Tice WOULD be the starter. The RB position requires a lot more than just running the ball and Mack is a true freshman. Expect the offense to get much more complicated requiring good blocking from the RB and a thorough understand the playbook. I think Mack deserves to start but I expect to see much more of Tice if he can go. I hope that Mack is a quick study b/c he is fast and it would be awesome if he could continue the trend! That said, I think Tice is much more of a bruiser, also a special back, and most likely knows the playbook better which is why he got the nood in the first place. Tice and Mack will make a great 1-2 punch.

Edited September 6, 2014 by Bull-Hornz