Maryland Football: New-look Terrapins aim for bowl berth in 2019

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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 1: Antoine Brooks Jr. #25 of the Maryland Terrapins celebrates with teammate Tre Watson #33 after intercepting a Texas Longhorns pass in the closing minutes of the Terrapins 34-29 win at FedExField on September 1, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Defense focusing on addition by subtraction

As we continue of the theme of all things new, Jon Hoke takes over as defensive coordinator for Maryland. He’ll call plays for a unit that returns just three starters from last year’s team.

That might be addition by subtraction since they gave up 390 yards and 28 points per game last season.

The most dramatic change from last season is a shift from the 4-2-5 to the 4-3. They will be young everywhere on the defensive side of the ball. They will have young, untested defensive ends around Keiron Howard. They are young in the secondary, but return Antoine Brooks, Jr. who will be a hybrid linebacker in Hoke’s hybrid 4-3 scheme.

The Terrapins also return solid veteran cornerback Tino Ellis who was sixth in the conference in passes defended. With so little experience at defensive end, and the transfer of Adam McLean they are going to have to find a way to get in the opponent’s backfield consistently.

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